Serm: LXIII. Proving Mu to be theMefias. 4.53 a Camel to go through the eye of a Needle, than for a RichMan to enter into the Kingdom of God. But now the Poor were free from thefe Incumbrances and Temptations 5 , they had nothing to lofe, and therefore our Saviour's Do&rine went down more eafi- ly with them ; becaufe it didnot contradi& their Intereft, as it did the Intereft of thofe who had great Eftates and Poffeflions. Secondly, Another Keafon of this is, that thofe that are Poor, and enjoy little ofthe good things of this Life, are willing to entertain good News ofHappinefs in another. Thofe who are ina Efate of prefent Mifery and Suffering, are glad to hear that it (hall be well with them hereafter, and are willing to liften to thé good News ofa future Happinefs ; and therefore our Saviour, when he had pro- nounced the Poor, Bled, Luke 6. 20. Headds by wayof Oppofition, v. 24. But wo unto you that are rich g for ye have receivedyour Confolation. They were in fo comfortablea Condition at prefent, that they were not much concerned what should become of them hereafter ; whereas all the Comfort that Poor Men have, is the hopes of abetter Condition, non fimale .mow, &dim fic erit, that if it be bad now, it will not be fo always, and therefore no wonder if the Promifes and affurance ofa future Happinefs be very welcome to them: Thirdly, If by the Poor we do not only underftand thole who were in a low and mean Condition as to the Things of this World, but fuch likewife as had a Temper and.Difpofitionof Mind fuitable to the Poverty of their outward Condi- tion, which our Saviour calls Poverty of Spirit, by which he means Meeknefs and Himility, there is no doubt but that filch a Frame and Temper of Spirit, is a great Difpofition to the receiving of Truth. And that this is included in the Notion of Poverty, is very plain, both from the Words of the Prophecy Ì cited before, Ifa. 61. e. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, becaufe the Lord bath anointed me to preach good Tidings to the meek, and to bind up the broken- hearted; and likewife from our Saviour's Defcription of thefe Perfons, in one of the Evangelifts, Matth: 5. 3 Blefed are the Poor in Spirit, for theirs isthe Kingdom of God. So that by the Poor whoare fo nearly difpofed to receive the Gofpel, our Saviour intended thofe, who, being in a poor and low Condition in Refpe& of outward Things, were likewife meek and humble in their Spirits. NowMeeknefs and Humility are great Difpofitions to the entertaining of Truth. Thefe Graces and Virtues do prepare the Mindsof Men for Learning and Inftru&ion ; Meeknefs and Modefty, and Humility, are the proper Difpofitionsof a Scholar. He that hath a mean Opinion of himfelf is ready to learn of others; he who is notblinded by Pride or Paffion, is more apt to confider things impartially, and to pafs a truer Judg- ment upon them, than the Proud and the Paffionate. Paffion and Pride aré great Obftacles to the receivingof Truth, and to our Improvement in Know- ledge. Paffion does not only darken the Minds of Men, but puts a falfé Biafs uponour Judgments, which draws them off many times from Truth, arid ,fways them that way which our Paffion inclines them. A Man of a calm and meek Temper, (lands always indifferent for the receivingof Truth, and holds the Bal- lance of his Judgment even ; but Paffionsways and inclines it one way, . and that commonly againft Truth and Reafon. So likewife Pride is a great Impedi- ment to Knowledge, and the very worft Quality that a Learner can have it obftru&s all the Paffages whereby Knowledge fhould enter into us, it makes Men refute Inftru&ion, out of a Conceit they need it not. Many Men might have known more, had it not been for the vain Opinion which they have en- tertained of the fufficiency of their Knowledge. This is true in all kinds of Learning, but more efpecially as to the Knowledge of Divine things. For God loves to communicate hitnfelf, and beftow his Grace and Wifdom up- on meek and humble Minds. So the Scripture tells us, Pfd. 25. 9. The Meek will he guide in Judgment, and the Meek will he teach his Ways. And, r Pet. 5. 5. Be cloathed with.Humility ; for God refi jieth the proud, andgiveth Grate to the humble. And
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