But though we can add nothing to what is said in the words before our text, " The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens," yet we see in this what will serve to illustrate the depth of,
II. His condescension —
[" He humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven:" yes, if he deign to cast an eye upon the highest angels and archangels, it is an act of infinite condescension :
a Job xi. 7—9. b Job xxxvii. 23. c Isai. xl. 12, 15, 17, 18. rt Ps. civ. 1 — 4. e Ps. cxlv. 3.
for, intelligent as they are in comparison of us, " he chargeth them with folly ; " and pure as heaven itself is in comparison of earth, it is " not clean in his sight f." But he will stoop even to look down on earth, yea and on the meanest and vilest of its inhabitants, provided they do but humble themselves before him. The poor and needy, even in their lowest state, ever have been, and ever shall be, objects of his peculiar regard. Men may be low in station, in character, and in spirit ; but he will notice them notwithstanding. The description given us of Lazarus, represents a condition more deplorable than usually
falls to the lot of man yet was he set forth as an object
of the tenderest compassion to Almighty God. The dying thief may well be adduced as amongst the most degraded of the
human race yet did the Saviour honour him with an
express and audible assurance, that he should that very day be with him in Paradise. " To the man that is poor and of a con- trite spirit" God has promised in a more especial manner to " look, in order to revive and comfort his drooping spirit." Only let a person lie in the dust before God, and sit, like Job, upon the dunghill, from a consciousness of his own extreme unworthiness, and God will fly instantly to his relief: " he will raise the poor out of the dust, and lift up the needy out of the dunghill : " nor is there any dignity, however high, to which he will not exalt him : " he will set him among the princes, even with the princes of his people:" yes, he will cause him to " sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven," and to reign with them in glory for ever and ever.
Perhaps the primary import of our text may be found in the elevation of such men as Saul and David from the lowest offices to the throne of Israel : but in the psalm, as well as in the Song of Hannah, from whence it is taken g, we must undoubtedly look for a higher meaning, even the elevation of an immortal soul from the lowest state of sin and misery to all the glory and felicity of heaven. Would we have a just con- ception of the change which by the tender mercy of our God shall be wrought on the poor and contrite, we may behold our blessed Lord raised from the grave, to which with unparalleled ignominy he had been committed, and exalted to the right hand of God, above all the principalities and powers both of earth and heaven. Thus will the poor and contrite soul be raised from guilt to peace, from sin to holiness, from the very gates of hell even to the throne of God.]
Does our God so condescend to you ? then let me