And then a Fifth way in the mystery of knowing how to be full, is this. A godly heart by his fullness grows to increase his humility, grows sensible of his unworthiness by his fullness. Now this is a way of mystery too, It is a good thing for a man to have humility together with his fullness, but to have humility by his fullness, this is a very great mystery; it's a rare thing to see humble prosperity; but to see a man humble by his prosperity, this is rare indeed. Affliction will humble men, that's true, every one can understand that; but how prosperity should humble men, that's very hard to understand. I'll give you a clear Scripture for this, how prosperity will humble a gracious heart; it's in the 2 Sam. 7. 18. The Lord there had told David of great things that he would do for him, and spake to him of the honour that he had put upon him, and that he would still put upon him, and he would continue his House to be a great House, and honourable, like the great men of the earth. Mark, one would have thought that the heart of David should have been raised up, when God told him not only the great things that he had done, but the great things he would do. This would have puffed up a carnal heart. But then mark, in the 18 verse, Then went King David in, and sat before the Lord, and he said who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto; and this was yet a small thing in thy sight, O Lord God; but thou hast spoken also of thy servants house for a great while to come; and is this the manner of men, O Lord God; and what can David say more unto thee; for thou Lord God knowest thy servant for thy words sake; and according to thine own heart hast thou done all these great things, to make thy servants know them: wherefore thou art great O Lord God. He doth not bless himself, ⟨p. 61⟩O God hath made me great; but, wherefore thou art great; and what am I, and what is my house, and it is according to thine own heart; and not according to any thing in me, saith David. The larger God was in telling of him the great things he had, and should have, the more humble was the heart of David. O this is a good sign of true humility, when you find your comings in to be more then heretofore, as if you have had a great voyage, many hundreds coming in of clear gain: then for you to get alone, as it's said that David did go then and sat down before the Lord.
And then a Fifth way in the mystery of knowing how to be full, is this. A godly heart by his fulness growes to increase his humility, growes sensible of his unworthiness by his fulness. Now this is a way of mystery too, It is a good thing for a man to have humility together with his fulness, but to have humility by his fulness, this is a very great mystery; it's a rare thing to see humble prosperity; but to see a man humble by his prosperity, this is rare indeed. Affliction will humble men, that's true, every one can understand that; but how prosperity should humble men, that's very hard to understand. I'll give you a clear Scripture for this, how prosperity will humble a gracious heart; it's in the 2 Sam. 7. 18. The Lord there had told David of great things that he would do for him, and spake to him of the honour that he had put upon him, and that he would still put upon him, and he would continue his House to be a great House, and honourable, like the great men of the earth. Mark, one would have thought that the heart of David should have been raised up, when God told him not onely the great things that he had done, but the great things he would do. This would have pufft up a carnal heart. But then mark, in the 18 verse, Then went King David in, and sat before the Lord, and he said who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto; and this was yet a small thing in thy sight, O Lord God; but thou hast spoken also of thy servants house for a great while to come; and is this the manner of men, O Lord God; and what can David say more unto tbee; for thou Lord God knowest thy servant for thy words sake; and according to thine own heart hast thou done all these great things, to make thy servants know them: wherefore thou art great O Lord God. He doth not bless himself, ⟨p. 61⟩O God hath made me great; but, wherefore thou art great; and what am I, and what is my house, and it is according to thine own heart; and not according to any thing in me, saith David. The larger God was in telling of him the great things he had, and should have, the more humble was the heart of David. O this is a good sign of true humility, when you find your comings in to be more then heretofore, as if you have had a great voyage, many hundreds coming in of clear gain: then for you to get alone, as it's said that David did go then and sat down before the Lord.
