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, Psalm XXX. 5. If we have that, nothing can make us miserable, Rom. viii. 31, " If God be for *' us, who can be against us r" 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 gloiy : " blessed be 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. Ixvi. 2. He will have respect to tliem, however they be despised: " Tho' the I.ord be high, yet hath he respect to ** the lowly ; but the proud ]\t knoweth afar off," Psul. cxxxviii. 0. He will dwell with them, however poorly they dwell, Isa. Ivii. 15. He will certainly exalt them in due time, however low they lie now, Isa. xl. 4,
Whom is he against r 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 Gi^d, and would have those about him make him theirs too ; he rjiges, 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 commu- aion 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. Ivii. 15. 1 Tim. iii. 6. God requires us to be humble, especially under affliction, "and be clothed with humility," 1 Pet.
96 The CrQQk in the Lot,
T. 5, 6. That is our becoming garment. The hum- ble Publican was accepted, the proud Pharisee re- jected. 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 ay better than sin at any rate.
2dhjy They whose spirits are brought down to their afflicted lot, have much quiet and repose of . raind, 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,
1. Quiet of mind, and ease within, is a great blessing, upon which the comfort of life depends. Nothing without this can make one's lift", happy, Dan. V. 6^- And where this is maintainec^i nothing can make it miserable, John xvi. 53. T'iiis being secured in God, there is a defiance bid to all the troubles of the v/orld. Psalm xlvi. 2, 3, 4. Like the child sailing in the midst of the roiling y vaves.
2. The spirit brought down to the lot r nakes and maintains this inward tranquility. O ur whole troj^Jple in our lot in the world riseth fro: m the dis- agreement of our mind therewith ; let t'l * raind be brought to the lot and the wholfe tumult is instant- ly husht ; let it be kept in that dispositio •i,and the man shall stand at ease in his affliction, li ke a rock unmoved v/ith waters beating on it, Col . iii. 15. *' And 1ft the peace of God rule in your I learts, to *^ the which also ye are called."
On the other hand consider,
1. What disquiet of mind the proud clo su fFet ere they can get their lot brought up to the ir m ind. ''They hkve taught tiisir tongues to speak Xits^ anc^
The Crook in the Lot. 97
-' 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 thro' their heart ? what torture of anx- iety, fretting, and vexation must they endure^ what contrary passions do fight within them ? and xvhat sallies of passions do they make ? what un- easiness was Haman in, before he could carr\' the point of the revenge against Mordecai obtaining the. king's decree?
2. When the thing is got to their mind, it will not quit the cost. The enjoyment thereof brings not so much satisfaction and pleasure, as the want of it gave pain. This was evident in Rachel's case as to the having of children ; and in that case, Psal. Ixxviii. 30, 31. There is a dead fly in the oint- ment that mars the savour they expected to find in it. Fruit pluckt oif the tree of providence, ere it is ripe, will readily set the teeth on edge. It proves; like the manna kept over night, Exod. xvi. 20.
3. They have but an unsure grip of it ; it doth not last with them. Either it is taken from them soon, and they are just where they were again : "I " gave thee a king in my anger, and took him away "in my wrath." PIos. xiii. 11. Having a root of pride, it quickly whithers away ; or else they arc taken from it, that they have no access to enjoy it. So Haman obtained the decree ; but ere the day of the execution came he was gone.
3^/z/, They that get their spirit brought do^v^^ to their afflicted lot, do gain a point far more valua- ble than they who in their pride force up their lot to their mind, Prov. xvi. 32. " He that is slow to *' anger, is better than the mighty' ; and he that ru-
'm-
TheCrvok iritfielct.
'Meth his spirit, than he that taketh a city. TffliF will appear, if ye consider,
1 . The latter makes but a better condition in out- ward things, the former makesa better man. The life is more than meat. — The man himself is more valuable than all external conveniencies that attend him. What therefore betters the man is preferable to what betters only his condition. Who doubts, t)ut where two are sick, and the one gets himself transported from a coarse bed to a fine one, but the sickness still remaining ; the other lies still in th« coarse bed, but the sickness is removed, that th« case of the latter is preferable ? So here, &c.
2. The subduing of our own passions is more ex- cellent than to have the whole world subdued to our will: for then we are masters of ourselves, ac-* cording to that, Luke xxi. 19. Whereas, in the other case, we are still slaves to the worst of mas- ters, Rom. vi. 16. In the one case we are safe, blow what storm will ; in the other we lie expo- sed to thousands of dangers, Prov. xxv. 28. **He ^'thathath no rule over his own spirit, is like a city *' that is broken down, and without walls."
3. When both shall come to be judged, h will appear the one has multiplied the tale of their good works, in bring their spirit to their lot ; the other, the tale of their ill works m bringing their lot to their spirit. We have to do with an omniscient God, in whose eyes every internal action is a work, good or bad, to be reckoned for, Ronu ii. IG.
An afflicted lot is painful, but where it is well managed, it is very fruitful ; it exercises the gi-aces of the Spirit in a Christian, which otherwise would lie dormant. But there is never an act of resigna- tion to the will of God under the cross, nor an net
The Qrook in the Lot, 99
of trusting in him for his help, but they will be re- corded in heaven's register as good works, Mai. iii^ is. And these are occasioned by affliction.
On the other hand, there is never a rising of th.e proud heart against the lot, nor a faithless attempt to bring it to our mind, whether it succeed or not, but it passes for an ill work before God. How then will the tale of such be multiplied by the war in which the spoil is divided !
Use 1. Oiinformation, Hence w*e may learn,
1. It is not always best for folk to get their will. Many there are who cannot be pleased with God's will about them, and they get their own will with a vengeance, Psal. Ixxxi. 11, 12. ^'^ Israel would " none of me, so I gave them up to their o\ra heart's *'lust; and they walked in their own counsels." It may be pleasantest and gratefullest for the time, but it is not fhe safest. Let not people pride themselves in their carrying things that way th«n by strong hand ; let them not triumph on such vic- tory ; the after-reckoning will open their eyes.
2. The afflicted crossed party, w^hose lot is kept low, is so far from being a loser, that he is a gainer thereby, if his spirit is brought down to it. And if he will see his case in the light of God's unerring word, he is in better case than if he had got all carried to his mind. In the one way the vessels of wrath are fitted for destruction, Psalm. Ixxviii. 29, 30, 31. In the other, the vessels of mercy are fit- ted for glor)^, and so God disciplines his own, Lam. iii. 27.
3. It is better to yield to Providence than to fight it out, though we should win. Yielding to the sovereign disposal is both our becoming duty and our greatest interest. Taking that way we act most honourable ; for what honour can there be in
lew The Crook in the Lot.
a creature's disputing his ground with his Creator r and we act most wisely ; for whatever may be th§ success of some battles in that case, we may be sure victory will be on Heaven's side in the war, I Sam. ii. 9.. **For^^by strength shall no maft pre- '•■vail." V
Lastly^ It is of far £Teater concern for us to get our spirits brought down than our outward condi- tion raised. But who believes this t All men strive to raise their outward condition ; most men never mind the bringing down of their spirits, and few there are who apply themselves to it. And what is that but to be concerned to minister drink to the thirsty sick, but never to mind to seek a cure for them, whereby their thirst may be cai-ried off.
Use 2. Of epch^rtation. As you meet with crOS' ses in your lot In the world, let your bent be rath- er to have your spirit humbled and brought down, than to get the cross moved. I nclfean not but that ye may use all lawful means for the removal of your cross, in dependence on God : but only that you be more concerned to get your spirit to bow and ply^ than to get the crook in your lot evened.
Motive 1. It is far more needful for us to have our spirits humbled under the cross, than to have the cross removed. The re^noval of the cross is needful only for the ease of the flesh, the humbling for the profit of our souls, to purify them and bring them into a state of health and cure.
2. The humbling of the spirit will have a migh- ty good effect on a crossed lot, but the removal of the cross will have none on the unhumbled spirit. The humbling will lighten the cross mightily for the time. Matt. xi. 30, and in due time carry it cleanly off, 1 Pet. v. 6. But the removal of the cross is not a means to humbl* the unhumbled ;
The Crook in the Lot, lOi
though it may prevent irritation, yet the disease still remains.
3. Think with yourselves how dangerous and hopeless a case it is to have the cross removed ere the spirit is humbled ,- that is to have the means of cure pulled away, and blocked up from us, while the power of the disease is yet unbroken ; to be ta- ken off trials ere we have given any good proof of ourselves, and so to be given over of our physician as hopeless, Isa. i. 5. Hos. iv. 17.
Use 3. For direction ; believing the gospel, take God for your God in Christ towards your eternal salvation, and then dwell much on the thoughts of God's greatness and holiness, and of your own sin- fulness ; so will ye be humbled under the mighty hand of God; and, in due time, he will lift ijou up.
1 Peter v. 6.
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of Gody that he may exalt you in due time*
IN the preceding part of this chapter, the apostle presseth the duties of churth-officers towards the people ; and then the duty of the people both towards their officers and among themselves, which he winds up in one word, sub?mssion. For which causes he recommends humility as the great means to bring all to their respective duties. This is en- forced with an argument taken from the different treatment the Lord gives to the proud and the humble j his opposing himself to the one and shew- I 2
lot The Crook in the Lot.
ing favour to the other. Our text is an exhorta* tion drawn from that consideration ; And in it wc have,
1*/. The duty we are therefore to study : hum- ble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of Gody that he may exalt you in due time. And there- in we may notice,
1. The state of those whom it is proposed to, those uTuler the mighty handofGod^ whom his hand has humbled, or stated some way low in respect oi their circumstances in the world. And by these are, I think, meant, not only such as are under particular signal afflictions^ which is the lot of some, but also those, who, by the providence ot God, are any manner of way lowered, which is the lot of all. All being in a state of submission or dependence on others. God has made this life a state of trial; and for that cause he has, by his mighty hand, subjected men one to another, as wives, children, sen'ants, husbands, parents, masters; and these again to their superiors; a- mong whom, again, even the highest depends on those under them, as magistrates, ministers on the people, even the supreme magistrate being major siugulis^ viinor wiivenis. This state of the world God has made for taking, trial of men in their sev- eral stations and dependence on others ; and there- fore, when the time of trial is over, it also comes to an end. "Then cometh the end — when we shall •'have put down all rule, and authority, and pow- lasts, it makes humility necessary to all, to prompt them to the duty they owe their superiors, to whom God's mighty hand has subjected them.
2. The duty itself, viz. Humiliation of our spirits under the humbling circumstances the Lord has
The Crook in the Lot. 103
placed us in. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of 6od^ that he may exalt you in due time. Whether it is ire are under particular afflictions, which have cast us down from the height we were sometimes in, or whether we are only inferiors in one or more relations, or whether, which is most common, both these are in our case, we must therein eye the mighty hand of God, as that which placed us there, and is over us there to hold us down in it : and so, with an awful regard thereto, crouch down under it, in the temper and disposition of our spirits, suiting our spirits to our lot, and careful of performing the duty of our low sphere.
3. A particular spring of this duty ; therefore we must consider, that those who cannot quietly keep the place assigned them of God in their af- flicti(^ns or relations, but still press up\rard against the mighty hand that is over them, that mighty hand resists them, throwing them down, and often farther down than before ; whereas it treats them "with grace and favour that compose themselves under it, to a quiet discharge of their duty in their situation; so that eyeing this we must set our- selves to humble ourselves.
2d^/y, The infallible issue of that course ; that he ?}iay exalt you in due time. The particle that^ is not always to be understood inally, as denoting the end or design the agent proposes to himself, hut sometimes eventually only, as denoting the e- Tent or issue of the action, John ix. 2. 1 John ii. 19. So here, the m.Q2ii\m^\snot^ Humble yourselves^ on design he may exalt you ; but, and it shall issue in his exalting you. Compare James iv. 10.
(1.) Here is a happy event of humiliation of spi- rit secured, and that is exalt^on or lifting up on
104 The Crook in the Lot,
high, by the power of God, that he may exalt you* Exalting will as surely fwUow on humiliation of spirit, suitable to the low lot, as the momipg fol- lows the night, or the sui! riseth after the dawning. And these words are fitted to obviate the objection that the world and our corrupt hearts are apt to make against bringing down the spirit to the low lot.
Object. 1. If rue let our spirit fall^ toe will lie a/- ivays among folks feet^ and they will trample on us.
Ans. No ; pride of spirit unsubdued, will bring men to lie among the feet of others for ever, Isa. Ixvi. 24. But humiliation of spirit will bring them undoubtedly out from among their feet, Mai. iv. 52, 3. They that humble themselves now will be exalted for ever ; they will be brought out of their low situation and circumstances. Cast ye your- selves even down with your low lot, and assure yourselves ye shall not lie there.
Object. 2. Jfwe do not raise ourselves, none will raise us ; and therefore we must see to ourselves, to do ourselves right.
Ans. That is wrong. Humble ye yourselves in respect of your spirits, and God will raise you^ip in respect of your lot, or low condition ; and they that have God engaged for rg^sing them, have no reason to say they have none to do it for them. Bringing do-wn of the spirit is our duty, raising us up is God's work ; let us not forfeit the privi- lege of God's raising us up, by arrogating that work to ourselves, taking it out of his hajid.
Object. 3. But sure we will never rise high, if XV 2 let our spirits fall.
Ans. That is wrong too : God will not only raise humble ones, but he will lift them up o?i high ; for
The Crook in the LoU tOS
so the word signifies. They shall be as high at length as ever they were low, were they ever so low; nay, the exaltation will bear proportion to the- humiliation.
(2.) Here is the date of that happy event, when it will fall out. In due time^ or in the season, the proper season for it, Gal. vi. 9. " In due season " we shall reap, if we faint not." We arc apt to weaiy in humbling trying circumstances, and ay we would have up our head, John vii. 6. But Solomon observes, there is a time for every thing when it does best, and the wise will wait it, EccU iii. 1 — 8. There is a time too for exalting them that humble themselves ; God has set it, and it is the du J time for the purpose, the time when it does best, even as sowing in the spring, and reap- ing in the harvest. When that time comes, your exalting shall no longer be put off, and it would come too soon should it come before that time.
DocT. I. The bent of one's hearty in humbiin^ circumstances, shoidd lie towards a suitable humbling- of spirit, as under God''s mightij hand placing us in them. We have here,