is no just ground for our vain conceit : it is even with considerable indignation that he reminds us of it in the words before us. We need to be well instructed in this matter,
1. That we may be led to humility —
[The knowledge of ourselves is indispensably necessary to the attainment of humility : but we must be ignorant indeed of ourselves, if we imagine that there either is, or can be, any thing in us to merit the Divine favour. The truth is, that no words can adequately express the unparalleled deceitfulness, and desperate wickedness, of our hearts f. If we know any thing of ourselves, we cannot but lothe and " abhor ourselves," as Job did, " in dust and ashes g." And we need to have our extreme vileness and baseness frequently set before us, in order that we may know what we are, and " not think of ourselves more highly than we ought to think V]
2. That we may be excited to thankfulness —
[While we entertain the idea of having purchased, as it were, or merited, the blessings we enjoy, we cannot possibly feel any lively gratitude for them in our hearts : instead of ad- miring the goodness of our God, we shall be ready to think hardly of him, if at any time his bounties are withdrawn from us. But let us once be convinced of our deep depravity, and we shall wonder that we have not long since been made monu- ments of divine vengeance. It will then appear no small mercy that we are on praying ground ; that we have a covenant-God to flee unto ; and that there is a Mediator, through whom we may approach him with an assurance of acceptance. Yes ; these things, which are so little regarded by the generality, will make our hearts to overflow with gratitude, and our tongues to sing aloud for joy.]
Application —
1. Let us concede to God the liberty of dispensing his favours according to his own sovereign will —
[To dispute this is needless ; for he will not ask our per- mission ', nor consult our inclination ; but " will have mercy on
whom he will have mercy k " Moreover, it is ruinous ;
for we cannot hope to participate his blessings, if we will not condescend to accept them as they are offered. We must " buy them" indeed, as the Scripture speaks; but it must be "without money and without price1." Let us then acknow-
f Jer. xvii. 9. e Job xlii. 6. h Rom. xii. 3.
1 Job xxxiii. 13. k Rom. ix. 18. l Isai. lv. 1.