In the next place, let us come to discover this disposition of poverty of spirit where it is, and then shew some helps to it.
1. First, To discover where this blessed frame of 'soul is. Surely those that are thus poor in spirit they are full of prayer. ' The poor man speaks supplications,' as the wise man saith, Prov. xviii. 23 ; that is his dialect. The poor man is much in prayer. He that is * poor in spirit ' is much in supplication ; for prayers, they are the ambassadors of the poor soul to God to supply it with the riches of his grace. Therefore where there is no prayer there is no sense of poverty, but there is a Laodicean temper, as if they were rich enough. You have a company of men, they say they can- not pray privately, their spirits are barren. They intimate much pride of spirit, for if a man be sensible of his wants you need not supply him with words. If a poor tenant came to a landlord, and find he hath a hard bargain, let him alone for telling his tale ; I warrant you he will lay open the state of his wife and children, and the ill year he hath had ; he will be eloquent enough. Take any man that is sensible of his wants, and you
. Vol. III. p. 436.-G.
248 THE RICn POVERTY ; OR,
shall not need to dictate words to liim. Tliore is no man that hath a humble and broken heart, though he be never so illiterate, but he will have a large heart to God in this kind.
2. Again, there is a care of vsuirj all means. Where poverty is, there will be a making out of ourselves unto places where God bestows any riches. They that are poor, and have no victuals at home, they will go to market rather than they will starve ; and those that find in themselves want of grace and comfort, surely they will go out of themselves : they will go to God's market, they will attend upon the means. He that is like to be arrested for delit, and hath nothing at home, it is time for him to seek abroad for supply. So, when a man is poor spiritually, ready to be snared and catched in everything for want of spiritual grace, he will labour for strength in the use of all means. Therefore those that are of a Lao- dicean stamp, that think there is too much preaching, and too much hear- ing, and too much reading, and what need all this ado ? alas ! they were never humbled ; they were never sensible of their state by nature ; nor are not yet in the state of grace. For the soul of a true Christian is alway in the state of spiritual poverty, as that it relisheth spiritual means and is not fed with husks. A soul that is spiritually poor will discern in the use of means, this is flourishing ; this is for the ear ; this is conceits ; alas ! it comes for food for supply. A poor soul that finds the want of grace, and strength, and comfort, it judgeth of the means by what it finds. There will be a use of all means, and likewise some ability to taste where there is true poverty of spirit.
3. Again, Where this inward poverty of spirit is, it will make God's children xmndious tltrinlcfal, and thankful for a little r/race. A poor man that is sensible of his poverty will be more thankful for a penny, than another man for a pound that hath money of his own. A soul that sees the''want of grace, and withal sees the excellency of grace, is thankful to God that he will work anything in such a poor defiled soul as he is ; that he will work any good motions, any good aff'ections, any degree of faith, that he will give him any assurance of salvation. Oh he thinks what a good God is this 1 He breaks out with the apostles, Peter and Paul, that had both been sinners themselves and found grace ; oh they were much in thankfulness ! * Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,' &c.* A thankful soul is a poor soul, and a poor soul is alway a thankful soul. He that is poor he knows he hath little and deserves little ; therefore knowing that he deserves nothing, he is thankful for and content with anything. A humble man is alway thankful, and that is the reason that God may have his glory from him. He is forced sometimes to humble and abase him. He should have no sacrifice from him else. A proud man, a conceited man, so doats upon his own worth ; he forgets the giver, he makes himself an idol to him. Therefore such, they are usurpers of what they have, they enter upon God's blessings, not considering from whom they have them, nor for what end they have them. They deny God his tribute of thankfulness because they are proud. But a man that is poor in spirit, he enters upon all by title of gift, and receives all from God in the form of a poor man. Therefore whatsoever he hath he returns thanks for it again. An unthankful soul, therefore, is a proud soul. A thankful