VIER. _. 8phefians, Chap. 4. isof agood temper and pretty keenedge, but without ahandle to cut with; ora piece of good fine cloth, whofecolour isfaded,and fo is the leffe faleable: filch was the cafeof holy lob praifing himfelfe againft the foule afperfions which his friends laid upon him, lob'. z9.3ó. And ofbleffed Paul defending himfelfe againft the detractions of the Palle Apofties, z Cor.r I. 22. Humility wil digeft and put up much contempt , fo it be but of a mans owne perfon As a child is not yet taken up with any great thoughts ofhis birth, place or wealth, and fo paffeth over the more lightly reproaches orcontumeliesdone him by hisfollowes:feanhum- ble man is but mean inhis own fight,& is therefore the leffemoved at contempt; and none can have a lower efteemof him thenhehath en- tertained ofhimfelfe. Or ass it doth nothing detradt from the prise and worth ofa pearle, ifa dung-hill Cock negle& it and fcrape it afide as ofnoworth or tire for him: So it is no difparagewent to the true grace and goodneffe which is in an humble man, ifcarnall perfons,whocan- not difcerneof fuch things, contemne and reproach him. With what filence and quietneffe of mind did our Saviour Chrift putup thofe in- finite reproaches and contempts which wereofferedhim, at all which hedidnot fomuch as open bis mouth! When Davids enemies fpake ma- nyevil( things againfthim, he was as one deafe that heard not , as dumb: andheldhis peace.It was no fmallcontempt whichwas put upon the A- ponte Paul by the Corinthians, at the mitigationno doubt of the falle Apoftles,that he was little betterthen a madman and betides himfilfe, which yet he makes light of. Notwithftanding humilitywill,and indeed mull (titre At forte con- tumely, and contempt, when it reaches further then a mans owne per- fon, and redounds to his place, calling and authority, to take away that refpeEl inpublique which is due unto him, and foto make him the leffe ferviceable andprofitable in his place. Thus Eli/ba was fo much moved at that infolent reproach ofthe Children mocking him andcal- linghim bald-pate,that he curfed them in thename ofthe Lord. Humilitydoth aright value and efteem of other men , and will make us ready to ferve them, ifoccafion be , even beneath our place andcondition. Nonebetter keeps thole precepts of the Apoftle then the humble man, that we /hould efleem others better thenour [elves, and that ingiving honour we fiouldpreveit one another. As therefore hee doth willingly and without indignation afford unto his fuperiours the honour, refpeEt and fervice due unto their: fo he doth not defpife his inferiours, but acknowledgeth what good is in anyof them, Both ufe them with refpe 1, tender and maintaine their credit and efteem, not Peeking to oblcure othersthat he may fhineand rulealone. The Sunne lends of his light to the other flarres, that they may Thine in their time andproper orbs : fo doth an humbleman not take pleafure wholly to eclipfe others parts and credit, but is ready to communicate of that credit and reputationwhich hee hath tó others even his inferiours, if they have any worth inthem, to bring them into account and main- taioè 4 Ois 2. Efay.ç;; y. Pfal.;Y. zCor.S.sr; z Kings s.s;. 04. 3 Mild. ;: Rom., 2.10.
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