Downame - BV209_D69_G6_1640_v1

of Humìtitie required in prayer. log and fpirituall , Prov. 3. 34. grace ; Prov. i r . 4. rvifdome; Prov. 22.4. the fear of God ; and finally, blef edneffe,Matth. 5.3. And therefore let us follow the counfel of James, chap. 4. io. to call down our Pelves before the Lord, and he will lift is up ; and of Peter, i. epift. 5.6. to deck our [elves inwardly with lorvlineffé of mind : for God refi fleth the proud , and givet/1 grace to the humble. In the examples alto of the godly we may ob- Examples o ferve that the moft holy men have moft abafed the humility themfelves when they have come into Gods pre- dale godly, fence. Abraham the father of the faithful! making requeft to God in behalfofthe Sodomites acknow- ledgeth himfelf to be but duff andafhes, Gen. 18.27. Jacob, who was called Ifrael becaufe by his wreft- ing in prayer he prevailed with God , confeffeth himfelf left then the leaft of Gods mercies, Gen. 32. io. David a man according to Gods own heart in the humility of his foul defireth the Lord not to en- ter into judgement with him, &c. Pfal.14S. 2. And 2. Sam. 6.22. he profeffeth that he would be vile before the Lord. Ifaiah the prophet,at whofe prayer the funne went back, being admitted into the pre fence of God, crieth out that he was a man of pollu- tedlips. Daniel, a man greatly beloved, humbly ac- knowledgeth his finnes, and refufeth to come in his own worthineffe, Dan.9. 18. and likewife Ezra, chap.9.6. The Centurion, of whom our Saviour te- ftifieth that he had not found the like faith in Ifrael, Matth.8.8. profeffeth himfelf to be unworthy that Chrift lhould come under his roof. The woman of Syrophenicia, to whom our Saviour gave tefimo- nie