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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
holy
diminution
or
lessening
of
self?
Surely many
and various
will be
the benefits
of
such
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
of
ourselves,
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
of
his 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
grace
of
Christ."
A weak
ehristian and
an almighty Saviour
are a
sufficient
match