two brethren; but Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them: but it shall not be so amongst you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister, &c. even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister.Matt. xx. 24-28. xxiii. 11, 12. Luke xxii. 24, &c.

One is your Master, even Christ, and all ye are brethren, &c. Whosoever shall exalt himself, shall be abased: and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.-Matt. xxiii. 8. 12.

When Christ had said, One of you shall betray me, each disciple said, Is it I? Is it I? &c. Peter, notwithstanding his confidence, denied Christ three times, being left to himself. Matt. xxvi. 21, 22. 69, &c.-Luke xxii. 32-34. 55—61.

Peter. fell down at Jesus' knees, and said, Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.-Luke v. 8.

When the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the

This my joy therefore is fulfilled: he must increase, but I must decrease.-John iii. 29, 30.

Jesus washed the disciples' feet, &c. If I then your Lord and Master have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another's feet; for I have given you an example.-John xiii. 4, 5. 14, 15.

Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look you so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? &c. Through faith in his name, hath made this man strong.Acts iii. 12, 13. 16. iv. 9. 11.

Cornelius met Peter, fell down at his feet, and worshipped him; but Peter took him up, saying, Stand up, I myself also am a man.-Acts x. 25, 26.

Herod's pride, in not giving God the glory was his ruin, so that he was smote by the angel of God, and eaten of worms.- Acts xii. 21-23.

When the priest of Jupiter and the people would have done sacrifice to Paul and Barnabas, they said, We are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you, that you should turn from these vanities, &c.-Acts xiv. 13-15.

Apollos, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, yet submits to be taught the way of God more perfectly by Aquila and Priscilla, tent makers.-Acts xviii. 2. 24-26.

I have been with you at all seasons; serving the Lord with all humility of mind. Acts xx. 18, 19.

The apostle blames the Jews for boasting of the law, and of their knowledge and ability to instruct others, &c.-Rom. ii. 17-21.

For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing.Rom. vii. 18.

but if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. Thou wilt say, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in. Well, because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not high-minded, but fear, &c.-Rom. xi. 18-21. 25.

For I say, &c. to every man among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith, &c. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate (or be content with mean things); be not wise in your own conceits.Rom. xii. 3. 16.

God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, &c. that no flesh should glory in his presence.-1 Cor. i. 27-29.

If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool that he may be wise; for the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God, &c. therefore let no man glory in men.-1 Cor. iii. 18, 19. 21.

That ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up one against another; for who maketh thee to differ (or distinguisheth thee)? and what hast thou which thou didst not receive? Now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory as if thou hadst not received it? &c. The kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.-1 Cor. iv. 6, 7. 20.

If any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing as he ought to know.-1 Cor. viii. 2.

Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall.1 Cor. x. 12. Matt. xxvi. 33. 35. 70. 72. 74. John xiii. 37, 38.

To one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom, &c. but all these worketh that one and the self-same Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will, &c. The eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee. head to the feet,

I have no need of you, &c.-1 Cor. xii. 8-11. 20, 21.

Charity vaunteth not itself (or is not rash), is not puffed up.-1 Cor. xiii. 4.

I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, &c. But by the grace of God I am what I am, &c. not I, but the grace of God which was with me.-1 Cor. xv. 9, 10. 1 Tim. i. 12, 13. 15.

Not that we are sufficient of our

selves to think any thing, as of ourselves: but our sufficiency is of God. -2 Cor. iii. 5, 6.

We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. -2 Cor. iv. 7.

Some that commend themselves; but they measuring themselves by themselves, &c. are not wise; but we will not boast of things without our measure, &c. But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord: for not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth. 2 Cor. x. 12, 13. 17, 18.

And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, &c. though I am nothing.-2 Cor. xii. 7. 11.

God accepteth no man's person, &c. I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me.-Gal. ii. 6. 20. Eph. vi. 9.

After that ye have known God, or rather, are known of God.-Gal. iv. 9. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, &c.-Gal. v. 26.

For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.-Gal. vi. 3.

Unto me who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given.Eph. iii. 8.

Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.-Eph. v. 21.

Walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, &c. unto every one of ns is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.-Eph. iv. 1, 2. 7.

Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory, but in lowliness of mind; let each esteem other better than themselves: look not every man on his own things, &c. Let this mind be in you, which also was in Christ, &c. He humbled himself, &c. Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.-Phil. ii. 3-5. 8. 12.

Not as though I were already perfect, but I press forward, &c.-Phil. iii. 12-14.

I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where, and in all things, I am instructed, &c. Phil. iv. 12.

Charge them that are rich that they be not high-minded, &c.-1 Tim. vi. 17.

Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, &c. humbleness of mind, meekness, &c.-Col. iii. 12.

If any man teach otherwise, &c. he is proud, knowing nothing, doting, &c.-1 Tim. vi. 3, 4.

Let us therefore fear, lest a promise being left of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.-Heb. iv. 1.

The rich, in that he is made low; because, as the flower of the grass, he shall pass away.-James i. 10, 11. Isa. xl. 6-8. 1 Pet. i. 24.

Have not the faith of our Lord Jesus with respect of persons. For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel; and there come in also a poor man, in vile raiment; and ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here, in a good place (or well, or seemly); and say unto the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool; are you not then partial in yourselves? &c. Hath not God chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith? &c. Ye have despised the poor.-James ii. 1–6.

My brethren, be not many masters; knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. For in many

things we offend all, &c.-James ifi. 1, 2.

God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God, &c. humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.-James iv. 6,7.10.

All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, the flower falleth. -1 Pet. i. 24.

Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder: yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility; for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time. 1 Pet. v. 5, 6.

Thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked-Rev. iii. 17.

SECT. XII. The Excellence of Meekness and Patience: the Encouragements thereto.

SIMEON and Levi are brethren; instruments of cruelty (or their swords are weapons of violence): O my soul, come not thou into their secret, &c. for in their anger they slew a man: and in their self-will they digged down a wall. Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel.-Gen. xlix. 5-7. xxxiv. 25-27.

Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men on the face of the earth. Numb. xii. 3.

When Eli had charged Hannah with drunkenness, she meekly answered, No, my lord, &c.-1 Sam. i. 15-17.

With the froward thou wilt shew thyself unsavoury (or thou wilt wrestle).-2 Sam. xxii. 27.

The meek shall eat, and be satisfied.-Ps. xxii. 26.

The meek will he guide in judgment, and the meck will he teach his way.-Ps. xxv. 9.

Fret not thyself because of evil doers; neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. Fret not, &c. because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass, &c. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil, &c. But the meek shall inherit the earth. -Ps. xxxvii. 1. 7, 8. 11.

The earth feared, &c. when God arose to judgment to save all the meek of the earth.-Ps. lxxvi. 8, 9. cxlix.4. A froward heart shall depart from me.-Ps. ci. 4.

It went ill with Moses for their sakes, because they provoked his spirit, so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips.-Ps. cvi. 32, 33.

David had rashly and hastily resolved to have avenged himself upon Nabal, and his house: and he blessed God for Abigail's counsel, which hindered him.-1 Sam. xxv. 22, 32–34.

In your patience, possess ye your souls.-Luke xxi. 19.

Who will render to every man according to his deeds to them who by patient continuance in well doing, seek for glory, &c. eternal life. Rom. ii. 6, 7.

Tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope, &c.-Rom. v. 3-5.

If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine, &c. Be not overcome of evil. -Rom. xii. 18, 19. 21.

Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace.-Rom. xiv. 19.

Charity suffereth long, and is kind: charity envieth not, &c. is not easily provoked, &c.-1 Cor. xiii. 4, 5.

The works of the flesh, &c. are wrath, strife, &c. but the fruit of the Spirit is peace, long-suffering, gentleness, &c. meekness, temperance, &c.

Gal. v. 19, 20. 22, 23.

If any man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering, &c.-Gal. vi. 1.

Walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness; with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: neither give place to the devil. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, wit all malice. Eph. iv. 1, 2, 26, 27. 31.

Let your moderation be known unto all men: the Lord is at hand. Phil. iv. 5.