Crosby, D. D.)Humility explained, and its necessity enforcedA. )Laughter turned to mourningJ. — "Pray without ceasing.". In calling them sinners he meaneth not them which are subject by natural infirmity to the committing of sin, as all men are so long as they rest and remain upon the face of the earth, but hereby he noteth their heinous and horrible iniquities.2. I went one day into his office. Thus did the people of Israel in outward profession, and with their mouths, draw near to God, which as a token of hypocrisy is condemned (Isaiah 24:13; Isaiah 58:2, 3). A. )Communion with GodAlex. 2. And what is that exaltation which God accomplishes for the soul? Had we nothing more to tell you than that you are sinners, it would only fill you with mortification, hopelessness, and anguish. )Communion with GodIf you saw two persons working together in the same shop. Thomson, D. D.Humility stands opposed to pride. (2) Men also draw near to God by faith in Jesus Christ, whereby they have entrance unto Him (Romans 5:1). The believer's humility implies a life of prayer. Touching the commandment, and the precept enjoined, is to draw near to God. 1 have often thought of that picture, and said to myself, that in some such way God's all-seeing eye follows me all my life through. (6) God finally draweth near unto us in a spiritual union with man, through the incarnation of Jesus Christ, whereby God is united unto us and we to Him, by which means God dwelleth among us, and is made manifest in the flesh, as St. John and St. Paul speak. James; Chapter 4; Verse 8; Sermons on James 4:8. I could get into no part of the room without the eye seeing me; and the last thing that I saw as I went out was that eye looking at me. If you saw one person using every art to please another, and to draw him into conversation, and the second person avoided his presence, and refused intercourse, what would you think? Prayer is speaking to God. The believer's humility is therefore, in the second place, a true humility. (3) Men draw near to God also by prayer, whereby we ascend, as it were, to heaven, and approach near to the presence of God. Surely not. G. With clean hands and a pure heart.III. Had we nothing more to tell you than that you are sinners, it would only fill you with mortification, hopelessness, and anguish. His comfort comes from no such proud and false source, but from resting his evil heart on the pardoning and cleansing love of his Redeemer. And can we have been often with the holy God, and not be holy? Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Hislop. The humility that is enjoined is connected with the privilege that is to follow it, in another way than that of either natural or acquired right. In drawing nigh unto God a sinner must have a sense not only of his own unrighteousness, but of his own helplessness.3. Humility, however, is so mortifying to the human mind, that before it can obtain a settlement there, every attempt is made to discover reasons for believing that it is neither necessary nor appropriate. But when the man is to be exalted by the Divine grace and the Divine Spirit, that is a true humility which foresees this exaltation, and acts in view of it. But when the man is to be exalted by the Divine grace and the Divine Spirit, that is a true humility which foresees this exaltation, and acts in view of it. 3. There are certain dispositions which must be the accompaniments of prayer.3. He is ready to offer Himself, and is pressed at hand to all such as come near unto Him, to make them to feel the comfort of His presence. That they loved each other? "(2)A state of security ensues. There may be an endless variety in the mode and in the measure of sinning with which different individuals are chargeable. THE MANNER.1. It must be counted reasonable to do what God has commanded, and most unreasonable to disregard His positive injunctions. An excellent way to moderate the excess of joy is to mix it with some weeping. (1)The mind derives from it pure and sacred pleasure. says an objector, "is that a true humility which is humble in order to be exalted?" And can we have been often with the holy God, and not be holy?(O. Trapp. Do not suppose that you have any refuge in the paucity of your misdeeds. A. "(1) Men draw near to God by outward profession, though it be not always in sincerity of heart. When we exhort you to be humble, we do not exhort you to think yourselves worse or meaner than you really are. In coming to Him, we come to our Redeemer.3. The exaltation, then, in this case must be an illusion. God will give us that in sorrow which the world cannot find in pleasure; serenity, and contentment of mind. Worship is coming into His presence, and waiting upon Him — is listening to His voice.Approaches to GodBp. "Men ought always to pray and not to faint." If you saw one person using every art to please another, and to draw him into conversation, and the second person avoided his presence, and refused intercourse, what would you think? That we are commanded to draw near unto God, doth it not insinuate unto us that naturally we are estranged and alienated from Him? II. Reynolds.The mother of Artaxerxes was wont to say, that they who would address themselves unto princes must use silken words: surely he that would approach unto God must consider, and look as well to his words as to his feet. There are certain dispositions which must be the accompaniments of prayer.3. The Lord's light shines on him, and that light reveals sin in the heart. A true humility sees the truth regarding itself, that the heart is deceitful and desperately wicked, and cries out for God. That is the measure of your sinfulness; and if your humility should be in proportion to your sinfulness, what limit can be set to it? It is a good exchange to put away carnal joy for godly sorrow; for then we put away a sin for a duty, brass for gold; yea, we have that in the duty which we expected in the sin, and in a more pure, full, and sweet way. You may want to light a candle as a symbol of the Spirit of God within you, or have some other item that reminds you of Gods love. By no means; but the reverse. And as pride consists in our entertaining higher ideas of ourselves than truth will warrant, and in our presuming upon these, both in feeling and in practice, as if they were just and correct, so humility consists in our entertaining accurate notions of what we really are in relation to some one above us, and in preserving that station which a regard to our real merits requires us to occupy, as to the sentiments we cherish and the conduct we maintain, with respect to those under whom we are placed. And in that love he finds a true holiness springing up in his soul.4. (7) Of none of all these the apostle here seemeth to speak properly, but of another drawing near, which is by purity and sincereness of life, whereof chiefly in this place he speaketh, which be commendeth unto us in these words, "Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purge your hearts, you double-minded," which I take not for a new precept, but with and others as the manner of performing that which is now enjoined.Let us then consider the place —1. G. G. Merrill.In one of our western cities is a physician who is very skilful in doctoring the human eye. The words bearing this signification, the matter followeth, that men in purity and sincerity of their lives draw near unto God, which consisteth in two things. G. Merrill.In one of our western cities is a physician who is very skilful in doctoring the human eye. Reynolds. (1)The mind derives from it pure and sacred pleasure. A. Jeary.1. The Wisdom from Above -- James 3:13-4:3; Draw Near to God -- James 4:4-12; If the Lord Wills -- James 4:13-17 3. It is its power in the soul, and not its actual and manifold exhibition in the outward conduct, by which you are debased. Trapp.Mourn savourly and soakingly, with a deep and downright sorrow, so as a man would do in the death of his dearest friend. Also, should you feel that you would like to talk to someone about what came up for you in prayer, we have on our web-page resources available for you to call. The way to abate one passion is to admit the contrary: in abundance there is danger; therefore in your jollity think of some mournful objects.(T. But when the man is to be exalted by the Divine grace and the Divine Spirit, that is a true humility which foresees this exaltation, and acts in view of it. Let us also rejoice in our text on which we desire to lay stress: `` in sight. 4:8 Context 5 do ye think that the humility is not a of. 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