Four books on the eleventh of Matthew

9. An humble lowly Spirit hides it self, is willing to hide it self, and doth much hide it self, it doth therefore good in secret more than in public, though such a one, when God calls him to public service, is willing to serve God publicly, yet especially is willing to do good in secret, where none knows what it doth, and where none is conscious to it self but it self, and God. The full ears of Corn hang down whereas the blasted ears vvil stand bolt upright: So it is with a heart that is humble, the more excellency it hath the more it hangs down it self and is low, whereas the blasted ⟨p. 553⟩Spirits of Men and women that have a little in them, they stand bolt upright. Or rather as the Violet, the Violet doth hide it self with its own Leaves, So the Fig Tree; and the Violet grows low in the ground, you can hardly perceive it, but only it discovers it self by its sweet smell, you may many times smell it before you can see it, it grows so low, and the discovery of it is from the sweet savour of it: and so it is with an humble heart, the discovery of the excellency that is in an humble heart is from the sweet savour it hath, rather than from any commendations of it self by speaking of it self, No, it is that which is abhorred by a lowly humble heart to be speaking high things of it self: and it doth not love to hear others commending of it, and doth not deny them in a modesty, because they would have them to confirm it the more strongly, as many others will do, but unfeignedly is willing to have them hidden, any further than God is pleased to draw them forth. It doth a great deal of good when no body can know it, as it was the similitude of an Ancient, saith he, An humble heart in this is like to the Lightening, that may work strong effects on a sudden, and goes away and no body takes notice of it, sometimes it may be melts the Sword in the Scabbard, and is gone and no body knows who did it: So it is with an humble heart, it will not make a noise in what it doth; whereas a proud heart will be brought to no good exercise except every one take notice of what it doth, an humble Spirit is willing to hide it self when God may nay have Glory by an action, though I may have disgrace, yet I am content.

9. An humble lovvly Spirit hides it self, is vvilling to hide it self, and doth much hide it self, it doth therefore good in secret more than in publique, though such a one, vvhen God cals him to publique service, is vvilling to serve God publiquely, yet especially is vvilling to do good in secret, vvhere none knows vvhat it doth, and vvhere none is conscious to it self but it self, and God. The ful ears of Corn hang down vvhereas the blasted ears vvil stand bolt upright: So it is vvith a heart that is humble, the more excellency it hath the more it hangs dovvn it self and is lovv, vvhereas the blasted