man, and have not the understanding Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, &c. but to this man will I look, to him that is pure and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.-Isa. lxvi. 1, 2. of a man, &c. There is a generation pure in their own eyes, and yet not washed from their filthiness, &c. how lofty are, &c.-Prov. xxx. 2. 12, 13. The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of man shall be brought down, &c. for the day of the Lord of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up, and he shall be brought low, &c. Cease ye from man whose breath is in his nostrils for wherein is he to be accounted of?—Isa. ii. 11—13. 17. 22. v. 15. Job ix. 13. Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight.-Isa. v. 21. Woe is me, &c. I am a man of unclean lips, &c. for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.-Isa. vi. 5. I will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his high looks: for he saith, By the strength of my hand I have done it, &c. Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith? &c. Therefore shall the Lord, the Lord of hosts, send among his fat ones, leanness and under his glory he shall kindle a fire, &c. The high ones of stature shall be hewn down, and the haughty shall be humbled.— Isa. x. 12, 13. 15, 16. 33. xiv. 11-15. The Lord of hosts hath purposed it to stain (or pollute) the pride of all glory; and to bring into contempt all the honourable of the earth.-Isa. xxii. 9. Hear the word of the Lord, you scornful men, &c. because you said we have made a covenant with death, &c. it shall be disannulled, &c.—Isa. xxviii. 14, 15, 18. Thus saith the high and lofty One, &c. I dwell in the high and holy place; with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.-Isa. lvii. 15. Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither the mighty man in his might, &c.-Jer. ix. 23. I will mar the pride of Judah, and the great pride of Jerusalem, &c. which refuse to hear my words, &c.Jer. xiii. 9, 10. 15. 17, 18. O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the Lord, behold, as the clay is in the potter's hands, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.—Jer. xviii. 6. When the prophet Jeremiah had spoken all the words of the Lord to the people, then spake Azariah, &c. and all the proud men, saying unto Jeremiah, Thou speakest falsely: the Lord our God had not sent thee to say, &c.-Jer. xliii. 1, 2. Behold, I am against thee, O thou most proud (or pride), saith the Lord God of hosts, &c. And the most proud shall stumble and fall, &c.-Jer. 1. 31, 32. Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, &c. and they were haughty, &c.-Ezek. xvi. 49, 50. Thus saith the Lord, &c. exalt him that is low, and abase him that is high.-Ezek. xxi. 26. God threatens the prince of Tyrus for his sacrilegious pride, — Ezek. xxviii. 1, &c. When the king said unto Daniel, Art thou able to make known unto me the dream? &c. Daniel answered, &c. There is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, &c. but as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, &c.-Dan. ii. 25-28. 30. Is not this great Babylon that I have built by the might of the power, and for the honour of my majesty? While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, &c. The kingdom is departed from thee, &c. He was driven from When his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride (or to deal proudly) he was deposed from his kingly throne, and his glory taken from him, &c. and thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, although thou knewest all this, but hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven, &c.-Dan. v. 20-23. Their heart was exalted, therefore have they forgotten me.-Hosea xiii. 6. He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good: and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and walk humbly with thy God?-Micah vi. 8. Behold his soul which is lifted up, is not upright in him.-Hab. ii. 4. Moab shall be as Sodom, &c. This shall they have for their pride, because they have reproached and magnified themselves against the people of the Lord of hosts.-Zeph. ii. 9, 10. Jer. xlviii. 26, 27. 29. Behold, thy king cometh unto thee, he is just, &c. lowly.-Zech. ix. 9. The day cometh that shall burn as an oven, and all the proud, &c. shall .be stubble.-Mal. iv. 1. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.Matt. v. 3. The centurion answered, and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof. Matt. viii. 8. Luke vii. 6, 7 Thou Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shall be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, &c. Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and he shall find rest. -Matt. xi. 23. 29. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. -Matt. xviii. 4. Luke ix. 46-48. Mark x. 15. When the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren; but Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them: but it shall not be so amongst you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister, &c. even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister.— Matt. xx. 24-28. xxiii. 11, 12. Luke xxii. 24, &c. One is your Master, even Christ, and all ye are brethren, &c. Whosoever shall exalt himself, shall be abased: and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.-Matt. xxiii. 8. 12. When Christ had said, One of you shall betray me, each disciple said, Is it I? Is it I? &c. Peter, notwithstanding his confidence, denied Christ three times, being left to himself.— Matt. xxvi. 21, 22. 69, &c.-Luke xxii. 32-34. 55—61. Peter fell down at Jesus' knees, and said, Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.-Luke v. 8. Rejoice not that the spirits are made subject to you, but rather rejoice that your names are written in heaven.-Luke x. 20. When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room, lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden.-Luke xiv. 8. When ye have done all, &c. say, We are unprofitable servants.-Luke xvii. 10. He spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others, &c. The publican standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes to heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.-Luke xviii. 9. 13, &c. John ix. 34, 35. Beware of the Scribes, which de-* sire to walk in long robes, and love greetings, &c. and the highest seats in the synagogues.-Luke xx. 46. N This my joy therefore is fulfilled: he must increase, but I must decrease. John iii. 29, 30. Jesus washed the disciples' feet, &c. If I then your Lord and Master have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another's feet; for I have given you an example.-John xiii. 4, 5. 14, 15. Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look you so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? &c. Through faith in his name, hath made this man strong. Acts iii. 12, 13. 16. iv. 9. 11. Cornelius met Peter, fell down at his feet, and worshipped him; but Peter took him up, saying, Stand up, I myself also am a man.-Acts x. 25, 26. Herod's pride, in not giving God the glory was his ruin, so that he was smote by the angel of God, and eaten of worms. Acts xii. 21-23. When the priest of Jupiter and the people would have done sacrifice to Paul and Barnabas, they said, We are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you, that you should turn from these vanities, &c.-Acts xiv. 13-15. Apollos, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, yet submits to be taught the way of God more perfectly by Aquila and Priscilla, tent makers.-Acts xviii. 2. 24-26. I have been with you at all seasons; serving the Lord with all humility of mind.-Acts xx. 18, 19. The apostle blames the Jews for boasting of the law, and of their knowledge and ability to instruct others, &c.-Rom. ii. 17-21. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing.— Rom. vii. 18. They, going about to establish their own righteousness have not submitted to the righteousness of God, &c.-Rom. x. 3. Boast not against the branches: but if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. Thou wilt say, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not high-minded, but fear, &c.-Rom. xi. 18-21. 25. For I say, &c. to every man among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith, &c. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate (or be content with mean things); be not wise in your own conceits.Rom. xii. 3. 16. God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, &c. that no flesh should glory in his presence.-1 Cor. i. 27-29. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool that he may be wise; for the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God, &c. therefore let no man glory in men.-1 Cor. iii. 18, 19. 21. That ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up one against another; for who maketh thee to differ (or distinguisheth thee)? and what hast thou which thou didst not receive? Now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory as if thou hadst not received it? &c. The kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.-1 Cor. iv. 6, 7.20. If any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing as he ought to know.-1 Cor. viii. 2. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall.1 Cor. x. 12. Matt. xxvi. 33. 35. 70. 72. 74. John xiii. 37, 38. To one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom, &c. but all these worketh that one and the self-same Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will, &c. The eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee. Nor again, the head to the feet, I have no need of you, &c.-1 Cor. xii. 8-11. 20, 21. Charity vaunteth not itself (or is not rash), is not puffed up.-1 Cor. xiii. 4. I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, &c. But by the grace of God I am what I am, &c. not I, but the grace of God which was with me.-1 Cor. xv. 9, 10. 1 Tim. i. 12, 13. 15. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing, as of ourselves: but our sufficiency is of God. -2 Cor. iii. 5, 6. We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. -2 Cor. iv. 7. Some that commend themselves; but they measuring themselves by themselves, &c. are not wise; but we will not boast of things without our measure, &c. But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord: for not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.2 Cor. x. 12, 13. 17, 18. And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, &c. though I am nothing.-2 Cor. xii. 7. 11. God accepteth no man's person, &c. I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me.-Gal. ii. 6. 20. Eph. vi. 9. After that ye have known God, or rather, are known of God.-Gal. iv. 9. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, &c. -Gal. v. 26. For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.-Gal. vi. 3. Unto me who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given.Eph. iii. 8. Walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, &c. unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.-Eph. iv. 1, 2. 7. Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.-Eph. v. 21. Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory, but in lowliness of mind; let each esteem other better than themselves: look not every man on his own things, &c. Let this mind be in you, which also was in Christ, &c. He humbled himself, &c. Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.-Phil. ii. 3—5. 8. 12. Not as though I were already perfect, but I press forward, &c.-Phil. iii. 12-14. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where, and in all things, I am instructed, &c. Phil. iv. 12. Charge them that are rich that they be not high-minded, &c.-1 Tim. vi. 17. Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, &c. humbleness of mind, meekness, &c.-Col. iii. 12. If any man teach otherwise, &c. he is proud, knowing nothing, doting, &c.-1 Tim. vi. 3, 4. Let us therefore fear, lest a promise being left of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.-Heb. iv. 1. The rich, in that he is made low; because, as the flower of the grass, he shall pass away.-James i. 10, 11. Isa. xl. 6-8. 1 Pet. i. 24. Have not the faith of our Lord Jesus with respect of persons. For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel; and there come in also a poor man, in vile raiment; and ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here, in a good place (or well, or seemly); and say unto the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool; are you not then partial in yourselves? &c. Hath not God chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith? &c. have despised the poor.-James ii. 1–6. Ye My brethren, be not many masters; knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. For in many things we offend all, &c.-James ili. 1, 2. God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God, &c. humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.-James iv. 6, 7.10. All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, the flower falleth. -1 Pet. i. 24. Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder: yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility; for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time. 1 Pet. v. 5, 6. Thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.-Rev. iii. 17. SACT. XII. The Excellence of Meekness and Patience: the Encouragements thereto. SIMEON and Levi are brethren; instruments of cruelty (or their swords are weapons of violence): O my soul, come not thou into their secret, &c. for in their anger they slew a man: and in their self-will they digged down a wall. Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel.-Gen. xlix. 5-7. xxxiv. 25-27. Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men on the face of the earth.-Numb. xii. 3. When Eli had charged Hannah with drunkenness, she meekly answered, No, my lord, &c.-1 Sam. i. 15-17. David had rashly and hastily resolved to have avenged himself upon Nabal, and his house: and he blessed God for Abigail's counsel, which hindered him.-1 Sam. xxv. 22, 32-34. With the froward thou wilt shew thyself unsavoury (or thou wilt wrestle).-2 Sam. xxii. 27. The meek shall eat, and be satisfied.-Ps. xxii. 26. The meek will he guide in judgment, and the meek will he teach his way.-Ps. xxv. 9. Fret not thyself because of evil doers; neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. Fret not, &c. because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass, &c. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil, &c. But the meek shall inherit the earth. -Ps. xxxvii. 1. 7, 8. 11. The earth feared, &c. when God arose to judgment to save all the meek of the earth.-Ps. lxxvi. 8, 9. cxlix. 4. A froward heart shall depart from me.-Ps. ci. 4. It went ill with Moses for their sakes, because they provoked his spirit, so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips.-Ps. cvi. 32, 33. The Lord lifteth up the meek.Ps. cxlvii. 6. Put away from thee a froward mouth and perverse lips put far from thee.-Prov. iv. 24. They that are of a froward heart, are an abomination to the Lord.Prov. xi. 20. A fool's wrath is presently known: but a wise man hideth shame.-Prov. xii. 16. Only by pride cometh contention : but with the well-advised is wisdom. -Prov. xiii. 10. He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly, &c. He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding but he that is hasty (or short) of spirit, exalteth folly.-Prov. xiv. 17. 29. A soft answer turneth away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger, &c. A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.-Prov. xv. 1. 18. A froward man soweth strife, &c. He that is slow to anger, is better than the mighty: and he that ruleth |