A guide to godliness or a Treatise of a Christian life showing the dutiesA guide to godlynesse or a Treatise of a Christian life shewing the duties

And this is that humility, which as it is in it self most excellent, so unto us most profitable, and therefore of us to be much esteemed, and earnestly ¹desired. It is most excellent, as being the most beautiful ornament, which maketh us appear glorious in the sight of God, in which respect, the Apostle exhorteth us to deck our selves with it. Yea it adorneth all other virtues, making them (as the foil, the Jewell) being in themselves rich and beautiful, much more precious and glorious in the sight of God and men. It is most profitable also: for when we humble our selves, and become even with the earth, we are thereby preserved from falling, and when we judge our selves, we shall not be judged of the Lord. Yea if we humble our selves, the Lord will exalt us: and if with the poor Publican we ²acknowledge our sins, we shall depart justified, and find God faithful ³of his promise in forgiving us our sins. So the Apostle James, Humble your selves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. And the Apostle ⁴Peter, Humble your selves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time. And thus the Lord exalteth the humble, by enriching them with all his gifts, both temporal, spiritual, and eternal. With temporal benefits, for by humility and the fear of the Lord, are riches, honour,