Put both these together, and here is matter of humiliation, even to dust and ashes. So Abraham interceding for Sodom;1 Behold, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes. 2Quanto magis Sancti Divinitatis interna conspîciunt, tanto magis se nihil esse cognoscu•t. It is a certain conclusion; no proud man knows God. Non sum dignus, I am not worthy, is the voice of the Saints: they know God, and God knows them.3 Moses was the meekest man upon earth, and therefore God is said to know him by name. 4I am less then the least of thy mercies, saith Jacob; lo, he was honoured to be Father of the 12. Tribes, and Heir of the Blessing. Quis ego sum Domine, says David, who am I, O Lord? He was advanced from that lowly conceit to be King of Israel. 5I am not worthy to loose the latchet of Christs shoo, saith John Baptist. Lo, he was esteemed worthy to lay his hand on Christs head.6 I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof, says the Centurion: therefore Christ commended him, I have not found so great faith, no not in Israel. I am the least of the Apostles, 7saith Paul, not worthy to be called an Apostle: therefore he is honoured with the title of The Apostle. Behold the handmaid of the Lord, saith the holy Virgin: therefore she was honoured to be the Mother of the Lord, and to have all generations call her Blessed. This Non sum dignus, the humble annihilation of themselves, hath gotten them the honour of Saints. In spiritual graces, let us study to be ⟨p. 8⟩great, and not to know it: as the fixed Stars are (every one) bigger then the earth, yet appear to us less then torches. In alto non altum sapere; not to be high-minded in high deserts, is the way to blessed preferment. Humility is not only a virtue it self, but a vessel to contain other virtues: like embers, which keep the fire alive that is hidden under it. It emptieth it self, by a modest estimation of the own worth, that Christ may fill it. It wrestleth with God, like Jacob; and wins by yielding: and the lower it stoops to the ground, the more advantage it gets to obtain the blessing. All our pride, O Lord, is from the want of knowing Thee: O thou infinite Maker, Reveal thy self yet more unto us; so shall we abhor our selves, and repent in dust and ashes.
Put both these together, and here is matter of humiliation, euen to dust and ashes. So Abraham interceding for Sodome;1 Behold, I haue taken vpon mee to speake vnto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes. 2Quanto magis Sancti Diuinitatis interna conspîciunt, tanto magis se nihil esse cognoscu•t. It is a certaine conclusion; no proud man knowes God. Non sum dignus, I am not worthy, is the voice of the Saints: they know God, and God knowes them.3 Moses was the meekest man vpon earth, and therefore God is said to know him by name. 4I am lesse then the least of thy mercies, saith •acob; loe, hee was honoured to bee Father of the 12. Tribes, and Heire of the Blessing. Quis ego sum Domine, sayes Dauid, who am I, O Lord? Hee was aduanced from that lowly conceite to bee King of Israel. 5I am not worthy to loose the latchet of Christs shooe, saith Iohn Baptist. Loe, hee was esteemed worthy to lay his hand on Christs head.6 I am not worthy that thou shouldest come vnder my roofe, sayes the Centurion: therefore Christ commended him, I haue not found so great faith, no not in Israel. I am the least of the Apostles, 7saith Paul, not worthy to be called an Apostle: therefore hee is honoured with the title of The Apostle. Behold the handmaid of the Lord, saith the holy Virgin: therefore shee was honoured to be the Mother of the Lord, and to haue all generations call her Blessed. This Non sum dignus, the humble annihilation of themselues, hath gotten them the honor of Saints. In spirituall graces, let vs study to be ⟨p. 8⟩great, and not to know it: as the fixed Starres are (euery one) bigger then the earth, yet appeare to vs lesse then torches. In alto non altum sapere; not to bee high-minded in high deserts, is the way to blessed preferment. Humilitie is not onely a vertue it selfe, but a vessell to containe other vertues: like embers, which keepe the fire aliue that is hidden vnder it. It emptieth it selfe, by a modest estimation of the owne worth, that Christ may fill it. It wrastleth with God, like Iacob; and winnes by yeelding: and the lower it stoopes to the ground, the more aduantage it gets to obtaine the blessing. All our pride, O Lord, is from the want of knowing Thee: O thou infinite Maker, Reueale thy selfe yet more vnto vs; so shall wee abhorre our selues, and repent in dust and ashes.
- 1Gen. 18 27.
- 2Gr•g. mo•. •8.
- 3Exod. 33.17.
- 4Gen. 32.10.
- 5Mat. 3.11.
- 6Mat. •.8.
- 71 Cor. 15.9.
