A practical exposition of the Lord's-Prayer

3. This is that which keeps us humble; and that upon several Considerations. All we have, 'tis by Gift; and then what can we be proud of? Not only the Habits of Grace themselves, but also those actual Incitements, which are necessary to draw them forth into Act. So that of all our Excellencies we may say, Alas! 'tis but borrowed; and if we be proud of them, we are but proud we are more in Debt than others; when most enlarged, and most assisted, it is from God. We would laugh, if a Groom should be proud of his Master's Horse, and his Master's Cloak: Shall we usurp that Honour that is due to God? What hast thou that thou didst not receive? 1 Cor. 4. 7. And then we have it from Hand to Mouth. That which we have received, will not bear us out, ⟨p. 297⟩unless God come in with new Influences of Grace. We should soon grow proud, if God did not direct us, and give out the renewed Evidences of his Love day after day. And we should not acknowledge our Benefactor, if God should do all at once; therefore he lesseneth and weakeneth our Corruptions by degrees, and by the renewed Influences of his Grace. And by this means we are made sensible of the Mutability of our own Nature. God left Hezekiah, to try him, that he might know all that was in his Heart. 2 Chron. 32. 31. God hath so dispensed Grace, that he will be going and coming as to actual Influence; therefore sometimes he will leave us, that he may discover a Man to himself. Tho we have Grace planted in our Hearts, and are renewed, yet if God leave us, how weak and foolish are we! We are renewed, but not fully recovered of that Maim and Bruise we got by the Fall of Adam, and we cannot do as we will. If God withdraw his Quickening, his Strength, secret Corruption will break forth, and our Indisposition to holy Things will soon appear.

3. This is that which keeps us humble; and that upon several Considerations. All we have, 'tis by Gift; and then what can we be proud of? Not only the Habits of Grace themselves, but also those actual Incitements, which are necessary to draw them forth into Act. So that of all our Excellencies we may say, Alas! 'tis but borrowed; and if we be proud of them, we are but proud we are more in Debt than others; when most enlarged, and most assisted, it is from God. We would laugh, if a Groom should be proud of his Master's Horse, and his Master's Cloak: Shall we usurp that Honour that is due to God? What hast thou that thou didst not receive?