1. If it be so, it is yourselves that you have most cause to complain of in your afflictions, more than the rigour of God or the injustice ot men. The rigour of God : Lam. iii. 39, ' Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sin ? ' Is God severe, or have you been unthankful ? Did I honour God with my prosperity, or did I not give him just cause to take away the fuel of my lusts by my ingratitude to him ? Nor injustice of men, if slighted, disparaged, disesteemed, and reproached. Contempt from these is no great matter to him that hath a constant sense of the burden of remaining sin. Paul did not complain of afflictions, but of ' the body of death,' Kom. vii. 24 ; as if no hurt can be done to such a poor worm and such an unworthy sinner as himself. Eeproaches might be an help against his sore burden, 2 Cor. xii. 10.
2. If it be so, if you are rightly humble, you will be more willing to be admonished than praised ; for your design is humble walking with God, and no man that hath any sense of his duty but will soon see how much more he deserveth reproof than praises. The world seeth not the many secret sins you are conscious unto, and how much more you deserve reproof than commendation. It is the proud man despiseth repi-oof, but the humble jirizetli it. Instances of the one is Amazias to the prophet: 2 Chron. xxv. 16, 'Art thou made of the king's counsel? forbear, why shouldest thou be smitten ? ' Zedekiah to Michaias : 2 Chron. xviii. 23, ' Which way went the spirit of the Lord from thee to me?' The pharisees to Chri-st: John ix. 39, 40, 'Are we blind also ? ' Humble men are of another temper. Job ' despised not the cause of his servants, when they contended with him,' Job xxx. 13, 14. David : Ps. cxli. 5, ' Let the righteous smite me, it shall be a kind- ness ; let him reprove me, it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not l)reak my head.' Surely to a gracious heart reproofs are better than praises or flatteries.
'6. You will not look upon your graces and privileges without looking
412 SERMONS ON MICAH VI. 8.
upon your infirmities. A christian's life is an intermixture of thank- fulness and humility : ' I believe, help my belief,' Mark ix. 29. And when you do so, you will say you have more cause to blush than to be proud, 1 Cor. iv. 4, ' The world seeth the good, not the evil ; ' Luke xvi. 15, ' That which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.' Selt-love overlooketh our failings, Prov. xvi. 2, but our actions will we weighed in a more impartial balance.
4. When you reflect upon your enjoyments, you will consider your account, Luke xii. 43. How shall we do when we shall appear before God's tribunal to answer for his honour, estate, gifts, &c. ? This reckoning doth quench all self-exalting thoughts.
5. You will not consider your afilictions, but the undeserved mercies yet remaining, and set the evil against the good, Job ii. .10.
6. You will not look upon your excellency, but remember the author, and the undeserved goodness of God, 2 Sam. vii, 18, 1 Cor. iv. 7. You have nothing but what was given you of grace, and may be taken away by justice.
Use 2. To persuade the most close walkers with God to be humble.
1. Pride came into the world with sin. Man was never more arro- gant than since he was wretchedly miserable. It is not perfection, but imperfection is the cause of pride ; not height, but defect of grace. To be proud and holy is to be sick and well. The sun at height casts least shadows. Laden branches do most bend the head. When holiness is at the highest, there is no pride ; as in heaven, and in the person of Christ.
2. The humble have the advantage of others. Where there is an humble sense of wants and the burden of sin, they hear the word with more seriousness than others : Isa. Ixvi. 2, ' To him will I look that is poor in spirit, and trembleth at my word.' They have more life in their supplications than others have. The poor sendeth up supplica- tions when others pray formally and heartlessly ; they find the want of grace, and pray heartily as an hunger-starved child crieth for bread : Heb. iv. 16, ' Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in a time of need.'
3. They have most respect with God : 1 Peter v. 5, ' Be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility, for God resisteth the proud,' &c.
4. Consider what need there is why close walkers should be humble.
[1.] The sin and misery they were once in. They were born fleshly, carnal, averse from God, Rom. iii. 6, liable to God's wrath, Eph. ii. 3. If escaped by Christ, the sentence was once passed upon you, the rope was about your necks ; you were as bad as the worst. This must be remembered, though not to weaken your confidence, yet to humble your hearts. You were at the gates of hell, and might have entered in, but for the grace of your Redeemer.