1. Holy providence yielding to the man's unmortified self-will, and letting it go according to his mind. Gen. vi. 3. God sees it meet to let the struggle with him fall, for it prevails not to his good. Isa. i. 5. So the reins are laid on the proud man's neck, and he has what he would be at; 'Ephraim is joined to idols, let him alone." Hos.

66

iv. 17.

2. The lust remaining in its strength and vigour, Psa. lxxviii. 30. "They were not estranged from their lust." God, in the method of his covenant sometimes gives his people their will, and sets them where they would be; but then, in that case, the lust for the thing is mortified, and they are as weaned children. Psal. x. 17. But here the lust remains rampant: the proud seek meat for it, and get it.

3. The cross removed, the yoke taken off. Psal. lxxviii. 29. They could not think of bringing their mind to their lot; but they thwarted with it, wrestled and fought against it, till it is brought up to their mind so the day is their own, the victory is on their side.

4. The man is pleased in his having carried his point, even as one is when he is dividing the spoil. 1 Kings xxi. 18, 19.

Thus the case of the afflicted lowly generation, and the proud generation prospering, is stated. Now,

III. I am to confirm the doctrine, or the decision of the text, That the case of the former is better than that of the latter. It is better to be in a

low afflicted condition, with the spirit humble and brought down to the lot, than to be of a proud and high spirit, getting the lot brought up to it, and matters go according to one's mind. This will appear from the following considerations.

1. Humility is so far preferable to pride, that in no circumstances whatsoever its preferableness can fail. Let all the afflictions in the world attend the humble spirit, and all the prosperity in the world attend pride, humility will still have the better: as gold in a dunghill is more excellent than so much lead in a cabinet, For,

(1.) Humility is a part of the image of God. Pride is the master-piece of the image of the devil. Let us view him who was the express image of the Father's person, and we shall behold him meek and lowly in heart. Matt. xi. 29. None more afflicted, yet his spirit perfectly brought down to his lot, Isa. liii. 7. "He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth." That is a shining part of the divine image: for though God cannot be low in respect of his state and condition, yet he is of infinite condescension, Isa. lvii. 15. None bears as he, Rom. ii. 4, nor suffers patiently so much contradiction to his will; which is proposed to us for our encouragement in affliction, as it shone in Christ. "For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds." Heb. xii. 3.

Pride, on the other hand, is the very image of the devil. 1 Tim. iii. 6. Shall we value ourselves on

the height of our spirits? Satan will vie with the highest of us in that point; for though he is the most miserable, yet he is the proudest in the whole creation. There is the greatest distance between his spirit and his lot; the former is as high as the throne of God, the latter as low as hell: and as it is impossible that ever his lot should be brought up to his spirit; so his spirit will never come down to his lot and therefore he will be eternally in a state of war with his lot. Hence, even at this time, he has no rest, but goes about, seeks rest indeed, but finds none.

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Now, is it not better to be like God than like the devil; like him who is the fountain of all good, than him who is the spring and sink of all evil? Can any thing possibly cast the balance here, and turn the preference to the other side? "Then better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly," &c.

(2.) Humility and lowliness of spirit qualify us for friendly communion and intercourse with God in Christ. Pride makes God our enemy. 1 Pet. v. 5. Our happiness here and hereafter depends on our friendly intercourse with Heaven. If we have not that, nothing can make up our loss. Psal. Xxx. 5. If we have that, nothing can make us miserable, Rom. viii. 31. “If God be for us, who \ can be against us?" Now, who are they whom God is for, but the humble and lowly? they who being in Christ are so made like him. He blesses them, and declares them the heirs of the crown of glory: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is

the kingdom of heaven." Matt. v. 3. He will look to them, be their condition ever so low, while he overlooks others. Isa. lxvi. 2. He will have respect to them, however they be despised: "Though the Lord be high, yet hath he respect to the lowly; but the proud he knoweth afar off." Psal. cxxxviii. 6. He will dwell with them, however poorly they dwell. Isa. Įvii. 15. He will certainly exalt them in due time, however low they lie now. Isa. xl. 4.

Whom is he against? Whom does he resist? The proud. Them he curseth, Jer. xvii. 5. and that curse will dry up their arm at length. The proud man is God's rival; he makes himself his own god, and would have those about him make him theirs too; he rages, he blusters, if they will not fall down before him. But God will bring him down. Isa. xl. 4. Psal. xviii. 27.

Now, is it not better to be qualified for communion with God, than to have him engaged against us, at any rate?

(3.) Humility is a duty pleasing to God, pride a sin pleasing to the devil. Isa. lvii. 15; 1 Tim. iii. 6. God requires us to be humble, especially under affliction, "and be clothed with humility." 1 Pet. v. 5, 6. That is our becoming garment. The humble publican was accepted, the proud pharisee rejected. We may say of the generation of the proud, as 1 Thess. ii. 16. "Wrath is come upon them to the uttermost." They please neither God nor men, but only themselves and satan, whom they resemble in it. Now duty is better than sin at any

rate.

2. They whose spirits are brought down to their afflicted lot, have much quiet and repose of mind, while the proud, that must have their lot brought up to their mind, have much disquiet, trouble, and vexation. Consider here, that, on the one hand,

Quiet of mind, and ease within, is a great blessing, upon which the comfort of life depends. Nothing without this can make one's life happy. Dan. v. 6. And where this is maintained, nothing can make it miserable. John xvi. 33. This being secured in God, there is a defiance bid to all the troubles of the world. Psal. xlvi. 2, 3, like the child sailing in the midst of the rolling waves.

The spirit brought down to the lot makes and maintains this inward tranquillity. Our whole trouble in our lot in this world rises from the disagreement of our mind therewith; let the mind be brought to the lot, and the whole tumult is instantly hushed; let it be kept in that disposition, and the man shall stand at ease in his affliction, like a rock unmoved with waters beating on it, Col. iii. 15. “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called."

On the other hand, consider,

What disquiet of mind the proud suffer ere they can get their lot brought up to their mind." They have taught their tongues to speak lies, and they weary themselves to commit iniquity." Jer. ix. 5. James iv. 2. "Ye lust, and have not; ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain; ye fight and war, yet ye have not." What arrows of grief go through their heart! what torture of anxiety,