The works of George Swinnock, M.A

CHAP. XII. Means whereby Christians may exercise themselves to Godliness; An humble frame; Suppressing sin in its first rise; the knowledge of God.

Tenthly, If thou wouldst exercise thy self to Godliness, Walk humbly with thy God. A tree the more deeply its rooted, the more it groweth under ground, the more upward in fruitfulness: The Christian will find that by growing in humility, he shall thrive in godliness. He that turneth his eyes upward is ready to stumble at every rub that lieth in his way; but he that looketh ⟨p. 793⟩downward, seeth and avoideth those stones. A proud man, is like a little man with an high-heeled-shoo, raised thereby in his own conceit, above others of the same rank, but it fits him with many a fall. The proud person giveth not glory to God, and therefore must not expect that God should give grace to him; But the humble man honoureth God, and sanctifieth his name, and sets the Crown on his head, and so may expect (because God hath promised) that God should honour him, and sanctify his soul; God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble. He leaves those high hills barren, but makes the valleys to abound in Corn. Tis in vain to undertake to pour liquor into a full Vessel, it will all run over, but the empty Vessel will receive it. The proud person is full still of self, and so will not be thankful for an alms; but the humble man is empty, hungering, and thirsting, and he shall be satisfied. Proud Vashti divorceth her self, and provoketh her Lord to disown and disclaim her; but humble Esther is thought worthy of a Crown, and admitted into the Kings embraces. The fig-tree that blooms not at all, brings forth most pleasant fruit, when the Sallow which hath most glorious palms is barren. Hypocrisy kills the flower of grace at the root, Pride nips it in the bud. Sincerity like Paul, planteth grace; Humility like Apollo, watereth it, and helpeth it to flourish. We may take notice all along in Scripture, that the humblest men, were the holiest men; and those that were eminent for any grace, were eminent for Humility. The deepest streams were most silent, and made the least noise. Abraham was famous for Faith, strong in Faith, he believed in hope against hope, but lo how lowly was he! Behold I have taken upon me to