A77983:195
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.
Fifthly: An humble Spirit in reference unto others, is willing to receive good from the meanest, i• there be any one, though never so mean, yet he is willing to receive good from him, he doth not scorn it because it comes from a mean man, but on the contrary saith, Hath God bestowed any Grace ⟨p. 582⟩upon others, though not so much as upon me, yet I may get some good by them? it may be they have not so great gifts as I, I but I may get some good by the meanest, and the weakest, as I have said sometimes, little Chips will kindle great Logs, so an humble heart will get something from the meanest, he will go away blessing God for the comfort he hath by the company of those that are meaner than himself. Mark Paul; saith he, in Jesus Christ that you would strive together with God for me. What! this Apostle, that was so much above them, for them to strive together with God for him: Yes, thus it is with a true gracious heart. I remember I have read of a German Divine, when he lay sick and some of his friends came to him, and would be speaking to him, and they thought it would be grievous to him, because he was so weak, Oh, saith he (though they were but those that you call Lay-people) if so be that when I die I shall learn any thing of any body, I should account my departure more sweet to me. And so it was the Speech of Oecolampadius, If a truth come, though by a Child, by the meanest, we must not refuse: But know sometimes, that God may speak by a poor body, when he doth deny to speak by those of greater abilities, and therefore we do not know what we lose by contemning those that are under us, for God (I say) many times may speak that to our hearts by those that are beneath us, when he denies to speak it by those that are above us. Now an humble Spirit is willing to learn of every body, of the meanest, Oh, if there were such a temper in the hearts of Men & Women, what abundance of sweetness and peace might we have? Now by that we have said, you may see how the promise may be fulfilled, if we had but an humble heart, there would be abundance of rest that we should have in this, Oh, the abundance of peaceableness ⟨p. 583⟩that there would be in the world, were it not for this pride of heart; it is Pride of heart that makes all this ado and combustion in the world, and were we thus carrying our selves lowly in heart one towards another, Oh!