I know not this man of whom ye speak.' We are never so weak as when we fancy ourselves to be strong. We must be made to feel that pride becomes us not-that the heart of man is haughty before destruction. "Before honour is humility." When the sinner passes from a state of impenitence to a state of grace, the whole process will be attended by humility. Before the sinner will turn from his sins, he must be convinced of sin. The Holy Spirit must carry to his heart the conviction that he is exposed to the wrath of God, that he has merited punishment, that he has no means of effecting his escape from the wrath to come. It is this humble estimate of his condition, this willingness to confess himself, with the Apostle, the chief of sinners, that can alone prepare the way for his recovery. Till he has been effectually convinced that he is lost, he will not betake himself to the Saviour. But when he has once been brought to feel that sin has brought him into a state of utter misery, and that unless he obtains forgiveness he must perish, he will be ready to embrace the cross of Christ, and will thankfully accept the salvation of the Gospel. And it is not only in the case of the conversion of the open sinner that we trace the certainty of this part of the text. There is no growth in grace, there is no safety, without humility. If we are Christians indeed, if we have received the truth as it is in Jesus, if we are living a life of faith on the Son of God, the index of our advancement is our humility. "God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble." The more we know of ourselves, the more cause we shall find for humility. We shall regard ourselves as wretched sinners, rebels against a most gracious Benefactor, spared by his forbearance, pardoned by his free mercy. The richness of his grace has been exhibited by his sparing not his Son, but giving Him up for us all, as a pledge of his readiness with Him to freely give us all things. There was nothing that could have been done for us, which has not been done. And yet when the constraining power of the love of Christ is felt most strongly, how cold are our affections! how manifold our transgressions! How little are we disposed to deny ourselves! What small exertions do we make for God! How closely do our hearts cleave to the world! We have indeed enough to make us humble. And humility is our security. If we feel our need of God's gracious help, and ardently seek it, help will be afforded. When we are weak, and feel our weakness, then are we strong. He who "scorneth the scorners, giveth grace unto the lowly." Though the Lord be high," says the Psalmist, " yet hath he respect unto the lowly; but the proud he knoweth afar off." When he distrusts himself, and thinks meanly of himself, the Christian is in the state most favourable for his advancement in faith and holiness. "Before honour is humility;" and, as Eliphaz beautifully says to Job, "When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person." 66 Yes, "before honour is humility." When St. humility prevails in our hearts, we have the most certain pledge of the future reward. Humility must prepare us for it. We cannot be in a state to enjoy the presence of God, till the love of God has purified our hearts from pride, till we have been fitted for the employments of heaven. John tells us, that the four-and-twenty elders, who represent the patriarchs of the ancient and Christian Israel, "fall down before him that sitteth on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power; for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created." Thus the glorified saints may teach us, that before honour, the highest honour that man can enjoy, is humility. And, oh! my brethren, may God teach every one of us by his Holy Spirit; may the natural pride of our hearts be removed, may we be enabled to overcome temptation; and having humbly devoted ourselves to God, may we pursue our |