Chap. XXVI - Of Humility

Summary

Humility is the basis of all Vertue and Felicity, in all Estates, and for ever to be exercised. As Pride does alienate the Soul from GOD, Humility unites it to him in Adoration and Amity. It maketh infinite Blessedness infinitely greater, is agreeable to the Truth of our Condition, and leads us through a dark and mysterious way to Glory.

MEEKNESS respecteth others faults; Humility and Penitence our own. But Humility is more large than Penitence, and is a distinct Affection of another nature. Penitence is an exercise of the Affection of Sorrow, and that only for Sin. Humility is an acknowledgment of all our Vileness; it respects our Original out of nothing as well as our Guilt, our Weakness and Unworthiness, our dependance upon anothers Will, our Debt and Obligation, the duty of Obedience and Allegiance which we owe, and all the naked Truth of our Condition. It confesseth our homage, and is sensible of our Smallness and Subjection. All that a man hath received it distinguisheth from what he is of himself: And its Fruits or Effects are suitable to its Nature. It is the Vertue by which we think basely of our selves, and behave our selves in a lowly and submissive manner. It makes us soft and pliant as Wax, susceptible of any form that shall be imposed on us by our Benefactour, and prone to Gratitude. It is accompanied with a high and mighty sence of Benefits received, and made Noble by the honour which it inclines us to return to GOD and Man for all the goodness which they shew unto us. It is of incomparable use in our Felicity, because it magnifies our esteem of all our happiness and glory.

IT is not through Ignorance, or want of good Will, that we speak nothing of Vices, the woful deformity of which being exposed to view, near the excellence of Vertue, would put a greater lustre on all their brightness: but the abundance of matter which Vertue it self doth afford, forbids us to waste our Time and Paper in the description of their Contraries. The glory of their nature being so full and perfect in it self, that it needeth not the aid of those additional Arts, which labour to set off the dignity of imperfect things by borrowed Commendations.