The Unsearchable Riches of Christ, Sermon 1 (1 of 3)

The Unsearchable Riches of Christ · Sermon 1 (1 of 3)

p. 1THE Ʋnſearchable Riches OF CHRIST.

EPHES. 3. 8.

Ʋnto me who am leſſe then the leaſt of all Saints is this grace given, that I ſhould preach among the Gentiles, the Ʋnſearchable Riches of Chriſt.

Ʋnto me who am leſſe then the leaſt of all Saints.

THE Greek is a Comparative made of foreign Miniſſimus, Eſtius.a Superlative. Leſſe then the leaſt of all Saints is a double diminitive, and ſignifies leſſer then the leaſt, if leſſer might be. Here you have the greateſt Qui parvus eſt in reputatione propria, magnus eſt in reputatione divina. Gregory. He that is little in his own account, is great in Gods eſteeme.Apoſtle deſcending downe to the loweſt ſtep of humility. Great Paul is leaſt of Saints, laſt of the Apoſtles, and greateſt of ſinners. The choyceſt Buildings have the loweſt foundations; the beſt Balſome ſinkes to the bottome; thoſe eares of Corne, and boughes of Trees that are moſt fill'd, and beſt laden, bowe loweſt: So doe thoſe ſoules that are moſt loaden with the fruits of Paradiſe. Ʋnto me who am leſſe then the leaſt of all Saints.

p. 2Is this Grace given.foreign is alwayes taken in Scripture for a free gift a grace gift: but foreign is taken not only for the favour of God, but alſo for his gratious gifts. foreign a foreign. Mat. 25. 32. Cha. 28. 19. Io 11. 48. 50. 51. Acts 10. 22. Mat. 6. 32. Ipſe unus erit tibi omnia, quia ipſo uno bono, bona ſunt omnia. Aug. One Chriſt will be to the inſtead of all things elſe, becauſe in him are all good things to be found. Gal. 1. 16. foreign Nec Chriſtus nec coelum patitur hype bolen. A man cannot hyper bolize in ſpeaking of Chriſt and Heaven.Matt 25:32John 11:48John 11:50John 11:51Acts 10:22Matt 6:32Gal 1:16

In the Greek, or was this Grace given. The word that's here rendred Grace, is taken in Scripture, not onelyonly for the favour of God, but alſo for his Gratious gifts; and ſo you are to underſtand it in this place: Grace is taken for the gifts of Grace, and they are two-fold: Common; or Speciall. Some are Common to Believers and Hypocrites; as knowledge, tongues, a gift of prayer, &c. Some are Speciall and peculiar to the Saints, as feare, love, faith, &c. Now Paul had all theſe, the better to fit him for that high and noble Service to which he was call'd. That I ſhould Preach.

That is, declare good newes, or glad tidings. The Greek word anſwers to the Hebrew word which ſignifies good newes, glad tidings, and a Joyful Meſſage. That I ſhould Preach among the Gentiles.

Sometimes this Greek word is generally uſed for all men, or for all Nations. Sometimes the word is uſed more eſpecially for the people of the Jewes. Sometimes 'tis uſed for the Gentiles diſtinguiſhed from the Jewes, ſo 'tis uſed, Mat. 6. 32. For after all theſe things doe the Gentiles ſeeke; and ſo 'tis uſed here; thoſe that are without God in the world, that ſtand in Armes againſt God, that are ignorant of thoſe riches of Grace that are in Chriſt: This Grace is given to me, that I ſhould preach among the poore Heathens, the unſearchable riches of Chriſt.

That I might Preach among the Gentiles. What? my ſelfe? No, but The unſearchable riches of Chriſt.

The Greek word ſignifies, Not to be traced out. Here's Rhetorick indeed! here's riches, unſearchable riches, unſearchable riches of Chriſt. Riches alwayes imply two things. Firſt, Abundance. Secondly, Abundance of ſuch things as be of worth. Now in the Lord Jeſus Chriſt is the greateſt riches, the beſt riches, the choyceſt riches; in Chriſt are riches of Juſtification, Tit. 2. 14. in Chriſt are riches of Sanctification, Phil. 4. 12, 13. in Chriſt are riches of Conſolation, 2 Cor. 12. 9. and in Chriſt are riches of Glorification, 1 Pet. 1. But of p. 3theſe glorious unſearchable riches of Chriſt, we ſhall ſpeak Omnebonum in ſummo bono. All good is in the chiefeſt good.hereafter.

I ſhall begin at this time with the firſt words: Ʋnto me who am leſſe then the leaſt of all Saints. There are theſe two Obſervations that naturally flow from theſe words. Firſt, That the moſt holy men are alwayes the moſt Obſervat. 1.humble men,

None ſo humble on Earth, as thoſe that live higheſt in Heaven.

Or if you will, take the Obſervation thus,

That thoſe that are the moſt highly valued and eſteemed of by God, are loweſt and leaſt in their owne eſteeme.

Ʋnto me who am leſſe then the leaſt of all Saints, &c.

The Second Obſervation is,

That there are weake Saints as well as ſtrong, little Obſervat. 2.Saints as well as great.

Or thus:

All Saints are not of an equall growth, or ſtature.

I ſhall begin with the firſt Obſervation, That the moſt holy men, are alwayes the moſt humble men; Soules that are the moſt highly eſteemed and valued by God, doe ſet the leaſt and loweſt eſteem upon themſelves. Ʋnto me who am leſſe then the leaſt of all Saints, &c.

In the handling of this Point I ſhall doe theſe three things.

1 I ſhall prove that the moſt holy ſoules are alwayes the moſt humble ſoules.

2 I ſhall ſhew you the Properties of ſoules truly humble.

3 I ſhall ſhew you the Reaſons, why thoſe that are the moſt highly prized and eſteemed of God, doe ſet ſo low a price upon themſelves.

And then the Uſe.Iob 1. 8. Job was a none-ſuch in regard of thoſe perfections and degrees of grace that he had attained to beyond a…ny other Saints on earth. Job was high in worth, and humble in heart. Job 42. 5, 6. Humilitas animi, ſublimitas Chriſtiani. foreign A me, me ſalva Domine Aug. Deliver me O Lord from that evill man my ſelfe. 2 Cor. 12. 1. 7 vid. Bezim foreign Wordleſs words, ſuch, as words are too weak to utter. Iſa. 6. 1. 5, 6. compared. The cleareſt ſight & viſion of God does alwayes give a man the fulleſt ſight of his own emptineſſe, ſinfulneſſe, and nothingneſſe. foreign a I am out off. Luke 5. 8. foreign, a man, a ſinner, a very mixture & compound of dirt and ſin.Job 1:8Job 42:5Job 42:62 Cor 12:12 Cor 12:7Isa 6:1Isa 6:5Isa 6:6Luke 5:8

For the firſt, That this is ſo, I ſhall give you moſt clear proofs, and open them to you.

See it in Job; no man ever received a fairer, or a more valuable Certificate under the hand of God, or the broad Seale of Heaven, for his being a ſoule famous in grace and holineſſe, then Job; as you may ſee, Job 1. 8. And the Lord ſaid unto p. 4Satan, haſt thou conſidered my Servant Job, that there is none like him in the Earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and eſcheweth evill. And yet no man could ſpeak more undervaluingly of himſelfe, then Job did, Job 42. 5, 6. I have heard of thee by the hearing of the eare, but now mine eye ſeeth thee, I abhor my ſelfe in duſt and aſhes. This expreſſion, is the deepeſt act of abhorrency. Abhorrency ſtrictly taken, is hatred wound up to the height. I abhor my ſelfe, the word that's rendred Abhor, ſignifies to reject, to diſdaine, to contemne, and to caſt off. Ah ſayes Job, I abhor my ſelfe, I reject my ſelfe, I diſdaine my ſelfe, I caſt off my ſelfe, I have a vile eſteem of my ſelfe. So our bleſſed Apoſtle, who had been caught up into the third Heavens, and had ſuch glorious Revelations as could not be uttered; yet he accounted himſelfe leſſe then the leaſt of all Saints. Not that any thing can be leſſe then the leaſt, the Apoſtles holy Rhetorick doth not croſſe Ariſtotle's Philoſophy; but the Originall word being a double diminitive, his meaning is, that he was as little as could be; therefore he put himſelfe downe ſo little, as could not be leſſe then the leaſt.

Another proof you have, Iſa. 6. 1, 5, 6. As Paul among the Apoſtles was the greateſt; ſo Eſay among the Prophets was the cleareſt and choyceſt Goſpel-Preacher, and holds out more of Chriſt, and of his Kingdome and glory, then all the other Prophets doe. Iſa. 6. 1. he ſees the glory of the Lord in a Viſion, and this makes him cry out, verſ. 5. Wee is me, for I am undone, becauſe I am a man of uncleane lips, and I dwell in the midſt of a people of uncleane lips, for mine eyes have ſeene the King, the Lord of Hoſts. I am undone, the Hebrew is, I am cut off, I am a forlorne man, why? For I have ſeen the King, the Lord of Hoſts. Here you have the higheſt and choyceſt among the Prophets (as you had Paul before among the Apoſtles) abaſing and laying low himſelfe.

So Peter, Luke 5. 8. Depart from me, for I am a ſinfull man, O Lord. When he ſaw that glorious Miracle wrought by the Lord Jeſus, he cryes out as one very ſenſible of his owne weakneſſe and ſinfullneſſe, Depart from me, for I am a ſinfull man. Ah I am not worthy to be neer ſuch Majeſty and p. 5glory, who am a meer bundle of vice and vanity, of folly and iniquity.

Take another cleer inſtance, Gen. 18. And Abraham anſwered, Gen. 18. 27. foreign Gnaphar vae pher, duſt and aſhes, i. e. baſe, vile, worthles. Solemnly think that thou art duſt and aſhes, and be p…oud if thou canſt. Iſa. 6. 1, 2. Gen. 32. 10 foreign I am leſſe then all meretes, to wit, in worth or weight, &c.Gen 18:27Isa 6:1Isa 6:2Gen 32:10and ſaid, Behold I have taken upon me to ſpeake unto the Lord, who am but duſt and aſhes. Here you have the Father of the Faithfull, the greateſt Believer in the world, accounting himſelfe duſt and aſhes. Duſt notes the baſeneſſe of his Originall, and Aſhes notes his deſerving to be burnt to aſhes, if God ſhould deale with him in juſtice, rather then in mercy. The nearer any ſoule drawes to God, the more humble will that ſoule lye before God. None ſo neere God as the Angels, nor none ſo humble before God, as the Angels.

So Jacob, Gen. 32. 10. I am not worthy of the leaſt of all the mercies, and all the truth which thou haſt ſhewed unto thy ſervant, &c. Jacob a man eminent in his prevailing with God, a Prince that had the honour and the happineſſe to overcome the God of mercy, yet judges himſelfe unworthy of the leaſt mercy. Ah, how low is that ſoule in his owne eyes, that is moſt honourable in Gods eyes?

David you know was a man after Gods owne heart, a man highly honoured, much beloved, and dearly prized by the 1 Kings 15. 5.1 Kgs 15:5Lord, yet 1 Sam. 26. 20. He counts himſelfe a Flea, and what 1 Sam. 26. 20. Pſal. 22. 6. foreign Tolagnath. An humble ſoule is a little, little, nothing in his owne eyes.1 Sam 26:20Ps 22:6is more contemptible then a Flea? In Pſal. 22. 6. I am a worme (ſaith he) and no man. The word that's there rendred Worme, is a word that ſignifies a very little Worm which breedeth in Scarlet, a Worme that's ſo little that a man can hardly ſee or perceive it. A Worme is the moſt deſpicable Creature in the world, trampled under foot by every one. Sayes he, I am a deſpicable worme in my owne eyes, and in my enemies eyes.

And thus you ſee the point proved, that the moſt holy men have been alwayes the moſt humble men.

The ſecond thing that I am to doe, is, To ſhew you the Properties of humble ſoules. I confeſſe, when I look abroad in the world, and obſerve the carriage of all ſorts of men, my heart is ſtirr'd to ſpeak as fully and as home to this point, as Chriſt ſhall help me. 'Tis very, very ſad to conſider, how few humble ſoules there be in theſe dayes: Ah, the damnable p. 6pride that reignes and rules in the hearts & lives of moſt men; God loves to heare this as a parcell of his praiſe, Pa…cere ſubjectis & debellare ſuperbos, to ſpare the lowly and ſtrike downe the proud. Iſa. 23. 9.Isa 23:9I think 'tis far greater then hath been knowne in the Generations before us. Ah England! England! what folly, what damnable wickedneſſe is this, that thou ſhouldeſt be a lifting thy ſelfe up in pride, when God is a ſtaining the pride of all glory, and bringing into contempt the honourable of the Earth, and a ſetting his feet upon the neck of pride.

Now the firſt property that I ſhall lay downe of an humble ſoule, is this, An humble ſoule under the higheſt ſpirituall diſcoveries, and under the greateſt outward mercies, forgets not his former ſinfullneſſe, and his former outward meanneſſe. Paul 1 Property. 2 Cor. 12 1, 2, 3, 4. 1 Tim. 1. 13. Chryſoſtome obſerves it of Paul, as his greateſt honour, that although he had obtained pardon of God for his ſins, yet he is not aſhamed to reckon them up to the world. Rom. 7. 23. The Spouſe of Chriſt, under all the kiſſes and embraces of Chriſt, acknowledges her ſelfe to be black. Cant. 1. 2. 5. compared. Gen 32. 10. Omnia mea me cum porto. All my Goods I carry with me.2 Cor 12:12 Cor 12:22 Cor 12:32 Cor 12:41 Tim 1:13Rom 7:23Song 1:2Song 1:5Gen 32:10had been taken up into the third Heavens, and had glorious revelations and manifeſtations of God, he cryes out, I was a Blaſphemer, a Perſecuter, and Injurious. Under the choyceſt diſcoveries, he remembers his former blaſphemies. So Rom. 7. 23. I ſee a Law in my members warring againſt the Law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the Law of ſin, which is in my members. He had been at this time about fourteene yeares converted, as ſome judge. He was a man that lived at as high a rate in God, as any we read of, a man that was filled with glorious diſcoveries and revelations, and yet under all diſcoveries and revelations, he remembers that body of ſin and death, that made him cry out, O wretched man that I am, who ſhall deliver me? Who ſhall eaſe me of my burden? who ſhall knock off theſe Chaines that make my life a hell? I will by a few inſtances prove the other branch, Gen. 32. 10. I am not worthy of the leaſt of all the mercies (ſaith Jacob) for with my ſtaffe I paſſed over this Jordan, and now I am become two bands. I remember, ſaith he, when I went over Jordan, I was as a footman that carried all his wealth with him. Under his outward greatneſſe he forgets not his former meanneſſe. An humble ſoule is good at looking back upon his former low eſtate, upon his thred-bare Coat that was his beſt and onelyonly Robe.

So David, 1 Chron. 17. 16, 17. And David the King came and ſat before the Lord, and ſaid, What am I O Lord God, and what is mine houſe, that thou haſt brought me hitherto? And yet this was a ſmall thing in thine eyes, O God; for thou p. 7haſt alſo ſpoken of thy ſervants houſe for a great while to come, ſaid Bias, one of the ſeven wiſe men of Greece. 1 Chron. 17. 16, 17. Iphicrares that noble Captain …ryed ou…, From how ſmal to how great an eſtate am I raiſed? So does the humble ſoule, when God turnes his braſſe into ſilver, his iron into gold, his pence into pounds. Agathocles who of a Potters ſon was made King of Sicily, would always be ſerved in earthen veſſells. Pſa. 73. 3. 13 Iob 21. 7. 16 Verſ. 14, 15.1 Chr 17:161 Chr 17:17Ps 73:3Ps 73:13Job 21:7Job 21:16and haſt regarded me according to the ſtate of a man of high degree. Who am I O Lord God, and what is mine houſe? David remembred the meanneſſe of his birth, he remembred his Shepheards Crook, as Jacob did his Travelling Staffe. Mercies make an humble ſoule glad, but not proud. An humble ſoule is loweſt, when his mercies are higheſt, he is leaſt when he is greateſt, he is loweſt when he is higheſt, he is moſt poor, when he is moſt rich: Nothing melts like mercy, nothing drawes like mercy, nothing humbles like mercy; mercy gives the humble ſoule ſuch excellent Counſell, as Plaſilla the Empreſs gave her Husband Theodoſius, Remember Oh Husband (ſaith ſhe) what lately you were, and what now you are, ſo ſhall you Governe well the Empire, and give God his due praiſe for ſo great an advancement. The voyce of mercy is, Remember what lately thou wert, and what now thou art, and be humble. Now proud men that are lifted up from the dunghill, that abound in worldly wealth, ah how do's their blood riſe with their outward good, the more mercies they have, the more proud they are; mercies doe but puffe and ſwell ſuch ſoules; in a croud of mercies, they cry out in the pride of their hearts, Depart from us, O God, for we deſire not the knowledge of thy wayes. What is the Almighty that we ſhould ſerve him? and what profit ſhall we have if we pray unto him?

A ſecond Property of an humble ſoule, is this, He overlookes his owne righteouſneſſe, and lives upon the righteouſneſſe of another, to wit, the Lord Jeſus. So the Apoſtle, Phil. 3. 8, 9, 10. overlooks his owne righteouſneſſe, and lives wholly 2 Property, Phil. 3. 8, 9, 10 ver. 8. foreign Dogsmeat, i. e. cour… & contemptible. Iſa. 64. 6.Phil 3:8Phil 3:9Phil 3:10Isa 64:6upon the righteouſneſſe of Chriſt. I deſire to be found in him, (ſaith he) not having mine owne righteouſneſſe, (away with it, it's droſſe, it's dung, it's dogs-meat, 'tis a rotten righteouſneſſe, an imperfect righteouſneſſe, a weak righteouſneſſe) which is of the Law, but that which is through the faith of Chriſt, the righteouſneſſe which is of God by Faith: That is a ſpotleſſe righteouſneſſe, a pure righteouſneſſe, a compleat righteouſneſſe, an incomparable righteouſneſſe: And therefore an Cant. 4. 2. Rev. 14. 5. Col. 2. 10.Song 4:2Rev 14:5Col 2:10humble ſoule overlookes his owne righteouſneſſe, and lives upon Chriſts righteouſneſſe. Remember this, all the ſighing, p. 8mourning, ſobbing, and complaining in the world, doth not ſo undeniably evidence a man to be humble, as his overlooking his own righteouſneſſe, and living really and purely upon the righteouſneſſe of Chriſt. This is the greateſt demonſtration of humility that can be ſhewne by man: Men may doe much, heare much, pray much, faſt much, and give much, &c. Mat. 6 & Chap. 23. Iſa. 58.Matt 6Isa 58and yet be as proud as Lucifer; as you may ſee in the Scribes, Phariſees, and thoſe in Iſa, 58. who in the pride of their hearts made an Idol of their owne righteouſneſſe. Wherefore have we faſted (ſay they) and thou ſeeſt it not, wherefore Verſ. 3.have we afflicted our ſoules, and thou takeſt no knowledge? O! but for a man now to trample upon his owne righteouſneſſe, and to live wholly upon the righteouſneſſe of another, this ſpeaks out a man to be humble indeed; there is nothing that the heart of man ſtands more averſe to, then this, of coming off from his owne righteouſneſſe. Man is a Creature apt to warme himſelfe with the ſparks of his owne fire, though he doth lye downe for it in (Eternall) ſorrow. Man is naturally Iſa. 50. 11. Rom. 10. 4.Isa 50:11Rom 10:4prone to goe about to eſtabliſh his owne righteouſneſſe, that he might not ſubject to the righteouſneſſe of Chriſt; he will labour, as for life, to lift up his owne righteouſneſſe, and to make a Saviour of it. I but an humble ſoule diſclaimes his owne righteouſneſſe, All our righteouſneſſe is as filthy raggs—Enter not into judgement with thy ſervant, for in thy ſight ſhall Pſal. 143. 2.Ps 143:2no man living be juſtified. So Job, Though I were righteous, yet would I not anſwer, but I would make ſupplication to my Iob 9. 15.Job 9:15Judge. Proud Phariſees bleſſe themſelves in their owne righteouſneſſe, I thank God I am not as this Publican, I faſt twice Lu. 18. 11, 12 A proud heart eyes more his ſeeming worth, then his reall want. Rev. 4 10, 11. Non decet Chriſtianum in hac vita coronari, ſaid the Chriſtian Souldier.Rev 4:10Rev 4:11in the weeke, &c. I but now a ſoule truly humbled, bluſhes to ſee his owne righteouſneſſe, and glories in this, that he has the righteouſneſſe of Chriſt to live upon. Rev. 4. 10, 11. the twenty foure Elders throw downe their Crownes at the feet of Chriſt: By their Crownes, you may underſtand their gifts, their excellencies, their righteouſneſſe; they throw downe theſe before Chriſts Throne, to note to us, that they did not put confidence in them, and that Chriſt was the Crowne of Crownes, and the top of all their Royalty and glory. An humble ſoule looks upon Chriſts righteouſneſſe as his holy Crowne.

p. 9Thirdly, The loweſt and the meaneſt good worke is not below V. 19. foreign ſignifies to gaine with joy and delight of heart. Ah! ſays Paul, 'tis my greateſt joy, my greateſt delighttogain ſouls to Chriſt The word alſo ſignifies craft or guile. Ah! humble Paul will uſe a holy craft, a holy guile to win ſoules. To know the Art of Alms is greater then to be crown'd with the Diadem of Kings & yet to convert one ſoul, is greater then to poure out ten thouſand Talents into the baſke…s of the poore. Chryſoſtome. John 13. 4. 1 Cor. 2. 8. Phil. 2. 6. Col. 1. 19. 2. 3. John 13. 5. Proud hearts can't ſtoop to low ſervices; they ſay this work & that is below their parts, place, parentage, & employments Cirius & Scipi…. Theſe Heathens will riſe in judgement againſt many proud profeſſ…rs in theſe dayes, who ſcorne to ſtoopto mean ſervices, &c. 4 Property. Veniat, veniat ver bam Domini, & ſubmittemus illi, ſex cenia ſ… nobis eſſent colla. Said Baldaſſar a German Miniſter. So 'tis with all that are high in worth, & humble in heart. Lev. 10. 2, 3. God will be ſanctified either actively, or paſſively (Aut à nobis aut in nos) either in us, or upon us. foreign The word o… ten ſignifies a modeſt quietneſſe of mind, the troubled affections being allayed. So here. In Lam. 3. 27, 28, 29. It ſignifies to ſubmit unto God, and to be patient in affliction; and ſo it may betaken here. Nunquam nimis dicitur, quod nanquam ſatis diſcitur, we can never hear that too often, that we can never learn too wel. Militi multa agenda patienda plura The chriſtian ſouldier muſt doe many things, & ſuffer more 5 Property, If Seneca ſaid of his wiſe man, Majore parte illic eſt, unde deſcendit. He is more in Heaven then in earth; this is much more true of humble holyſouls. Dulce nomen Chriſti Sweet is the name of Chriſt. Chriſt may well be compared to the trees of the Sanctuary, Ezek. 47 12. which were both for meat & Medicine.John 13:41 Cor 2:8Phil 2:6Col 1:19Col 1:2Lev 10:2Lev 10:3Lam 3:27Lam 3:28Lam 3:29Ezek 47:12an humble ſoule. An humble David will dance before the Ark, he enjoyed ſo much of God in it, that it cauſed him to leap and dance before it: but Michal his wife deſpiſed him for a foole, and counted him as a ſimple vaine fellow, looking upon his carriage as vaine and light, and not becoming the might, Majeſty, and glory, of ſo glorious a Prince. Well ſayes this humble ſoule, if this be to be vile, I will be more vile.

Great Paul, yet being humble and low in his owne eyes, he can ſtoop to doe ſervice to the leaſt and the meaneſt Saint.

1 Cor. 9. 19, 20, 21. For though I be free from all men, yet have I made my ſelfe ſervant unto all, that I might gaine the more: And unto the Jewes I became as a Jew, that I might gaine the Jewes: To them that are under the Law, as under the Law, that I might gaine them that are under the Law: To them that are without Law, as without Law, (being not without Law to God, but under the Law to Chriſt) that I might gaine them that are without Law. To the weake became I as weake, that I might gaine the weake. I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means gaine ſome. Here you have an humble ſoule bowing and ſtooping to the meaneſt Saints, and the loweſt ſervices, that he might win ſoules. So the Lord Jeſus himſelfe was famous in this, John 13. 4. Though he was the Lord of glory, and one that thought it no robbery to be equall with God, one that had all perfection and fullneſſe in himſelfe, yet the loweſt work is not below this King of Kings, witneſſe his waſhing his Diſciples feet, and wiping them with a Towell.

Bonaventure, though he was born of great Parentage, and a great Scholler, yet, to keep his mind from ſwelling, he would often ſweep rooms, waſh veſſels, and make beds.

So that famous Italian Marqueſs, when God was pleaſed by the Miniſtry of his word to convert him, the loweſt work was not below him; though he might have liv'd like a King in his owne Countrey, yet having taſted of that life and ſweet that was in Jeſus, he was ſo humble that he would goe to Market, and carry home the meaneſt and the pooreſt things the Market yielded. There was nothing below him when God had chang'd him, and humbled him.

p. 10'Tis recorded to the glory of ſome antient Generalls, that they were able to call every common Souldier by his owne name, and were carefull to provide money, not onelyonly for their Captaines and Souldiers, but litter alſo for the meaneſt Beaſt. There is not the loweſt good that is below the humble ſoule. If the work be good, though never ſo low, humility will put a hand to it; ſo will not pride.

A fourth Property of an humbled heart is this, An humble heart will ſubmit to every truth of God, that is made knowne to it; even to thoſe Divine truths that are moſt croſſe to fleſh and blood. 1 Sam. 3. 17. Eli would faine know what God had diſcovered to Samuel concerning him; Samuel tells him, that he muſt break his neck, that the Prieſthood muſt be taken away from him, and his Sons muſt be ſlaine in the warre: why it is the Lord (ſaith he) let him doe what ſeemeth him good. So in Levit. 10. the Lord by fire from Heaven deſtroyes Aarons two Sons, Then Moſes ſaid unto Aaron, this is it that the Lord ſpake, ſaying, I will be ſanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified; and Aaron held his peace. If God miſſe of his honour one way, he will raine hell out of Heaven, but he will have it another way; this Aaron knew, and therefore he held his peace, when God ſhewed himſelfe to be a conſuming fire. The Hebrew word that is here rendred Peace, ſignifies the quietneſſe and ſilence of his mind, he did not hold his tongue onelyonly (for many a man may hold his tongue, and yet his mind and heart may kick and ſwell againſt God) but his very mind was quiet and ſtill; there was a heavenly calme in his Spirit, he was dumb and ſilent becauſe the Lord had done it. So in Acts 10. 33. We are all here preſent before God, to heare all things that are commanded thee of God. We are not here to heare what may tickle our eares, or pleaſe our fanſies, or ſatisfie our luſts; no, but we are here to hear what God will ſay, our hearts ſtand ready preſſed to ſubject themſelves to whatever God ſhall declare to be his will; we are willing to heare that we may doe, that we may obey ſincerely and univerſally the good pleaſure of our God, knowing that 'tis as well our dignity as our duty ſo to doe.

p. 11There are three things in an humble ſoule that doe ſtrongly incline it to duty.

The firſt is Divine Love.

The ſecond is Divine Preſence.

The third is Divine Glory.

The Dove made uſe of her wings to fly to the Ark, ſo does an humble ſoule of his duties to fly to Chriſt. Though the Dove did uſe her wings, yet ſhe did not truſt in her wings, but in the Ark: So though an humble ſoule does uſe duties, yet he does not truſt in his duties, but in his Jeſus. But now proud hearts they hate the truth, they cry out, Who is the Lord that we ſhould obey him? And what are his Commandements that we ſhould ſubmit to them? I but an humble ſoule falls under the power of truth, and counts it his greateſt glory to be obedient to all truth.

A fifth property of an humble ſoule is this, An humble ſoule lives not upon himſelfe, nor upon his owne actings, but upon the Lord Jeſus, and his actings. Poore men, you know, they doe not live upon themſelves, they live upon others, they live upon the care of others, the love of others, the proviſion of others; why, thus an humble ſoule lives upon the care of Chriſt, the love of Chriſt, the promiſe of Chriſt, the faithfulneſſe of Chriſt, the diſcoveries of Chriſt; he lives upon Chriſt for his Juſtification, Phil. 3. from ver. 7. to 10—He lives upon Chriſt for his Sanctification, Cant. 4. 16. Awake O North winde, and come thou South, blow upon my Garden that the ſpices thereof may flow out— And he lives upon Chriſt for his Conſolation, Cant 2. 3. As the Apple-tree among the trees of the wood, ſo is my beloved among the Sons. I ſate downe under his ſhaddow with great delight, and his fruit was ſweet to my taſt— And he lives upon Chriſt for the performance of all holy actions, Phil. 4. 13. I can doe all things through Chriſt which ſtrengtheneth me. Gal. 2. 20. I live, yet not I but Chriſt lives in me, and the life which I now live in the fleſh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himſelfe for me. An humble ſoule ſees in Chriſt **Plenitudo abundantiae, and plenitudo redandantiae. Omne bonum in ſummo bono. All good is in the chiefeſt good. Chriſt is quicquid appetibile, as Origen ſpeaks, whatever we can deſire. Iſa. 58. 2. 7. Luke 7. 4, 5, 6, 7. 6 Property. A proud heart reſiſts, and is reſiſted, this is duro durum, flint to flint, fire to fire. Job 13. 25. An humble ſoule bleſſes God as well for croſſes, as mercies; as well for adverſity as for proſperity, as well for frowns, as for ſmiles, &c. becauſe he judges himſelf unworthy of the leaſt rebukes from God.Isa 58:2Isa 58:7Luke 7:4Luke 7:5Luke 7:6Luke 7:7Job 13:25a fullneſſe of Abundance, and a fullneſſe of redundancy, and here his ſoul lives and feeds. An humble ſoul ſees that all his ſtock is in the hands of Chriſt; p. 12his ſtock of Graces, his ſtock of Comforts, his ſtock of experiences are in the hands of Jeſus Chriſt, who is the Great Lord Keeper of all a Believers Graces, and of all his Comforts, and therefore as Children live upon them in whoſe hand their ſtock is, be it a Brother or a Friend: Why, ſo an humble ſoule, ſees its ſtock is in the hand of the Lord Jeſus, and therefore he lives upon Chriſt, upon his love, and his proviſion, and his undertakings, &c. But now proud hearts live not upon the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, they live upon themſelves, and upon their owne duties, their owne righteouſneſſe, their owne actings, as the Scripture evidences. Chriſt dwells in that heart moſt eminently, that hath emptied it ſelfe of it ſelfe. Chriſt is the humble mans Manna, upon which he lives, and by which he thrives.

A ſixth Property of an humble ſoule is this, He judges himſelfe to be below the wrath and judgements of God. An humble ſoule looks upon himſelfe as one not worthy that God ſhould ſpend a rodd upon him, in order to his reformation, edification, or ſalvation. As I am unworthy, ſaith an humble ſoule, that God ſhould ſmile upon me, ſo I am unworthy that he ſhould ſpend a frowne upon me. Job 13. 25. Wilt thou break a leafe driven too and fro? and wilt thou purſue the dry ſtubble? Why I am but a leaf, I am but a little dry ſtubble, I am below thy wrath, I am ſo very, very bad, that I wonder that thou ſhouldſt ſo much as ſpend a rod upon me. What more weak, worthleſſe, ſlight, and contemptible then a leafe? then dry ſtubble? why Lord, ſayes Job, I am a poor, weak, and worthleſſe Creature, I wonder that thou ſhouldſt take any paines to doe me good, I can't but count and call every thing a mercy that is leſſe then hell.

So David, in 1 Sam. 24. 14. After whom is the King of Iſrael come out? after whom doſt thou purſue? after a dead Dogg, after a Flea. The language of a humble ſoule when God begins to be angry, is this, Lord I can bleſſe thee that thou wilt take any paines with me; but I humbly acknowledge that I am below the leaſt rodd, I am not worthy that thou ſhouldſt frowne upon me, threaten me, ſtrike me, or whip me, for my internall and eternall good. But proud hearts think p. 13themſelves wronged when they are afflicted, they cry out with Cain, Our puniſhment is greater then we can beare.Gen. 4. 13. 7 Property.Gen 4:13Gen 4:7

Another Property of an humble ſoule is this, An humble ſoule doth highly prize the leaſt of Chriſt. The leaſt ſmile, the leaſt good word, the leaſt good look, the leaſt truth, the leaſt mercy is highly valued by an humble ſoule.

The Cananitiſh woman in the 15 of Matthew, ſets a high Verſ. 27. Faith will pick an Argument out of a repulſe, and turn diſcouragements into incouragements. Luther would not take all the world for one leaf of the Bible, ſuch a price he ſet upon it, from the ſweet that he found in it. Song 1. 3. John 10. 4, 5. Pſal. 27. 4. Mat. 9. 20. 21. Acts 24. 14. 1 Cor. …9. 22. Auſtin loved Tully before his Co…verſion, but not ſo much after (quia nomen Jeſu non erat ibi) becauſe the name of Chriſt was not there. 8 Property.Song 1Ps 27:4Matt 9:20Matt 9:21Acts 24:141 Cor 9:22price upon a crum of mercy. Ah Lord, ſayes the humble ſoul, if I may not have a loaf of mercy, give me a piece of mercy? if not a piece of mercy, give me a crum of mercy? If I may not have Sun-light, let me have Moon-light? if not Moonlight, let me have ſtar-light? if not ſtar-light, let me have candle-light? and for that I will bleſſe thee.

In the time of the Law, the meaneſt things that were conſecrated, were very highly prized, as leather, or wood that was in the Tabernacle. An humble ſoule looks upon all the things of God as Conſecrated things. Every truth of God is a conſecrated truth, 'tis conſecrated to a holy uſe, and this cauſes the ſoule highly to prize it; and ſo every ſmile of God, and every diſcovery of God, and every drop of mercy from God, is very highly priſed by a ſoule that walks humbly with God. The name of Chriſt, the voyce of Chriſt, the foot-ſteps of Chriſt, the leaſt touch of the Garment of Chriſt, the leaſt regarded truth of Chriſt, the meaneſt and leaſt regarded among the flock of Chriſt, is highly prized by humble ſoules that are intereſted in Chriſt. An humble ſoule cannot, an humble ſoul dares not call any thing litrle that ha's Chriſt in it; neither can an humble ſoule call or count any thing great, wherein he ſees not Chriſt, wherein he enjoyes not Chriſt. An humble ſoule highly prizes the leaſt nodd, the leaſt love-token, the leaſt courteſie from Chriſt; but proud hearts count great mercies ſmall mercies, and ſmall mercies, no mercies; yea pride do's ſo unman them, that they often call mercy, miſery, &c.

The eighth Property of an humble ſoule is this, It can never be good enough; it can never pray enough, nor hear enough, nor mourne enough, nor believe enough, nor love enough, nor feare enough, nor joy enough, nor repent enough, nor loath ſin enough, nor be humble enough, &c.

p. 14Humble Paul looks upon his great all as nothing at all, he Phil. 3. 11, 12, 13, 14. foreign, it ſignifies … ſtraining of the whole body, a ſtretching out head and hands, as runners in a race do, to lay hold on the mark or price propoſed. Pſal 10. 17. Deſires. Iaavath, from Avah, that ſignifies ſo to deſire and long after a thing, as to ha…e ones teeth water at it; ſo in Mic. 7. 1. But proud hearts ſit downe and pride themſelves & bleſſe themſelves as if they had attained to much, when hev have attain'd to nothing that can raiſe them above the loweſt ſtep of miſery. Rev. 3. 17. Iſa. 65. 5. Lu. 18. 11, 12Phil 3:11Phil 3:12Phil 3:13Phil 3:14Ps 10:17Mic 7:1Rev 3:17Isa 65:5forgets thoſe things that are behind, and reaches forth to thoſe things which are before, That if by any means he might attaine unto the reſurrection of the dead; that is, that perfection of holineſſe which the dead ſhall attaine unto in the morning of the reſurrection; by a Metonomie of the ſubject for the adjunct.

No holineſſe below that matchleſſe, peerleſſe, ſpotleſſe, perfect holineſſe that Saints ſhall have in the glorious day of Chriſts appearing, will ſatisfie this humble ſoule. An humble heart is an aſpiring heart, he can't be contented to get up ſome rounds in Jacobs Ladder, but he muſt get to the very top of the Ladder, to the very top of holineſſe. An humble heart can't be ſatisfied with ſo much Grace as will bring him to glory, with ſo much of Heaven as will keep him from dropping into Hell, he is ſtill a crying out, Give Lord give, give me more of thy ſelfe, more of thy Son, more of thy Spirit, give me more light, more life, more love, &c. Caeſar in warlike matters, minded more what was to conquer, then what was conquered; what was to gaine, then what was gained: So does an humble ſoule mind more what he ſhould be, then what he is, what is to be done, then what is done. Verily Heaven is for that man, and that man is for Heaven, that ſets up for his mark the perfection of holineſſe. Poor men are full of deſires, they are often a ſighing it out, O! that we had bread to ſtrengthen us, drink to refreſh us, cloths to cover us, friends to viſit us, and houſes to ſhelter us, &c. So ſouls that are ſpiritually poore, they are often a ſighing it out, O! that we had more of Chriſt to ſtrengthen us, more of Chriſt to refreſh us, more of Chriſt to be a covering and ſhelter to us, &c. I had rather, ſayes the humble ſoule, be a poor man and a rich Chriſtian, then a rich man and a poor Chriſtian. Lord ſayes the humble ſoule, I had rather doe any thing, I had rather bear any thing, I had rather be any thing, then to be a Dwarſe in Grace. The light and glory of humble Chriſtians riſes by degrees, Cant. 6. 1. 1. Looking forth as the morning, with a little light. 2 Faire as the Moon, more light. 3 Clear as the Sun, i. e. Come up to a higher degree of ſpirituall light, life, p. 15and glory. Lord ſayes the humble ſoule, give me much grace, and then a little gold will ſerve my turne, give me much of Heaven, and a little of earth will content me; give me much of the Springs above, and a little of the Springs below will ſatiſfie me, &c.

The ninth Property of an humble ſoule is this, It will ſmite 9 Property. 1 Sam. 24. …. foreign1 Sam 24and ſtrike for ſmall ſins, as well as for great: For thoſe the world count no ſins, as well as for thoſe that they count groſſe ſinnes.

When David had but cut off the lap of Sauls garment, his A good mans heart when kindly awakened, may ſmite him for thoſe actions that at fi…ſthe judged very prudent and politick. How great a paine not to be born c…ms from the prick of this ſmall thorne. Little ſinnes have put ſeverall to their wits ends, when they have been ſet home upon their conſciences.heart ſmote him as if he had cut off his head. The Hebrew word ſignifies to ſmite, wound, or chaſtize. Ah! his heart ſtruck him, his heart chaſtiſed him, his heart wounded him for cutting off Sauls ſkirt, though he did it upon noble grounds, viz. to convince Saul of his falſe jealouſies, and to evidence his owne innocency and integrity. And ſo, at another time, his heart ſmote him for numbring the people, as if he had murdered the people, 2 Sam. 24. 10. And Davids heart ſmote him, after that he had numbred the people; and David ſaid unto the Lord, I have ſinned greatly in that I have done: And now I beſeech thee, O Lord, take away the iniquity of thy ſervant, for I have done very fooliſhly. An humble ſoule knowes that little ſins (if I may ſo call any) coſt Chriſt his blood, and that they make way for greater; and that little ſins multiplied become great, as a little ſum multiplied is great; that they cloud the face of God, wound conſcience, grieve the ſpirit, rejoyce Satan, and make work for Repentance, &c. An humble ſoule knows that little ſins (ſuppoſe them ſo) are very dangerous; a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump; a little ſtaffe may kill one, a little poyſon may poyſon one, a little leak in a ſhip, ſinkes it; a little Flye in the box of Ointment ſpoyles it; a little flaw in a good cauſe, marres it: So a little ſin may at once barre the door of Heaven, and open the gates of Hell; and therefore an humble ſoule ſmites and ſtrikes it ſelfe for the leaſt, as well as the greateſt. Though a head of Garlike be little, yet it will poyſon the Leopard, though he be great. Though a Mouſe is but little, yet it will kill an Elephant, if he gets up into his Trunk. Though the Scorpion be p. 16little, yet it will ſting a Lyon to death; and ſo will the leaſt ſin, if not pardoned by the death of Chriſt.

A proud heart counts great ſins ſmall, and ſmall ſins no ſins, and ſo diſarmes Conſcience (for a time) of its whipping and wounding power; but at death, or in Hell, conſcience will take up an iron rod, with which it will laſh the ſinner for ever; and then, though too late, the ſinner ſhall acknowledge his little ſins to be very great, and his great ſins to be exceeding grievous and odious, &c.

The tenth Property of an humble ſoule is this, It will quietly 10 Property Pſal. 39. 9. foreign from Alam, which ſignifies to be mute or tongue-tied. Lev. 10. 1, 2, 3 Vaiidem, from Clam am, w^ch ſignifies the quietneſſe of the mind, the troubled affections being allayed. 1 Sam. 3. 11-19. 2 Sam. 16. 5-14. Galleſius obſerves upon Exod. 22. 28. the exceeding patience of thoſe three Emperours, Theodoſius, Honorius, and Arcadius, towards thoſe that ſpoke evill of them.Ps 39:9Lev 10:1Lev 10:2Lev 10:31 Sam 3:11–192 Sam 16:5–14Exod 22:28bear burdens, and patiently take blowes and knocks, and make no noiſe. An humble ſoule ſees God through man, he ſees God through all the actions and carriages of men. I was dumb (ſaith the Prophet) I opened not my mouth, becauſe thou didſt it. An humble ſoule looks through ſecondary cauſes, and ſees the hand of God, and then layes his owne hand upon his mouth. An humble ſoule is a mute ſoule, a tonguetied ſoule, when he looks through ſecondary cauſes, to the ſupream cauſe. So Aaron, when he ſaw his Sons ſuddenly ſurpriſed by a dreadfull and dolefull death, he held his peace, he bridled his paſſions, he ſits ſilent under a terrible ſtroke of Divine Juſtice, becauſe the fire that devoured them, went out from the Lord. So when Samuel had told Eli, that God would judge his houſe for ever, and that he had ſworn that the iniquity of his houſe ſhould not be purged with ſacrifice, nor offering for ever, &c. It is the Lord (ſayes Eli) let him doe what ſeemeth him good. Eli humbly and patiently layes his neck upon the block, it is the Lord, let him ſtrike, let him kill, &c. ſayes Eli.

So David; when Shimei manifeſted his deſperate fury and folly, malice and madneſſe, in raving and raging at him, in curſing and reproaching of him, ſayes he, Let him alone, and let him curſe, for the Lord hath bidden him. God (ſayes he) will by his wiſe providence turne his curſing into bleſſing. I ſee the Juſtice of God in his curſing, therefore let him alone, let him curſe, ſayes David.

Caſſianus reports, that when a certaine Chriſtian was held Captive by the Infidels, and tormented by divers paines, and p. 17ignominious taunts, being demanded by way of ſcorne and reproach, Tell us what Chriſt has done for you, anſwered, He Acts & Mon. fol. 811.hath done what you ſee, that I am not moved at all the cruelties and contumelies you caſt upon me.

So that bleſſed Martyr, Gyles of Bruſſells, when the Fryers By long ſoo thingour own wills, we have forſaken (as Caſſian ſaith) the very ſhadow of patience.(ſent to reduce him) did at any time miſcall him, he ever held his peace; inſomuch that thoſe wretches would ſay abroad, that he had a dumb Devil in him. Full Veſſels will bear many a knock, many a ſtroke, and yet make no noiſe: So Chriſtians that are full of Chriſt, that are full of the Spirit, will bare many a knock, many a ſtroke, and yet make no noiſe.

An humble ſoule may groan under afflictions, but he will not grumble in calmes. Proud hearts diſcourſe of patience, but in ſtormes humble hearts exerciſe patience. Philoſophers have much commended it, but in the houre of darkneſſe 'tis onelyonly the humble Chriſtian that acts it. I am afflicted, ſayes the humble ſoule, but 'tis mercy I am not deſtroyed: I am fallen into the pit, 'tis free-grace I am not fallen into Hell. God is too juſt to wrong me, and too gratious to harme me, and therefore I will be ſtill and quiet, let him doe what he will Iſa. 58. 1, 2, 3.Isa 58:1Isa 58:2Isa 58:3with me, ſayes the humble ſoule. But proud ſoules reſiſt when they are reſiſted, they ſtrike when they are ſtricken. Who is Non ſic deos coluimus aut ſic viximus, ut ille nos vinceret, ſaid the Emperour An onius Philoſophus.the Lord (ſayes lofty Pharoah) that I ſhould obey him? and Cain cryes out, My puniſhment is greater then I am able to beare. Well, remember this, though it be not eaſie in afflictions and tribulations to hold our peace, yet 'tis very advantagious; which the Heathens ſeemed to intimate, in placing the Image of Angeronia with the mouth bound, upon the Altar of Volupia; to ſhew, that thoſe that doe prudently and humbly conceale their ſorrowes and anxieties by patience, ſhall attaine comfort and refreſhment.

The eleventh Property of an humble ſoule, is this, In all 11 Property. John 14. 13. & Ch. 15. 16. & 16. 23, 26. The name of Jeſus hath a thouſandtreaſures of joy & comfort in it, ſaith Chryſoſtome. And is therefore uſ'd by Paul five hundred times, as ſome have reckoned.John 14:13Religious duties and ſervices, he trades with God upon the credit of Chriſt. Lord, ſayes the humble ſoule, I need power againſt ſuch and ſuch ſins, give it me upon the credit of Chriſts blood. I need ſtrength to ſuch and ſuch ſervices, give it me upon the credit of Chriſts word. I need ſuch and ſuch mercies for the p. 18cheering, refreſhing, quickening and ſtrengthening of me, give them into my boſome upon the credit of Chriſts interceſſion. As a poore man lives and deales upon the credites of others; ſo does an humble ſoule, live and deale with God, for the ſtrengthening of every grace, and for the ſupply of every mercy, upon the credit of the Lord Jeſus. An humble ſoul knows, that ſince he broke with God in Innocency, God will truſt him no more, he will take his word no more; and therefore when he goes to God for mercy, he brings his Benjamin, his Jeſus in his armes, and pleads for mercy upon the account of Jeſus.So Themyſtocles did, when he ſought the favour of K…: Admetus.

Plutarch reports, that 'twas wont to be the way of the Moloſſians, when they would ſeek the favour of their Prince, they took up the Kings Son in their armes, and ſo went and kneeled before the King, and by this means overcame him. So doe humble ſoules, make a conqueſt upon God, with Chriſt in The name of a Saviour, ſaith Bernard, is honey in the mouth, & muſick in the ear, & a Jubile in the heart. The boy that was a Monitor, cryed aloud to him that rode in Triumph, Memento te eſſe hominem, Remember thy ſelf to be a mantheir armes; the father will not give that ſoule the repulſe, that brings Chriſt in his armes. The humble ſoule knows, that God out of Chriſt is incommunicable, that God out of Chriſt is incomprehenſible, that God out of Chriſt is very terrible, and that God out of Chriſt is unacceſſible; and therefore he ſtill brings Chriſt with him, and preſents all his requeſts in his name, and ſo prevailes, &c. O but proud ſoules deal with God upon the credit of their owne worthineſſe, righteouſneſſe, ſervices, prayers, teares, faſtings, &c. as the proud Phariſees, and thoſe wrangling Hypocrites in Iſa. 58. 1, 2, 3.

'Twas a very proud ſaying of one (Coelum gratis non accipiam) I will not have Heaven, but at a rate; and therefore well did the Father call Vain-glory a pleaſant Thiefe, and the ſweet ſpoyler of ſpirituall excellencies.

The twelfth Property of an humble ſoul is this, It endeavours more, how to honour and glorifie God in afflictions, then how to get out of afflictions. So Daniel; the three Children; the Apoſtles; 12 Property. Dan 3. & ch. 6. Acts 5. 41, 42. Acts 4. 29. Heb. 11. Eph. 6. 19, 20. Phil. 1. 13, 19.Dan 3Acts 5:41Acts 5:42Acts 4:29Heb 11Eph 6:19Eph 6:20Phil 1:13Phil 1:19and thoſe worthies, of whom this world was not worthy; they were not curious about getting out of affliction, but ſtudious how to glorifie God in their afflictions. They were willing to be any thing, and to bear any thing, that in every thing God might be glorified. They made it their buſineſſe p. 19to glorifie God, in the fire, in the Priſon, in the Den, on the wrack, and under the ſword, &c. Lord ſayes the humble Prorſus Satan eſt Lutherus, ſed Chriſtus vivit & regnat, Amen; ſaid Luther, in writing to his friend Spalatinus.ſoule, doe but keep downe my ſins, and keep up my heart in a way of honouring of thee, under all my troubles, and then my troubles will be no troubles, my afflictions will be no afflictions. Though my burdens be doubled, and my troubles be multiplied, yet doe but help me to honour thee, by believing in thee, by waiting on thee, and by ſubmitting to thee, and I ſhall ſing care away, I ſhall ſay 'tis enough.

When Valens the Emperour ſent Meſſengers to win Euſcbius Happy is that ſoul, and to be equalled with Angels, who is willing to ſuffer, if it were poſſible, as great things for Chriſt, as Chriſt hath ſuffered for it, ſaid Jerome.to Hereſie by faire words and large promiſes; he anſwered, Alas Sir, theſe ſpeeches are fit to catch little Children that looke after ſuch things: but we that are taught, and nouriſhed by the holy Scriptures, are readier to ſuffer a thouſand deaths, then to ſuffer one ſyllable or tittle of the Scripture to be altered. And when the Emperour threatned to Confiſcate his Goods, to torment him, to baniſh him, or to kill him; he anſwered, He need not feare Confiſcation, that hath nothing to looſe; nor Baniſhment, to whom Heaven onelyonly is a Countrey; nor torments, when his body will be daſht with one blow; nor death, which is the onelyonly way to ſet him at liberty from ſinne and ſorrow. O but when a proud man is under troubles and afflictions, his head, and heart, are full of plots, and projects, how to get off his Chaines, and how to get out of the Furnace, &c. A proud heart will ſay any thing, and doe any thing, and be any thing, to free himſelfe from the burdens that preſſe him; as you ſee in Pharoah, &c. But an humble ſoule, is willing to Job 1. 20, 21.Job 1:20Job 1:21bear the croſſe, as long as he can get ſtrength from Heaven; to kiſſe the croſſe, to bleſſe God for the croſſe, and to glorifie God under the croſſe, &c.

The thirteenth Property of an humble ſoule, is this, It ſeeks 13 Property.not, it looks not after great things. A little will ſatisfie Nature, leſſe will ſatisfie Grace, but nothing will ſatisfie a proud Galen.mans Luſts. Lord, ſayes the humble ſoule, if thou wilt but give me bread to eat, and rayment to put on, thou ſhalt be Gen. 28. 20, 21, 22.Gen 28:20Gen 28:21Gen 28:22my God. Let the men of the world (ſayes the humble ſoul) take the world in all its greatneſſe and glory, and divide it Vir bonus pauis indiges.among themſelves; let me have much of Chriſt and Heaven p. 20in my heart, and food convenient to ſupport my naturall life, Pſal. 4. 6, 7. Prov 30. 8. Luther … made many a meale of a Herring. And …unius of an Egge.Ps 4:6Ps 4:7Prov 30:8and it ſhall be enough. Job 22. 29. When men are caſt down, then thou ſhalt ſay there is lifting up: And he ſhall ſave the humble perſon, or as the Hebrew hath it (Ne ſhahh gnenaim) Him that hath low eyes: Nothing to us, that an humble ſoule looks not after high things. So in Pſal. 131. 1, 2. Lord my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: (But how doe you know that David? why ſayes he) I doe not exerciſe my ſelfe in great matters, or in things too high, or too wonderfull for me. foreignSurely, I behaved and quieted my ſelfe. Hebr. My ſoule is as a Child that is weaned of his mother: My ſoule is even as a weaned Child. As a great ſhooe fits not a little foot, nor a great ſaile a little ſhip, nor a great ring a little finger; ſo a great eſtate fits not an humble ſoule.

It was a prudent ſpeech of that Indian King Taxiles, to the invading Alexander; What ſhould we need (ſaid he) to Plutarch.fight and make war one with another, if thou comeſt not to take away our water and our neceſſaries by which we muſt live—as for other Goods, if I be richer then thou, I am ready to give thee of mine; and if I have leſſe, I will not think ſcorne to thank thee if thou wilt give me ſome of thine. Oh but proud Abſalom, can't be content to be the Kings Son, unleſſe he may have the Crowne preſently, from his Fathers head. Caeſar can abide no Superiour; nor Pompey an equall. A proud ſoule is content with nothing.

A Crowne could not content Ahab, but he muſt have Naboths Vineyard, though he ſwim to it in blood. Diogenes had more content with his Tub, to ſhelter him from the injuries of the weather, and with his wooden diſh, to eat and drink in; then Alexander had, with the Conqueſt of halfe the world; and the fruition of all the treaſures, pleaſures, and glories of Aſia. So an humble ſoule is more contented and ſatiſfied with Daniel's pulſe, and John's Coat, then proud Princes are, with their gliſtering Crownes, and golden Scepters.

The fourteenth Property of an humble ſoule is this, It can 14 Property.rejoyce in the graces and gracious actings of others, as well as in its owne. An humble Moſes could ſay, when Eldad and Medad Prophecied in the Camp, Would God that all the Lords p. 21people were Prophets, and that the Lord would put his Spirit upon Numb. 11. 26-30.Num 11:26–30them. So humble Paul in Acts 26. 29. And Paul ſaid, I would to God, that not onelyonly thou, but alſo all that hear me this foreign. A little, and a g…eat way.day, were both almoſt and altogether ſuch as I am, except theſe bonds. I heartily wiſh and pray for thine owne ſake, that, not onelyonly in a low, but in an eminent degree, both thou and all that are here preſent, were as far Chriſtians as I am: OnelyOnly, I The Ancient Church had her Dipty…hs, or publick tables, wherein the pe…ſons moſt noted for piety, were recorded. Plato called Ariſtotle the Intelligent Reader… and Ariſtotle ſet up an Altar in honour of Plato.would not wiſh them Impriſoned, as I am. An humble ſoule is no churle, there is no envy in ſpirituall things, one may have as much of ſpirituals as another, and all alike. So in 1 Theſſ. 1. 2, 3. We give thanks to God alwayes for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; Remembring without ceaſing your worke of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, in the ſight of God and our father. So in the 2 Epiſtle, 1. 2, 3, 4. Grace be unto you, and peace from God our father, and the Lord Jeſus Chriſt. We are bound to thanke God alwayes for you, brethren, as it is meet, becauſe that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all towards each other aboundeth: So that we our ſelves glory in you, in the Churches of God, for your patience and faith in all your perſecutions and tribulations that you endure. Ezekiel can commend Daniel, his contemporary; matching him with Noah, Ezek. 14. 14. 2 Pet. 3. &c.Ezek 14:142 Pet 3and Job, for his power in prayer. And Peter highly praiſes Pauls Epiſtles, though he had been ſharply reproved in one of them. Oh! but proud ſoules, will be ſtill a caſting diſgrace and contempt, upon thoſe excellencies in others, that they want Caeſar B…rg… a emulating & imitating Julius Caeſar, uſed to ſay, Aut Caeſar, aut nullut. But not long after he was ſlaine in the Kingdome of Navarre.in themſelves.

A proud Cardinall, in Luthers time, ſaid, Indeed a reformation is needfull, and to be deſired, but that Luther, a raſcally Fryer, ſhould be the man ſhould doe it, is intollerable. Pride, is like certaine Flies, called Cantharides, who light eſpecially, upon the faireſt wheat, and the moſt blown Roſes.

Though Licinius (who was joyned with Galerius in the Empire) was ſo ignorant that he could not write his owne name, yet as Euſebius reports, he called the Liberall Arts a publick poyſon.

This age is full of ſuch Monſters, that envy every light that outſhines their owne, and that throw dirt upon the graces p. 22and excellencies of others, that themſelves may onelyonly ſhine. Pride is notable, both at Subſtraction, and at Multiplication. A proud heart alwayes prizes himſelfe above the Market; he reckons his owne pence for pounds, and others pounds for pence; he looks upon his owne Counters as gold, and upon others gold as Counters. All Pearles are counterfeit, but what he wears.

The fifteenth Property of an humble ſoul, is, He will rather 15 Property. Pſal 94. 1. Rom. 12. 19. I maytruly ſay of thehumble ſoul, what Tul ly ſaid of Caeſar, Nihil obli viſci ſolet, niſi injurias; that he forgot nothing but injuries.Ps 94:1Rom 12:19bear wrongs, then revenge wrongs offered. The humble ſoule knowes that Vengeance is the Lords, and that he will repay, &c, The humble ſoule loves not to take the ſword into his owne hand; he knowes the day is a coming, wherein the Lord will give his Enemies two blowes for one, and here he reſts. An humble ſoule, when wrongs are offered, is like a man with a ſword in one hand, and a ſalve in the other; could wound, but will heale. Pſal. 35. 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16. Falſe witneſſes did riſe up, they laid to my charge things that I knew not. They rewarded me evill for good, to the ſpoiling of my ſoule. But as for me, when they were ſick, my clothing was ſackcloth. I humbled my ſoule with faſting, and my prayer returned into my owne A…guſtus Caeſar (in whoſe time Chriſt was born) bid Catullus the …ai…ing Poet, to ſupper, to ſhew that he had forgiven him.boſome. I behaved my ſelfe, as though he had been my friend, or brother. I bowed downe heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother, &c. The Scripture abounds in inſtances of this nature.

Dyoniſius, having not very well uſed Plato at the Court, when he was gone, fearing leaſt he ſhould write againſt him, he ſent after him to bid him not to write againſt him: Sayes he, Tell Dyoniſius that I have not ſo much leiſure as to think of him. So humble, wronged ſoules, are not at leiſure, to think of the wrongs, and injuries that others doe them.

Mr. Fox, that wrote the Book of Martyrs, would be ſure to doe him a kindneſſe, that had done him an injury: So that it uſed to be a Proverb, If a man would have Mr. Fox doe him a kindneſſe, let him doe him an injury. An humble ſoule, is often in looking over the wrongs and injuries that he ha's done to God, and the ſweet and tender carraiage of God towards him, notwithſtanding thoſe wrongs and injuries; and this wins him, and works him to be more willing and ready to beare p. 23wrongs, and forgive wrongs, then to revenge any offered wrongs.

The ſixteenth Property of an humble ſoule is this, An humble ſoule, though he be of never ſo rare abilities; yet he will not 16 Property. Iſa. 11. 6.Isa 11:6diſdaine to be taught what he knowes not, by the meaneſt perſons. A Child ſhall lead the humble ſoule in the way that is good, he cares not how mean and contemptible the perſon is, if a guide, or an inſtructer to him.

Apollo, an Eloquent man, and mighty in the Scripture, a Maſter in Iſrael, yet ſits by an Aquilla, a Tent-maker, and Vide Beza on the words.Priſcilla his wife, to be inſtructed by them, Acts 18. 24, 25, 26. Sometimes the pooreſt, and the meaneſt Chriſtian, may, for counſel, and comfort, be a God to another; as Moſes was to Aaron. As an humble ſoule knowes, that the Starres have their ſcituation in Heaven, though ſometimes he ſees them by their reflection in a puddle, in the bottome of a well, or in a ſtinking ditch: So he knowes that godly ſoules, though never ſo poor, low, and contemptible, as to the things of this world, Epheſ. 2. 6.Eph 2:6are fixt in Heaven, in the Region above; and therefore their poverty, and meanneſſe, is no bar to hinder him from learning of them.

Though John was poor in the world, yet many humble ſouls did not diſdaine, but rejoyce in his Miniſtry. Chriſt lived poor, and dyed poor, Mat. 8. 20. As he was borne in another mans houſe, ſo he was buried in another mans Tomb. Auſtin obſerves, when Chriſt dyed, he made no will, he had no Crown-lands, onelyonly his Coat was left, and that the Souldiers parted among them; and yet thoſe that were meek and lowly in heart, counted it their Heaven, their happineſſe, to be taught and inſtructed by him.

The ſeventeenth Property of an humble ſoule is this, 17 Property. Tully calls gra…tude, Maximam, imo ma…em omnium virtutum reliquarum. The greateſt, yea the mother of all virtues.An humble ſoule will bleſſe God, and be thankefull to God, as well under miſery, as under mercy: As well when God frownes, as when he ſmiles, as well when God takes, as when he gives; as well under croſſes and loſſes, as under bleſſings and mercies. Job 1. 21. The Lord gives, and the Lord takes, bleſſed be the name of the Lord. He doth not cry out upon the Sabeans, and the Chaldeans, but p. 24he looks through all ſecondary Cauſes, and ſees the hand of The Jewes have a Prov: That we muſt leap up to Mount Gerizim, which was a Mount of Bleſſings: But creep into Mount Ebal, which was a Mount of Curſes. To ſhew, that we muſt be ready to bleſſe, but backward to curſe. An humble ſoule can extract one contrary out of another; honey out of the rock, gold out of iron, &c. Afflictions to humble ſouls are the Lords Plow, the Lords Harrow, the Lords Flaile, the Lords drawing Plaiſters, the Lords p…u…ing kniſe, the Lords Potion, the Lords Soap, and therefore they can ſit dowae and bleſſe the Lord, and kiſſe the rod.God; and then he layes his hand upon his owne heart, and ſweetly ſings it out, The Lord gives, and the Lord takes, bleſſed be the name of the Lord. An humble ſoule, in every condition, bleſſes God, as the Apoſtle commands, in the 1 Theſſ. 5. 18. In every thing, give thanks to God. So 1 Cor. 4. Being reviled, we bleſſe; being perſecuted, we ſuffer. The language of an humble ſoule is; If it be thy will, ſaith an humble ſoule, I ſhould be in darkneſſe, I will bleſſe thee; and if it be thy will, I ſhould be againe in light, I will bleſſe thee; If thou wilt comfort me, I will bleſſe thee; and if thou wilt afflict me, I will bleſſe thee; if thou wilt make me poor, I will bleſſe thee; if thou wilt make me rich, I will bleſſe thee; if thou wilt give me the leaſt mercy, I will bleſſe thee; if thou wilt give me no mercy, I will bleſſe thee. An humble ſoul is quickſighted, he ſees the rod in a fathers hand; he ſees honey upon the top of every twigg, and ſo can bleſſe God; he ſees Sugar at the bottome of the bittereſt cup, that God doth put into his hand; he knowes, that Gods Houſe of Correction, is a School of Inſtruction; and ſo he can ſit downe, and bleſſe, when the rodd is upon his back. An humble ſoule knowes, that the deſigne of God in all, is his Inſtruction, his Reformation, and his Salvation.

It was a ſweet ſaying of holy Bradford, If the Queen will give me my life, I will thank her; if ſhe will Baniſh me, I will thank her; if ſhe will burne me, I will thank her; if ſhe will condemne me to perpetuall impriſonment, I will thank her. I, this is the temper of an humble heart. An humble ſoule knowes, that to bleſſe God in proſperity, is the way to increaſe it; and to bleſſe God in adverſity, is the way to remove it. An humble ſoule knowes, that if he bleſſes God under mercies, he hath paid his debt; but if he bleſſes God under croſſes, he hath made God a debtor. But oh the pride of mens hearts, when the rod is upon their backs! You have many Profeſſors, that are ſeemingly humble, while the Sun ſhines, while God gives, and ſmiles, and ſtroakes; but when his ſmiles are turned into frownes, when he ſtrikes, and layes on, oh the murmurings! the diſputings! the frettings! and p. 25wranglings of proud ſoules, they alwayes kick when God ſtrikes.

The laſt Property of an humble ſoule, is this, An humble 18 Property.ſoule will wiſely and patiently bear reproof. Prov. 25. 12. As an ear-ring of gold, and an Ornament of fine gold. ſo is a wiſe reprover upon an obedient ear. A ſeaſonable reproof falling upon an humble ſoule, hath a redoubled Grace with it. It is as an ear-ring of gold; and as an Ornament of fine gold, or as a Diamond in a Diadem,

An humble David can ſay, Let the righteous ſmite me, it ſhall be a kindneſſe; and let him reprove me, it ſhall be an excellent Pſal. 14. 5. Oyle is here Metaphorically taken for wo…ds of rep…o…f, w^th …ay be ſaid (figura…ively) to breake the head, vide Job 19 2. foreignPs 14:5Job 19:2Oyle, which ſhall not break my head. David compares the faithfull reproof of the righteous, to the excellent Oyle that they uſed about their heads. Some Tranſlate it, Let it never ceaſe from my head: That is, let me never want it; and ſo the Originall will bear too, I would never want reproofs whatſoever I want. But yet my prayer ſhall be in their calamities, I will requite their reproofs with my beſt prayers, in the day of their Calamity, ſaith David: Whereas a proud heart will neither pray for ſuch, nor with ſuch as reprove them, but in their calamities will moſt inſult over them.

Some Tranſlate it more emphatically, The more they doe, the more I ſhall think my ſelfe bound unto them. And this was In vit Jo. Gerſ. So Alipius loved Auſtin for reproving him. So did David, Nathan, 1 Kings 1. 2 Sam. 12. 12, 13. & 24. 13, 14 That's a choyce and …ender ſpirit, that can meekly & humbly imbrace re…roofs, and bleſſe God ſor reproofs.1 Kgs 12 Sam 12:122 Sam 12:132 Sam 24:132 Sam 24:14Gerſomes diſpoſition, of whom it is recorded, That he rejoyced in nothing more then if he were freely and friendly reproved by any. Prov. 9. 8, 9. Rebuke a wiſe man, and he will love thee; give inſtruction to a wiſe man. and he will be yet wiſer. Prov. 19. 25. Reprove one that hath underſtanding, and he will underſtand knowledge. You know how ſweetly David carries it towards Abigall, 1 Sam. 25. 32, 33. ſhee wiſely meets him, and puts him in mind of what he was going about, and he falls a bleſſing of her preſently. Bleſſed be the Lord God of Iſrael, which ſent thee this day to meet me; and bleſſed be thy advice, and bleſſed be thou which haſt kept me this day from coming to ſhed blood. I was reſolved in my paſſion, and in the heat of my ſpirit, that I would not leave a man alive, but bleſſed be God, and bleſſed be thy Counſel. An humble ſoule can ſit downe, and bleſſe God, under reproofs. An p. 26humble ſoule is like the Scythian King that went naked in the ſnow; and when Alexander wondered how he could endure it; he anſwered, I am not aſhamed, for I am all forehead. Manaſſes King of Jud…h, being reproved by the Aged Princely Prophet Iſaiah, cauſed him neare to the Fountaine of Silce, to be ſawen in ſunder with a wooden Saw, in the eightieth yeare oſ his age. For which cruell fact, amongſt other of his ſinnes, he was ſorely puniſhed by God, 2 Chron. 33. 11 So Cambyſes King of Perſia hated Prexaſpes, one of his Nobles that was familiar with him, for reproving his drunkenneſſe.2 Chr 33:11An humble ſoule is all forehead, able to bear reproves, with much wiſedome and patience. Oh! but a proud heart cannot bear reproofs, he ſcornes the Reprover, and his Reproofs too.

Prov. 15. 12. A ſcorner loveth not one that reproveth him, neither will he goe unto the wiſe. Amos 5. 10. They hate him that reproveth in the gate; as Ahab did good Micaiah; and Herod did John Baptiſt, and the Phariſees our Saviour, Luke 16. 13. Chriſt being to deale with the covetous Scribes and Phariſees, he layes the Law home, and tels them plainly, that they could not ſerve God, and Mammon. Here Chriſt ſtrikes at their right eye; but how doe they bear this? mark in the 14 verſe, The Phariſees alſo, who were covetous, heard all theſe things, and they derided him. The Phariſees did not ſimply laugh at Chriſt, but gave alſo externall ſignes of ſcorne, in their countenance and geſtures. **Exemukterizon, they blowed their noſe at him, manifeſting thereby their ſcorning at what he ſaid. Exod. 2. 13, 14Exod 2:13Exod 2:14They blew their noſe at him, for that's the meaning of the Originall word. By their geſtures they did demonſtrate their horrid deriding of him; they fleared and jeared, when they ſhould have feared and trembled, at the wrath to come. In Iſa. 28. 10. For precept muſt be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little. One obſerves, that that was a ſcoff put upon the Prophet; and is as if they ſhould ſay, Here is nothing but precept upon precept, line upon line: And indeed the very ſound of the words in the Original, carries a taunt (Zau le zau, kau lakau) as ſcornfull people, by the tone of their voyce, and riming words, ſcorne at ſuch as they deſpiſe. Pride, and paſſion, and other vices, in theſe dayes, goe armed, touch them never ſo gently, yet, like the nettle, they will ſting you; and if you deale with them roundly, roughly, cuttingly, as the Apoſtle ſpeaks, they will ſwagger with you, as the Hebrew did with Moſes, Who made thee a Judge over us?

And thus much for the Properties of an humble ſoule.

I come now to the next thing, and that is, to ſhew you the p. 27Reaſons, why the beſt men are the moſt humble men.

Firſt, Becauſe they ſee themſelves the greateſt debtors to God, 1 Reaſon.for what they doe enjoy.

There's no man on Earth that ſees himſelfe ſuch a debtor to God, as the humble man. Every ſmile makes him a debtor to God; and every good word from Heaven makes him a When a Knight died at Rome, that was much in debt, Auguſtus the Emperour ſent to buy his bed, concei…ing that there muſt needs be ſome extraordinary vertue in it, it he that was ſo much in debt, could take any reſt upon it. An humble ſoul ſees hi… ſelf ſo much in debt for mercies in hand, and mercies in hope, that he can't ſleep without bleſſing and admiring of God. I have read of a Stork that caſt a pearle into the boſome of a Maid which had healed her of a wound: So humble ſouls caſt the pearl of praiſe into the boſome of God for all his favours towards …hem. Guc. Hiſt. l. 4. 2 Reaſon.debtor to God; he looks upon all his temporals, as health, wealth, Wife, Child, Friend, &c. and ſees himſelfe deeply indebted for all: He looks upon his ſpirituall mercies, and ſees himſelfe a great debtor to God for them; he looks upon his Graces, and ſees himſelfe a debtor for them; he looks upon his Experiences, and ſees himſelfe a debtor for them; he looks upon all his priviledges, and ſees himſelfe a debtor for them; he looks upon hi… incomes, and ſees himſelfe a debtor for them: The more mercy he hath received, the more he looks upon himſelfe indebted, and obliged, to pay duty and tribute to God, as you may ſee in Pſal. 116. 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14 verſes compared. In the 6, 7, 8 verſes, he tels you of the mercies he had received from God, and in the 12 & 13 verſes, ſayes he, What ſhall I render to the Lord, for all his benefits towards me? I ſee my ſelfe (ſaith he) wonderfully indebted; well, what then? why, I will take the cup of ſalvation, and call upon the name of the Lord; I will pay my vowes unto the Lord, in the preſence of all his people, &c. The ſame you have in the 16, 17, & 18 verſes, of the ſame Pſalme.

So David, Pſal. 103. 1, 2, 3, 4. caſts his eyes upon his temporall, and his ſpirituall mercies, and then cals upon his ſoule, O my ſoule bleſſe the Lord, and all that is within me, bleſſe his holy name. Bleſſe the Lord, O my ſoule, and forget not all his benefits. Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diſeaſes, &c. An humble ſoule knowes, that 'tis a ſtrange folly to be proud of being more in debt, then another. 'Tis true, ſaith he, I have this and that mercy, in poſſeſſion; and ſuch and ſuch mercies, in reverſion; but by all, I am the more a debtor to God.

Caeſar admired at that mad Souldier, who was very much in debt, and yet ſlept ſo quietly: So do's an humble ſoule wonder and admire, to ſee men that are ſo much indebted to God, p. 28for mercies (as many are) and yet ſleep ſo quietly, and be ſo mindleſſe, and careleſſe, in bleſſing and praiſing of God. There is nothing (ſaith one) that endures ſo ſmall a time, as the memory of mercies received; and the more great they are, the more commonly they are recompenced with ingratitude.

Secondly, it is Becauſe in this life they have but a taſt of God.

In the 1 Pet. 2. 2, 3. As new borne Babes, deſire the ſincere milke of the word, that ye may grow thereby. If ſo be ye have taſted that the Lord is gratious. The beſt of men on this ſide Heaven, have but a taſt; he is but in a taſting, deſiring, hungring, thirſting, and growing condition. Job 26. ult. Theſe are part of his wayes, but how little a portion is heard of him? So in 1 Cor. 13. 9, 10, 12. We knew but in part, and we prophecy but in part; now we ſee through a glaſſe darkly; but then face to face. The Lord gives out but little of himſelfe here, we have but a taſt of Divine ſweetneſſe here; we ſee but the back parts of God; the day is not farr off, when we ſhall ſee his face. The beſt of Chriſt is behind, as the ſweeteſt Honey lies in the bottome. Our greateſt knowledge here, is to know that we know nothing.

The Rabbins, in their Comments upon Scripture, when they meet with hard knots that they cannot explicate, they Elias cum v… nerit ſolvet omnia.ſalve all with this, When Elias comes, he will reſolve all things. The beſt men are in the dark, and will be in the dark, till the Lord comes to ſhine forth upon them in more grace and glory. The beſt men on this ſide Heaven, are narrow Veſſels, they are able to receive and take in but little of God. The beſt men are ſo full of the world. and the vanities thereof, that they are able to take in but little of God. Here God gives his people ſome taſts that they may not faint; and he gives them but a taſt, that they may long to be at home; that they may keep humble; that they may ſet looſe from things below; that they may not break and deſpiſe bruiſed reeds; and that Heaven may be the more ſweet to them at laſt, &c.

A third reaſon why the beſt men are the moſt humble; and 3 Reaſon.that is, Becauſe the beſt men dwell more upon their wonſer part, p. 29their ignoble part, then they doe upon their noble part, their better part.

In Iſa. 6. 5. I am a man of unclean lips, ſaith that humble ſoule. So humble Job cryes out, of the iniquity of his youth; Job 13. 26. Job 40. 50.Job 13:26Job 40:50and ſayes he, Once have I ſpoken fooliſhly, yea twice, but I will doe ſo no more. Humble David, Pſal. 51. 3. ſighes it out, My ſin is ever before me. So humble Paul, Rom. 7. 22, 23. complaines, that he hath a law in his members, warring againſt the Law of his mind, and leading him captive to the Law of ſin; Ten…o in m…ia…ſ…rib… in Charta, ſed non habe… in vi…a. Aug.and that when he would doe good, evill was preſent with him. An humble ſoule ſees that he can ſtay no more from ſin, then the heart can from panting, and the pulſe from beating; he ſees his heart and life to be fuller of ſin, then the firmament is of Starres; and this keeps him low. He ſees that ſin is ſo bred in the bone, that till his bones, as Joſephs, be carried out of the Aegypt of this world, it will not out: He every day findes theſe Jebuſites and Canaanites to be as thornes in his eyes, and As Hagar would dwell with Sarah, til ſhe beat her out of doors, ſo will ſinne dwell with Grace till death-beat it out of doors.as goades in his ſides; he finds ſin an ill inmate, that will not out, till the houſe falleth on the head of it: As the fretting Leproſie, in the walls of the houſe, would not out, till the houſe it ſelfe was demoliſht—Though Sin and Grace were never borne together, and though they ſhall not dye together; yet while the Believer lives, theſe two muſt live together; and this keeps them humble.

As the Peacock looking upon his black feet, lets fall his Plumes: So the poore ſoule, when he looks upon his black feet, the vanity of his mind, the body of ſin that is in him, his This duplication (as well as the Ecce) is ſull of attention and admiration, and Chriſt by praiſing perfects his own work; for (Locutio verbi infuſio doni) to call her faire, is to make her ſo, &c.proud Spirit falls low.

Epiminondas an Athenian Captaine, being aſkt why he was ſo ſad the day after a great Victory; anſwered, Yeſterday I was tickled with much vaine glory, therefore I correct my ſelfe for it to day. That's the temper of an humble ſoule. 'Tis very obſervable, that the Saints are preſſed to take notice of their better part, Cant. 1. 15. Behold thou art faire my Love, behold thou art faire. And ſo, Chap. 4. 1. Behold thou art faire, behold thou art faire. God hath much adoe to get a gratious heart to mind his ſpirituall beauty, to take notice of the inward excellency that he hath wrought in it. Though the Kings p. 30Daughter be all glorious within, yet God hath much adoe to bring her to ſee and take notice of her inward beauty and glory: The humble ſoule is more ſet to eye and dwell upon its deformity, then it is upon that beauty and glory, that God hath ſtampt upon it: And this makes the man little and low in his owne eyes.

Fourthly, Becauſe they have the cleereſt ſight and viſion of 4 Reaſon.God, and have the neereſt and higheſt communion with God.

None on earth are ſo neere to God, and ſo high in their communion with God, as humble ſoules. And as they have the cleereſt Viſions of God, ſo thoſe actions of God give them the fulleſt ſight and knowledge of their owne ſinfullneſſe and nothingneſſe. So in Job 42. 4, 5. I have heard of thee with the hearing of the eare, but now mine eye hath ſeene foreign …rom foreign Which ſignifies to reject, to deſpiſe, to caſt of; o contemne.thee, I abhor my ſelfe in duſt and aſhes. Iſa. 6. 1. 5. In a Viſion the Lord diſcovers his glory to the Prophet, then verſ. 5. Woe is me (ſaith he) for I am undone (Or I am cut off) why? becauſe I am a man of uncleane lips, and have ſeene the King, the Lord of Hoſts. Oh the Viſion that I have had of the glory of God, hath given me ſuch a clear and full ſight of my owne vileneſſe and baſeneſſe, that I can't but loath and abhor my ſelfe. When Abraham drawes neer to God, then he accounts himſelfe but duſt and aſhes, Gen. 18. 26, 27. The Angels that are neere God, that ſtand before him, they cover their faces with two wings, as with a double Scarfe, in the 6 of Iſa. ver. 2.

The fifth and laſt Reaſon why thoſe are moſt humble that 5 Reaſon. As one fire, ſo one feare drives out another. As the Sunſhine puts out fire, ſo doth the feare of God, the fire of luſts.are moſt holy, is; Becauſe they maintaine in themſelves a holy feare of ſinning.

And the more this holy feare of falling is maintained, the more the ſoule is humbled. Prov. 14. 16. A wiſe man feareth, and departeth from evill. And Chap. 28. 14. Happy is the man that feareth alwayes, but he that hardeneth his heart, ſhall fall into miſchiefe. And this keepes the holy ſoule humble.

I have knowne a good old man, ſaith Bernard, who when he had heard of any that had committed ſome notorious offence, Ille hodie & ego cras.was wont to ſay with himſelfe, He fell to day, ſo may I p. 31to morrow. Now the Reaſon why humble ſoules doe keep up in themſelves a holy feare of falling, is; Becauſe this is the beſt to keep them from falling, Job feares, and conquers, on the dunghill: Adam preſumes, and falls, in Paradiſe. Nehemiah fears, and ſtands, Nehem. 5. 15. Peter preſumes, and falls, Mat. 26. Mr. Sanders (the Martyr) in Queene Mary's dayes, feares, and ſtands: Dr. Pendleton preſumes, and falls, from a Profeſſor, to be a Papiſt.

When Agamemnon ſaid, What ſhould the Conquerour feare? Caſander preſently anſwered, (Quod nihil timet) He ſhould feare this moſt of all, that he fears not at all.

And ſo I have done with the Reaſons of the point. I ſhall now come to the Uſes of it. And the firſt is this.

Is it ſo, that the moſt holy ſoules, are the moſt humble ſoules? Then this ſhewes you, That the number of holy ſoules Ʋſe.is very few. Oh how few be there that are low in their owne eyes! The number of ſoules that are high in the eſteeme of God, and low in their owne eſteem, are very few. Oh the pride of England! Oh the pride of London! Pride in theſe A proud heart reſiſts and is reſ…ſted, this is du…o du…um, flint to flint, fire to fire, yet downe he muſt.dayes ha's got a whores fore-head; yet pride cannot climb ſo high, but Juſtice will ſit above her.

Bernard ſaith, that Pride is the rich mans Couſen: I may add, And the poore mans Couſen; and the prophane mans Couſen; and the Civil mans Couſen; and the formall mans Couſen; and the Hypocrites Couſen; yea, all mens Couſen; and it will firſt or laſt caſt down, and caſt out all the Lucifers and Adams in the world.

Secondly, As you would approve your ſelves to be high in the account of God, as you would approve your ſelves to be not onelyonly good, but eminently good, Keep humble. Since England was England; ſince the Goſpel ſhined amongſt us, there was never ſuch reaſon to preſſe this duty of humility, as in theſe dayes of pride wherein we live; and therefore I ſhall endeavour theſe two things.

Firſt, to lay downe ſome Motives that may work you to be humble.

Secondly, to propound ſome Directions that may further you in this work.

p. 32Firſt, for the Motives: Conſider,

Firſt, how God ſingles out humble ſoules, from all others, ot 1 Motive.poure out moſt of the Oyle of Grace into their hearts.

No Veſſels that God delights to fill, like broken veſſels, like contrite ſpirits. Jam. 4. 6. He reſiſts the proud, and gives grace to the humble. The Greek word ſignifies, To ſet himſelfe An…itaſſetai.in battell array; God takes the winde and hill of a proud ſoule; but he gives grace to the humble. The ſilver dewes flow downe from the Mountaines, to the loweſt valleyes. Abraham was but duſt and aſhes in his owne eyes, I but ſaith Gen. 18. 17.Gen 18:17God, Shall I hide from Abraham, the thing that I will doe? No, I will not. An humble ſoule ſhall be both of Gods Court, and his Counſel too—Humble Jacob, that was in his Gen. 32. 10.Gen 32:10owne eyes, leſſe then the leaſt of all mercies, what a glorious Viſion had he of God; when the Ground was his Bed, and Gen. 28.Gen 28the Stone his Pillow, and the Hedges his Curtaines, and the Heavens his Canopie: Then he ſaw Angels aſcend and deſcend. An humble ſoule that iies low, O what ſights of God He that is in the low pits and caves oſ the earth, ſees the ſtarres in the fi…mament, when they who are upon the tops of the mountains diſcerne them not.hath he! what glory doth he behold? when the proud ſoule ſees nothing. God poures in grace to the humble, as men poure in liquor into an empty veſſel; he does not drop in grace into an humble heart, but he poures it in.

The Altar under the Law, was hollow, to receive the fire, the wood, and the Sacrifice: So the hearts of men, under the Goſpel, muſt be humble, empty of all ſprituall pride, and ſelf-conceitedneſſe, that ſo they may receive the fire of the Spirit, and Jeſus Chriſt, who offered himſelfe for a Sacrifice for our ſins.

Humility is both a Grace, and a veſſel to receive Grace. There's none that ſees ſo much need of grace, as humble ſouls; there's none priſes grace like humble ſoules; there's none improves grace like humble ſoules: Therefore God ſingles out the humble ſoule, to fill him to the brim with grace, when the proud is ſent empty away.

Secondly, Of all Garments, humility doth beſt become Chriſtians, 2 Motive.and moſt adorne their profeſſion.

Faith is the Champion of grace; and Love, the Nurſe; but Humility the beauty of grace. 1 Pet. 5. 5. Be clothed p. 33with humility. The Greek word imports, That Humility is foreign.the Ribbon, or ſtring, that tyes together all thoſe pretious Pearles, the reſt of the graces. If this ſtring break, they are all ſcattered.

The Greek word that is rendred, Cloathed, comes of another foreign.Greek word that ſignifies to knit, and tye knots, as delicate and curious women uſe to doe, of Ribbons, to adorne their heads and bodies; as if humility were the knot of every vertue, the grace of every grace. Chryſoſtome calls Humility, 'Tis reported of the Chriſtall that it hath ſuch a virtue in it, that the very touching of it quickens other ſtones, and puts a luſtre and beauty upon them; ſo does humility put a luſtre upon every grace.The Root, Mother, Nurſe, Foundation, and Band of all Virtue. Bazill calls it, The Store-houſe, and Treaſury of all good; For what's the ſcandall and reproach of Religion, at this day? nothing more then the pride of Profeſſors. Is not this the language of moſt? They are great Profeſſors, O but very proud; they are great hearers, they will run from Sermon, to Sermon, and cry up this man, and cry up that man, O but proud. They are great talkers, O but as proud as the Devil, &c. Oh that you would take the Counſel of the Apoſtle! Be cloathed with humility: And that, Col. 3. 12. Put on therefore as the Elect of God, holy and Beloved, Bowels of mercy, kindneſſe, humbleneſſe of mind, meekneſſe, long-ſuffering. No Robes to theſe.

The Third Motive is this, Humility is a Load-ſtone that 3 Motive.drawes both the heart of God and man to it.

In Iſa. 57. Thus ſaith the high and lofty one, that inhabiteth Eternity, whoſe name is holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him alſo that is of a contrite and humble ſpirit. The Lord ſingles out the humble ſoule, of all others, to make him an Habitation for himſelfe. Here is a wonder, God is on high, and yet the higher a man lifts up himſelfe, the farther he is from God: And the lower a man humbles himſelfe, the neerer he is to God. of all ſoules, God delights moſt to dwell with the humble; for they doe moſt prize and beſt improve his pretious preſence.

In Prov. 29. 23. A mans pride ſhall bring him low, but honour ſhall uphold the humble in ſpirit. Prov. 22. 4. By humility, and the feare of the Lord, are riches and honour, &c. The Hebrew is, The heele of humility: Riches and honour follow humility at the very heeles. One of the Ancients uſed to ſay, p. 34that Humility is the firſt, ſecond, and third Grace of a Chriſtian. Humility is a very drawing grace; it drawes men to think well, and ſpeak well, of Chriſt, the Goſpel, and the people of God: It makes the very world to ſay, I, theſe are V is magnus eſſe incipe ab im…. Wilt thou be great, begin from below, ſaith the Fath…r.Chriſtians indeed; they are full of light, and vet full of lowlineſſe; they are high in worth, and yet humble in heart: Oh theſe are the Crown, and the glory of Religion.

An humble ſoule is like the Violet, that by its fragrant ſmell, drawes the eye and the hearts of others, to him, Mat. 18. 14. They are the greateſt in the Ki…gdome of Heaven. He that is leaſt in his owne account, is alwayes greateſt in Gods, and in good mens account.

The fourth Motive is this, Conſider, All the world cannot 4 Motive.keep him up, that doth not keep down his owne ſpirit.

One ask't a Philoſopher, what God was a doing; he anſwered **Totam ipſius occupationem eſſe in elevatione, humilium & ſuperlorum dejectione.That his whole worke was to lift up the humble, and to caſt downe the proud. That man cannot poſſibly be kept up, whoſe ſpirit is not kept downe: as you may cleerly ſee in Pharoah, Haman, Herod, and Nebuchadnezzar; all the world could not keep them up, becauſe their ſpirit was not kept downe.

Prov. 29. 27. A mans pride ſhall bring him low; for it ſets God againſt him, and Angels againſt him, and men againſt him; yea, even thoſe that are as proud as himſelfe. Dyoniſius a proud King of Sicily, fell from a King to a Schoolmaſter. Hiſtory is full of ſuch inſtances.'Tis very obſervable, that whereas one Drunkard loves another, one Swearer loves another, and one Thief loves another, and one Unclean perſon loves another, &c. yet one proud perſon can't indure another; but ſeeks to undermine him, that he alone may bear the Bell, and carry the commendations, the praiſe, the promotion. It is ſtoryed of the Romans, that were the proudeſt people on the Earth, that they reckoned it as a parcell of their praiſe, that they brought down the proud. All the world, Sirs, will not keep up thoſe perſons, that doe not keep downe their ſpirits.

Proud Valerian, the Roman Emperour, fell, from being an Emperour, to be a foot-ſtoole to Sapor, King of Perſia, as oft as he took Horſe.

Henry the fourth, Emperour, in ſixty-two Battels had generally p. 35the better, and yet was depoſed, and driven to that miſery, that he deſired onelyonly a Clarkſhip in a houſe at Spira, that himſelfe had built: And oh that Profeſſors would think of this in theſe dayes in which we live. All the world ſhall not keep up thoſe, which doe not keep downe their owne ſpirits. The very deſigne of God is to ſtaine the pride of all glory, and to bring into contempt the honourable of the earth. Therefore now if men in our dayes ſhall grow proud and Iſa. 23. 9.Isa 23:9high, under mercies and Divine appearances, Juſt…ce will be above them, and turne their glory into ſhame, and lay their honour in the duſt. If your blood riſes with your outward good, you will certainly fall, and great will be your fall.

The fifth Conſideration to provoke us to be humble, is 5 Motive.this, Let us have alwayes our eye fixed upon the example of Jeſus Chriſt, and his humble and lowly carriage.

Chriſt by his owne example labours to provoke his Diſciples to keep humble, and to walk lowly, in John 13. 4, 5, 12, 13, 14, 15 verſes compared: He rifes and waſhes his Diſciples feet, &c. and mark what he aimes at in that carriage of his, verſ. 12, 13, 14. Know ye what I have done unto you (ſaith he) Yee call me Maſter, and Lord, and yee ſay well, for ſo I am; if I then your Lord and Maſter, have waſhed your feet, yee alſo ought to waſh one anothers feet; for I have given you an example, that you ſhould doe as I have done to you. I have given you an example, ſaith Chriſt, and I would have you to imitate my example. Example is the moſt powerfull Rhetorick; the higheſt and nobleſt example ſhould be very quickning, and provoking. Oh here you have the greateſt, the nobleſt example of humility, that was ever read or heard of: Upon conſideration of this great and eminent example of Chriſts humility, Guericus, a good man, cryed out, Thou haſt overcome me, O Lord, thou haſt overcome my pride, this example of thine hath maſtered me. Oh that we could ſay with this good man, Thou haſt overcome, O Lord, thou haſt overcome our proud hearts, by this example thou haſt over-maſtered our lofty ſpirits.

This example of Chriſts humility, you have further ſet forth, Phil. 2. 6, 7, 8. Who being in the forme of God (that is, in p. 36the Nature and Eſſence of God, being very God, cloathed with Divine glory and Majeſty, as God) thought it not robbery (it being his right by Nature) to be equall with God. The Greek words that are rendred, He thought it no robbery, doe import, He made it not a matter of Triumph, or oſtentation, to be equall with God, it being his right by nature; and therefore the challenging of it, could be no Uſurpation of anothers right; of taking to himſelfe that which was not his owne. He thought it no robbery to be equall with God. The Greek is Equalls, that is, every way equall: not a Secondary and inferiour God, as the Arrians would have him. But made himſelfe of no reputation: The Greek is, Emptied himſelfe, Verſ. 7.that is, he ſuſpended and laid aſide his glory and Majeſty, or diſ-robed himſelfe of his glory and dignity, and became a ſinner, both by Imputation, and by Reputation, for our ſakes.

And verſ. 8. He humbled himſelfe. This Son of Righteouſneſſe went ten degrees back in the Diall of his Father, that he might come to us with healing under his wings. And became obedient unto death, even the death of the croſſe. In theſe words there is a kind of gradation; for it is more to become obedient, then to humble himſelfe; and more to yeeld unto death, then to become obedient; and yet more to be crucified, then ſimply to dye; for it was to ſubmit himſelfe to a moſt painfull, ignominious, and curſed death. He became obedient, that is, ſaith Beza, To his dying day, his whole life being nothing but a continuall death.

I have read of an Earl called Eleazarus, that being given to immoderate anger, was cured of that diſordered affection, by ſtudying of Chriſt, and his patience; he ſtill dwelt upon the meditation of Chriſt, and his patience, till he found his heart transformed into the ſimilitude of Jeſus Chriſt. And oh that you would never leave pondering upon that glorious example of Chriſts Humility, till your hearts be made humble, like the heart of Chriſt! Oh that that ſweet word of Chriſt, Mat. 11. 29. might ſtick upon all your hearts! Take my yoke upon you, and learne of me, for I am meek and lowly, and you ſhall find reſt to your ſoules.

Bonaventure Engraved this ſweet ſaying of our Lord, p. 37Learne of mee, for I am meek and lowly in heart, in his Study: It was a good Law that the Epheſians made, that men ſhould propound to themſelves …he b…ſt parterns, and ever bear in mind ſome eminent man.And oh that this ſaying was Engraven upon all your foreheads. upon all your hearts! Oh that it was Engraven upon the diſhes you eat in, the cups you drink in, the ſeats you ſit on, the Beds you lye on, &c.

Jerome having read the Religious life and death of Hilaron, folding up the Book, ſaid, Well, Hilaron ſhall be the Champion whom I will imitate. Oh when you look upon this glorious example of Chriſt, ſay, The Lord Jeſus his example ſhall be that that my ſoule ſhall imitate.

Sixthly, Conſider, Humility will free a man from perturbations and diſtempers.6 Motive.

When there are never ſuch great ſtormes without, humility will cauſe a calme within. There are a great many ſtormes abroad, and there's nothing will put the ſoule into a quiet condition, but Humility. An humble ſoule ſaith, who am I, that I may not be deſpiſed? Who am I, that I may not be reproached, abuſed, ſlighted, neglected? That which will break a proud mans heart, will not ſo much as break an humble mans ſleep. In the midſt of a ſtorme, an humble ſoule is ſtill in a calme: When proud hearts are at their wits ends, ſtamping, ſwearing, and ſwaggering at God, and man, and providence, an humble ſoule is quiet, and ſtill, like a ſhip in a Harbour. 2 Sam. 16. 6. to 13. Shimei comes rayling and curſing of David, and calls him a bloudy man, and a man of Belial, that is, a Runnagado, one who being deſperately wicked, had ſhaken off the yoke of Government, and would be under no Law: So the Hebrew word (Jagnal) ſignifies, men without yoke, or lawleſſe: Therefore the Septuagint commonly Tranſlate it (Paranomos) altogether irregular. It ſignifies moſt flagitious men, and notorious and deſperately wicked, ſtigmatized Villaines, even incarnate Devis; and yet David holds his peace, though provoked by his mighty men to revenge himſelfe. Oh! how would this curſing and railing have madded and broken many a proud mans heart, and yet it ſtirres not David.

Fulgentius after he was extreamly perſecuted, he had …n Plura pro… …ole.advantage to ſeek revenge, but he would not, for ſaith … p. 38We muſt ſuffer more for Chriſt then ſo: What though I am thus and thus wronged? What though I have an opportunity for revenge? yet I muſt ſuffer more then ſo for Chriſt, ſayes the humble ſoule. An humble ſoule, when wrongs are offered him, is like a man with a ſword in one hand, and ſalve in another; he could kill, but will cure.

One wondring at the patience and humble carriage of Socrates, towards one that reviled him; Socrates ſaid, If we ſhould meet one whoſe body were more unſound then ours, ſhould we be angry with him, and not rather pitty him? Why then ſhould we not doe the like to him, whoſe ſoule is more diſeaſed then ours? An humble ſoule, when he meets with this and that wrong from men, he knowes that their ſoules are diſeaſed, and that rather moves him to pity, then to revenge wrongs offered. A proud heart ſwells and growes bigge, when in the leaſt wronged, and is ready to call for fire from Heaven, and to take any opportunity for revenge of wrongs offered. No man ſo abuſed as I, no man thus ſtiled as I, ſayes the proud ſoule: O but an humble ſoule in patience poſſeſſes himſelfe, in all trialls and ſtormes.

Galleſius obſerves, upon Exod. 22. 28. the patience and Willet on Ex. 28. Qu. 51.Exod 28humble carriage of thoſe three Emperours, Theodoſius, Honorius, and Arcadius, towards thoſe that ſpake evill of them; they would have them ſubject to no puniſhment; for they ſaid, If it come from lightneſſe of ſpirit, it is to be contemned; if from madneſſe, 'tis worthy of pity; if from injury, it is to be forgiven; for injuries and wrongs are to be pardoned. And this is the true temper of an humble foule, and by this he enjoyes peace and quiet, in the midſt of all earth-quakes and heart-quakes.

The ſeventh Conſideration, is this, Conſider, Humility 7 Motive.exalteth.

He that is moſt humble, is, and ſhall be moſt exalted, and moſt honoured. No way to be high, like this of being low: Moſes was the meekeſt man on Earth, and God made him the honourableſt, calling of him up unto himſelfe into the Mount, making knowne his glory to him, and making of him the Leader of his people Iſrael. Gideon was very little in his p. 39owne eyes, he was the leaſt of his Fathers houſe in his owne apprehenſion, and God exalts him, making him the Deliverer of his Iſrael.

It was a good ſaying of one, Wilt thou be great? begin from below. As the Roots of the Tree deſcend, ſo the Branches aſcend. The lower any man is in this ſence, the higher ſhall that man be raiſed. Mat. 23. 12. And whoſoever ſhall exalt himſelfe, ſhall be abaſed; and he that ſhall humble himſelfe, ſhall be exalted. God that's wiſedome it ſelfe, hath ſaid it, and he will make it good, though thou ſeeſt no wayes how it ſhould be made good. The loweſt valleyes have the bleſſing of fruitfulneſſe, while the high Mountaines are barren. Prov. 18. 12. Before deſtruction the heart of man is lofty, and before honour is humility.

David came not to the Kingdome, till he could truly ſay, Lord my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lifted up, Pſal. 131. 1, 2. Abigall was not made Davids wife, till ſhe thought it honour enough to waſh the feet of the meaneſt of Davids ſervants, 1 Sam. 25. Moſes muſt be forty years a ſtranger in Midian, before he become King in Jeſhurun: He muſt be ſtruck ſick to death in the Inn, before he goes to Pharoah, on that Noble Ambaſſage.

It was a ſweet Obſervation of Luther, That for the moſt part when God ſet him upon any ſpeciall ſervice for the good of the Church, he was brought low by ſome fit of ſickneſſe, or other. Surely as the lower the ebb, the higher the tide: So the lower any deſcend in Humility, the higher they ſhall aſcend in honour and glory. The lower this foundation of Humility is laid, the higher ſhall the roofe of honour be over-laid. If you would turne ſpirituall purchaſers of honour, or of whatſoever elſe is good, no way like this of Humility. We live in times wherein men labour to purchaſe honour; ſome by their money; others by their friends; others by making themſelves ſlaves to the l…ſts of men; others by being prodigall of their blood, and many by giving themſelves up to all manner of baſeneſſe and wickedneſſe, whereby their carnall ends may be attain'd, and themſelves exalted, but theſe men, and their honour will quickly be laid in the duſt. Oh! but the readieſt, the p. 40ſureſt, the ſafeſt, the ſweeteſt way to attaine to true honour, Qui parvus eſt in reputatione propria, magnus eſt in reputatione divina. Gregory. 8 Motive.is to be humble, to lye low: Humility makes a man precious in the eye of God. He that is little in his owne account, is great in Gods eſteem.

The eighth and laſt Conſideration that I ſhall propound is this, Conſider humility keeps the ſoule free from many darts of Satans caſting, and ſnares of his ſpreading.

As you may ſee in the three Children; in Daniel; and in thoſe Worthies, in the 11 of the Hebrewes, of whom this world was not worthy. As the loweſt ſhrubs are freed from many violent guſts and blaſts of wind, which ſhake and rend the talleſt Cedars: So the humble ſoule is free from a world of temptations, that proud and lofty ſoules are ſhaken and torne in pieces with. The Devil hath leaſt power to faſten a temptation upon an humble ſoule. He that hath a gratious meaſure of Humility, is neither affected with Satans proffers, nor terrified with Satans threatniugs. The golden Chaine does not allure him, nor the iron Chaine does not daunt him.

I have read of one, who ſeeing in a Viſion many ſnares of Satan ſpread upon the earth; he ſate downe, and mourned, Quis pertran ſiet iſta. The anſwer was, Humilitas pertranſiet.and ſaid with himſelfe, Who ſhall paſſe through theſe? whereunto he heard a voyce anſwering, Humility ſhall paſſe through them. A proud heart is as eaſily conquered, as tempted; vanquiſhed, as aſſaulted: But the Humble ſoule, when tempted, ſayes with that worthy Convert, I am not the man that I was. Ego non ſum ego.There was a time when my heart was proud, and lifted up, and then thou couldſt no ſooner knock, but I opened; no ſooner call, but I anſwered; no ſooner tempt, but I did aſſent: Oh! but now the Lord taught me to be humble; I can reſiſt, though I can't diſpute; I can fight, but not yeeld.

Miſtriſs Catherine Bretterge (an humble precious ſoule) being once in a great Conflict with Satan, ſaid thus to him; Satan, Reaſon not with me, I am but a weake woman; if thou haſt any thing to ſay, ſay it to my Chriſt; he is my Advocate, my ſtrength, and my Redeemer, and he ſhall plead for me. An humble ſoule is good at turning Satan over to the Lord Jeſus, p. 41and this increaſes Satans Hell. It is reported of Satan, that he ſhould ſay thus of a Learned man, Thou doeſt alwayes overcome me; when I would throw thee downe, thou lifteſt up Tu me ſemper vincis.thy ſelfe in aſſurance of Faith; and when I would exalt and promote thee, thou keepeſt thy ſelfe in humility; and ſo thou art too hard for me. The onelyonly way to avoid Cannon-ſhot (as they ſay) is to fall downe flat: No ſuch way to be freed from temptations, as to keep low.

And ſo I have done with the firſt Head; namely, The Motives that ſhould move and provoke us, to keep humble, to be baſe, to be nothing in our owne eyes.

I ſhall now come to ſome Helps, and Directions, that may be uſefull to keep us humble and low in our owne eyes: And the firſt is this,

Dwell much upon the greatneſſe of Gods mercy and goodneſſe 1 Direction.to you.

Nothing humbles and breaks the heart of a ſinner like mercy, and love. Soules that converſe much with ſinne and wrath, may be much terrified; but ſouls that converſe much 'Tis ſaid of Adam, that he turned his …ce to the Garden of Eden, and wept ſore.with grace and mercy, will be much humbled. Luke 7. the Lord Jeſus ſhewes mercy to that notorious ſinner, and then ſhe falls downe at his feet, and loves much, and weeps much, &c. In the 1 Chron. 17. it was in the heart of David to build God a houſe: God would not have him doe it, yet the Meſſenger muſt tell David, that God would build him a houſe, and eſtabliſh his Son upon the Throne for ever. Look Verſ. 10, 11.into the 15, 16, 17 verſes, and there you ſhall find that David lets fall ſuch an humble ſpeech, which he never did before that God had ſent him that meſſage of advancement. And 2. Sam. 9. 7, 8.2 Sam 9:72 Sam 9:8David the King came, and ſat before the Lord, and ſaid, Who am I O Lord God, and what is mine houſe? that thou haſt As Honey flowes natural…y from the Bee, ſo does mercy flow naturally from God.brought me hitherto: And yet this was a ſmall thing in thine eyes, O God; for thou haſt alſo ſpoken of thy ſervants houſe, for a great while to come, &c. And this ſweetly and kindly melts him, and humbles him, before the Lord. Oh if ever you would have your ſoules kept low, dwell upon the free grace and love of God to you in Chriſt, Dwell upon the firſtneſſe of his love, dwell upon the freeneſſe of his love, the greatneſſe of p. 42his love, the fullneſſe of his love, the unchangeableneſſe of his love, the everlaſtingneſſe of his love, and the activity of his love; if this doe not humble thee, there is nothing on earth will doe it. Dwell upon what God hath undertaken for you. Dwell upon the choyce and worthy gifts that he ha's beſtowed on you: And dwell upon that glory and happineſſe that he ha's prepared for you; and then be proud if you can.