[2.] 1 observe, that walking humbly is here pressed ; not hanging the head for a day like a buUrush as many will in a day of humilia- tion, but are pioud at other times. Walking implieth more than one act, a continued course and tract of humility, or a life of lowliness, meekness, and patience. This grace is never out of use ; our exercise of it continueth till we are perfected in heaven ; still there is an abasing of themselves before God, Isa. vi. 2, 3. But here, in this life, God's children are still admiring the mercy of God in Jesus Christ, still kept sensible of daily weaknesses and failings, see a constant need of having their wants supplied, and receiving new comfort and grace out of Christ's fulness. And once more, it is a frame of heart, not a pang. Legal terrors are a judiciary impression, which lasteth but for a while ; but this always continueth with us. A stormy con- science we uiust get rid of as soon as we can, but a tender conscience must be always cherished.
[3.] I observe, this humble walking is consistent with an interest in God ; nay, floweth from the sense and assurance of it — ' Thy God.' There is no such humility required of us as to put ourselves out of Christ, or to think ourselves excluded utterly from the favour of God. That is not true humility, but sinful ingratitude, to deny his spiritual graces and favours vouchsafed to us. As, in a temporal case, to profess deep poverty when God has given us somewhat to live upon, is a lie and a deceit ; so to deny grace received is humilitatis causa mentiri. God's children are sensible of their defects, none more ; yet they do not deny their grace, Cant. i. 6, and v. 2, Mark iv. 24. Paul acknowledgeth a will when he could not own a thorough perform- ance, Rom. vii. 18. When he in humility calleth himself less than the least of the saints, he acknowledgeth himself a saint in some degree, and owneth the work of grace, though in the lowest form and rank. Christ was angry with Peter's over-modesty, whether in defect
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or excess, John xiii. 10. Remaining defects do not make void our interest in Christ, nor change our spiritual estate.
[4.] I observe, that it is no such humility as doth enfeeble our hands for duty ; for it is, ' Walk humbly.' They bewail defects, but go on still. Some languish, and spend their religion in fruitless and idle complaints. Oh, no ! humble yourselves, but yet walk with God. It is sinful and legal dejection which crippleth our endeavours. Grod's children press forward to mend what they complain of : Phil. iii. 13, 14, ' I have not attained, I am not perfect ; but this one thing I do, I press forward towards the mark.' To lie down under heartless dis- couragement is not the fruit of true humility.
6. There is also included in it a giving God the glory of all that we have, are, and do ; not boasting of ourselves, nor arrogating to ourselves that excellency which is due to God. Whatever we have, we have it from God, and we have it for God, 1 Cor. iv. 7 ; therefore the crown of excellency must be taken off from our own heads, and thrown at tlie Lamb's feet, Rev, iv. 10 ; unwilling to wear a crown in his presence. The saints have been very tender of robbing God of any part of his honour, or ascribing anything to their own merit or power. Gen. xxxii. 10 ; Luke xix. 16, ' Thy pound ;' 1 Cor. xv. 10, ' Not I, but the grace of God which was with me ; ' Gal. ii. 20, ' I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me,' &c. They would disappear and be hidden in a throng, that God may have all the glory. They have all from him, therefore they cast the honour of all upon him.
7. Looking for our acceptance and reward from God's mere mercy ; allowing no conceit of righteousness or merit in ourselves, but hoping humbly to find grace by a free covenant : Jude 21, ' Looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.' That is the only claim the christian makes. ' Christ spake a parable against those that trusted in themselves that they were righteous,' Luke xviii. 9. A good christian, well acquainted with his great imperfections, un- worthiness, blusheth at his own defects, dareth not challenge God as a debtor, but ascribes all to his mercy and benignity as a gracious bene- factor.
Secondly, What reasons may enforce it, or why should we thus humble ourselves to walk with God.
1. It is God, the fountain of all being, from whom we and all that we have doth come, and on whom we do continually depend, and who is the sovereign Lord of the whole earth. To carry ourselves unduti- fully to him is as much as in us lieth to lessen liis majesty, and to bring down the rate of his honour in the world. By slight and neglectful dealing his greatness is dispamged, Mai. i. 14. His great- ness calleth for other manner of service than is usually given him in the world. Superficial dealing in his service floweth from mean thoughts of him ; and we propagate this slightness to others so far as our actions are public. And besides, by such malignant sin his holi- ness is blotted : Ezek. xxxvi. 20, ' Tliey profaned my holy name among the lieathen.' But of that by and by. There is not a more powerful means in the world to keep men humble than a due appre- hension of God: Isa. vi. 5, 'I am unclean, for I have seen the Lord of hosts ; ' Gen. xviii. 27, ' I have taken upon me to speak unto the