First, It is evident in that they dare not take that honour to themselves, which others looking upon them as far above them are apt to give them, when it's not convenient or proper for them. This certainly is a great discovery of an humble spirit, when they do even tremble at those praises and reverence, yea reject and refuse it, when it is immoderate. How often are inferior Christians so dazzled with the lustre of those admirable gifts and graces which are in some superiors, that with John to the Angel, they are ready to make a god of such, and set them up too much, so as to worship them? But the more godly any such superiors are, the more they refuse it. We see this notably in Peter, Act. 10. 25, 26. when Cornelius fell down at Peters feet, and worshipped him; Peter took him up, saying, Stand up, I my self also am a man; and at another time when the Barbarians would have sacrificed to Paul and Barnabas, accounting them as gods, with what fear and trembling, rending their clothes at such blasphemy did they come and forbid them? Act. 14. 15. Thus you see, let the godly be never so admirable in gifts and graces, yet they will not take more than is due to them. Certainly, if the Angel forbade John, desirous to worship him, saying, I am thy fellow servant, worship thou God; how much rather may every man, though the chiefest of thousands say, I am your fellow servant, I am subject to sin and infirmities as well as you; praise God therefore, and give glory to God. As the Apostles when they had cured a lame man, said, Why do ye look upon us, as if we had done it by our own power? So the godly when enabled to preach wonderfully, to pray admirably, or perform any gracious acts above others, they say, Look not upon us, but upon God. What an admirable expression of humility is that in Paul? 2 Cor. 12. 16. where he is afraid any should think of him above that he seeth, or heareth to be in him.
First, It is evident in that they dare not take that honor to themselves, which others looking upon them as far above them are apt to give them, when it's not convenient or proper for them. This certainly is a great discovery of an humble spirit, when they do even tremble at those praises and reverence, yea reject and refuse it, when it is immoderate. How often are inferiour Christians so dazelled with the lustre of those admirable gifts and graces which are in some superiours, that with John to the Angel, they are ready to make a god of such, and set them up too much, so as to worship them? But the more godly any such superiours are, the more they refuse it. We see this notably in Peter, Act. 10. 25, 26. when Cornelius fell down at Peters feet, and worshipped him; Peter took him up, saying, Stand up, I my self also am a man; and at another time when the Barbarians would have sacrificed to Paul and Barnabas, accounting them as gods, with what fear and trembling, rending their cloaths at such blasphemy did they come and forbid them? Act. 14. 15. Thus you see, let the godly be never so admirable in gifts and graces, yet they will not take more than is due to them. Certainly, if the Angel forbad John, desirous to worship him, saying, I am thy fellow servant, worship thou God; how much rather may every man, though the chiefest of thousands say, I am your fellow servant, I am subject to sinne and infirmities as well as you; praise God therefore, and give glory to God. As the Apostles when they had cured a lame man, said, Why do ye look upon us, as if we had done it by our own power? So the godly when inabled to preach wonderfully, to pray admirably, or perform any gracious acts above others, they say, Look not upon us, but upon God. What an admirable expression of humility is that in Paul? 2 Cor. 12. 16. where he is afraid any should think of him above that he seeth, or heareth to be in him.
