Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

2. How is it especially as to humility? The Pharisees worship was without dispute, carnal; and we find them not more humble after all their devotions, but over-grown with more weeds of spiritual pride; they performed them as their righteousness. What men dare plead before God in his day, they plead before him in their hearts, in their day; but this men will do at the day of Judgement, we have prophesied in thy Name, &c. Mat. 7.21. They show what tincture their services left upon their Spirits: That which excludes them from any acceptation at the last day, excludes them from any estimation of being spiritual in this day. The carnal Worshippers charge God with Injustice in not rewarding them, and claim an acceptation as a compensation due to them, Isa. 58.3. Wherefore have we afflicted our Souls, and thou takest no knowledge? A spiritual Worshipper looks upon his duties with shame, as well as he doth upon his sins with confusion, and implores the mercy of God for the one as well as the other. In the 143 Psalm v. 2. the Prophet David after his supplications, begs of God not to enter into Judgment with him, and acknowledges any answer that God should give him, as a fruit of his faithfulness to his promise, and not the merit of his worship.^* In thy Faithfulness answer me, &c. Whatsoever springs from a gracious Principle, and is the breath of the Spirit, leaves a man more humble; whereas that which proceeds from a stock of nature, hath the true blood of nature running in the veins of it, viz. that pride which is naturally derived from Acam. The breathing of the Divine Spirit is in every thing to conform us to our Redeemer; that being the main work of his Office, is his work in every particular Christian-act influenced by him. Now Jesus Christ in all his actions was an exact Pattern of Humility. After the institution and celebration of the Supper, a special act of worship in the Church; though he had a sense of all the Authority his Father had given him, yet he humbles himself to wash his Disciples feet^*: And after his sublime Prayer,