How to Humble Ourselves (2)

(3) That we may humble ourselves, let us be content to hear of our sins and baseness by others. Let us be content that others should acquaint us with anything that may humble us. Proud men are the devil's pipes, and flatterers the musicians to blow these pipes. Though men have nothing of their own, yet they love to give heed to flatterers. Whereas a true, wise man, will be content to hear of anything that may humble him before God.
(4) That we may humble ourselves, look to the time to come, what we shall be ere long, earth and dust; and at the day of judgment we must be stripped of all. What should puff us up in this world? All our self-glory shall end in shame, all our magnificence in confusion, all our riches in poverty.
(5) If we would humble ourselves, let us set before us the example of our blessed Saviour. He left heaven, took our nature, and humbled himself to the death of the cross, yea, suffered himself to be killed as a traitor (Phil. 2:5-8); and all this to satisfy the wrath of God for us that he might be a pattern for us to be like-minded. Let us be transformed into the likeness of him; yea, the more we think of him, the more we will be humbled. A heart that believes in Christ will be humbled like Christ. Is it possible, if a man consider he is to be saved by an abased and humble Saviour, that was pliable to every base service, that had not a house to hide himself; I say, is it possible that he which considers of this, should ever be willingly or wilfully proud? Do we hope to be saved by Christ, and will we not be like him? Therefore, let us take counsel of Christ: 'Learn of me, for I am humble and meek; and you shall find rest to your souls' (Matt. 11:29).

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Richard Sibbes 'Refreshment for the Soul.'
Josiah's Reformation, pp. 54-58 [43-46]
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