Vol 01 - Chapter 01 - Of Humility.

Chapter 01 - Of Humility
1. Without true humility all religion is nothing. All prayer without it is in vain. Our Lord Jesus CHRIST is that book, out of which this is best learnt; as who is indeed a most perfect mirror unto us of all virtues and graces. Look on his life, and you shall find it made up of nothing but love and humility. Look on his doctrine, and you shall see it to be mere wisdom and truth; a doctrine consisting not in words, but in power; not in shadows, but in the substance of the things that we are taught of him.
2. If we have therefore a mind to study this virtue, which is the root of the rest, it behooves us to learn the same, not only by words, but by the holy example which our Lord has set us. For this very end," He humbled himself unto death, even the death of the cross." Behold then,. O Christian, how this virtue has its foundation, and its highest and most excellent ground, not in anti angel, not in any apostle, but in CHRIST Jesus alone. And, therefore, says he, "Learn of me," Matthew 11:29 : as if he had said, "Look ye upon me, how I abase myself under all, who yet am above all. Behold, as much higher as my majesty is, so much lower is my humility: and so much dearer and more lovely should this virtue be to you, as I your Lord and your God have delineated it in my whole life." Mark it; he says, " Learn of me." But what Not to do mighty things and wonders, not to work signs and miracles, or to sheiv any great work of f the creation; but to be meek and lowly.
3. As he was just drawing to a period of his life upon the earth, the humble Jesus chose to exemplify this; when after his last supper, he took a towel and girded himself, and "washed his disciples' feet." Wherefore he also says, " Know ye what I -have done to you" Do ye indeed consider what it is that I have done And will ye humble yourselves every one to the other, and submit gladly even to the meanest offices of charity O learn of me, by what you have now seen me do. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Learn of me, if I then be your Lord and Master, "for I am meek and humble in heart." Let -this my example be a rule for your whole lives, and let my life evermore stand before your eyes as an image or picture of that lowliness wherewith I humbled myself for your sakes. For,
4. Humility is the basis and foundation of all virtue, and of all happiness; and must at all times, and in all estates, be exercised by us, according to the example of our meek and lowly Master, if we aim either at being virtuous or happy. For as pride is of all other things most odious to GOD, so is humility of all others the most acceptable to him. For he that exalts himself must needs be humbled; because self-exaltation is a mere fancy, and has nothing to bottom itself upon. And he that humbles himself must needs be exalted; because self-humiliation is full of truth and reality; and has such a bottom to subsist upon, as uniteth heaven and, earth together.
5. Pride aims at the utmost pitch of honor;, yet undermines what it would advance. Humility, on the contrary, leads us to the bottom of our condition, and gives us the true sight of our own vileness; yet raises hereupon a most magnificent structure, like to the creation of the world, out of emptiness and darkness. Humility is solid and real; is just and reasonable; is wise and holy; is beautiful and amiable; is peaceable and righteous; is good and profitable; and there is no end of counting its excellencies. Humility is suitable to all objects; is agreeable to all the ends and causes of human life; is fitted to all the circumstances of our present state and condition. Humility is full of grace and truth; it is the ground of all the Divine works; it is the footstool of God's throne; it is the mirror of his greatness; it is the magnet of all his glories and beauties. In a word, it is the most agreeable to all the principles of nature and grace; to all the desires of angels and men; and to all the designs of God himself. So that nothing is more true, than that, "before honor is humility."
6. For humility is a bright light in the heart, wherein at once is discovered to us our own nothingness, and the high majesty and overflowing goodness of God. When a man sees his own emptiness, and how he is without form, and perfectly void, being naked and destitute of every thing that is good; the darkness which was upon the face of his mind, begins instantly to break away; and he betakes himself earnestly to pray for the grace and mercy of God to fill his vacuity, and to make him what he would please to have him in the order of the new creation. So he pants after, and betakes himself to GOD, as to the original and fountain of all good things; desiring to know him aright, to praise him, and to honor him as he should.
This desire being thus begotten in him, he pours out his heart by himself, and says, " When shall I come to appear • before the presence of God" And then finding an utter inability in himself, and beholding God as at an infinite distance, his soul is sore vexed within him, and tears are his meat both day and night. Now when he thinks hereupon continually, and pours out himself after this manner, acknowledging from the ground of his heart his own vileness; then one deep calls to another deep, even the deep of his misery, to the deep of God's mercy.
For in his humility he looks at God's majesty and greatness, as also at his superabundant love and grace. And hereupon do the streams of grace sweetly flow down into such a soul. And Divine grace thus being communicated to this thirsty soul, there is hereby conceived in her a spirit of prayer, which ceases not to ascend up in holy aspirations, and to bring down the blessings of peace and righteousness. This spirit of prayer is of GOD, most beloved; and he is able to deny nothing that it asks for. Whosoever would attain it, and. would have all his prayers and desires answered by GOD, must therefore be sure to keep close to humility.
7. Moreover, by humility there is an elapse of the Holy Spirit into the soul, whose influences grow continually thereby stronger and stronger; and the love of God is by this means "shed abroad in our hearts, by the Holy Ghost, which is given us.".For when a soul, that is conscious of her own vileness, reflects upon the humiliation of the Son of GOD, it is not only humbled, but hence also in this humility, there springeth up a most noble flame of Divine charity, which burneth more and more day by day. And in this Divine love, she, being attracted by faith unto GOD, is made to love all men- in GOD, and in CHRIST; as calling to mind the exceeding great love of the Godhead towards mankind; and particularly how her heavenly Father has in CHRIST loved her, and called her to the participation of his goodness, though most unworthy. And when the soul is thus drawn into GOD, and is swallowed up in his love, the consequence hereof is this, that all those things or persons which are beloved by GOD,. the soul also cannot but love, in like manner as God loves them
8. It follows, that if any good befall our neighbor, charity will rejoice; but if any evil happen to him, it will make us sorrowful. For the humble and charitable person, behaving himself courteously and lovingly towards his neighbor on all occasions, does not rashly judge him, if he behold his misery; much less carry himself haughtily and superciliously towards him, or treat him with contempt. For such a soul can never so put off the sense of her own misery and vileness, as to despise another, or to esteem herself better than any, as remembering the mire out of which she herself has been delivered.' And if she falls at any time into any sin, she judges herself., but her neighbor she judges not. Humble charity judges herself before all, and maketh us condemn ourselves rather than others. And the observation of a neighbor's calamity is the cause of the soul's descending into herself, and deploring herself before God. Because in another's fall, the lowly soul reads her own defaults, her own sins, and transgressions.
9. Humility causes us meekly to acknowledge, that in us, of our own selves, there is no good thing; and that whatsoever good may be found in us, it is wholly to be ascribed to the grace and favor of God; according to that of the apostle, " Not I, but the grace of God which was with me." Now whosoever does not this, falls into two great sins. The first is apostasy from GOD, by his turning himself from God towards himself; that is; from the true and supreme Being, towards that which is in itself nothing. The second is sacrilege, by his taking to himself that honor which is due to none but God; whose, and not man's, is every thing that may be called good. Ile, tlherefore, that worketh not all things in humility, does steal from God the glory that is due to him.
10. If any man applaud himself, either for knowing any thing, for doing any thing, or for being able to do this, or that, verily that man takes to himself the honor and glory which are due to God only. For this reason ambition is an abominable idolatry. And self-love and self-esteem are no less than having another God before him, whose name is Jehovah. For this very reason does the devil seek to be honored by his devotees in the world. And truly such a vain-glorious devil, covetous of honor from the world, does every proud person cherish in his breast. If you wilt be wise, see then that you break down this idol, which is set up in the sanctuary of thy heart.
There are many who, out of an abhorrence of idols, are cautious, not even to look upon any outward images; not observing all the while that huge idol which they carry about with them in their very hearts, and whence they are so dreadfully defiled, as to become an abomination before God. For all that which is highly esteemed by men, through self-love and ambition, is an abomination before God. Whence all the men that flatter themselves, complimenting their own honor, or power, or ability in any thing, or ascribing ought to themselves as their own, are idolaters. Thus the whole world liveth in idolatry; and every house has its domestic gods and idols; and the very "abomination of desolation" cometh at last to be set up in the holy place, which by solemn covenant,' was in baptism dedicated to God and his Spirit.
11. The idolatry which defiles thee, proceeds from within, even from the heart. For in whatsoever thy heart does acquiesce and rest, and unto whatsoever it does cleave, whether it be wealth, or honor, or power, or long life, that passes immediately into an idol. Forasmuch as idolatry is not barely an outward pollution; but that which is internal and spiritual.. God considers all things by the heart, " trying the hearts and reins," and thence judging of all things. Whence CHRIST has also plainly told thee, " Where thy treasure is, there will thy heart be also;" that is, thy GOD, thy rest, thy peace, thy trust, will be there; and there will be thy paradise; yea, there will heaven and all things be to thee. In what thing soever, therefore, thy mind does take up its repose, that you art to esteem for thy god. Now if thy heart cleave fast to God only, then is he thy God; and blessed art You, according as it is written, " Blessed are the people that have the Lord for their God." And again, " Delight you in the Lord, and he shall give thee thy heart's desire." But if thy mind cleave to the world, then is the world thy god.
12. Wooden idols are easily avoided; but take heed of the idols of gold. It is no hard matter to keep from dead idols; but take heed you worship not the living ones, and especially thyself. For as soon as you challenges to thyself either honor or praise, or knowledge, or power, or might, you settest up thyself in the place of God. Which most pestilent idolatry is struck at by GOD, when he denies that he will give his glory to another. His honor and glory is due to none but himself. He is the Most High, and the Most Holy One, and is the Sovereign and the everlasting God.
13. Wherefore, whosoever forgets himself, so as not to depend on GOD, (who alone is all things,) as does a shadow on its body, "thinking himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself," Gal.’vi.3. For he falls from the unchangeable good into vanity, and from truth itself into a lie. And this is not only the greatest of sins, but of punishments also. For man, the more the turns from GOD, approaches so much the nearer to misery, and punishes the very sin which he commits. And he then turns himself away from GOD, and forsakes the " Rock of his salvation," whensoever he does arrogate to himself I know not what of power, or strength, or art, or skill, or wisdom, or honor, or merit, so as to be willing to be thought somebody, and to be something accounted of; when in very deed, all these do in no wise belong to man, or to any crea< tore, but to God only. For every creature, as was said, is a mere shadow, and of itself is merely nothing; even so as the life, substance, faculty, wisdom, powers, and strength, which it seems to have, are not properly its own, but God's only.