The Babes were meek & lowly, and therefore were they meet to spread abroad the glory of God. Saint Paul of all his learning thought that he knew nothing, so much he humbled himself: and therefore was he meet to be an Apostle of Christ, and Preacher of his Gospel. ⟨image 106⟩There is a story, or rather a fable, written of S. Anthony; whether you take it as a story, or a fable, I much reck not, but it serveth well for this purpose, it is thus. Saint Anthony on a time lay in a trance, and as he so lay, he looked down from Heaven, (as he thought) & saw all the whole earth so thick covered with snares, that possible it was not for any man to tread upon the earth, and not be entangled therewithal: and this when he beheld, suddenly he cried out, and said, O Lord, and who can then walk on the earth, and not be entrapped? with that he heard a voice that answered him, and said, Sola humilitas, Only humility it is, said that voice, that may go, and not be entangled; only Humility, and nothing else. Who so is Humble, he may walk without danger, he may go and not be taken. This is written that S. Anthony should see, and hear in his trance. But David, the prophet of God, saith in deed, Sacrificium Deo spiritus contritus, The contrite and humble heart, is a sacrifice unto God, the meek and lowly heart is a ⟨image 107⟩sweet and acceptable Sacrifice unto God, saith the prophet David. So again, in another place,1 he saith, Deus humilia respicit, & alia à longè prospicit, God hath regard to the humble and lowly, and as for the proud, he beholdeth them a far off. Isaiah also, or rather God by his Prophet Isaiah saith,2 Super quem r•quiescet spiritus meus, nisi super humilem? Upon whom shall my spirit rest, saith God, But upon the humble and meek? for otherwise,3 saith Saint Paul, Qui inflatur, cadit, He that is puffed up with pride, falleth into the hands of the Devil.
The Babes were méeke & lowlie, and therefore were they méet to spred abroad the glorie of God. Saint Paul of all his learning thought that he knew nothing, so much he humbled himselfe: and therefore was he méete to be an Apostle of Christ, and Preacher of his Gospell. ⟨image 106⟩There is a storie, or rather a fable, writen of S. Anthonie; whether you take it as a storie, or a fable, I much recke not, but it serueth well for this purpose, it is thus. Saint Anthonie on a time lay in a traunce, and as he so lay, he looked downe from Heauen, (as he thought) & saw all the whole earth so thicke couered with snares, that possible it was not for any man to tread vpon the earth, and not be intangled therewithall: and this when he beheld, suddeinly he cried out, and said, O Lord, and who can then walke on the earth, and not be intrapped? with that he heard a voice that answered him, and said, Sola humilitas, Only humilitie it is, said that voice, that may go, and not be intangled; only Humilitie, and nothing else. Who so is Humble, he may walke without daunger, he may go and not be taken. This is written that S. Anthonie should sée, and heare in his traunce. But Dauid, the prophet of God, saith in déed, Sacrificium Deo spiritus contritus, The contrite and humble heart, is a sacrifice vnto God, the méeke and lowlie heart is a ⟨image 107⟩swéet and acceptable Sacrifice vnto God, saith the prophet Dauid. So againe, in another place,1 he saith, Deus humilia respicit, & alia à longè prospicit, God hath regard to the humble and lowlie, and as for the proud, he beholdeth them a far off. Esaie also, or rather God by his Prophet Esaie saith,2 Super quem r•quiescet spiritus meus, nisi super humilem? Vpon whom shall my spirit rest, saith God, But vpon the humble and meeke? for otherwise,3 saith Saint Paul, Qui inflatur, cadit, He that is puffed vp with pride, falleth into the hands of the Deuill.
- 1Psal. 138.
- 2Esa. •5.
- 3Titus 3.Tytus 3.
