474 THE ADVANTAGES OF HUMILITy SECT. II. every-support and relief of divine mercy Ivhich is com- municated to us, and shall ascribe all to the free and rich grace of God. Learn this language, O my soul, " I was sinking and drowning, and God set my feet upon a rock, and established all my goings : I was wan- dering in foolish and pernicious ways, running down to destruction and death, but the blessed God sent his Son from heaven to seek and save me, and by the voice ofhis gospel and the secret whispers of his spirit he has directed my feet into the paths of holiness and peace and life eter- nal I was sick 'and God healed me : I was in trouble and the Lord relieved me: I was in darkness and he shed light upon my path : I was in straights and his hand ex- tricated me out of them : I was on the very borders of death and on the verge of hell, helpless and hopeless in myself, but, glory be to his holy name, he has given me help, and hope, and salvation." Such is the language of the blessed Paul ; 1 Cor. xv. 10. " I am nothing in myself, and if I appear to be any thing, it is by the grace of God, I amwhat I am:" Holy David in his devotions is full of the same humble acknowledgments : " I was poor and needy, but thou hast been my helper and my strength, I was surrounded with enemies, thou hast been my salvation " This is the sense of many of his divine songs. " And " who am I or what is my house that thou hast brought me hitherto ?" 2 Sám. vii. 18. On the other hand the man who is full of self is ready to assume all the honour of his success and his peaceful circumstances to his own reason, to his own wisdom, to the diligence and strength of his own right-hand, or at least to his own merit of these favours from heaven. He gives himse:f the praise of the blessings that surround him : And if his table is spread plentifully from the earth or from the waters, he ascribes that plenty to his own skill, " he sacrifices to his own net and burns incense to 'his own drag, as the prophet expresses it in a noble me- taphor ;" Hab. i. 16. And thus the God of heaven is robbed of his honours, and the praise is given to a crea- ture which is due to the Creator only : Thus the proud man multiplies his, iniquities and commits sacrilege and idolatryat once.
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