Sixthly, If you would have your Assurance strengthened and maintained, then walk humbly with your God.1 God makes the humble mans heart his house to dwell in, Isa. 57. 15. Thus saith the high and lofty one that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is holy, I dwell in 2the high and holy place; with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. The highest heavens, and the lowest hearts, are the habitations wherein the holy one delights to dwell. Now this phrase, I will dwell with the humble, takes in several things. 1. It includes Gods overlooking the humble. 2. It takes in Gods assisting and strengthening of the humble. 3. It takes in Gods protection, I will dwell with the humble, that is, I3 will protect him and secure him. 4: It takes in Gods sympathizing with the humble. 5. It takes in Gods applying4 all suitable good to the humble. 6. It takes in Gods ruling and over-ruling the heart and the affections of the humble. 7. It takes in Gods teaching and5 learning of the humble. But 8. and ⟨p. 586⟩lastly, it includes and takes in a clearer, a fuller, and a larger manifestation and communication of God to humble souls; ah saith God, I will dwell with the humble, that is, I will more richly, more abundantly, and more gloriously manifest and make known my grace and glory, my goodness and sweetness, my loving kindness and tenderness to humble souls. Now tell me humble souls, will not Gods dwelling thus with you contribute very much to the strengthening and maintaining of your Assurance? Jam. 4. 6. But he giveth more grace, wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud (or as the Greek6 word emphatically signifies, he sets himself in battle array against the proud) but giveth grace to the humble. Humility is both a grace, and a vessel to receive grace. God pours in grace into the humble souls, as men pour liquor into an empty vessel. And verily, the more grace you have, the more will your Assurance be strengthened and maintained. Well, remember this, the humble mans mercies are the sweetest mercies, the greatest mercies, the most growing and thriving mercies, ⟨p. 587⟩the most blessed and sanctified mercies, & the most lasting and abiding mercies. Therefore as you would have your Assurance strengthened and maintained, walk humbly with your God;
Sixthly, If you would have your Assurance strengthened and maintained, then walke humbly with your God.1 God makes the humble mans heart his house to dwell in, Isa. 57. 15. Thus saith the high and lofty one that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is holy, I dwel in 2the high and holy place; with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. The highest heavens, and the lowest hearts, are the habitations wherein the holy one delights to dwel. Now this phrase, I will dwel with the humble, takes in several things. 1. It includes Gods overlooking the humble. 2. It takes in Gods assisting and strengthning of the humble. 3. It takes in Gods protection, I will dwel with the humble, that is, I3 will protect him and secure him. 4: It takes in Gods sympathizing with the humble. 5. It takes in Gods applying4 all suitable good to the humble. 6. It takes in Gods ruling and over-ruling the heart and the affections of the humble. 7. It takes in Gods teaching and5 learning of the humble. But 8. and ⟨p. 586⟩lastly, it includes and takes in a clearer, a fuller, and a larger manifestation and communication of God to humble souls; ah saith God, I will dwell with the humble, that is, I will more richly, more abundantly, and more gloriously manifest and make knowne my grace and glory, my goodnesse and sweetnesse, my loving kindnesse and tendernesse to humble souls. Now tell me humble soules, will not Gods dwelling thus with you contribute very much to the strengthning and maintaining of your Assurance? Jam. 4. 6. But he giveth more grace, wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud (or as the Greek6 word emphatically signifies, he sets himself in battle array against the proud) but giveth grace to the humble. Humility is both a grace, and a vessell to receive grace. God poures in grace into the humble souls, as men poure liquor into an empty vessel. And verily, the more grace you have, the more will your Assurance be strengthned and maintained. Well, remember this, the humble mans mercies are the sweetest mercies, the greatest mercies, the most growing and thriving mercies,
- 1Mich. 6. 8.
- 2[Greek or Hebrew] low of spirit [Greek or Hebrew] to quicken or make to live the spirit of humble ones. Isa. 41. 10.〈non-Latin alphabet〉 low of spirit 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 to quicken or make to live the spirit of humble ones. Isa. 41. 10.
- 3Job 22. 29.
- 4Isa. 63. 9. Isa. 57. 18.
- 5Psa. 10. 17. Psal. 25. 9.
- 6[Greek or Hebrew].〈non-Latin alphabet〉.
