be thus extensively considered ; namely, that the Apostle himself here speaks of it in this compre- hensive view. If we look at the words which precede my text, we shall find that humility is spoken of as exercised towards men : but in the words imme- diately following my text, it is connected with our duty to God : " All of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace unto the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time." Let us then notice this grace,
1 . As exercised towards God —
[Here it must begin. We cannot have one spark of real humility till we are abased before God, as guilty, helpless, and undone creatures, who have no hope but in the tender mercy of God in Christ Jesus. We must, as far as respects all hope in ourselves, feel ourselves in the very condition of the fallen angels, whose sin we have followed, and whose punishment we are doomed to share. Indeed, indeed, this is our very state, whether we know it or not : and it becomes us to seek the knowledge of it, and to live under a sense of it every day, and all the day long. We should never appear either before God or man in any other dress than this. It was the clothing of holy Job when in his most perfect state*: and so far ought we to be from putting it off because God is reconciled towards us, that a sense of our acceptance with him through Christ should operate as an additional motive for making it the one continual habit of our minds ^ Incessantly should we lie low before him in dust and ashes, and rely altogetlier upon " his mercy to pardon us, and his grace to help us in every time of need."]
2. As exercised towards men —
[I forbear to mention any other exercises of this grace towards God, in order that I may keep the subject as simple and intelligible as I can. But in vicAving its exercises towards man, I must of necessity diversify it somewhat more. Its chief actings will be found to consist in the following things : We must regard ourselves as the lowest of all ; and be ailUng to he treated by others, as the lowest of all ; and gladly execute the meanest offices, as the lowest of all.
We must regard ourselves as the lowest of all ; " esteeming others better than ourselves'"," and " preferring them in
honour
^ Jobxlii. 5, 6. ''Ezek.xvi. 63. 'Phil.ii. 3.