Now that this humiliation is a necessary condition, will appear more apparently and fully, if we do but consider Gods dealing with men in all ages: I say, it is the course that God himself takes; first, to humble sinners. Thus he dealt with Adam, Gen. 3. 8. When he heard the voice of God, he trembled and feared: and thus he dealt with the 1children of Israel, he shows unto them but a glimpse of his power at the delivering of the law, 2and they were much cast down. Again, this was the course that the Prophets used: when they came unto any people, you shall see they first pronounce the judgements of God against them: Thus ⟨p. 185⟩and thus saith the Lord, &c. thoroughly to humble them; and then after they preach of mercy, and the loving kindness of God, of the readiness of God, to receive those unto mercy, that are thoroughly humbled. Again, this was the course that John Baptist took, he came in the Spirit of Elijah: with sharp words pronouncing heavy judgements against those that remained impenitent: and therefore Matth. 3. 7. he calls them, O generation 3of Vipers, who hath forewarned you to fly from the wrath to come, &c. And all this to humble them, because he knew they would never receive Christ, nor prize grace till they were humbled. Again, this was the course that our Saviour took, in Joh. 4. 31. with the woman of Samaria; first he humbles her, and then he comforts her, 4that is, first he makes her confess that she was a sinner, and then she believed; and therefore he saith; I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance, to wit, to make them see their sins, and be humbled for them, that so they may fly unto God for mercy. Again, this was the course that the Apostle Peter took, Acts 2. 37. first he humbles them, and then after comforts them; so Paul Acts 24. 26. when he preached of Judgement Felix trembled; and so likewise in the three first Chapters to the Romans, Paul preacheth matter of humiliation: in the first Chapter, he taxeth them with their Idolatry, bringing unto their remembrances particular Judgements, which the Lord inflicted upon them for it: in the second ⟨p. 186⟩Chapter, he brings them to the Law, in which they so much boasted of, and makes a comparison betwixt the Gentiles and them; that howsoever they thought hardly of the Gentiles, yet they were as bad as they were:
Now that this humiliation is a necessary condition, will appeare more apparantly and fully, if we doe but consider Gods dealing with men in all ages: I say, it is the course that God himselfe takes; first, to humble sinners. Thus he dealt with Adam, Gen. 3. 8. When he heard the voyce of God, he trembled and feared: and thus hee dealt with the 1children of Israel, hee showes unto them but a glimpse of his power at the delivering of the law, 2and they were much cast downe. Againe, this was the course that the Prophets used: when they came unto any people, you shall see they first pronounce the judgements of God against them: Thus ⟨p. 185⟩and thus saith the Lord, &c. thorowly to humble them; and then after they preach of mercy, and the loving kindnesse of God, of the readinesse of God, to receive those unto mercy, that are thorowly humbled. Againe, this was the course that Iohn Baptist tooke, he came in the Spirit of Eliah: with sharpe words pronouncing heavy judgements against those that remained impenitent: and therefore Matth. 3. 7. he calles them, O generation 3of Vipers, who hath forewarned you to flye from the wrath to come, &c. And all this to humble them, because hee knew they would never receive Christ, nor prize grace till they were humbled. Againe, this was the course that our Saviour tooke, in Ioh. 4. 31. with the woman of Samaria; first hee humbles her, and then he comforts her, 4that is, first he makes her confesse that shee was a sinner, and then shee beleeved; and therefore he saith; I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance, to wit, to make them see their sinnes, and be humbled for them, that so they may flie unto God for mercy. Againe, this was the course that the Apostle Peter tooke, Acts 2. 37. first he humbles them, and then after comforts them; so Paul Acts 24. 26. when hee preached of Iudgement Felix trembled; and so likewise in the three first Chapters to the Romanes, Paul preacheth matter of humiliation: in the first Chapter, hee taxeth them with their Idolatry, bringing unto their remembrances particular Iudgements, which the Lord inflicted upon them for it: in the second
- 1Gen. 3. 8.
- 2Exod. 20. 18.
- 3Matth. 3. 7.
- 4John 4. 31.Iohn 4. 31.
