. The Only Suitable Dress for a
Saved Sinner by John Macduff Be Clothed with Humility, 1 Peter
5.5 True humility, said one, is a lovely ornament. It is the
only suitable dress for a saved sinner. Oh, let us seek then
to be clothed in this robe, that we may be brought to lie low
at the footstool of our Maker and Redeemer. In the saints of
old, this grace of humility appeared with marked prominence, and they
are patterns for our imitation. There was Abraham, the father
of the faithful and the friend of God. How great was his humility! How profound his self-abasement! I have ventured to speak to the
Lord, even though I am nothing but dust and ashes. He was filled
with a consciousness of his absolute nothingness in the presence of
the Great Eternal. There was David also, who speaks
of himself as a worm and not a man. Job cried out, Behold,
I am vile. In the apostle Paul, again, what
a striking exemplification have we of this grace of humility
If self-delight were ever allowable in any individual, it would be
in him, for such a laborious, self-denying, unselfish character
has doubtless not yet appeared, the man Christ Jesus alone and
always accepted. But what were his views and feelings
in reference to himself? On one occasion we hear him saying
that he was not worthy to be called an apostle. At another
time he says, I am less than the least of all God's people,
and when penning one of his last epistles, he designates himself
the very chief of sinners, he was brought to know himself,
a knowledge in which all wisdom centers. If we knew ourselves
as he did, pride and self-delight would find no room within us. But, above all, Let us consider
him who said, Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I
am gentle and humble in heart. The heaven of heavens could not
contain him, all the fullness of the eternal God had dwelt
in him. Devils trembled at his rebuke,
and flew from his presence to the abodes of misery. Yet, how
gentle, how humble he was! Reader, aspire after conformity
to Christ in his humility. Against the proud, God's displeasure
has been manifested in all ages. Think of Pharaoh, the language
of that proud monarch was, Who is the lord that I should obey
him? But the Divine Majesty could
not bear to be thus insulted, hence the puny worm with all
his legions were destroyed, they sank as lead in the mighty waters. Think of Nebuchadnezzar!—hear
his boasting exclamation—is not this great Babylon that I have
built by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?"
But God resisted him, and he was turned from the society of
men to eat grass with the beasts of the field. Think of Herod,
with what delight did he receive the applause of the people when
they cried, It is the voice of a God, and not the voice of man. But the angel of the Lord smote
him, and he was eaten with worms. While, however, God resists the
proud, He has promised to give grace unto the humble. The humble
are the objects of His special regard. For thus says the High
and Lofty One, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy, I dwell in
the high and holy place. That is one of the palaces of
the great King, where the throne of His glory is erected, where
the countless armies of Cherubim and Seraphim are stationed, and
where perfected saints reside. But He has another place of habitation
with Him also, who is humble and contrite in spirit. O Lord,
subdue the pride of my heart and help me to manifest by my
whole demeanor that humility of spirit which is in your sight
of great price.