Humility

A humble heart is a grace itself, and a vessel of grace. It does better the soul and make it holy, for the soul is never fitter for God than when it is humbled. It is a fundamental grace that gives strength to all other graces. So, much humility, much grace. Humility empties the heart for God to fill it. When the heart is made low, there is a spiritual emptiness, and what fills this up but the Spirit of God? In that measure we empty ourselves, in that measure we are filled with the fullness of God. God has but two heavens to dwell in, the heaven of heavens, and the heart of a humble man. The proud swelling heart, that is full of ambition, high conceits, and self-dependence, will not endure to have God enter; but he dwells largely and easily in the heart of a humble man. If we will dwell in heaven hereafter, let us humble ourselves now.
A humble soul is a secure and safe soul; for a man that is not high, but of a low stature, needs not to fear falling. A humble soul is also safe in regard of outward troubles; for when we have humbled ourselves, God ceases to afflict it. Will the ploughman plough when he has broken up the ground enough? (Isa. 28:28) Such a one may say to God, 'Lord, I have humbled and judged myself, therefore do not judge me; I am ready to do whatsoever you will.' But if we do not do this ourselves, God will take us in hand; for God will have but one God. Is it not better for us to humble ourselves than for God to give us up to the merciless rage and fury of men, for them to humble us, or to fall into the hands of God, who is a 'consuming fire? If we will judge ourselves, the apostle promises, we shall not be judged of the Lord (1 Cor. 11:31). Wherefore upon any occasion be humble, let us prepare ourselves to meet the Lord our God.

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Richard Sibbes 'Refreshment for the Soul.'
Josiah's Reformation, pp. 61-65 [48-51]
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