True versus False Humility (1)

How may we know holy from hypocritical humility?
(1) Holy humility is voluntary. But, on the contrary, the humility of other men is against their will and by force it is extorted from them. God will break, crush, and deal harshly with them, which they grieve and murmur at. But the children of God have the Spirit of God, which is a free Spirit, that works upon their hearts, and hereby they willingly humble themselves, whereas the wicked, wanting the Spirit of God, cannot humble themselves willingly, but are cast down against their wills. God can pluck down the proudest.
(2) True humility is ever joined with reformation. As Micah 6:8 says, 'He has showed you, O man, what he does require of you, to humble yourself, and walk with your God.' Now the humiliation of wicked men is never joined with reformation for there is no walking with God in them.
(3) Sin must appear bitter to the soul or else we will never be truly humbled for it. There is in every renewed soul an inner hatred and loathing of evil, which manifests the soundness both of true humiliation and reformation. This shows itself in a serious purpose and resolution not to offend God in the least kind. Also, in a constant endeavour to avoid the occasions and allurements of sin. Job made a covenant with his eyes, that 'he would not look upon a maid' (Job 31:1). A true Christian will not hide his sins, but lay them open, before God. We will hate sin universally; not one sin, but every kind of sin, and that most of all which most rules in us, and which is most prevalent in our own hearts. He that truly hates sin will not think much to be admonished and reproved when he errs. On the contrary, can we say that men hate not sin, which, when they are reproved for it, labour to defend it or excuse it, counting their pride but comeliness, their miserable covetousness but thirst, and their drunkenness as only good fellowship?

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Richard Sibbes 'Refreshment for the Soul.'
Josiah's Reformation, pp. 67-71 [51-55]
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