A77983:131
Four books on the eleventh of Matthew
Four books on the eleventh of Matthew: viz: I. Christ inviting sinners to come to him for rest. II. Christ the great teacher of souls that come to him. To which is added a treatise of meekness and of anger. III. Christ the humble teacher of those that come to him. IIII. The only easy way to heaven. By Jeremiah Burroughs, preacher of the Gospel at Stepney and Cripple-Gate, London.Four books on the eleventh of Matthew: viz: I. Christ inviting sinners to come to him for rest. II. Christ the great teacher of souls that come to him. To which is added a treatise of meekness and of anger. III. Christ the humble teacher of those that come to him. IIII. The only easie way to heaven. By Jeremiah Burroughs, preacher of the Gospel at Stepny and Cripple-Gate, London.
London: printed by Peter Cole, 1659
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Seventhly, An Humble Spirit denies it self.
First, It denies its own Reason, if the truth of God be revealed in his word, he will not set his own Reason against the evidence of the truth, but though I cannot see a Reason of what is in the word, it is fit that I should yield to what the Lord reveals in his wodr, it is willing to deny his Reason in matters of Faith, and there is a great deal in this, and a special ground why the Lord batters the Heart of sinners many times, it is to bring them down to deny their own reason. So I remember Luther hath a speech concerning Reason in matters of Faith, Reason ⟨p. 550⟩it is a most bitter enemy to God, and of Faith, he means unsanctified Reason, now an humble heart can deny its own Reason.
First, It denies its own Reason, if the truth of God be revealed in his word, he wil not set his own Reason against the evidence of the truth, but though I cannot see a Reason of what is in the word, it is fit that I should yeild to what the Lord reveales in his wodr, it is willing to deny his Reason in matters of Faith, and there is a great deal in this, and a special ground why the Lord batters the Heart of sinners many times, it is to bring them down to deny their own reason. So I remember Luther hath a speech concerning Reason in matters of Faith, Reason ⟨p. 550⟩it is a most bitter enemy to God, and of Faith, he means unsanctified Reason, now an humble heart can deny its own Reason.
Yea, Secondly: He is much in denial of his own will, though my will be set strong to have such and such a thing, yet what great matter is it, saith a Lowly heart, for the will of such a wretched Creature as I am to be crossed? What if my will be crossed, and that for ever? I that have been guilty of crossing God so much, an humble heart never thinks much to have its will to be crossed: whereas there is nothing more tedious and grievous to a proud Spirit, then to have its will crossed, but now when we can get that power over our selves, as to be willing to deny our own wills, then our hearts are indeed broken, and we are brought to be lowly in heart before the Lord, the heart of a sinner is never broken and humble till it can deny its own will, many of you would know when you are humble enough, if you find this, that whereas before you thought it very much to have your wills crossed, you find now that it is a very little matter to you to have your wills crossed, this is a sign that your heart is humble.