Expositions Upon Matthew 1-10, Treatise · Chapter 5 · Section 1 – Section 2
Grounds of ſpiritual poverty.
1 Elſe we will not come to Chriſt; the prodigal came not to his father till he ſaw himſelf poor.
2 This is the end of Gods permitting us to fall; God left Hezekiah to try him that he might know all that was in his heart, and thereby to humble him for his pride, 2 Chron. 32.31. compared with 26. Peter after he had fallen to deny Chriſt, he went out and wept bitterly, Mat. 27.75.
3 This is the end why God lays outward poverty on us; that which pride feeds upon is ſome outward thing that the fleſh takes occaſion to ſwell with, now when the fewel is taken away the fire goes out. Manaſſes was hereby brought to inward poverty; riches are moſtly the nouriſhment of ſin, and hardly can a rich man come to heaven, Matth. 19.23. You ſee your calling, brethren, not many mighty, not many noble are called, 1 Cor. 1.26. Contrarily, Hath not God choſen the Poor of this world? Jam. 2.5. Poor men do uſually more readily believe then rich men, becauſe they are leſs wrapt up in cares and earthly hindrances, hence Chriſt doth with his people as a Phyſician with his Patient that hath a foul body, he purges him almoſt to skin and bone, that having made the body poor, there may be a ſpring of better bloud and ſpirits. Thus providence ſerves to predeſtination, that poverty among other things ſerves to the good of the elect, Rom. 8.28.
4 Spiritual Poverty makes us ſucceſſeful in the things of this life. Many going in their own wit and ſtrength prove very unproſperous, Prov. 3.5, 6. Truſt in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not to thine own underſtanding, in all thy ways acknowledge him, and he ſhall direct thy ſteps. Pſal. 78. He took David from following the Ewes to feed Jacob his people. The reaſon is becauſe God delights to lift up them that give glory to his name, 1 Sam. 2.7, 8. he makes ſuch to be the pillars of the earth, Pſal. 113.7, 8.
5 Spiritual Poverty is that emptineſs God is wont to fill, Luke 1.53, He filleth the hungry with good things, but the rich he hath ſent empty away, Such an heart is a ſpiritual emptineſs, ſo that as every thing in nature is filled with ſomething ſo in grace.
6 Men ſpiritually poor have their prayers anſwered, Pſal. 34 6. This poor man cryed, and the Lord heard him, Pſal. 9.18. The needy ſhall not always be forgotten the expectation of the poor ſhall not periſh for ever: When the ſorrows of death compaſſed David, the Lord heard him out of his holy temple, Pſal. 18.4, 5, 6. So Jonah, chap. 2.7. When my ſoul fai…ted within me I remembred the Lord, and my prayer came in unto thee into thine holy temple.
7 Perſons ſpiritually poor are wont to truſt in God. Zeph. 3.12. I will leave in the midst of thee an afflicted poor people, and they ſhall truſt in the name of the Lord. Such perſons ſeeing the uncertainty of all other refuges are wont to refuge themſelves in God, Pſal. 142.4, 5.
Trials of ſpiritual poverty.
1 Perſons ſpiritually poor are full of ſence of wants, out of which they mightily pour out their ſouls. You need not dictate words to a man that is ſenſible of wants. A poor Tenant that hath had an hard bargain, can ſufficiently tell his tale to his Landlord. See examples Pſal. 34.6. Pſal. 142.2.102.1, 2. Job 29.12.
2 In perſons ſo qualified there is a care of uſing and frequenting ordinances. See Pſal. 84.6, 7. Poor Perſons go to all places to get riches, Pſal. 107.36. to 42. ſo they that want grace and comfort will attend upon all means; they will go to Gods ordinances. Perſons that think there's too much reading, and hearing, and preaching, were never humbled, why complain they not of the ſun for light, and of the earth for plenty?
3 Perſons ſpiritually poor are very much in eſteeming any meaſure of grace, Col. 1.12, 13. 1 Tim. 1.12. the woman of Canaan eſteems crumbs, Matth. 15.27. A ſoul that ſees the want of grace, and the excellency of it, is thankful for every good motion. A Chriſtian knowing he deſerves nothing, is thankful for every thing, 1 Sam. 25.32, 33. Pſal. 116.12, 13.
4 Perſons ſpiritually poor are fearful to offend God, becauſe the dependances of their grace, comfort and glory is upon God, Phil. 2.12, 13. Even as poor people are afraid to offend thoſe upon whom their earthly dependance is, for maintenance, or countenance, Hoſ. 3.5. Jer. 32.39.
5 Such perſons are teachable; you may lead a man poor in ſpirit with any Counſel, having ſmarted for ſin, Acts 9.6. Lord what wilt thou have me to do? Eſa. 11.6. and becauſe they are teachable, God delights to teach them, Pſal. 25.9.
6 Such perſons are not wont to upbraid others with their conditions, they are ſo taken up with their own, Luke 15.16, 17. compared with v. 30. The prodigal he looks onelyonly on his own miſery, the elder brother upbraids the prodigal, This thy ſon hath devoured thy living with harlots, and thou haſt killed for him the fatted calf.
7 Men that are ſpiritually poor are eſpecially troubled for ſpiritual wants, as blindneſs of mind, hardneſs of heart, unbelief, Mark 9.24. Eſa. 63.17. Why haſt thou hardned our heart from thy fear? 2 Cor. 12.7, 8. for this thing, (that is, for removing the thorne in the fleſh) I beſought the Lord thrice. Jer. 17.14. Heal me, and I ſhall be healed. Hoſ. 14.3. Take away all iniquity.
8 Perſons ſpiritually poor are wont to clear God in all his proceedings againſt them. Ezra 9.13. All that is come upon us is for our evil deeds, and great treſpaſs, and thou haſt puniſht us leſs then our iniquities deſerve. Ezek. 16.63. That thou mayeſt remember, and be confounded, and never open thy mouth any more, becauſe of thy ſhame, when I am pacified towards thee. See Pſal. 51.4. Levit. 26.39.40.41. Pſal. 145.17. Dan. 9.8, 9.
9 He is not vain glorious but aſcribes all to grace, 1 Cor. 15.9, 10. he hath low thoughts of himſelf, whatſoever others think of him, Matth. 8.8. Pſal. 115.1.