SECTION II. 27 Bence of such majesty, in the eyeof such adorable and divine ,excellencies. The last thing I shall mention as a spring of St. Paul's humility, was his freqùent view and meditation of the condescen- sion the lowliness, the meekness; and self-abasement of the bles- sed .Jesus. As he charges the Philippian converts, that the same mind and temper shóuld be in them which was in Christ Jesus; Phil. ii. 5. So by a continual contemplation of him in his hum- bled estate, lie learned to imitate so divine an example, and he recommends his own conduct as a pattern for men, no farther than as he followed Christ. But this subject will fall in often by the way, while I am representing the grace ofhumility in its lovely appearances, and therefore I dismiss it now. Svcr. IL.T/ ;e Advantages of Humilityin RegardofGod. It is time to proceed to the second general head of discourse, viz. what advantages are to be derived from an imitation of this apostle, this great example of humility, what unknown profit will arise from this holy diminution or lessening ofself ? Surely many and various will be the henefits of such a pious practice : Some with regard to God, some with regard to our neighbours, and others with regard to ourselves. 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 fol- lowing particulars : I. We shall be kept ever dependent on divine providence and grace for every thing, whilewe are deeply sensible of our own emptiness, and we lie more directlyunder the promises of divine supplies. While we feel that in and of ourselvesweare nothing, we shall be continually waiting upon God for every blessing to be conveyed to us according to our wants : Tl'e 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 sufficient of our- selves, says the apostle, to think one thought asof ourselves, but our sufficiency is of God; 2 Cor. iii. 5. Humility anddependence gó together : Those who have high thoughts of themselves are not so naturally inclined nor easily persuaded to trust in another. Psalm x. 4. The wicked through the pride of his heart will not seekafter God. But David, as a type of Christ in his state of infirmity and flesh, cries out, Iam a worm andno man; Ps. xxii. 6. And therefore his heart is ever trusting in the Lord: So St. Paul ever keeps his holdof the grace of God, and depends on the strengthof Christ, under a constant and prevailing sense of his ownweakness. 2 Cor. xii. 10. When I am weak then am I strong: When I feel my own weakness, I am strongby a de- pendence on the grace of Christ. A weak chrietian and as
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