The Buddings and Blossomings of Old Truths, Commentary · Verse 30
VERS 30.
MEn of the beſt and moſt ſanctified abilities are leaſt conceited of their owne goodneſs, the deepeſt rivers run with the greateſt ſilence, the fulleſt veſſell giveth the leaſt ſound, the more we partake of Gods fulnes, the more ſenſible we are of our owne naturall emptines, the more fully we are encompaſſed with the light of the Sun, the more we ſee the deformities of our bodies and of our garments, the more fully we are acquainted with what is amiſſe within us, the more vile we are in our apprehenſions, the more we ſee our ſelves obliged unto God for his goodnes, the more we ſee our ſelves bound to give him the glory of all our abilities, and with the Baptiſt to become even ignominious, that God and the Lord Jeſus may appear the more glorious:
The Baptiſt in theſe words ſhewed his Diſciples, that as the day ſtarre, though bright & glorious in it ſelfe, yet when the Sun appeareth doth altogether vaniſh, ſo he, though greater than all the Prophets, in going more imediately before Chriſt, in pointing him out more plainely, more fully than any other, yet Chriſt the Sun of righteouſneſs now appearing, he muſt become as a light that is extinguiſhed, the eyes of men muſt be no more faſtned on him, he muſt now become as nothing, and Chriſt muſt be all in all, his honour, applauſe, reſpect, attendance, and high eſtimation, which he had in the hearts of the people, muſt decay and become as nothing, and all men muſt now faſten their eyes on Chriſt, attend his Doctrine, beleeve in him for ſalvation, imbrace him as the fountaine whence all felicity doth take its originall, as the tree of life, the Prince of their peace;
In the Words we have ſet before us. I. The wonderfull humility of the Baptiſt in tranſlating all the honour unto Christ, in being contented to decreaſe. II. His care to have all the honour aſcribed unto Chriſt, though with the loſſe of his owne honour among men, he muſt increaſe though I decreaſe. III. The exceeding glory of Chriſt, or the graduall manifeſtation, of the honour of Chriſt, the glory of Chriſt was ſuch, that the Baptiſt, though greater than all the Prophets; yet was nothing in compariſon of Chriſt, and ſuch was the honour of Chriſt, that it did not all appear at once but by degrees; it was an encreaſing honour, from the former we learne.
Doctr. That Gods faithfull people are of a meeke and humble diſpoſition, therefore likened to little Children, who of all ſorts of people,Mat. 18.3. Ioh. 10.27. Mat. 10.16. are leaſt tainted with pride, ambition, and high conceits of their owne worthines, the ſheep, the moſt gentle among cattle, the dove, the moſt meek among birds, this they are exhorted to put on as a garment to cloath them, Col. 3.12. this they are charged to ſeek, Zeph. 2.3. this is required more than all externall ſacrifice, Mic. 6.7, 8. this is one branch on every tree growing within the pale of Gods Orchard,Mat. 11.29. Gal. 5.22. the leſſon of every Scholler in the Schoole of Chriſt, the livery of every follower of the Lord Jeſus, a fruit of Gods Spirit in all Gods Servants, and that Gods Children are an humble people doth appeare.
1. By the ſight and ſence of their owne unworthines, they are in their owne apprehenſion uncleane as any leper, men of polluted lips, full of abominations, altogether vile Iob 40.4. full of corrupt, and unſavoury wounds, void of all ſoundneſs, repleniſhed with loathſome diſeaſes, Pſal. 38.5, 7. the chief of all ſinners, 1 Tim. 1.15. their eſtate in their apprehenſion, is as a houſe, wherein is no one good thing, no one clean perſon, Rom. 7.18, is as a garden full of filthy weedes, a vineyard overgrowne with thornes, a tree that hath nothing but fading leaves, a fountaine full of uncleane waters, a body covered with rotten rags, Iſai. 64.6. ſo that they abhorre themſelves, and repent in duſt and aſhes, Iob 42.6. and being thus vile in their owne apprehenſion, they muſt needs be humble.
2. By the ſtirring, ſtruggling, and ſtriving nature of ſin within them, it is not aſleep, it lieth not like a dead man, as it doth in the hearts of carnall, and unregenerate people, but it fighteth, and warreth like a Souldier, Gal. 5.17. It is not like a reſty jade in the paſture, but in the bridle under ſpur whip; It is as pricks and thornes in their ſides, as the Canaanites were to Iſrael, Iudg. 2.3. as a heavy burthen on their backs, Pſal. 38.4. as a dead body, a rotten carkaſſe, unſavoury, noiſome, hatefull, a continuall vexation, Rom. 7.24. afflictions are very availeable to make and keep a man humble, but the feeling of the nature and operation of ſin, as working more immediately upon the ſoule & conſcience, is much more forcible to drive man out of himſelfe to make him humble, this will make a man endued with a propheticall Spirit to ſay, Prov. 30.2, 3. It will make a man of the rareſt endowments of the greateſt induſtry to ſay, Rom. 7.24. and for this it is that God doth leave ſin in the hearts of his Servants, 2 Cor. 12.7.
3. By the continuall, ſubtle, and violent aſſaults that Sathan doth make againſt them, he ſpreadeth ſnares, and layeth ſtumbling blocks in the way to make them fall, he ſeeketh as a Pyrate to rob them, like an enemy he layeth continuall ſiedge againſt them,1 Pet. 5.8. Epheſ. 6.12.16. hunteth like a roaring Lion to make a prey of them, he caſteth his fiery darts at them to affright ſuch, and if it were poſſible, to burne, and utterly conſume them, he raiſeth many ſtormes within and without to diſturb and amaze them, ſo mighty, ſo inceſſant, ſo fraudulent are his attempts, that as Iſrael ſaid in another caſe, Pſal. 124.1, 2, 3. So do Gods people in this caſe, and by this meanes it cometh to paſſe, that as the Princes of Iſrael, and the King humbled themſelves when Sheſack had taken ſome of their Cities and was come up againſt Ieruſalem, 2 Cro. 12.5, 6, 7. ſo the people of God perceiving how this Prince of darknes taketh advantages againſt them, how he is in continuall warre with them, how they are buffeted by him, do ſtill walk humbly before the Lord, and this is one uſe God doth make of him, 2 Cor. 12.7.
4. By the diſpoſition and qualification of their hearts, of Lions they are become Lambs,Iſa. 11.6 of hard they are become ſoft and tender ground, trembling at the Word of God,Ier. 4.3. contrite and breake thorough godly grief and ſorrow, as a high building beaten to the very duſt,Pſ. 51.8 as a ſtrong body having all the bones broken, emptied of all conceit of their ſtrength, abilities, excellencies,Act. 9.4. caſt like Paul from the horſe back to the ground, denying themſelves their owne reaſon, affections, purpoſes, thoughts, ends, renouncing their owne wiſedome as folly;Pſal. 31.12. Pſ. 147.3. looking on themſelves as on a Lamp that hath no Oile, as on a broken veſſell wherein is no liquour, as on a wounded body wherein is no ſoundnes.
5. By the nature and operation of true and ſaving grace, whereſoever this taketh poſſeſſion, it maketh the heart meek and humble according to the ſway, and dominion which it beareth, the full eare of Corn boweth downeward, the full loaden ſhip goeth deep in the waters. The nigher Abraham came to God, the more humbly he thought of himſelf, Gen. 18.27. The more grace any man hath, the more hee ſeeth the deformity of his owne hearts; the obliquity of his wayes, the unprofitablenes of his works, Luk. 17.10. it maketh them loath themſelves, Ezek. 36.25, 31. This maketh them eſteeme others better than themſelves, Phil. 2.3. to neglect temporall and externall dignities, Heb. 11.24. Chriſt Ieſus, in whom was the fulnes of all holines, was the moſt compleat, and abſolute patterne of all meekneſs, Mat. 11.29. Ioh. 15.3. this is a jewell wherewith they be alwayes adorned, a garment with which they be every day cloathed, without this they think themſelves naked, 1 Pet. 5.5. Humility waiteth on true grace, like the handmaide upon the Miſtriſs, like the threed following the needle, the light attending the Sun, the Daughter the Mother, Ruth Naomi, Gal. 5.22. this is one of the wayting maids belonging to this Princeſſe, one of the branches which ſpringeth from this roote.
6. By the work of Gods Word upon their hearts, this like a hammer doth breake and bruiſe them, like fire doth melt them, Ier. 23.29. like an axe laid to the roote of the tree it doth caſt them to the ground, Mat. 3.10. like dew it doth ſoften their hearts, which are hard as clay under a long Sun ſhine, Deut. 32.2. Like a warlike weapon it doth caſt down the mighty Holds of ſin, maketh high thoughts ſtoope, 1 Cor. 10.5. maketh hils to become low as the Valleys, Luk. 3.5. As the Prieſt looking upon & pronouncing the leprous uncleane cauſed him to lay his hand upon his mouth, and to cry uncleane, Lev. 13.44, 45. So the Miniſter of the Lord, preſenting to Gods people the leproſy of their Souls by the Miniſtry of the word, cauſeth them, Acts 2.37. Rom. 7.9. As David by his perſwaſions and proffers, 2 Sam. 19.14. ſo God by the Miniſtry of the Goſpel doth bow the heart of the people, Pſal. 45.5.
7. By the opinion and apprehenſion they have of their owne works, their beſt performances, their ſincereſt duties, they look upon them as on water running through an impure channel, on ſilver mingled with much droſſe, a heape of Corn mixed with much chaffe, an apple having much rotteneſs within it, their underſtanding like Leah is bleare-eyed, their faith like a palſy mans head hath much ſhaking in it, Joh. 11.44. their will, like Lazarus, comes forth of the grave bound hand and foote, Gen. 32.31. their love is but like a fire in green zeale, like the flying of a bird whoſe wings are broken, in their beſt duties they halt like Jacob, and find occaſion of humiliation after the performance of their choiſeſt ſervice, need to pray for forgivenes of what is amiſſe, for Iob 9.3. Pſal. 143.1, 2.
8. By the afflictions which doe befall them,Mat. 8.25. Luk. 22.31. Pſ. 129.3. Hoſ. 6.1. Heb. 12.7. they are a ſhip toſſed, a tree ſhaken, corn winnowed, ſpice bruiſed, a field plowed, a patridge hunted, a body Phyſicked, a Child corrected, an oxe in the yoake, a tree under the pruning knife, Zeph. 3.12. Pſal. 34.19. Heb. 11.25. and this will keep them low and humble, this will make them ſtoop, and bow down to the commandements of the Lord.Ier. 31.18.
9. By the baſe eſtimation the World hath of them, they are in the eye of the World as the dung, and the off-ſcouring of all things, 1 Cor. 4.13. as monſters, ſignes, wonders, Iſa. 8.18. Zach. 3.8. gazing ſtocks, Heb. 10.53. excommunicated perſons, Luk. 6.22. peſtilent people unworthy to live upon the face of the earth, Acts 22.22. Acts 24.5. driven into dens and caves, Heb. 11.36, 37. and by this meanes they are alſo kept meek and humble.
10. By the ſight and apprehenſion they have of God, which others have not, they by faith ſee him who is inviſible, are ſenſibly affected with the beauty, brightneſs and Majeſty of his holines, ſo affected with it, that as Daniel, when he ſaw the viſion,Heb. 11.37. Dan. 10.8. So they in this manner beholding God, to be a God of infinite holines, righteouſnes, wiſedome, are aſhained of their owne corruption, and all thought of their owne excellency departeth from them, this maketh the very Cherubins cover their feet, Iſai. 6.2. and verſ. 5. now put all theſe together, and they make this argument; that people, who are affected with the ſence of their owne unworthineſs the ſtruggling of their corruptions, aſſaults of Satan, whoſe hearts are broken endued with true grace, melted by the Word, baſely conceited of the beſt of their works, loaden with affliction, reproaches in the World affected with the beauty of Gods holines, that people is an humble people, but thus are Gods people.
Uſe. This therefore acquainteth us with the dangerous eſtate of all men of high, haughty and ambitious Spirits, of men that are puffed up with the conceit of their owne excellencies, that ſoare (at leaſt in their owne imagination) upon the wings of their owne abilities, who will needs increaſe in the eye of the World, though it be to the decreaſe of the honour of Chriſt, and to the reproach of their brethren, ſuch men are ſurely ſtrangers to the Spirit of the Baptiſt, have little experience of the heavy burthen, of the loathſome nature of their owne corruptions, of the merit of their doings, the wages due to their labours, this is a ſin ariſing from preſent and the increaſe of temporary and common endowments, either internall, or externall: when men look on humane abilities as Nebuchadnezar upon his palace, Dan. 4.30. as the peacock upon his feathers; as Rabſeca upon his Maſters victories, 2 King. 18.33. then they ſwell, this is a ſin ariſing alſo from the forgetfulnes of God, men conſider not that all they have is raine falling from the cloud of Gods bounty, fruit gathered from the tree of Gods favour, and hereupon they magnify the ſtrength of their owne arme, celebrate Philiſtia, like the Dagon of their owne wit, and endevours, Hab. 1.16. of this the Lord forwarned Iſrael, Deut. 8.14. and of this we have all great cauſe to be very carefull, for. I. This is a ſin repugnant to our very originall and beginning, we are not our owne workmanſhip, a houſe of our owne building,Job 10.8, 9, 10, 11, 12. but the hands of the Lord have formed us, now ſhall the veſſel magnify it ſelfe againſt the potter? Iſai. 29.16. Deut. 32.18, 19. but Iſai. 64.8. and beſides God made our bodily part out of the duſt, whereon our feet tread, Gen. 2.17. hence Job. 4.17, 18, 19, 20, 21. pride is a ſin which doth repugne our very creation. II. This is a ſin repugnant to the tenure of all our endowments, our goods, and lifes are held at the will of the Lord, we are but ſtewards, he may take them when he pleaſeth according to our abilities will be our reckoning, 1 Cor. 4.1. Luc. 16.2. ſo that in our ſelves we are an empty veſſel, having nothing but what God hath given, Gen. 31.9. Iac. 1.17. III. This maketh us uncapable of the grace of Gods Spirit, a full veſſell is uncapable of new water, a full hand of a new gift, a full ſtomack of food, theſe ſay to inſtruction as Eſau to Iacob I have enough, Gen. 33.9. thus Rev. 3.17. Ioh. 9.41. While Paul was on horſeback he was uncapable of inſtructions, therefore the Lord ſmote him to to the ground, Acts 9.3. IV. This maketh God to croſſe, curſe and puniſh us, to be after a peculiar manner an enemy againſt us more than againſt any others: pride maketh a man ſet himſelfe in Gods ſeate, rob God of his honour, reject Gods precepts, deſpiſe his fellow brethren which are Gods Workman ſhip, and for this doth God become an enemy to the proud, and when he giveth grace to the humble, yet he reſiſteth the proud, Iac. 4.6. When he doth encreaſe the gifts of the meek, he will take away what he hath given to the proud, leave them deſtitute like a Well without water, a tree without fruit, leaf, or branch, hence Luc. 1.53. They who feel themſelves empty like hungry ſtomacks, Matth. 5.6. thirſty like dry grounds, the Lord will give abundantly to drink out of the Wells of ſalvation, but the rich, ſuch as be puffed up with the conceit of their owne goods, theſe ſhall remaine like empty veſſels, empty of the true knowledge of God; joy of the Spirit, ſence and feeling of the Word of God in his heart, as a man will ſend away him whom he knoweth to have money enough without an almes from his doore, and as a King taketh away weapons, places of dignity from them, that lift up themſelves and rebell againſt him, Luk. 14.11. The higher men do exalt themſelves, the more God will abaſe them, as 2 Sa. 15.2. Acts 12.22. therefore let us take heed of all high conceipts of our owne excellencies.
Ʋſe. 2 Since Gods people are of a humble diſpoſition, let us try our ſelves whither we are indued with this humility or not, that ſo we may know whither we are the Children of God or no; and if you be indued with the humility proper to Gods Children, you ſhall know it.
1. By the inſtrument or meanes which doth worke it; and that is the preaching of the Word of God, the Law and Goſpel together, this doth awaken the conſcience like a ſounding trumpet, this throweth down high thoughts, as the ſounding of the rams hornes did the Walls of Iericho, Ioſ. 6.20. this hath made you with the jailour, Acts 16.31. with Paul, Rom. 7.9. this light hath cauſed you to fall to the ground, like that Acts 9.3. this like Daniels viſion, Dan. 10.8. you have felt how the Lord hath pricked your conſcience with this goade, Eccleſ. 12.11. How the wounding of this arrow have made you fall down before the Lord, Pſal. 45.4. How this looking glaſſe, this Sun hath acquainted you with the ſpots that ſticke in your Souls like dirt in a garment, and hath made you vile in your owne eyes, you have experience how God hath laydſiedge againſt your Souls, how by the Miniſtry of his word, he hath made you ſee your owne weakenes, cauſed you to lay down your weapon, yeeld up your ſelves, and ſeek and ſue for peace, you have felt how the Goſpel of God hath ſhined like the warme Sun into your hearts, and hath melted your frozen affections, and how God, by his goodnes hath lead you to true repentance, and made you truely humble, as Ioſ. 5.1, 7, 5. Iud. 5.45. So the people of God have found at the coming of the Word, as Pſa. 97.4, 5.
2. By your reverent meek and lowly attention to, and entertainement of the Word of God, receiving it as from the mouth of God himſelfe, 1 Theſ. 2.13. as that which is the inſtrument wherein and whereby God will ſhew himſelfe, powerfull in the work of ſalvation, Rom. 1.16. as the Scepter by which Chriſt will ſway in our hearts, as the Child attendeth with an awfull reverence to the voyce of the Father, the ſubject to the voyce of the King, the Wife to the voyce of the Husband, ſo do all Gods people attend with all humility to the voyce of God their Father, King, Husband in the preaching of the Goſpel, Iſai. 66.2.
Ʋſe 3 By your experience, apprehenſion and feeling of the gracious preſence of God in your Souls, Epheſ. 3.17. by the comfortable Communion you have with him, bleſſed enjoyment of him, Ro. 5.5. by the experience of his love ſhed abroad in your Souls like dew upon the ground,Pſ. 24.7. of his dominion and ſway in your hearts like a King in his Kingdome, of the rare endowments wherewith he doth enrich you, as the dweller doth adorne his houſe, and as the low valleys are cloathed in the ſpring with graſſe and flowers: the humble ſoule is the houſe where God will dwell, Iſai. 57.15. and as the inhabitant is preſent, ruleth,Ioh. 14.21. Pſ. 149.4. and manifeſteth himſelfe in his houſe, as he garniſheth, defendeth keepeth his houſe, ſo doth God the humble, and this doth every humble man find the Lord to be to his ſoule, Ioh 14.23. Rom. 8.9, 13, 14, 15.
4. By the holy, gracious, experimentall and ſaving knowledge you have of God and his Word,1 Pet. 2.2.3. Mat. 3.12. Iſa. 61.1 Eph. 1.13 14. that is, by the gracious taſt you feele of the goodnes of God in your hearts, of the working of his Word upon your Souls, in purging out your corruption, ſubduing the luſts which fight againſt the Soul, healing the wounds which ſin and Satan, darts have made in the conſcience, ſtabliſhing your faith, ſealing up the forgiveneſs of ſin, acquainting you with the counſell and purpoſe of God towards your Soul; the deep things of God, 1 Cor. 2.9, 10. are revealed to them who are humble as babes, Mat. 11.25. as the poor man by his wiſedome delivered the citty, ſo the poor in Spirit,Eccle. 9.14, 15. they onelyonly have the wiſedome to know the things of God, and to deliver their Souls, Prov. 11.2. Pſal. 25.9. for theſe onelyonly doe ſubject themſelves to the Doctrine of life and ſalvation, Iſa. 11.6. and Iſai. 61.1.
5. By the joy which you find in your hearts, when the Children and Church of God are delivered out of any dangers, enriched with any favours, and when the adverſaries thereof are ſuppreſſed, Rom. 12.15. the meek do mourne with them that mourne, are afflicted with the affliction of Joſeph, Hab. 3.16. Ezra. 9.3, 4. Neh. 1.4. and therefore they rejoyce at their welfare, as at their owne proſperity, take the mercies of God beſtowed on their brethren as on themſelves, therefore Pſa. 34.2. Pſa. 69.32. to rejoyce at the promotion of the Goſpel, encreaſe of Gods people, enlargement of Gods Kingdome for the Goſpels ſake, is as a ſigne we are humbled.
6. By the emptines and vanity which you find in the creature, in every thing, ſaving in God, in your owne endowments, in your works, in your poſſeſſions, in all the furniture of the earth, when you look upon the wealth, riches, pleaſures, applauſe of the World, and on all your owne perſonall gifts, and can ſay of them all as the Pſalmiſt in another caſe, Pſa. 33.16. they are all vaine, for the day of battel, wherein we muſt fight againſt Satan and our corruption; when we can in affection value them as an empty veſſell, a broken ciſterne, a cloud without raine, a broken tooth, and a foot out of joynt, as a ſheath without a ſword, a ſhell without a kernell, a Lamp without Oile, a vaine thing, when we can ſet the Worlds counſell and proffers thereof at naught, as they did the counſell of the Lord, Prov. 1.25. When we can eſteeme it as the Lord calleth it, Amos 6.13. When we can look upon it as upon an Aegypt, Iſa. 30.7. the comforts thereof as on that, Zach. 10.2. when we can willingly accompt all loſſe, Phil. 3.8. and … in this manner deny our ſelves, and ſeek all fulnes in God a lone, and caſt our ſelves wholly upon him, this is a ſigne that we are truely humbled, Mar. 8.34. 1 Pet. 5.6, 7.
Uſe. 3 This muſt move every man to labour for this meek and humble diſpoſition, that ſo he may be able by theſe evidences to aſſure himſelfe, that he is the Child of God, and to comfort himſelfe in the Lord, this was the charge our Saviour gave to his Diſciples, the firſt leſſon he would have them learne, Mat. 11.29. a leſſon without the learning whereof they could not be his Diſciples, Mar. 8.34. and it ſhould be our care in the firſt place to learne this, as men in their buildings firſt dig low, and lay the foundation, elſe all the building beſides will fall, ſo muſt we firſt lay a deep foundation, or elſe all our other labour will ſoone come to nothing, and to this let us be moved.
1. Becauſe the more we have denied our ſelves, the better we ſhall be approved with God, the leſſe we are in our owne eyes, the more precious ſhall we be in the eyes of God, Iſa. 66.2. things which in their owne apprehenſion are poor and baſe hath God choſen, 1 Cor. 1.27. the deformed buſh was the tree wherein God appeared, Exo. 3.2.
2. Becauſe the leſſe we ſee in our ſelves the more we ſhall ſee in God and Chriſt, the hungry ſee, abundance of goodnes in that food which the full ſtomack deſpiſeth, they who want this humility, ſay of God and his Ordinances, Job 21.14. Mal. 3.13. but the truely humble utter another language, Pſal. 63.1, 2, 3. Pſal. 84.10. Pſal. 27.4. they who want this Iſai. 53.2. but to others, Mal. 4.2.
3. Becauſe the more humble we are, the leſſe irkſome wrongs, injurie and the burthens of affliction ſhall be, the loweſt trees and buildings are leaſt aſſaulted and endangered by the wind, thus Neh. 1 2 3. 2 Sam. 16.11.
4. Becauſe the more humble we are, the more we may be aſſured of our nigher, and more ſpirituall and familiar converſe and acquaintance with God, for the more thoroughly we apprehend the beauty of Gods holines, the more apprehenſive we are of, and the more we are affected with our owne vilenes, Gen. 18.27.
5. Becauſe the more humble we are, the more we ſhall fructify in the grace of Gods Spirit, Iac. 4.6. as Gen. 29.31. the low valleys do uſually drink in moſt raine, beare moſt fruit, as Pſal. 63.13. ſo Neh. 24.5, 6.
6. Becauſe the more humble we are, the more honour we ſhall have, Jud. 6.15, 16. Prov: 15.33. as Abigail who caſt herſelfe at the feet of David was afterward made his companion in wedlock, 1 Sam. 25.41. as Luk. 5.8, 9, 10. ſo Luk. 14.11. as Luk. 15.16, 22.
7. Becauſe the more humble, the more ſweetnes, nouriſhment and ſpirituall refreſhment ſhall we ſuck from the breaſts of the Goſpel; this will make the Ordinances of God to be as a pleaſant river to the thirſty ſoule, as Phyſick to him that is loaden with many and dangerous diſeaſes, Iob 33.22, 23. as a hand taking of a heavy burthen from another mans ſhoulder, Mat. 11.28. as the ſhadow of a great tree refreſhing the wearied traveller,Iſa. 61.1 Gods Ordinances are not ſo ſweet and delightfull to any as to the truely humble, a lively ſence of our owne vilenes, a true apprehenſion of our owne unworthineſs maketh Gods Ordinances much the more ſweet and ſavoury to our palates, Prov. 27.7. Mat. 5.6. their underſtandings ſhall be filled with knowledge, their affections with lone, zeale, holy and fervent deſires, their hearts with peace, and all manner of contentments, they ſhall find ſuch fulnes, ſuch ſatisfaction in them, as all the World could not afford the like unto them, in trouble they ſhall be filled with peace, in affliction with patience, in times of oppoſition with courage, in the dayes of ſcarcity with contentment, hence Phil. 4.11, 12, 13. Pſal. 22.26.
8. Becauſe the humble ſhall have a competent and comfortable portion of things appertaining to this life, they ſhall find a bleſſed contentment in their eſtate, a mervellous fulnes in the little they doe enjoy, God will ſo frame their minds, that a little ſhall quench their thirſt, 2 King. 4.43. a little ſhall ſatisfy their hunger, a little ſhall fill their hand, God will put ſuch a fulneſs into it, that they ſhall find no want, but ſhall ſay, Pſal. 16.5, 6. their eſtate ſhall be like a little veſſell full of liccour, a little tree well loaden, a little ſpring alway running, a little ſhell filled with a good kernell, like that widowes cruiſe, 1 King. 17.14.15, 16. Ioh. 6.11, 12 13 as Ioh. 2.7, 9. So can Christ make the poor eſtate of Gods people, which is weake and ſlender as water, to become pleaſant as wine, when the great eſtate of others is like a great veſſel empty of liccour, a great ſhell without a kernell, great dry bones without marrow, a high tree without fruit, as Eccleſ. 5.12. this is a priviledge belonging to the meek, Pſal. 37.11. Matth. 5.5. Pſal. 34.10.
8. Becauſe the humble ſhall perſevere unto the end in the way of the Lord, in the duties of true holines, trees of deep roots endure the violence of the wind beſt; houſes of a deep foundation ſtand longeſt: the more humble men are, the more earneſtly they ſeek to be filled with that fulneſs which is in God, the more firmely they rely upon God, the more contentedly they receive and ſuſtaine all wrongs and injuries; the leſſe advantage Satan hath againſt them, the more willing & cheerefull intertainement they give to all whole ſome inſtruction, the more fully doth God pour out his Spirit upon them, and therefore theſe of all others continue moſt conſtant, Iſa. 29.19.
Thus of the humility of the Baptiſt, next of his care to give all the honour unto Chriſt, he muſt increaſe but I muſt deſcreaſe, the eyes of men muſt be fastned upon him, their hearts and affections muſt be carried to him, him must they intertaine as the ſole authour of their ſalvation, and in leſſe accompt muſt I be among them.
Doctr. GOds Servants muſt willingly looſe their owne honour and praiſes, that Chriſt Jeſus may be thereby made the more glorious, we muſt be contented to become as nothing, that Chriſt may be the more honoured in the eyes of the people, we muſt not ſeek our ſelves, but the things of Chriſt, Phil. 2.21. we muſt caſt a vaile before the beauty of our owne faces, if it may make that face of Chriſt appeare the more beautifull in the eyes of the people, we muſt caſt down our owne crownes at his feet, that all may vaile and bow unto him, Rev. 4.10. We muſt be content to weare a crowne of thornes upon our owne heads, if Chriſts crowne may be thereby made the more conſpicuous, this was Davids reſolution, 2 Sam. 6.20, 21, 22. this was the practiſe of Moſes, Heb. 11.24, 25, 26.
Reaſ. 1 Becauſe we are not our owne, but the Lords, and we muſt not live unto our ſelves, but unto God, 2 Cor. 5.15. our Souls and bodies muſt be yeelded up into his hands, Rom. 12.1. our abilities, lives, ſervices muſt be wholly devoted to him, we muſt ſtudy how to honour him, be glad of any oportunity to magnify him.
Reaſ. 2 Becauſe the honour of Chriſt muſt be more deare to us than any other thing, goods, liberties, lives, muſt not be ſo precious in our eyes, as the honour of God, this we muſt eſteeme before all our owne ſubſtance and treaſure, as the pearle before droſſe, the Sun before the Candle, Acts 20.24. Joſ. 7.9.
Reaſ. 3 Becauſe it is more joy to Gods Servants, to ſee Chriſt to be honoured than to ſee themſelves held in great reputation, they rejoyce more to ſee the proſperity of Chriſts Kingdome, than to look upon the ſucceſſe of their owne eſtate, it doth more comfort them to bring honour to Chriſt than to gaine abundance of honour to themſelves, hence Ga 6.14.
Reaſ. 4 Becauſe Chriſt did willingly looſe his honour to make us honourable, he became a Servant to make us free, poor to make us rich, a ſubject to the Law to make us Kings, ignominious to make us glorious, Phil. 2.6, 7, 8. 2 Cor. 8.9. therefore we ſhould gladly leave our owne honour to honour him.
Uſe. This muſt therefore teach all Gods people to endevour to bring their hearts to a thorough and utter deniall of themſelves, to accompt their owne priviledges, honour and eſtimation among men as dung and droſſe, that they might honour God and the Lord Jeſus, to become as worms and no men, to be contented to have their names caſt out as odious, to have their faces covered with ſhame, Pſal. 69.7, 8, 9. that God may be honoured; and for the framing of our hearts hereunto we muſt conſider. I. What a vaine thing it is to have the praiſe of men without the praiſe of God, what is it but an empty veſſell that yeeldeth no liccour, a deaf eare that beareth no graine, an empty language that giveth no comfort, at laſt therefore rightly termed by the Holy Ghoſt vaine-glory, Gal. 5.26. II. How to have the praiſe of men with the diſhonour of God is the way to looſe our praiſe at laſt both with God and men, and to be buried under the duſt of irremoveable ſhame, Acts 12.22, 23. Dan. 4.26, 30, III. How the looſing of honour among men for Chriſt is the way to get honour both with God and with all good men; the very diſhonour caſt upon us for Chriſt is a greater honour than any dignity the World could conferre upon us, Heb. 11.26. 2 Sam. 6.26. Mat. 19.29. IV. How the approbation of God and of our owne conſcience is a thouſand fold better than the approbation of all the men in the World, it is the praiſe of God, the witneſs of a good conſcience that giveth peace to the heart, boldnes towards God, confidence in the day of diſtreſſe, aſſurance of a good eſtate, of a happy condition in reſpect of God, Rom. 2.28, 29. 1 Joh. 3.19, 20, 21. V. How there can be no ſaving grace in that heart, no acquaintance with Christ, no experience of the goodnes, power, excellency, and efficacy of Chriſt in that ſoule which is regardles of the honour of Chriſt, that ſeeketh its owne applauſe, Joh. 5.44, 1. Pet. 5.5, 6.
The last thing in this Verſe was the manner of manifesting Chriſt Jeſus, he muſt increaſe.
Doctr. CHriſt Jeſus is not fully and at once but by degrees revealed unto his Servants, the Sun appeareth by degrees; ſo doth the ſun of righteouſnes by degrees manifeſt himſelfe unto his people: the blind man in the Goſpel ſaw men as trees, firſt he ſaw obſcurely, afterwards he ſaw more plainely, thus Cant. 2.8. he was ſeen as on the mountaines a farre of; then verſ. 9. he came nigher, Joh. 16.29. Luc. 24.31. And our Saviour doth after this manner reveale himſelfe unto his people. I. Becauſe of their infirmity, as we reveale things to Children, teach them a little, and things eaſy at the firſt, giving them milk and not ſtrong meate, Iac. 16.12. Mat. 9.16, 17. II. Becauſe they ſhall be ſenſible of the difficulty of obtaining it: they ſhall be inforced to ſeek, Prov. 2.2, 3. ſearch Ioh. 5.39, to waite, Prov. 8.34. III. This he doth to humble us for our ignorance and removing corruption.
Uſe. Therefore we muſt ſtrive to grow in the knowledge of Chriſt as Schollers in learning, apprentices in their trades, we are not perfect, 1 Cor. 13.9, 12. therefore with Mary, Luk. 10 39. with the lame man, Joh. 5.5. we muſt not ſet ſtill, but 2 Pet. 3.18. we muſt not ceaſe but ſtrive to be filled, Col. 1.10.
Ʋſe. 2 This will teach us that all ſuch as are Gods Servants, do find Chriſt Jeſus revealing himſelfe unto them more graciouſly, his Kingdome doth increaſe within them, the longer they are in Chriſt the more clearly they underſtand his will, the more ſenſibly they are affected with his love, the more glorious he is in their eyes, the more firmely they cleave to him, the more ſtrongly they build upon him, the more abundance of contentement they find in him, the more cheerefully they follow him.