HUMILITY by Geo. Wright

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 24, 1859

HUMILITY.

By Geo. Wright

I have thought much and deeply on this crowning grace of the christian, of late. In my short experience in present truth, my times of rejoicing have been greatest when I felt the most humble, the most teachable. Then all the grateful emotions of my soul have been aroused with love to God and to my neighbor.

Dear brethren and sisters are we as a people praying to be clothed upon with humility? The Lord promises grace (only) to the humble; then let us humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God; for he has promised to exalt such in due time.

Says Montgomery.

"When Mary chose the better part, She meekly sat at Jesus' feet; And Lydia's gently-open'd heart Was made for God's own temple meet. Fairest and best adorned is she Whose clothing is humility."

Meekness and humility are frequently enjoined both in precept and example, by our blessed Lord and his apostles. Hear him in Matt. xxiii, 12. Whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. What a blessed promise. Turn to that most interesting epistle of Paul to the Romans [xii. 10.] Be afflicted one to another, with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another. Please read the remainder of the chapter.

"Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits" &c. And again Phil. ii, 2, 3 : Fulfill ye my joy, that ye be like minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory; but in lowliness of mind, let each esteem others better than themselves. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.

My heart pants after more of that mind that was in the meek and lowly Saviour, as the hart panteth after the water brook. He declared while on earth, the foxes had holes, the birds of the air had nests, but the Son of Man had not where to lay his head. When he was reviled he reviled not again. He humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. O what humility was this! God grant that you and I dear brother and sister may drink deep of this spirit of humility. Then we shall have as the fruit, love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance; against such there is no law, Gal. v, 22, 23. Praise the Lord O my soul and let all that is within me bless his holy name for what my eyes have seen and my ears have heard and my heart has felt of his love shed abroad therein. How true as the Psalmist says that the Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart, and saveth such as are of a contrite spirit. Psalm xxxiv. 18

While penning the above thoughts my own heart has been made to rejoice. I trust it may have the same effect on those who read. If this should meet the eye of any who are living without God or hope in the world, I would admonish them in the language of the apostle, Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God; cry mightily to him for mercy till you hear him say son, daughter, thy sins which were many are all forgiven you. Then if you endure unto the end you will have an abundant entrance administered unto you into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ Lapeer, Mich. Geo. Wright.