Use 1. It informs us, how humble soever men appear otherwise, yet they are proud if they have never submitted to God with brokenness of heart, seeking his pardon and favour. There are many which are facile to men, and yet full of contumacy and stoutness of stomach against God ; they can stoop to the poorest worm, and court their favour, but yet deal insolently with their maker. But if men were persuaded of the truth of God's being, they would sooner be convinced of the naughtiness of their hearts, by comparing their carriage to God
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and men. Many there are that are tender of wounding the reputation of men, yet dishonour God and are never troubled. Many that look upon it as an uncomely thing to despise their neighbour, to deal hotly with an underling, and vaunt it, yet never made conscience of submitting themselves to God, who is their undoubted superior. Men count it part of humility and good manners to yield to those that are over them, and to pay them all kind of respect and subjection ; yet they never care to seek the favour of God, and humble themselves seriously for their offences against him. You take it ill in the world when the peo- ple of mean quality insult over you, when such times fall out as the base rise up against the honourable. What are you to God ? Poor base worms ! will you contend with your maker ? Do you count it to be heavy disorder, and a strange inversion of all states and conditions, that men of mean and low fortunes should brave it over you, and sway tilings in the world ? and how ill may God take it that you stout it out against him? There is a greater distance between him and you, than between you and your fellow-creatures ; therefore, if it be grievous to you, what a heinous offence is it to stand out against God ?
Use 2. It instructs us what is the way to reduce and bring home sinners to God, by breaking their pride, or, as the expression is. Job xxxiii. 17, by ' hiding pride from man; ' by which is meant taking away pride ; for that which is taken away is hidden or cannot be seen. As the hiding of siu is the taking away sin, so the hiding of pride is the cure of it.
1. By humble and broken-hearted addresses to God for his pardon and his grace. There is no way to cure the pride of unregeneracy but by brokenness of heart. Come and put your mouths in the dust, and acknowledge that you have too long stood it out against God. As the nobles of the king of Assyria came with ropes about their necks, and submitted themselves ; so, Jer. xxxi. 9, ' They shall return with weep- ing and supplications.' This is the way to come out of your sins, to go and bemoan the stubbornness and pride of your hearts ; as Ephraim be- moaned himself, and smote upon his thigh, and complained of his ob- stinacy, Jer. xxxi. 18. Christians, first or last God will bring you to this ; if you do not stoop voluntarily, you shall by force ; if your hearts be not broken by the power of his grace, they shall be broken in pieces by the power of his providence : Kom. xiv. 11, 'As I live, saitli the Lord, every knee shall bow to me.' God hath sworn, 'As I live ; ' now in every oath there is an implicit imprecation, that is, if this be not done, then let this befall me. So there is an implicit im- precation in that oath, Count me not a living God if I do not make the creature stoop. If you stand it out against the power of his word, can you stand it out against the power of Christ when he comes in glory ? Ezek. xxii. 14, ' Can thine heart endure, or can thine hands be strong in the days that I shall deal with thee ? ' Oh, how will your faces gatlier blackness and darkness in that day !
2. Yield up yourselves to be governed by his will and pleasure. It is not enough to come weary and heavy laden, not only to be sensible of the burden of sin, and beg for pardon, but we must take Christ's yoke, Mat. xi. 29. Nature sticks at this : a proud heart is loath to come under the yoke. We Avould taste of the sweetness of mercy, but
200 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SePv. XX I L
cannot endure the bonds and restraint of duty; as Epliraini would tread out the corn, but was loath to break the clods, Hosea x. 11. The prophet alludes to the manner among the Jews ; their fashion was to tread or thresh out their corn by the feet of beasts, and the ox his mouth was not to be muzzled ; it was easy work, and afforded abund- ance of food, Deut. XXV, 4. We would have comfort, but not duty.
3. We must constantly cherish a humble frame of spirit, if we would maintain communion with God, Micah vi. 8 ; not only walk with God, but humble thyself to walk with God. Why ? He is a great sovereign, and he will be exactly observed and constantly depended upon ; and if you slip, you must bewail your failings, and' from first to last all must be ascribed to grace.