Book 3 › Chapter 120, Four books on the eleventh of Matthew by Jeremiah Burroughs (1659) | AskReformation

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:45p. 491–492

But the lowliness that is most proper unto us, that we may yet learn of Christ, that we may gather from Christs Example arguments to further it in our own hearts, I would describe it thus. It is that grace, whereby the Soul doth behave it self towards God, and towards it self, and towards others, according, or answerable unto that right esteem and sense that he hath of his own vileness, and meanness. Formally this was not in Christ, but only thus far, Christ being once willing to take upon him that low condition, of being a Mediator for mankind, ⟨p. 492⟩so there was a meanness that was in Jesus Christ, and Christs demeanour of himself, walking answerably unto God, and to others, suitable unto that mean condition that he knew himself was in▪ through his willingness to be a Mediator for mankind▪ that was Christs lowliness, though Christ as the second person in the Trinity, cannot have the Rule of his Low liness to be the esteem of his own meanness, and so of God; and therefore I gave you such a description of Lowliness, that may belong to the Father and the Son; but now this only belongs to Christ as Mediator, and that Lowliness that should be in our hearts, that we may gather abundance of Arguments from Christs low condition to further it in our own Soul. The measure of our humility, it doth consist in the right esteem of our own meanness, when a man or Woman hath a right esteem, that is, come to know themselves in that mean condition that they are in, and to be truly sensible of that mean condition that they are in, and accordingly come to behave themselves towards God, and towards themselves, and towards others; these are such as indeed have lowly hearts. Now in this description that I have made of Lowliness, or of humility, you will find (when we come to open it, and to show the workings of an humble heart that ought to be in Christians) there will be very much discovered that nearly concerns us, but all that I shall do now is, to show how Jesus Christ was lowly in heart himself. And then what Arguments may be drawn from the Lowliness of Christ, for the furtherance of Lowliness in our hearts. There is one thing in the Point that I am spared from speaking off, to handle this Lowliness of Christ, as Christ is a Teacher, that we have spoken of.

But the lowlines that is most proper unto us, that we may yet learn of Christ, that we may gather from Christs Example arguments to further it in our own hearts, I would describe it thus. It is that grace, whereby the Soul doth behave it selfe towards God, and towards it selfe, and towards others, according, or answerable unto that right esteem and sence that he hath of his own vileness, and meanness. Formally this was not in Christ, but only thus far, Christ being once willing to take upon him that low condition, of being a Mediator for mankind, ⟨p. 492⟩so there was a meanness that was in Jesus Christ, and Christs demeanour of himselfe, walking answerably unto God, and to others, suitable unto that mean condition that he knew himself was in▪ through his willingness to be a Mediator for mankind▪ that was Christs lowliness, though Christ as the second person in the Trinity, cannot have the Rule of his Low liness to be the esteem of his own meanness, and so of God; and therefore I gave you such a description of Lowliness, that may belong to the Father and the Son; but now this only belongs to Christ as Mediator, and that Lowliness that should be in our hearts, that vve may gather abundance of Arguments from Christs low condition to further it in our own Soul. The measure of our humility, it doth consist in the right esteem of our own meanness, when a man or Woman hath a right esteem, that is, come to know themselves in that mean condition that they are in, and to be truly sensible of that mean condition that they are in, and accordingly come to behave themselves towards God, and towards themselves, and towards others; these are such as indeed have lowly hearts. Now in this description that I have made of Lowliness, or of humility, you wil find (when we come to open it, and to shew the workings of an humble heart that ought to be in Christians) there will be very much discovered that nearly concerns us, but all that I shal do now is, to shew how Jesus Christ was lowly in heart himself. And then what Arguments may be drawn from the Lowliness of Christ, for the furtherance of Lowliness in our hearts. There is one thing in the Point that I am spared from speaking off, to handle this Lowliness of Chirst, as Christ is a Teacher, that we have spoken of.

:47p. 493–494

Now for the Lowliness of Christ, that you have in divers Scriptures, in Psalm. 22. is a Prophetical Scripture concerning Christ, and mark what is said of Christ there, verse, 6. But I am a Worm, and no man, a Reproach of Men, and despised of the people. But I am a Worm, They are even the speeches of Christ concerning himself, it is apparent it is a prophetical Psalm, concerning Christ, In the beginning of the Psalm you have the very same words that Christ spake upon the Cross, My God, My God why hast thou forsaken me, And here I am a Worm, and no Man, Oh! How Lowly was Christ, that was God blessed for ever, it were lowly enough, one would think, to be a Man, but to be a Worm, and no Man in his own apprehension, Oh, what Lowliness was this? And then in Isai, 53. 2. There you may see the Lowliness of Christ, that likewise is prophetical concerning Christ, that he should grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a Root out of a dry ground he hath no form nor comeliness, and when we shall see him, there is no Beauty that we should desire him, he is despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief, and we hid as it were our Faces from hi[…] he was despised, and we esteemed him not. I y[…] will say, this shows the Lowness of his condition, but how ⟨p. 494⟩doth this argue the Lowliness of his Heart? For you told us even now, that a man may be in a low condition that is not Lowly in Heart. For Answer, Christ was not compelled to it, but freely took upon him to be in this condition, for the Glory of his Father, and the good of Poor S•uls, surely, it is a lowly heart that was willing to be put into such a condition as this was.

Now for the Lowliness of Christ, that you have in divers Scriptures, in Psalm. 22. is a Prophetical Scripture concerning Christ, and mark what is said of Christ there, verse, 6. But I am a Worm, and no man, a Reproach of Men, and despised of the people. But I am a Worm, They are even the speeches of Christ concerning himself, it is apparent it is a prophetical Psalme, concerning Christ, In the beginning of the Psalme you have the very same words that Christ spake upon the Cross, My God, My God why hast thou forsaken me, And here I am a Worm, and no Man, Oh! How Lowly was Christ, that was God blessed for ever, it were lowly enough, one would think, to be a Man, but to be a Worm, and no Man in his own apprehension, Oh, what Lowliness was this? And then in Isai, 53. 2. There you may see the Lowliness of Christ, that likewise is prophetical concerning Christ, that he should grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a Root out of a dry ground he hath no form nor comliness, and when we shall see him, there is no Beauty that we should desire him, he is despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief, and we hid as it were our Faces from hi〈…〉 he was despised, and we esteemed him not. I y〈…〉 will say, this shews the Lowness of his condition, but how ⟨p. 494⟩doth this argue the Lowliness of his Heart? For you told us even now, that a man may be in a low condition that is not Lowly in Heart. For Answer, Christ was not compelled to it, but freely took upon him to be in this condition, for the Glory of his Father, and the good of Poor S•uls, surely, it is a lowly heart that was willing to be put into such a condition as this was.

:48p. 494

But above all Scriptures, that is remarkable to this purpose, in Phillip. 2. 5. Let this mind be in you, which also was in Jesus Christ, What mind was that? There is not only the condition of Christ, but the mind of Christ, a lowly Heart, and let that Lowly heart be in you, What was that? verse, 6. Who being in the form of God, thought it no robbery to be equal with God, but made himself of no Reputation: He made himself, he did empty himself, (as the word hath it in the original) empty himself of the Excellency that was in him, And took upon him the form of a Servant, and made himself in the likeness of men, and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto Death, even the Death of the Cross. Here is the Lowliness of the Heart of Christ set out unto us, and that as a pattern unto all Christians, to have the same mind that was in Christ. Now to stand upon things largely, to open the Lowliness of Christ, that vvil not be needful, but to speak generally of it, for that is necessary, for we cannot bring it home with power to our Point, if we do not open it in general, for it would ask many exercises to open the Lowliness of Heart that was in Jesus Christ. You know in opening his Meekness we showed you, what Meekness was in him, And now for Lowliness. As thus,

But above all Scriptures, that is remarkable to this purpose, in Phillip. 2. 5. Let this mind be in you, which also was in Jesus Christ, What mind was that? There is not only the condition of Christ, but the mind of Christ, a lowly Heart, and let that Lowly heart be in you, What was that? verse, 6. Who being in the form of God, thought it no robbery to be equal with God, but made himself of no Reputation: He made himself, he did e•pty himself, (as the word hath it in the original) empty himself of the Excellency that was in him, And took upon him the form of a Servant, and made himself in the likeness of men, and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto Death, even the Death of the Cross. Here is the Lowliness of the Heart of Christ set out unto us, and that as a pattern unto al Christians, to have the same mind that was in Christ. Now to stand upon things largely, to open the Lovvliness of Christ, that vvil not be needful, but to speak generally of it, for that is necessary, forvve cannot bring it home vvith povver to our Point, if we do not open it in general, for it vvould ask many exercises to open the Lovvliness of Heart that vvas in Jesus Christ. You knovv in opening his Meekness vve shevved you, vvhat Meekness vvas in him, And novv for Lovvliness. As thus,

:51p. 495–496

Thirdly, When he takes the Nature of Man, one would think he would be Born of the greatest Queen upon the Earth, if Christ must come, and take the Nature of man, and be Born in the Womb, it would be of the greatest Empress, No, of a poor Woman, a Poor Virgin, a Poor Maid, and therefore she saith, in Luke. 1. 48. For he hath regarded the Low Estate of his Hand-Maiden, It is not there Lowliness, as noting Humility, but the Low condition of his Hand-Maid, The Lord regarded the Lew condition of his Hand-Maid. Of purpose, to that end, to encourage those that are in a Low condition, that Christ should pass by all the Princesses, and Empresses in the World, and be willing to be born of a poor Maid, for she was not a Rich Maid, nor had great things, that appears by the offering that she made for Her Purification, in Luke, 2. 22. and ⟨p. 496⟩the 24. verses. When the days of her Purification, according to the Law of Moses, were accomplished they brought him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, and to offer a Sacrifice according to that which is said in the Law of the Lord, a pair of Turtle Doves or two young Pigeons. Her Sacrifice was a pair of Turtle Doves, or two young Pigeons, but mark, it is said according to the Law of the Lord, do but compare this Text, with the Law of God that required an Offering of every Male that openeth the Womb, in Levit. 12. 6. When the days of Her purifying are fulfilled, for a Son or for a Daughter, she shall bring a Lamb of the first year for a Burnt offering, and a young Pigeon or a Turtle Dove for a sin offering unto the Door of the Tabernacle of the congregation, she shall bring a Lamb, here is no Lamb brought, for so indeed, the Law did so far indulge, that if they were poor, the Lamb might be spared, as in another Law, so that in this her offering, that she did not bring the Lamb, the Lamb that the Law did appoint, it was merely from the indulgence of her Poverty, because she was a poor Maid, Noting, that if there be a poverty, and we do what we can, the Lord will not stand so much for great offerings, when we do what we are able, so the Virgin Mary, she had not Money to buy a Lamb, but she brings a pair of Turtle Doves, or two Pigeons, And this is that which is accepted.

Thirdly, When he takes the Nature of Man, one would think he would be Born of the greatest Queen upon the Earth, if Christ must come, and take the Nature of man, and be Born in the Womb, it would be of the greatest Empress, No, of a poor Woman, a Poor Virgin, a Poor Maid, and therefore she saith, in Luke. 1. 48. For he hath regarded the Low Estate of his Hand-Maiden, It is not there Lowliness, as noting Humility, but the Low condition of his Hand-Maid, The Lord regarded the Lew condition of his Hand-Maid. Of purpose, to that end, to incourage those that are in a Low condition, that Christ should pass by al the Princesses, and Emperesses in the World, and be willing to be born of a poor Maid, for she was not a Rich Maid, nor had great things, that appears by the offering that she made for Her Purification, in Luke, 2. 22. and ⟨p. 496⟩the 24. verses. When the daies of her Purification, according to the Law of Moses, were accomplished they brought him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, and to offer a Sacrifice according to that which is said in the Law of the Lord, a pair of Turtle Doves or two young Pidgeons. Her Sacrifice was a pair of Turtle Doves, or two young Pidgeons, but mark, it is said according to the Law of the Lord, do but compare this Text, with the Law of God that required an Offering of every Male that openeth the Womb, in Levit. 12. 6. When the daies of Her purifying are fulfilled, for a Son or for a Daughter, she shall bring a Lamb of the first year for a Burnt offering, and a young Pidgeon or a Turtle Dove for a sin offering unto the Door of the Tabernacle of the congregation, she shall bring a Lamb, here is no Lamb brought, for so indeed, the Law did so far indulge, that if they were poor, the Lamb might be spared, as in another Law, so that in this her offering, that she did not bring the Lamb, the Lamb that the Law did appoint, it was meerly from the indulgence of her Poverty, because she was a poor Maid, Noting, that if there be a poverty, and we do what we can, the Lord will not stand so much for great offerings, when we do what we are able, so the Virgin Mary, she had not Money to buy a Lamb, but she brings a pair of Turtle Doves, or two Pidgeons, And this is that which is accepted.

:52p. 496–497

And then his Low condition was not only in being born of her, but in being born in one of the meanest Villages, and places, not in the Metropolis Jerusalem, but in BETHLEHEM. And then it was in an Inn, you know he had no stately House, or Country House, or brave place for to be in, but it was in an Inn, and it was in her Journey. Great Women, when they are with Child, will not be travelling in Journeys, but will take state upon them, and will not go forth a long ⟨p. 497⟩while, but she was in her Journey, I, and when she was in an Inn, she could have never a Room, Surely she must be in a Low condition. If a beggar Woman should be ready to cry out, if there were a poor Room that had but a Chimney in it▪ they would grant it to her, but she was in a stable to be brought to Bed in a stable, your Vagrants and Rogues that go up and down cannot be worse then this, and she had no provision it seems, but was fain to lay her Child in the Manger; this infinite God, and Lord of Heaven and Earth, behold him lie in a Stable and a Manger. And besides he was willing to be in this condition, he chose this condition, surely he had a Lowly Heart.

And then his Low condition was not only in being born of her, but in being born in one of the meanest Villages, and places, not in the Metropolis Jerusalem, but in BETHELEM. And then it was in an Inn, you know he had no stately House, or Country House, or brave place for to be in, but it was in an Inn, and it was in her Journy. Great Women, when they are with Child, will not be travelling in Journies, but will take state •pon them, and will not go forth a long ⟨p. 497⟩while, but she was in her Journey, I, and when she was in an Inn, she could have never a Room, Surely she must be in a Low condition. If a begger Woman should be ready to cry out, if there were a poor Room that had but a Chimney in it▪ they would grant it to her, but she was in a stable to be brought to Bed in a stable, your Vagrants and Rogues that go up and down cannot be worse then this, and she had no provision it seems, but was fain to lay her Child in the Manger; this infinite God, and Lord of Heaven and Earth, behold him lie in a Stable and a Manger. And besides he was willing to be in this condition, he chose this condition, surely he had a Lowly Heart.

:54p. 497–499

Fifthly: Yea, not only to be a Servant that was beaten▪ but to be made a curse, so in Galath. 3. 13. not only Cursed, but a Curse, in the abstract. Yea, more then this, not only to be a Servant, and to be beaten, and made a curse, but to be made Sin, that that is lower, So in 2 Corinth. 5. 2. He that knew no Sin, was made Sin for us: we will not stand to open these Particulars, only so far is expressed the ⟨p. 498⟩Low condition that Christ was in, how Lowly in Heart Christ was. And all the way as we go, you cannot but see, that there will be a great many Arguments to work Lowliness of Heart in all that profess Christ. After he came into the World, and was put into such a condition, he was fain to fly for his Life, to fly into Egypt to save his Life, and being delivered, then he lives Thirty years in a Low, Poor, Mean condition. He is reputed Low in his parentage, his Father a Poor Carpenter, and his Mother a poor Woman, not able to live in the world, and yet he lives Thirty years together in subjection to this poor Father and Mother, to live in obedience to them, and seeks to live upon his Trade, to live as a Carpenter, Hewing of Timber, for this is the Reason they call him the Carpenters Son, he lived not Idly. And when he came to be manifested the Redeemer of the World, even then the Devil himself had some power over him, he was in some kind under him as you may Read in Matth. 4. He was carried by the Devil, and Set upon the Pinnacle of the Temple. It is a great matter for the Devil to carry any of our Bodies up and down, for Christ to be carried by the Devil, this was very Low. And when he enters upon his office, he wanted bread Forty days together, thus he was brought low & all this was free. And then in the constant way of his Poverty, you know what he said of himself. Matth. 8. 20. The Foxes have Holes, and the Birds of the Air have Nests, but the Son of man hath not wherein to put his Head, Christ had not so much as Birds, and Foxes, No little Cottage. Many of you think it hard that you are fain to live in a poor Smoky hole, a poor Cottage; you have more then Christ had, Christ had not so much as a Gave to hide his Head, though he was possessor of all the world, he was brought in such a Low condition ⟨p. 499⟩and all for thee, and to teach thee.

Fifthly: Yea, not only to be a Servant that was beaten▪ but to be made a curse, so in Galath. 3. 13. not only Cursed, but a Curse, in the abstract. Yea, more then this, not only to be a Servant, and to be beaten, and made a curse, but to be made Sin, that that is lower, So in 2 Corinth. 5. 2. He that knew no Sin, was made Sin for us: we wil not stand to open these Particulars, only so far is expressed the ⟨p. 498⟩Low condition that Christ was in, how Lowly in Heart Christ was. And all the way as we go, you cannot but see, that there will be a great many Arguments to work Lowliness of Heart in al that profess Christ. After he came into the World, and was put into such a condition, he was fain to flie for his Life, to flie into Egypt to save his Life, and being delivered, then he lives Thirty years in a Low, Poor, Mean condition. He is reputed Low in his parentage, his Father a Poor Carpenter, and his Mother a poor Woman, not able to live in the world, and yet he lives Thirty years together in subjection to this poor Father and Mother, to live in obed•ence to them, and seeks to live upon his Trade, to live as a Carpenter, Hewing of Timber, for this is the Reason they cal him the Carpenters Son, he lived not Idly. And when he came to be manifested the Redeemer of the World, even then the Devil himself had some power over him, he was in some kind under him as you may Read in Matth. 4. He was carried by the Devil, and Set upon the Pinacle of the Temple. It is a great matter for the Devil to carry any of our Bodies up and down, for Christ to be carried by the Devil, this was very Low. And when he enters upon his office, he wanted bread Fourty daies together, thus he was brought low & al this was free. And then in the constant way of his Poverty, you know what he said of himself. Matth. 8. 20. The Foxes have Holes, and the Birds of the Air have Nests, but the Son of man hath not wherein to put his Head, Christ had not so much as Birds, and Foxes, No little Cottage. Many of you think it hard that you are fain to live in a poor Smoakey hole, a poor Cottage; you have more then Christ had, Christ had not so much as a Gave to hide his Head, though he was possesser of all the world, he was brought in such a Low condition ⟨p. 499⟩and all for thee, and to teach thee.