God does not judge of men in regard of outwards; what are outwards before the Lord? What is it to have gold, and fine clothes before God? Those things that are braveries in the world, and take up the eyes of men to admire at them, what are these to God? God does not esteem of men at all for these things, neither doth he disesteem them for the want of them; the want of clothes, and of money, and of the things of the world, what is this to God? Does God look at any man the worse for want of these things? God is no respectre of persons; if he looks at any with high esteem, he looks at the poor, and humble, and contrite: God delights to look down into the world upon those that are poor; he reserves a poor people that shall trust in his name, Zeph. 3. 12. The Lord passeth by the great things of the world, he brings down the mighty, and regards the low estate of his handmaid, the low estate of his people: It is a poor and contrite spirit, that he that dwelleth on high looketh at; the prayer of the destitute he regards, Psal. 102. 17. The word in the Original is, A poor shrub, that which is in the Wilderness, and the beasts tread upon, that no man regards, that seems to be altogether worthless. It may be, one comes with brave words, and hath mighty expressions, God throws them as dirt in his face: There comes another, and can hardly groan out his meaning, and yet there being grace, God regards him. If a proud scornful spirit, should hear a poor gracious heart groan out his complaints to God, he would think ⟨p. 203⟩it non-sence; but God, knowing the meaning of his Spirit, and seeing his grace, he hath respect to him.
God does not judge of men in regard of outwards; what are outwards before the Lord? What is it to have gold, and fine clothes before God? Those things that are braveries in the world, and take up the eyes of men to admire at them, what are these to God? God does not esteem of men at all for these things, neither doth he disesteem them for the want of them; the want of clothes, and of money, and of the things of the world, what is this to God? Does God look at any man the worse for want of these things? God is no respecter of persons; if he looks at any with high esteem, he looks at the poor, and humble, and contrite: God delights to look down into the world upon those that are poor; he reserves a poor people that shall trust in his name, Zeph. 3. 12. The Lord passeth by the great things of the world, he brings down the mighty, and regards the low estate of his handmaid, the low estate of his people: It is a poor and contrite spirit, that he that dwelleth on high looketh at; the prayer of the destitute he regards, Psal. 102. 17. The word in the Original is, A poor shrub, that which is in the Wilderness, and the beasts tread upon, that no man regards, that seems to be altogether worthless. It may be, one comes with brave words, and hath mighty expressions, God throws them as dirt in his face: There comes another, and can hardly groan out his meaning, and yet there being grace, God regards him. If a proud scornful spirit, should hear a poor gracious heart groan out his complaints to God, he would think ⟨p. 203⟩it non-sence; but God, knowing the meaning of his Spirit, and seeing his grace, he hath respect to him.
