Section 11

11. The godly man is an humble man; he is like the Sun in the Zenith, which when it is at the highest shows lowest: Saint Austin calls Humility the Mother of the Graces; but before I show you who is the humble man, I shall lay down three distinctions.

1. I distinguish between being humbled and humble; a man may be humbled, and not humble; a sinner may be humbled by affliction, his condition is low, but not his disposition; a godly man is not only humbled, but humble, his heart is as low as his condition.

2. I distinguish between outward humility and inward; there is a great deal of difference between an humble carriage, and an humble spirit; a person may carry it humbly:

1. Towards others, yet be proud; who more humble than Absalom in his outward behavior? 2 Samuel 15:5. When any man came near to do him obeisance, Absalom took him by the hand and kissed him. But though he had an humble carriage, he aspired after the Crown, verse 10. As soon as you hear the sound of the Trumpet, you shall say Absalom reigns in Hebron. Here was Pride dressed in Humility's Mantle.

2. A person may behave himself humbly towards God, yet be proud, 1 Kings 21:27. Ahab put on sackcloth, and fasted, and went softly, but his heart was not humble: A man may bow his head like a bulrush, yet lift up the Ensigns of Pride in his heart.

3. I distinguish between Humility and Policy; many make a show of Humility to work their own ends: The Papists seem to be the most humble mortified Saints, but it is rather subtlety than humility; for by this means they get the Revenues of the earth into their possession; all this may be, and yet no godliness.

Question. How may a Christian know that he is humble, and consequently godly?

Answer. 1. An humble soul is emptied of all swelling thoughts of himself: Bernard calls Humility a Self-annihilation, Job 22:29. Thou wilt save the humble. In the Hebrew it is, Him that is of low eyes. An humble man has lower thoughts of himself than others can have of him: David, though a King, yet looked upon himself as a worm, Psalm 22:6. I am a worm, and no man. Bradford a Martyr, yet subscribes himself a sinner, Job 10:15. If I am righteous, I will not lift up my head: Like the Violet, a sweet flower, but hangs down the head.

2. An humble soul thinks better of others than of himself, Philippians 2:3. Let each esteem others better than themselves. An humble man values others at a higher rate than himself; and the reason is, because he can better see his own heart than he can another's; he sees his own corruption, and thinks sure it is not so with others, their Graces are not so weak as his, their corruptions are not so strong; sure (thinks he) they have better hearts than I: An humble Christian studies his own infirmities, and another's excellencies, and that makes him put a higher value upon others than himself, Proverbs 30:2. Surely I am more brutish than any man. And Paul, though he were the chief of the Apostles, yet he calls himself the least of Saints, Ephesians 3:8.

3. An humble soul has a low esteem of his duties; Pride is apt to breed in our holy things, as the worm breeds in the sweetest fruit, and forth comes from the most generous wine: An humble person does not only deny his sins, but his duties; when he has prayed and wept, alas, says he, how little have I done, God might damn me for all this; he says as good Nehemiah, Chapter 13:22. Remember me O my God concerning this, and spare me. Remember Lord how I have poured out my soul, but spare me, and pardon me; he sees that his best duties weigh many grains too light, therefore he desires Christ's Merits may be put into the Scales: The humble Saint blushes when he looks upon his Copy, he sees he cannot write even, nor without blotting; this humbles him to think that his best duties run dregs; he drops poison upon his sacrifice: Oh, says he, I dare not say I have prayed or wept, those which I write down for duties, God might write down for sins.

4. An humble man is ever preferring Bills of Indictment against himself; he complains not of his condition, but his heart: O this evil heart of unbelief! Lord (says Hooper) I am hell, but thou art heaven. An hypocrite is ever telling how good he is; an humble soul is ever saying how bad he is: Paul that highflown Saint, who was caught up into the third heaven, how does this bird of Paradise bemoan himself for his corruptions, Romans 7:24. O wretched man that I am, etcetera. Holy Bradford subscribes himself, the hardhearted sinner: The more knowledge an humble Christian has, the more he complains of ignorance; the more Faith, the more he bewails his unbelief.

5. An humble man will justify God in an afflicted condition, Nehemiah 9:33. Howbeit thou art just in all that is brought upon us. If men oppress and calumniate, the humble soul acknowledges God's righteousness in the midst of severity, 2 Samuel 24:17. Lo, I have sinned: Lord, my pride, my barrenness, my Sermon-surfeiting has been the procuring cause of all these judgments; when Clouds are round about God, yet righteousness is the habitation of his Throne, Psalm 97:2.

6. An humble soul is a Christ-Magnifier, Philippians 1:20. he gives the glory of all his actions to Christ, and Free-grace: King Canutus took the Crown off his own head, and set it upon a Crucifix; so an humble Saint takes the Crown of honor from his own head, and sets it upon Christ's; and the reason is, from that love he bears to Christ; Love can part with anything to the object loved: Isaac loved Rebekah and he gave away his Jewels to her; the humble Saint loves Christ entirely, therefore can part with anything to him: he gives away the honor and praise of all he does to Christ, let Christ wear those Jewels.

7. An humble soul is willing to take a reproof for sin; a wicked man is too high to stoop to a reproof: The Prophet Micaiah used to tell King Ahab of his sin, and says he, I hate him, 1 Kings 22:8. Reproof to a proud man, is like pouring water on lime, which grows the more hot; a gracious soul loves him that reproves, Proverbs 9:8. Rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. The humble-spirited Christian can bear the reproach of an Enemy, and the reproof of a friend.

8. An humble man is willing to have his name and parts eclipsed, so God's glory may be more increased; he is content to be outshined by others in gifts and esteem, so that the Crown of Christ may shine the brighter: This is the humble man's Motto, Let me decrease, let Christ increase: 'Tis his desire that Christ should be exalted, and if this be effected, let who will be the instrument, he rejoices, Philippians 1:15. Some preach Christ of envy; They preached to get away some of Paul's hearers; Well, says he, Christ is preached, and I therein do rejoice, verse 18. An humble Christian is content to be laid aside, if God has any other tools to work with which may bring him more glory.

9. An humble Saint likes that condition which God sees best for him; a proud man murmurs he has no more, an humble man wonders he has so much, Genesis 32:10. I am not worthy of the least of all thy mercies: when the heart lies low, it can stoop to a low condition. A Christian looking upon his sins, wonders it is no worse with him, he does not say his mercies are small, but his sins are great; he knows the worst piece God carves him, is better than he deserves, therefore takes it thankfully upon his knees.

10. An humble Christian will stoop to the meanest person, and the lowest office, he will visit the poorest member of Christ: Lazarus his sores are more precious to him than Dives' purple; he does not say, Stand by, come not near to me, for I am holier than thou; but, condescends to men of low estate, Romans 12:16.

Use 1. Is Humility the inseparable Character of a godly man, let us try our hearts by this Touchstone: Are we humble? Alas, where does their godliness appear, who are swelled with pride, and ready to burst? But though men are proud, they will not confess it: This Bastard of Pride is born, but none are willing to father it; therefore let me ask a few questions, and let Conscience answer.

1 Are not they proud who are given to glorying? 1 Corinthians 5:6. Your glorying is not good. 1 Who glory in their riches; their hearts swell with their estates. Saint Bernard calls Pride the rich man's cousin. Ezekiel 28:5. Thy heart is lifted up because of thy riches. 2 Who glory in their apparel. Many dress themselves in such fashions, as they make the devil fall in love with them; Black-spots, gaudy attire, naked breasts, what are these, but the flags and banners which Pride displays? 3 Who glory in their beauty. The body is but dust and blood kneaded together: Solomon says, Beauty is vain, Proverbs 31:30. Yet so vain are some, as to be proud of vanity. 4 Who glory in their gifts. These trappings and ornaments do not set them off in God's eyes; an Angel is a knowing creature, but take away humility from an Angel, and he is a devil.

2 Are not they proud who are highly opinionated of their own excellencies? who beholding themselves in philautiae speculo, in the multiplying glass of self-love, appear in their own eyes better than they are: Simon Magus gave out, that himself was some great one, Acts 8:9. Alexander would needs be son to Jupiter, and of the Race of the gods. Sapor King of Persia styles himself Brother of the Sun and Moon. Projicit ampullas, and sesquipedalia verba.

I have read of a Pope, who trod upon the neck of Frederick the Emperor, and as a Cloak for his pride, cited that Text, Psalm 91:13. Thou shalt tread upon the Lion, and the Dragon shalt thou trample under feet: No such Idol as Self; the proud man bows down to this Idol.

3. Are not they proud who despise others? Luke 18:9. The Pharisees trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others. The people of the Chinese say, that Europe has one eye, and they have two, and all the world else is blind: A proud man looks upon others with such an eye of scorn, as Goliath did upon David, 1 Samuel 17:42. When the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him. They who stand upon the Pinnacle of Pride, look upon other men no bigger than Crows.

4. Are not they proud who are the Trumpets of their own praise? Acts 5:36. Before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody. A proud man is the Herald of his own good deeds, he blazes his own fame, and therein is his vice, to paint his own virtue.

5. Are not they proud who take the glory due to God, to themselves, Daniel 4:30. Is not this great Babylon I have built? So says the proud man, are not these the Prayers I have made? Are not these the works of Charity I have done? When Herod had made an Oration, and the people cried him up for a God, Acts 12:22. he was well content to have that honor done to him: Pride is the greatest sacrilege, it robs God of his glory.

6. Are not they proud who are never pleased with their condition? they speak hardly of God, taxing his care and wisdom, as if he had not dealt well with them. A proud man God himself cannot please, but like Momus, he is ever finding fault, and flying in the face of heaven.

Oh let us search if there be none of this leaven of pride in us: Man is Naturally a proud piece of flesh; this sin runs in a blood; our first Parents fell by their Pride, they did aspire after a Deity; there are the seeds of this in the best, but the godly do not allow themselves in it; they labor to kill this weed by mortification. But certainly where this sin is regnant and prevailing, it cannot stand with grace; you may as well call him a prudent man who wants discretion, as a godly man who wants humility.

Use 2. Labor for this character; be humble. It is an Apostolical Exhortation, 1 Peter 5:5. Be clothed with humility. Put it on as an embroidered robe: better want anything than humility; better want parts than humility, nay better want the comforts of the Spirit, than want humility. Micah 6:8. What does the Lord require of you, but to walk humbly with yourGod?

1. The more worth any man has, the more humble he is. Feathers fly up, but gold descends. The golden Saint descends in humility. Some of the Ancients have compared Humility to the Celidonian stone, which is little for substance, but of rare virtue.

2. God loves an humble soul. It is not our high birth, but our low hearts God delights in. An humble spirit is God's prospect. Isaiah 66:2. To this man will I look, even to him that is poor, and of a contrite spirit; an humble heart is God's Palace, Isaiah 57:15. I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of an humble spirit. Great Personages besides their houses of state, have lesser houses which upon occasion they retreat to. Besides God's house of state in Heaven, he has the humble soul for his retiring-house, where he takes up his rest, and does solace himself. Let Italy boast that it is for pleasure the Garden of the world; an humble heart glories in this, that it is the Presence-chamber of the Great King.

3. The Times we live in are humbling: The Lord seems to say to us now, as he did to Israel, Exodus 33:5. Put off your Ornaments from you, that I may know what to do to you. My displeasure is breaking forth, I have eclipsed the light of the Sanctuary, I have stained the waters with blood, I have shot the arrow of Pestilence, therefore lay down your Pride, put off your Ornaments. Woe to them that lift themselves up, when God is casting them down. When should a people be humble if not under the rod? 1 Peter 5:6. Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God. When God afflicts his people, and cuts them short in their privileges, it is time then to sew sackcloth on their skin, and defile their horn (or honor) in the dust, Job 16:15.

4. What a horrid sin Pride is! Saint Chrysostom calls it the mother of Hell. Pride is a complicated evil: as Aristotle says, Justice comprehends all virtue in it; so Pride comprehends all vice. It is a spiritual drunkenness; it flies up as Wine into the brain, and intoxicates it. It is idolatry; a proud man is a self-worshipper. It is revenge; Haman plots Mordecai's death, because he would not bow the knee.

How odious is this sin to God!**** Proverbs 16:5. Everyone that is proud in heart, is an abomination to the Lord.

5. The mischief of pride. It is the breakneck of souls. Zephaniah 2:9, 10. Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, etc. this shall they have for their pride. The Doves (says Pliny) take a pride in their feathers, and in their flying high, at last they fly so high that they are a prey to the Hawk. Men fly so high in pride, that at last they are a prey to the Devil the Prince of theair.

6. Humility raises one's esteem in the eyes of others: All give respect to the humble, Proverbs 15:33. Before honor ishumility.

Question. What means may we use to be humble.

Answer. 1. Let us set before us the golden pattern of Christ. He commenced Doctor in humility. Philippians 2:7. But made himself of no reputation, and was made in the likeness of flesh. O what abasement was it for the Son of God to take our Flesh! nay, that Christ should take our Nature when it was in disgrace, being stained with sin, this was the wonder of humility. Look upon an humble Savior, and let the plumes of Pride fall.

2 Study God's Immensity and Purity: a sight of glory humbles. Elijah wrapped his face in a Mantle when God's glory passed before him, 1 Kings 19:13. The Stars vanish when the Sun appears.

3 Let us study ourselves. First, our dark side: by looking our faces in the glass of the Word we see our spots: what a world of sin swarms in us! We may say as Bernard, Lord I am nothing but peccatum aut sterilitas, either sinfulness or barrenness.

Secondly, Our light side. Is there any good in us? 1 How disproportionable is it to the means of Grace we have enjoyed! There is still something lacking inour Faith, 1 Thessalonians 3:10. O Christian be not proud of what you have, but be humble for what you want.

2 The Grace we have is not of our own growth: We are beholding to Christ and free Grace for it: as he said of that Axe which fell in the water, 2 Kings 6:5. Alas master, for it was borrowed. So I may say [of] all the good and excellency in us, it is borrowed. Were it not folly to be proud of a Ring that is lent? 1 Corinthians 4:7. For [who] makes you to differ from another? and what have you, that you did not receive? The Moon has no cause to be proud of [her] light, when she borrows it from the Sun.

3. How far short do we come of others; perhaps other Christians are Giants in Grace; they are in Christ not only before us, but above us. We are but as the foot in Christ's Body, they are as the eye.

4. Our beauty is spotted: The Church is said to be fair as the Moon, Canticles 6:10. which when it shines brightest has a dark spot in it; Faith is mixed with infidelity; a Christian has that in his very grace may humble him.

5. If we would be humble, let us contemplate our mortality: Shall dust exalt itself? The thoughts of the grave should bury our pride: They say when there is a Tympany in the body, the hand of a dead man stroking that part, cures the Tympany: The serious meditation of death, is enough to cure the Tympany of Pride.

11. The godly man is a humble man. He is like the sun at its highest point — which when it is at its greatest height appears to be at its lowest. Augustine calls humility the mother of the graces. Before I describe who the humble man is, I will draw three distinctions.

1. I distinguish between being humbled and being humble. A person can be humbled without being humble. A sinner can be humbled by affliction — his circumstances are low, but not his spirit. A godly man is not only humbled in his circumstances but humble in his heart — his heart is as low as his condition.

2. I distinguish between outward humility and inward humility. There is a great difference between a humble manner and a humble spirit. A person may conduct himself humbly:

1. Toward others, and yet be proud. Who was more outwardly humble in his manner than Absalom? 2 Samuel 15:5: When anyone came near to bow down before him, Absalom would reach out his hand and take hold of him and kiss him. But though he had a humble manner, he was plotting for the throne, as verse 10 shows: As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, say, Absalom reigns in Hebron! Here was pride dressed in the cloak of humility.

2. A person may conduct himself humbly toward God and yet be proud. 1 Kings 21:27: Ahab put on sackcloth, and fasted, and walked gently. But his heart was not humble. A person can bow his head like a reed, while lifting the banners of pride in his heart.

3. I distinguish between humility and cunning strategy. Many put on a show of humility to advance their own ends. Roman Catholics appear to be the most humble and self-denying of saints — but it is more a calculated strategy than genuine humility, since by this means they have accumulated the wealth of the earth into their hands. All of this can be present without any true godliness.

Question: How can a Christian know that he is truly humble, and therefore godly?

Answer: 1. A humble soul is empty of all inflated thoughts about himself. Bernard calls humility self-annihilation. Job 22:29: You will save the humble person — in Hebrew, literally, him who has lowered eyes. A humble man thinks more poorly of himself than others think of him. David, though a king, thought of himself as a worm. Psalm 22:6: I am a worm, and not a man. Bradford the martyr signed his own letters as a sinner. Job 10:15: If I am righteous, I will not lift up my head. Like the violet — a sweet flower that hangs its head.

2. A humble soul thinks better of others than of himself. Philippians 2:3: Count others more significant than yourselves. A humble man values others more highly than himself. The reason is that he can see his own heart far more clearly than he can see another's. He sees his own corruption and assumes things are better with others — their graces are not as weak as his, their corruptions not as strong. Surely, he thinks, they have better hearts than I do. A humble Christian studies his own weaknesses and other people's strengths, which leads him to place a higher value on others than on himself. Proverbs 30:2: Surely I am more stupid than any man. And Paul, though he was the foremost of the apostles, called himself the least of all the saints in Ephesians 3:8.

3. A humble soul has a low opinion of his own spiritual duties. Pride tends to breed in our most sacred activities, just as a worm breeds in the sweetest fruit and mold forms from the finest wine. A humble person disowns not only his sins but his duties. After praying and weeping, he says: How little I have done — God could justly condemn me for all of this. He prays as good Nehemiah did in Nehemiah 13:22: Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and spare me. Lord, remember how I have poured out my soul — but spare me and forgive me. He sees that his best efforts fall many measures short of what they should be, and so he wants Christ's merits placed on the scales alongside his own. The humble saint blushes when he looks at his own record — he sees that he cannot write a clean line and keeps making blots. It humbles him to think that even his best acts are contaminated. He drops poison on his own sacrifice. O Lord, he says, I dare not claim to have prayed or wept — what I record as acts of worship, God might well record as sins.

4. A humble man is always filing charges against himself. He does not complain about his circumstances but about his heart. O this evil heart of unbelief! Lord, said Hooper, I am hell, but You are heaven. A hypocrite is always talking about how good he is. A humble soul is always confessing how bad he is. Paul, that exalted saint who was caught up to the third heaven, how this bird of paradise mourned over his own corruption: Romans 7:24: O wretched man that I am! Holy Bradford signed his letters: the hard-hearted sinner. The more knowledge a humble Christian gains, the more he laments his ignorance. The more faith he has, the more he grieves his unbelief.

5. A humble man will declare God to be right even in a time of affliction. Nehemiah 9:33: Yet You have been just in all that has come upon us. When people oppress and slander him, the humble soul acknowledges God's righteousness even in the midst of hard treatment. 2 Samuel 24:17: I have sinned. Lord, my pride, my spiritual barrenness, my treating of sermons as a luxury — these have brought all these judgments upon me. Even when clouds surround God, righteousness is the foundation of His throne, as Psalm 97:2 says.

6. A humble soul magnifies Christ. Philippians 1:20. He gives the glory for everything he does to Christ and to free grace. King Canute took the crown off his own head and placed it on a crucifix. In the same way, a humble saint takes the crown of honor from his own head and places it on Christ's. The reason is the love he bears for Christ — and love can give up anything for the one it loves. Isaac loved Rebekah and gave her his jewels. The humble saint loves Christ completely, and so can give everything to Him. He gives away the honor and praise of all he does to Christ — let Christ wear those jewels.

7. A humble soul is willing to receive a reproof for sin. A wicked man is too proud to accept a rebuke. The prophet Micaiah regularly confronted King Ahab about his sin, and Ahab said of him: I hate him, as 1 Kings 22:8 says. A reproof to a proud man is like pouring water on quicklime — it only makes things hotter. But a gracious soul loves the person who corrects him. Proverbs 9:8: Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you. The humble-spirited Christian can endure the insults of an enemy and the correction of a friend.

8. A humble man is willing to have his own name and abilities overshadowed, as long as God's glory is increased. He is content to be outshone by others in gifts and reputation, as long as the crown of Christ shines all the brighter for it. This is the humble man's motto: Let me decrease; let Christ increase. His desire is that Christ be exalted — and if that is accomplished, he rejoices regardless of who the instrument is. Philippians 1:15: Some preach Christ out of envy. They preached in order to draw away some of Paul's listeners. But Paul says, Verse 18: Christ is preached, and in that I rejoice. A humble Christian is content to be set aside if God has other instruments He can use to bring Himself greater glory.

9. A humble saint is content with whatever condition God considers best for him. A proud man complains he does not have more; a humble man marvels that he has as much as he does. Genesis 32:10: I am not worthy of the least of all Your mercies. When the heart is low, it can be content in a low condition. A Christian looking at his sins marvels that things are not worse — he does not say his blessings are small, but that his sins are great. He knows that even the smallest portion God serves him is better than he deserves, and so he receives it gratefully, on his knees.

10. A humble Christian will stoop to the lowest person and the humblest task. He will visit the poorest member of Christ's body. Lazarus's sores are more precious to him than the rich man's purple robes. He does not say: Stand back, do not come near me, for I am holier than you. Instead, he condescends to those of low position, as Romans 12:16 says.

Application 1: Since humility is an inseparable mark of a godly man, let us test our hearts by this touchstone. Are we humble? How can godliness be seen in those who are bloated with pride and ready to burst? Yet though people are proud, they will not admit it. This bastard child of pride is born, but no one wants to claim it. Let me therefore ask a few questions and let conscience answer.

1. Are not those proud who are given to boasting? 1 Corinthians 5:6: Your boasting is not good. 1. Those who boast in their wealth — their hearts swell with their bank accounts. Bernard called pride the rich man's cousin. Ezekiel 28:5: Your heart has become proud because of your riches. 2. Those who boast in their clothing. Many dress in such fashions that they make the devil fall in love with them. Beauty marks, gaudy attire, immodest dress — what are these but the flags and banners of pride? 3. Those who boast in their physical appearance. The body is nothing but dust and blood kneaded together. Solomon says in Proverbs 31:30: Beauty is vain. Yet some are so vain as to be proud of what is itself only vanity. 4. Those who boast in their abilities. These decorations do not make them impressive in God's eyes. An angel is a highly intelligent creature — but take away humility from an angel, and he becomes a devil.

2. Are not those proud who have an inflated opinion of their own excellence? They look at themselves through the magnifying glass of self-love and appear to their own eyes to be greater than they really are. Simon Magus claimed in Acts 8:9 that he was someone great. Alexander insisted he was the son of Jupiter and of divine descent. Sapor, King of Persia, styled himself brother of the Sun and Moon. They toss about grand talk and words a foot and a half long.

I have read of a pope who placed his foot on the neck of the Emperor Frederick, and quoted Psalm 91:13 as his justification: You will tread on the lion and the dragon you will trample underfoot. There is no idol like the self. The proud man bows down to this idol.

3. Are not those proud who despise others? Luke 18:9: The Pharisees trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt. The Chinese people used to say that Europe has one eye, they themselves have two, and all the rest of the world is blind. A proud man looks at others with the same contempt that Goliath had for David. 1 Samuel 17:42: When the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him. Those who stand on the pinnacle of pride look down on other men as no bigger than crows.

4. Are not those proud who blow their own trumpet? Acts 5:36: Before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody. A proud man is his own herald — he broadcasts his own fame, and in doing so reveals his vice: he paints his own virtue.

5. Are not those proud who claim the glory that belongs to God? Daniel 4:30: Is not this great Babylon, which I myself have built? So says the proud man: Are these not the prayers I have made? Are these not the charitable works I have done? When Herod gave a speech and the crowd hailed him as a god in Acts 12:22, he was perfectly happy to accept the honor. Pride is the greatest sacrilege — it robs God of His glory.

6. Are not those proud who are never satisfied with their circumstances? They speak harshly about God, accusing His care and wisdom as though He had not dealt well with them. A proud man is someone God Himself cannot satisfy — like Momus, he is always finding fault and throwing it in heaven's face.

Let us search ourselves to see whether there is any of this leaven of pride in us. People are naturally proud creatures — this sin runs in the blood. Our first parents fell through pride — they reached for deity. The seeds of this sin exist even in the best of people, but the godly do not permit it to rule them — they labor to kill this weed through mortification. But where this sin is dominant and controlling, it cannot stand with grace. You might as well call a man wise who has no discernment, as call a man godly who has no humility.

Application 2: Work toward this characteristic — be humble. It is an apostolic command. 1 Peter 5:5: Be clothed with humility. Put it on like a fine garment. Better to lack any other thing than to lack humility — better to lack gifts than humility, better even to lack the comforts of the Spirit than to lack humility. Micah 6:8: What does the Lord require of you but to walk humbly with your God?

1. The greater a person's worth, the more humble he is. Feathers fly upward, but gold sinks down. The golden saint descends in humility. Some of the ancient writers compared humility to the celidonian stone — small in size, but remarkable in virtue.

2. God loves a humble soul. It is not our high birth but our low hearts that God delights in. A humble spirit is what God looks toward. Isaiah 66:2: To this one I will look — to him who is poor and contrite in spirit. A humble heart is God's palace. Isaiah 57:15: I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and humble spirit. Great people, besides their state houses, have smaller retreats to which they withdraw on occasion. Besides His dwelling place in heaven, God has the humble soul as His retreat, where He takes up His rest and finds His delight. Let Italy boast that it is the garden of the world for pleasure — a humble heart glories in this: it is the presence chamber of the great King.

3. The times we live in call for humility. The Lord seems to say to us now what He said to Israel in Exodus 33:5: Take off your ornaments from you, that I may know what to do to you. My displeasure is breaking forth — I have darkened the light of the sanctuary, I have turned waters to blood, I have sent the arrow of plague — so put down your pride and take off your ornaments. Woe to those who lift themselves up when God is pressing them down. When should people be humble if not under His hand? 1 Peter 5:6: Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God. When God afflicts His people and cuts short their privileges, it is time to put on sackcloth and lay their honor in the dust, as Job 16:15 says.

4. What a terrible sin pride is! Chrysostom calls it the mother of hell. Pride is a compound evil: just as Aristotle said that justice contains all virtues, so pride contains all vices. It is a spiritual drunkenness — it rises like wine into the head and intoxicates it. It is idolatry — a proud man is a worshiper of himself. It is revenge — Haman plotted Mordecai's death simply because Mordecai would not bow to him.

How hateful this sin is to God! Proverbs 16:5: Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord.

5. The destructive power of pride. It is the ruin of souls. Zephaniah 2:9-10: Surely Moab shall become like Sodom — this shall be theirs for their pride. Pliny says that doves take pride in their feathers and in flying high — and at last they fly so high that they become prey for the hawk. People fly so high in pride that they become prey for the devil, the prince of the air.

6. Humility raises one's esteem in the eyes of others — everyone respects the humble. Proverbs 15:33: Before honor comes humility.

Question: What means can we use to become humble?

Answer: 1. Let us fix our eyes on the golden pattern of Christ. He holds the highest degree in humility. Philippians 2:7: He emptied Himself, and was made in the likeness of men. What a lowering of Himself for the Son of God to take on our flesh! And that Christ should take our nature when it was disgraced and stained by sin — this was the wonder of humility. Look at the humble Savior, and let the feathers of pride fall.

2. Study God's immensity and purity — a sight of His glory humbles. Elijah wrapped his face in his cloak when God's glory passed before him, as 1 Kings 19:13 says. The stars disappear when the sun appears.

3. Study ourselves. First, our dark side — by looking at our faces in the mirror of the Word we see our blemishes. What a world of sin swarms within us! We can say with Bernard: Lord, I am nothing but sinfulness or barrenness.

Second, our bright side. Is there any good in us? 1. How out of proportion it is to the means of grace we have been given! There is still something lacking in our faith, as 1 Thessalonians 3:10 says. Christian, do not be proud of what you have — be humble for what you still lack.

2. The grace we have is not homegrown — we owe it entirely to Christ and free grace. As the man said of the axe that had fallen into the water: 2 Kings 6:5: Alas, master, for it was borrowed! So I can say of all the goodness and excellence in us: it is borrowed. Would it not be foolish to be proud of a ring that belongs to someone else? 1 Corinthians 4:7: Who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? The moon has no reason to be proud of her light, since she borrows it from the sun.

3. How far short we fall of others. Perhaps other Christians are giants in grace — they are in Christ not only before us, but far above us. We are like the foot in Christ's body; they are like the eye.

4. Our spiritual beauty is spotted. The church is said to be fair as the moon in Song of Solomon 6:10 — and the moon at its brightest still has a dark spot on it. Faith is mixed with unbelief. A Christian can find in the very best of his grace something that should humble him.

5. If we would be humble, let us think about our mortality. Should dust exalt itself? Thoughts of the grave should bury our pride. It is said that when there is a dangerous swelling in the body, stroking it with the hand of a dead man cures it. Serious meditation on death is enough to cure the swelling of pride.