The Lord seems to take so much care to save the humble, as if there were none else that he took care to save, or regarded what became or them, whether saved or no. And the Lord speaks of proud persons as if he contemned none but under that name and notion. (Jam. 4.6.) He resisteth the proud; he that is proud of his person, or parts, or estate, or wit, or power, the Lord resisteth him. And he speaks of the humble as if none were saved but under that name and notion, He saves the humble person•, or as that Text in James hath it, He giveth grace to the humble. What grace? There is a twofold grace; and both are given to the humble; First, he gives them the grace of favour or good will, he is kind to and respecteth the humble, or (as this text in Job hath it) He saves the humble person. Secondly, He gives much grace to the humble, as grace is taken for that gracious work of the Spirit in us, forming up faith, love, &c. in our souls. The Lord gives more of this grace also to the humble, that is, he addeth unto the graces which they have, and makes them more humble, more gracious: a man cannot be (in that sense) an humble person without grace; humility it self is a great grace, and the greater our humility is, the greater accession we have of other graces. Thus, I say, we may understand the text in James both ways; He giveth grace to the humble, that is, he favours and respects them, because they are gracious, and he addeth to or increaseth their graces. We have a promise very parallel to these of Eliphaz and James (Psal. 18.27.) Thou wilt save the afflicted people, but wilt bring down high looks. The word which we translate afflicted, signifies also one humbled, and humble, and so we might render the Psalm; Thou shalt save the humbled or the humble people; and that the humble are to be taken in to partake of the privilege of that promise, is plain from the opposite Term in the latter clause of the verse; High looks; that is, high lookers God will bring down, but he will save the humble person. Men of low and mean estates are usually wrapped up with great ones in the same judgement, as the Prophet speaks (Isaiah 5.15.) The mean man shall be brought down, and the mighty man shall be humbled, the eyes of the lofty shall be humbled; there we have the mean man and the mighty man under the same wrathful ⟨p. 289⟩dispensations of God.
The Lord seemes to take so much care to save the humble, as if there were none else that he tooke care to save, or regarded what became or them, whether saved or no. And the Lord speakes of proud persons as if he contemn'd none but under that name and notion. (Jam. 4.6.) He resisteth the proud; he that is proud of his person, or parts, or estate, or witt, or power, the Lord resisteth him. And he speakes of the humble as if none were saved but under that name and notion, He saves the humble person•, or as that Text in James hath it, He giveth grace to the humble. What grace? There is a twofold grace; and both are given to the humble; First, he gives them the grace of favour or good will, he is kinde to and respecteth the humble, or (as this text in Job hath it) Hee saves the humble person. Secondly, He gives much grace to the humble, as grace is taken for that gracious worke of the Spirit in us, forming up faith, love, &c. in our soules. The Lord gives more of this grace also to the humble, that is, he addeth unto the graces which they have, and makes them more humble, more gratious: a man cannot be (in that sence) an humble person without grace; humility it selfe is a great grace, and the greater our humility is, the greater accession we have of other graces. Thus, I say, we may understand the text in James both wayes; He giveth grace to the humble, that is, he favours and respects them, because they are gracious, and he addeth to or encreaseth their graces. We have a promise very paralel to these of Eliphaz and James (Psal. 18.27.) Thou wilt save the afflicted people, but wilt bring downe high looks. The word which we translate afflicted, signifies also one humbled, and humble, and so we might render the Psalme; Thou shalt save the humbled or the humble people; and that the humble are to be taken in to partake of the priviledge of that promise, is plaine from the opposite Terme in the latter clause of the verse; High lookes; that is, high lookers God will bring downe, but he will save the humble person. Men of low and meane estates are usually wrapt up with great ones in the same judgement, as the Prophet speakes (Esay 5.15.) The meane man shall be brought downe, and the mighty man shall be humbled, the eyes of the lofty shall be humbled; there we have the meane man and the mighty man under the same wrathfull ⟨p. 289⟩dispensations of God.