Ecumenical Christian Library

  • Loading…

A Godly Man Is an Humble Man

166618 min read

  1. The godly man is an humble man;1 he is like the Sun in the Zenith, which when it is at the highest shows lowest:2 St. Austin calls Humility the Mother of the Graces; but ere I show you who is the humble man, I shall lay down three distinctions.

  2. I distinguish between being humbled and humble; a man may be humbled, and not3 humble;4 a sinner may be humbled by affliction, his condition is low, but not his disposition; a godly man is not only humbled, but humble, his heart is as low as his condition.

  3. I distinguish between outward humility and inward; there’s a great deal of difference between an humble carriage, and an humble5spirit; a person may carry it humbly:

  4. Towards others, yet be proud; who more humble than Absalom in his outward behaviour? 2 Sam. 15. 5. When any man came neer to do him obeysance, Absalom took him by the hand and kissed him. But though he had an humble carriage, he aspired after the Crown, ver. 10. As soon as ye hear the sound of the Trumpet, ye shall say Absalom reigneth in Hebron. Here was Pride dressed in Humilities Mantle.

  5. A person may behave himself humbly towards God, yet be proud, 1 King. 21. 27. Ahab put on sackcloth, and fasted, and went softly, but his heart was not6 humble: A man may bow his head like a bull-rush, yet lift up the Ensigns of Pride in his heart.

  6. I distinguish between Humility and Policy; many make a shew of Humility to work their own7 ends: The Papists seem to be the most humble mortified Saints, but it is rather subtilty than humility; for by this means they get the Revenues of the earth into their possession; all this may be, and yet no godliness.

Quest. How may a Christian know that he is humble, and consequently godly?

Answ. 1. An humble soul is emptied of all swelling thoughts of himself: Bernard calls Humility a Self-annihilation, Iob 22. 29. Thou wilt save the humble. In the Hebrew it is, Him that is of low8 eyes. An humble man hath lower thoughts of himself than others can have of9 him: David, though a King, yet looked upon himself as a worm, Psal. 22. 6. I am a worm, and no man. Bradford a Martyr, yet subscribes himself a sinner, Iob 10. 15. If I am righteous, I will not lift up my head: Like the Violet, a sweet flower, but hangs down the head.

  1. An humble soul thinks better of others than of himself, Phil. 2. 3. Let each esteem others better than10 themselves. An humble man values others at an higher rate than himself; and the reason is, because he can better see his own heart than he can anothers; he sees his own corruption, and thinks sure it is not so with others, their Graces are not so weak as his, their corruptions are not so strong; sure (thinks he) they have better hearts than I: An humble Christian studies his own infirmities, and anothers exellencies, and that makes him put an higher value upon others than himself, Pro. 30. 2. Surely I am more bruitish than any man. And Paul, though he were the chief of the Apostles, yet he calls himself the least of Saints, Eph. 3. 8.

  2. An humble soul hath a low esteem of his duties; Pride is apt to breed in our holy things, as the worm breeds in the sweetest fruit, and forth comes from the most generous wine: An humble person doth not only deny his sins, but his duties; when he hath prayed and wept, alas, saith he, how little have I done, God might damn me for all this; he saith as good Nehemiah, Chap. 13. 22. Remember me O my God concerning this, and spare me. Remember Lord how I have poured out my soul, but spare me, and pardon me; he sees that his best duties weigh many grains too light, therefore he desires Christs Merits may be put into the Scales: The humble Saint blusheth when he looks upon his Copy, he sees he cannot write even, nor without blotting; this humbles him to think that his best duties run dregs; he drops poyson upon his sacrifice: Oh, saith he, I dare not say I have prayed or wept, those which I write down for duties, God might write down for sins.

  3. An humble man is ever preferring Bills of Indictment against himself; he complains not of his condition, but his heart: O this evil heart of unbelief! Lord (saith Hooper) I am hell, but thou art heaven. An hypocrite is ever telling how good he is; an humble soul is ever saying how bad he is: Paul that highflown Saint, who was caught up into the third heaven, how doth this bird of Paradise bemoan himself for his corruptions, Rom. 7. 24. O wretched man that I am, &c. Holy Bradford subscribes himself, the hardhearted sinner: The more knowledge an humble Christian hath, the more he complains of ignorance; the more Faith, the more he bewails his11 unbelief.

  4. An humble man will justifie God in an afflicted condition, Nehem. 9. 33. Howbeit thou art just in all that is brought upon us. If men oppress and calumniate, the humble soul acknowledgeth Gods righteousness in the midst of severity, 2 Sam. 24. 17. Lo, I have sinned: Lord, my pride, my barrenness, my Sermonsurfeiting hath been the procuring cause of all these judgements; when Clouds are round about God, yet righteousness is the habitation of his Throne, Psa. 97. 2.

  5. An humble soul is a Christ-Magnifier, Phil. 1. 20. he gives the glory of all his actions to Christ, and Free-grace: King Canutus took the Crown off his own head, and set it upon a Crucifix; so an humble Saint takes the Crown of honour from his own head, and sets it upon Christs; and the reason is, from that […] he bears to Christ; Love can part with […] to the object loved: Isaack loved […] and he gave away his Jewels to (Gen. 24. 53) […] humble Saint loves Christ intirely, therefore can part with any thing to him: he gives away the honour and praise of all he doth to Christ, let Christ wear those Jewels.

  6. An humble soul is willing to take a reproof for sin; a wicked man is too high to stoop to a reproof: The Prophet Micaiah used to tell King Ahab of his sin, and saith he, I hate him, 1 Kin. 22. 8. Reproof to a proud man, is like powring water on lime, which grows the more hot; a gracious soul loves him that reproves, Pro. 9. 8. Rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. The humblespirited Christian can bear the reproach of an Enemy, and the reproof of a friend.

  7. An humble man is willing to have his name and parts eclipsed, so Gods glory may be more encreased; he is content to be outshined by others in gifts and esteem, so that the Crown of Christ may shine the brighter: This is the humble mans Motto, Let me decrease, let Christ encrease: ‘Tis his desire that Christ should be exalted, and if this be effected, let who will be the instrument, he rejoyceth, Phil. 1. 15. Some preach Christ of envy; They preached to get away some of Pauls hearers; Well, saith he, Christ is preached, and I therein do rejoyce, ver· 8. An humble Christian is content to be laid aside, if God hath any other tools to work with which may bring him more glory.

  8. An humble Saint likes that condition which God sees best for him; a proud man murmures he hath no more, an humble man wonders he hath so much, Gen. 32. 10. I am not worthy of the least of all thy mercies: when the heart lies low, it can stoop to a low condition. A Christian looking upon his sins, wonders it is no worse with him, he doth not say his mercies are small, but his sins are great; he knows the worst piece God carves him, is better than he deserves, therefore takes it thankfully upon his knees.

  9. An humble Christian will stoop to the meanest person, and the lowest office, he will visit the poorest member of Christ: Lazarus his sores are more precious to him than Dives purple; he doth not say, Stand by, come not neer to me, for I am holier than thou; but, condiscends to men of low estate, Rom. 12. 16.

Use 1. Is Humility the inseparable Character of a godly man,12 let us try our hearts by this Touch-stone: Are we humble? alas, where doth their godliness appear, who are swelled with pride, and ready to13 burst? But though men are proud, they will not confess it: This Bastard of Pride is born, but none are willing to father it; therefore let me ask a few questions, and let Conscience answer.

1 Are not they proud who are given to glorying? 1 Cor. 5. 6. Your glorying is not good. 1 VVho glory in their riches; their hearts swell with their estates. St. Bernard cals Pride the rich mans couzen. Ezek. 28. 5. Thy heart is lifted up because of thy riches. 2 VVho glory in their apparel. Many dress themselves in such fashions, as they make the devil fall in love with them; Black-spots, gaudy attire, naked breasts, what are these, but the flags and banners which Pride doth display? 3 VVho glory in their beauty. The body is but dust and blood kneaded together: Solomon saith, Beauty is vain, Prov. 31. 30. Yet so vain are some, as to be proud of vanity. 4 VVho glory in their gifts. These trappings and ornaments do not set them off in Gods eyes; an Angel is a knowing creature, but take away humility from an Angel, and he is a devil.

2 Are not they proud who are highly opinionated of their own excellencies? who beholding themselves in philautiae speculo, in the multiplying glass of self-love, appear in their own eyes better than they are: Simon Magus gave out, that himself was […], some great one, Act. 8. 9. Alexander would needs be son to Iupiter, and of the Race of the gods. Sapor King of Persia stiles himself Brother of the Sun and Moon. Projicit ampullas, & sesqui pedalia (Horat) verba.

I have read of a Pope, who trod upon the neck of Frederick the Emperour, and as a Cloak for his pride, cited that Text, Psa. 91. 13. Thou shalt tread upon the Lyon, and the Dragon shalt thou trample under feet: No such Idol as Self; the proud man bows down to this Idol.

  1. Are not they proud who despise others? Luke 18. 9. The Pharisees trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised14 others. The people of the Chineses say, that Europe hath one eye, and they have two, and all the world else is blind: A proud man looks upon others with such an eye of scorn, as Goliah did upon David, 1 Sam. 17. 42. When the Philistim looked about, and saw David, he disdained him. They who stand upon the Pinacle of Pride, look upon other men no bigger than Crows.

  2. Are not they proud who are the Trumpets of their own15 praise? Acts 5. 36. Before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be some body. A proud man is the Herald of his own good deeds, he blazeth his own fame, and therein is his vice, to paint his own virtue.

  3. Are not they proud who take the glory due to God, to themselves, Dan. 4. 30. Is not this great Babylon I have built? So saith the proud man, are not these the Prayers I have made? Are not these the works of Charity I have done? When Herod had made an Oration, and the people cryed him up for a God, Act. 12. 22. he was well content to have that honor done to him: Pride is the greatest sacriledge, it robs God of his glory.

  4. Are not they proud who are never pleased with their condition? they speak hardly of God, taxing his care and wisdom, as if he had not dealt well with them. A proud man God himself cannot please, but like Momus, he is ever finding fault, and flying in the face of heaven.

Oh let us search if there be none of this leven of pride in us: Man is Naturally a proud piece of flesh; this sin runs in a bloud; our first Parents fell by their Pride, they did aspire after a Deity; there are the seeds of this in the best, but the godly do not allow themselves in it; they labour to kill this weed by mortification. But certainly where this sin is regnant and prevailing, it cannot stand with grace; you may as well call him a prudent man who wants discretion, as a godly man who wants humility.

Use 2. Labour for this character;16 be humble. ‘Tis an Apostolical Exhortation, 1 Pet. 5. 5. Be cloathed with humility. Put it on as an embroydered17 robe: better want any thing than humility; better want parts than humility, nay better want the comforts of the Spirit, than want humility. Micah 6. 8. What doth the Lord require of thee, but to walk humbly with thy18 God?

Motive. 1. The more worth any man hath, the more humble he is. Feathers fly up, but Gold descends. The golden Saint descends in humility. Some of the Ancients have compared Humility to the Celidonian stone, which is little for substance, but of rare virtue.

  1. God loves an humble soul. ‘Tis not our high birth, but our low hearts God delights in. An humble spirit is Gods prospect. Isa. 66. 2. To this man will I look, even to him that is poor, and of a contrite spirit; an humble heart is Gods Palace, Isa. 57. 15. I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of an humble spirit. Great Personages besides their houses of state, have lesser houses which upon occasion they retreat to. Besides Gods house of state in Heaven, he hath the humble soul for his retiring-house, where he takes up his rest, and doth solace himself. Let Italy boast that it is for pleasure the Garden of the world; an humble heart glories in this, that it is the Presence-chamber of the Great King.

  2. The Times we live in are humbling: The Lord seems to say to us now, as he did to Israel, Exod. 33. 5. Put off thy Ornaments from thee, that I may know what to do to thee. My displeasure is breaking forth, I have eclipsed the light of the Sanctuary, I have stained the waters with blood, I have shot the arrow of Pestilence, therefore lay down your Pride, put off your Ornaments. Woe to them that lift themselves up, when God is casting them down. When should a people be humble if not under the rod? 1 Pet. 5. 6. Humble your selves under the mighty hand of God. When God afflicts his people, and cuts them short in their priviledges, ‘tis time then to sow sackcloath on their skin, and defile their horn (or honour) in the dust, Job 16. 15.

  3. What an horrid sin Pride is! St. Chrysostom calls it the mother of Hell. Pride is a complicated evil: as Aristotle saith, Justice comprehends all virtue in it; so Pride comprehends all vice. ‘Tis a spiritual drunkenness; it flies up as Wine into the brain, and intoxicates it. It is19 idolatry; a proud ma[…] is a self-worshipper, ‘Tis revenge; Haman plots Mordicaies death, because he would not bow the knee.

How odious is this sin to (1 Pet. 5. 5) God! Prov. 16. 5. Every one that is proud in heart, is an abomination to the Lord.

  1. The mischief of pride. It is the breakneck of20 souls. Zeph. 2. 9, 10. Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, &c. this shall they have for their pride. The Doves (saith Pliny) take a pride in their feathers, and in their flying high, at last they fly so high that they are a prey to the Hawk. Men fly so high in pride, that at last they are a prey to the Devil the Prince of the21 aire.

  2. Humility raiseth ones esteem in the eyes of others: All give respect to the humble, Prov. 15. 33. Before honour is (Chrysost) humility.

Quest. What means may we use to be humble.

Answ. 1. Let us set before us the golden pattern of Christ. He commenced Doctor […]n humility. Phil. 2. 7. But made himself of […]o reputation, and was made in the likeness of flesh. O what abasement was it for the Son of God to take our Flesh! nay, that Christ should take our Nature when it was in disgrace, being stained with sin, this was the wonder of humility. Look upon an humble Saviour, and let the plumes of Pride fall.

2 Study Gods Immensity and Purity: a sight of glory humbles. Elijah wrap’d his face in a Mantle when Gods glory passed before him, 1 King. 19. 13. The Stars vanish when the Sun appears.

3 Let us study our selves. First, our dark side: by looking our faces in the glass of the Word we see our (Chrysost) spots: what a world of sin swarms in us! We may say as Bernard, Lord I am nothing but peccatum aut sterilitas, either sinfulness or barrenness.

Secondly, Our light side. Is there any good in us? 1 How disproportionable is it to the means of Grace we have enjoyed! There is still something lacking in22 our Faith, 1 Thess. 3. 10. O Christian be not proud of what thou hast, but be humble for what thou wantest.

2 The Grace we have is not of our own growth: We are beholding to Christ and free Grace for it: as he said of that Axe which fell in the water, 2 King. 6. 5. All master, for it was borrowed. So I may say […] all the good and excellency in us, it is borrowed. Were it not folly to be proud of Ring that is23 lent? 1 Cor. 4. 7. For […] maketh thee to differ from another? and wh[…] hast thou, that thou didst not receive? The Moon hath no cause to be proud of […] light, when she borrows it from the Sun.

  1. How far short do we come of others; perhaps other Christians are Gyants in Grace; they are in Christ not only before us, but above24 us. We are but as the foot in Christs Body, they are as the eye.

  2. Our beauty is spotted: The Church is said to be fair as the Moon, Cant. 6. 10. which when it shines brightest hath a dark spot in it; Faith is mixed with infidelity; a Christian hath that in his very grace may humble him.

  3. If we would be humble, let us contemplate our mortality: Shall dust exalt it25 self? The thoughts of the grave should bury our pride: They say when there is a Tympany in the body, the hand of a dead man stroaking that part, cures the Tympany: The serious meditation of death, is enough to cure the Tympany of Pride.

Footnotes

  1. 11 Character. ↩

  2. 1 Distinction. ↩

  3. Quanti humiliantur & humiles non sunt. Bern. ↩

  4. 2 Distinction. ↩

  5. Plurimi humilitatem vultu menti entes superbia autem intus adeò tument, ut nulla vesica adeò sic inflata ventoquam cor eorum fastu. ↩

  6. Nobilior humilitatis pars, animo inclusa latet, atque oculorum aciem effugit. 3 Distinction. ↩

  7. Plurimi humilitatis umbram sectantur. Hierom. ↩

  8. […] ↩

  9. Humilitas est […] suae agnitio. ↩

  10. Humilitas est contemptus propriae excellentiae. Bern. de gard. humil. ↩

  11. Quanto quis plus proficit, eò minus se reputet profecisse. Bern, de mod. Orand. ↩

  12. Use 1. of Tryal. ↩

  13. Cristas erigit, & jovem se putat. ↩

  14. Alto supercilio alios intuentes, & quum loquuntur dictatores agunt. ↩

  15. Proprio laus sordet in ore. ↩

  16. Vse 2. Exhort. ↩

  17. […], idem valet quod […]. Helychius. ↩

  18. Excelsa est Patria humilis est Via. ↩

  19. […]. ↩

  20. Quem non gula […] superavit· Cyprian. ↩

  21. Superbiat homo, & tanquam Icariis pennis[…]e ipsum elevet, deprimitur tamen in profundum ruinae barathrum. Rivet. ↩

  22. […]. ↩

  23. Ne micam habes quam non Dei charismate accepisti; num sani hominis est de eo gloriari quod non est suum sed alienum? ↩

  24. In quantis sis minor cogita, non in quantis sis major. Aug. in Mat. ↩

  25. Cum sis humilimus, cure non humilimus? ↩

Backlinks