12. Consider our mean and abject condition, and that infinite distance wherein we stand from him with whom we have to do. When Abraham, the Father of the faithful, and friend of God, came to treat with him about his Judgements, he doth it with this acknowledgement of his condition, that he was mere dust and ashes, Gen. 18. 27. A poor abject Creature that God at his pleasure had formed out of the dust of the earth, and which in a few days was to be reduced again into the ashes of it. We can forget nothing more perniciously than what we are. Man is a worm, saith Bildad, and the Son of man is but a worm, Job 25. 6. And therefore says Job himself, I have said to corruption, thou art my father, and to the worm, thou art my mother and my sister, chap. 17. 14. His Affinity, his Relation unto them is the nearest imaginable, and he is no otherwise to be accounted of; and there is nothing that God abhors more than an Elation of mind in the forgetfulness of our mean frail condition. Thou sayest, said he to the proud Prince of Tyre, that thou art a God, but saith he, wilt thou say thou art a God in the hands of him that ⟨p. 392⟩slays thee, Ezek. 28. 9. That severe conviction did God provide for his pride. Thou shalt be a man, and no God in the hand of him that slays thee. And when Herod prided himself in the acclamations of the vain multitude, (the voice of God and not of a man.) The Angel of the Lord filled that God immediately with worms which slew him and devoured him, Acts 12. 23. There is indeed nothing more effectual to abase the pride of the thoughts of men, than a due remembrance that they are so. Hence the Psalmist prays, Psal. 9. 20. Put them in fear O Lord, that the Nations may know themselves to be but men, so and no more. [Greek or Hebrew] poor, miserable, frail, mortal man, as the word signifies; what is man? what is his life? what is his strength? said one, the dream of a shadow; a mere nothing; or as David much better, Every man living in his best condition is altogether vanity, Psal. 39. 5. and James, our life, which is our best, our all, is but a vapour that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away, chap. 4. 14. But enough hath been spoken by many on this subject. And we that have seen so many thousands each week in one City carried away to the grave, have been taught the truth of our frailty, even as with Thorns and Briers.
12. Consider our mean and abject condition, and that infinite distance wherein we stand from him with whom we have to do. When Abraham, the Father of the faithfull, and friend of God, came to treat with him about his Judgements, he doth it with this acknowledgement of his condition, that he was meer dust and ashes, Gen. 18. 27. A poor abject Creature that God at his pleasure had formed out of the dust of the earth, and which in a few daies was to be reduced again into the ashes of it. We can forget nothing more perniciously than what we are. Man is a worm, saith Bildad, and the Son of man is but a worm, Job 25. 6. And therefore sayes Job himself, I have said to corruption, thou art my father, and to the worm, thou art my mother and my sister, chap. 17. 14. His Affinity, his Relation unto them is the nearest imaginable, and he is no otherwise to be accounted of; and there is nothing that God abhors more than an Elation of mind in the forgetfulness of our mean frail condition. Thou sayest, said he to the proud Prince of Tyrus, that thou art a God, but saith he, wilt thou say thou art a God in the hands of him that ⟨p. 392⟩slayes thee, Ezek. 28. 9. That severe conviction did God provide for his pride. Thou shalt be a man, and no God in the hand of him that slayes thee. And when Herod prided himself in the acclamations of the vain multitude, (the voice of God and not of a man.) The Angel of the Lord filled that God immediately with worms which slew him and devoured him, Acts 12. 23. There is indeed nothing more effectual to abase the pride of the thoughts of men, than a due remembrance that they are so. Hence the Psalmist prayes, Psal. 9. 20. Put them in fear O Lord, that the Nations may know themselves to be but men, so and no more. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 poor, miserable, frail, mortal man, as the word signifies; what is man? what is his life? what is his strength? said one, the dream of a shadow; a meer nothing; or as David much better, Every man living in his best condition is altogether vanity, Psal. 39. 5. and James, our life, which is our best, our all, is but a vapour that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away, chap. 4. 14. But enough hath been spoken by many on this subject. And we that have seen so many thousands each week in one City carryed away to the grave, have been taught the truth of our frailty, even as with Thorns and Briers.
- 1Considerations of our own Condition tending to Humble us.
