2. God suffers this to humble his People,1 and to keep them humble under their great measures of grace. It is observable in nature, that those creatures which have the most excellency in them, have something also of defect and deformity in them, as if the God of nature did it to keep them humble. The Peacock hath glittering feathers, and yet ⟨p. 105⟩black feet; The Swan hath white feathers, but under that a black skin; The Eagle hath many excellencies, quick sight, and high flight, but yet very ravenous; The Camel and Elephant are great and stately creatures, but of a deformed shape: So it is in the state of grace, God doth suffer some strong & unsubdued corruptions to remain in them, who have not only truth, but strength of grace, and this is to keep them humble.2 Thus Paul after his great Revelation, had a messenger of Satan to buffet him, and a thorn in the flesh to afflict and keep him humble; the thorn in the flesh did let out the impostumated matter of pride out of his heart; and the considerations of their corruptions doth much affect the hearts of the godly, that they become, 1. More condescending and compassionate to the weak. 2. They do depend less upon their own righteousness. They see it is in vain to think of establishing their own righteousness, and that it is too weak a foundation to lay the weight and stress of their salvation upon: the Covering is too narrow, and the Bed is too short for them to rest quietly upon. 3. They are hereby brought to think better of others then of themselves, yea to judge themselves the least of Saints, and the greatest of sinners.
2. God suffers this to humble his People,1 and to keep them humble under their great measures of grace. It is observable in nature, that those creatures which have the most excellency in them, have something also of defect and deformity in them, as if the God of nature did it to keep them humble. The Peacock hath glittering feathers, and yet ⟨p. 105⟩black feet; The Swan hath white feathers, but under that a black skin; The Eagle hath many excellencies, quick sight, and high flight, but yet very ravenous; The Camel and Elephant are great and stately creatures, but of a deformed shape: So it is in the state of grace, God doth suffer some strong & unsubdued corruptions to remain in them, who have not only truth, but strength of grace, and this is to keep them humble.2 Thus Paul after his great Revelation, had a messenger of Satan to buffet him, and a thorne in the flesh to afflict and keep him humble; the thorn in the flesh did let out the impostumated matter of pride out of his heart; and the considerations of their corruptions doth much affect the hearts of the godly, that they become, 1. More condescending and compassionate to the weak. 2. They do depend lesse upon their own righteousnesse. They see it is in vain to think of establishing their own righteousnesse, and that it is too weak a foundation to lay the weight and stresse of their salvation upon: the Covering is too narrow, and the Bed is too short for them to rest quietly upon. 3. They are hereby brought to think better of others then of themselves, yea to judge themselves the least of Saints, and the greatest of sinners.
- 1Answ. 2.
- 22 Cor. 12. 7.
