- (in at is the power of joint prayer. Mary Queen of Scots, that was mother of king James, was wont to Bay that she feared Master Knox's prayer more than an army of ten thousand men. [Already used in this treatise: of. page 126.— G.]
* Nee ejo (e, rue lu me, zed umbo audiamus Aj/oslvlum.
2 Cor. II. 11.] against satan's devices. 135
bitterly towards others that differ from them.1 There are no souls in the world that are so fearful to judge others as those that do most judge themselves, nor so careful to make a righteous judgment of men or thing's as those that are most careful to judge. themselves. There are none in the world that tremble to think evil of others, to speak evil of others, or to do evil to others, as those that make it their business to judge themselves. There are none that make such sweet constructions and charitable interpretations of men and things, as those that are best and most in judging themselves.2 One request I have to you that are much in judging others and little in judging yourselves, to you that are so apt and prone to judge rashly, falsely, and unrighteously, and that is, that you will every morning dwell a little upon these scriptures :
' Judge not, that ye be not judged ; for with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged ; and with what measure ye mete, it shall be mea- sured to you again/ Mat. vii. 1, 2. ' Judge not according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment,' John vii. 24 ' Let not him that eateth not judge him that eateth, for God hath received him. Why dost thou judge thy brother ? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother V Rom. xiv. 3, 10, 13. ' We shall all stand before the judgment-seat of Christ. Let us not judge one another any more, but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling-block or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.' ' Judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will manifest the counsels of the heart, and then shall every man have praise of God,' 1 Cor. iv. 5. ' Speak not evil one of another, brethren : he that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law ; but if thou judgest the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy/ James iv. 11, 12. ' Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth ; _ yea, he shall be holden up, for God is able to make him stand,' Rom. xiv. 4.
One Delphidius accusing another before Julian about that which he could not prove, the party denying the fact, Delphidius answers, If it be sufficient to deny what is laid to one's charge, who shall be found guilty ? Julian answers, And if it be sufficient to be accused, who can be innocent '( You are wise, and know how to apply it.
Remedy (12). The twelfth remedy against this device of Satan is this, above all, Labour to be clothed with humility. Humility makes a man peaceable among brethren, fruitful in well-doing, cheerful in suffering, and constant in holy walking, 1 Pet. v. 5. Humility fits lor the highest services we owe to Christ, and yet will not neglect the lowest service to the meanest saint, John xiii. 5. Humility can feed upon the -meanest dish, and yet it is maintained by the choicest deli- cates, as God, Christ, and glory. Humility will make a man bless him that curses him, and pray for those that persecute him. An humble heart is an habitation for God, a scholar for Christ, a companion of angels, a preserver of grace, and a fitter for glory. Humility is the nurse of our graces, the preserver of our mercies, and the great pro-
1 It is storied of Nero, himself being unchaste, he did think there was no man chaste.
2 In the Olympic games, the wrestlers did not put their crowns upon their own heads, but upon the heads of others. It is just so with souls that are good at self-judging.
136 PBECZOXJS REMEDIES [2 COR. II. 11.
moter of holy duties. Humility cannot find three things on this side heaven: it cannot find fulness in the creature, nor sweetness in sin, nor life in an ordinance without Christ. An humble soul always finds three things on this side heaven : the soul to be empty, Christ to be full, and every mercy and duty to be sweet wherein God is enjoyed.1 Humility can weep over other men's weaknesses, and joy and rejoice over their graces. Humility will make a man quiet and contented in the meanest condition, and it will preserve a man from envying other nun's prosperous condition, 1 Thes. i. 2, 3. Humility honours those that are strong in grace, and puts two hands under those that arc weak in grace, Eph. iii. 8. Humility makes a man richer than other men, and it makes a man judge himself the poorest among men. Humility will see much good abroad, when it can see but little at home. Ah, Christian ! though faith be the champion of grace, and love the nurse of grace, yet humility is the beautifier of grace ; it casts a general glory upon all the graces in the soul. Ah ! did Christians more abound in humility, they would be less bitter, froward, and sour, and they would be more gentle, meek, and sweet in their spirits and practices. Humi- lity will make a man have high thoughts of others and low thoughts of a man's self; it will make a man see much glory and excellency in others, and much baseness and sinfulness in a man's self; it will make a man see others rich, and himself poor ; others strong, and himself weak ; -others wise, and himself foolish.2 Humility will make a man excellent at covering others' infirmities, and at recording their gracious services, and at delighting in their graces; it makes a man joy in every light that outshines his own, and every wind that blows others good. Humility is better at believing than it is at questioning other men's happiness. I judge, saith an humble soul, it is well with these Chris- tians now, but it will be far better with them hereafter. They are now upon the borders of the New Jerusalem, and it will be but as a day before they slide into Jerusalem. An humble soul is willinger to say, Heaven is that man's, than mine ; and Christ is that Christian's, than mine ; and God is their God in covenant, than mine. Ah ! were Chris- tians more humble, there would be less fire and more love among them than now is, &c.
Fourthly, As Satan hath his device to destroy gracious souls, so he hath his devices to destroy %>oor ignora/nt so tils, and that sometimes,