The Godly Man's Picture

3. An humble soul hath a low esteem of his duties; Pride is apt to breed in our holy things, as the worm breeds in the sweetest fruit, and forth comes from the most generous ⟨p. 106⟩wine: An humble person doth not only deny his sins, but his duties; when he hath prayed and wept, alas, saith he, how little have I done, God might damn me for all this; he saith as good Nehemiah, Chap. 13. 22. Remember me O my God concerning this, and spare me. Remember Lord how I have poured out my soul, but spare me, and pardon me; he sees that his best duties weigh many grains too light, therefore he desires Christs Merits may be put into the Scales: The humble Saint blusheth when he looks upon his Copy, he sees he cannot write even, nor without blotting; this humbles him to think that his best duties run dregs; he drops poison upon his sacrifice: Oh, saith he, I dare not say I have prayed or wept, those which I write down for duties, God might write down for sins.

3. An humble soul hath a low esteem of his duties; Pride is apt to breed in our holy things, as the worm breeds in the sweetest fruit, and forth comes from the most generous ⟨p. 106⟩wine: An humble person doth not only deny his sins, but his duties; when he hath prayed and wept, alas, saith he, how little have I done, God might damn me for all this; he saith as good Nehemiah, Chap. 13. 22. Remember me O my God concerning this, and spare me. Remember Lord how I have poured out my soul, but spare me, and pardon me; he sees that his best duties weigh many grains too light, therefore he desires Christs Merits may be put into the Scales: The humble Saint blusheth when he looks upon his Copy, he sees he cannot write even, nor without blotting; this humbles him to think that his best duties run dregs; he drops poyson upon his sacrifice: Oh, saith he, I dare not say I have prayed or wept, those which I write down for duties, God might write down for sins.

4. An humble man is ever preferring Bills of Indictment against himself; he complains not of his condition, but his heart: O this evil heart of unbelief! Lord (saith Hooper) I am hell, but thou art heaven. An hypocrite is ever telling how good he is; an humble soul is ever saying how bad he is: Paul that highflown Saint, who was caught up into the third heaven, how doth this bird of Paradise bemoan himself for his corruptions,