47 THE ADVANTAGES OP HUMILITY [SECT. U. SECTION II. The Advantages of Humility in Regard of God. It is time to proceed to the second general head of discourse, viz. what advantages are to be derived from au imitation of this apostle, this great example of humility, what unknown profit will arise from this holydiminution or lesseningof self? Surely many and various will be the benefits ofsuch a pious practice ? Some with regard to God, some with regard to our neighbours, and others with regard to our- selves. The first set of advantages that we shall derive from this practice of humility are such as regard God and religion, and they may be thrown into the following parti- culars : I. We shall be kept ever dependent on divine provi- dence and grace for every thing, while we are deeply sensible of our own emptiness, and we lie more directly under the promises of divine supplies. While we feel that in and of ourselves we are nothing, we shall be continually waiting upon God for every blessing to be conveyed to us according to our wants : We shall never think ourselves sufficient for any work, duty, or difficulty without him, and we shall live upon him hourly for light and strength, for grace and comfort. " We are not suf- ficient ofourselves, says the apostle, to think one thought as of ourselves, but our sufficiency is of God ;" 2 Cor. iii. 5. Humility and dependence go together : Those who have high thoughts of themselves are not so natu- rally inclined nor easily persuaded tó trust in another. Psalm x. 4. " The wicked through the pride of his heart will not seek after God." But David, as a type of Christ in his .state of infirmity and flesh, cries out, " I hm a worm and no man;" Ps. xxii. 6. " And therefore his heart is ever trusting in the Lord: So St. Paul ever keeps his hold of the grace of God, and depends on the strength of Christ, under a constant and prevailing sense ofhis own weakness. 2 Cor. xii. 10. " When I am weak then am I strong : When I feel my own weakness, I am strong by a dependence on the graceof Christ." A weak ehristian and an almighty Saviour are a sufficient match
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=