THE Greek is a Comparative made of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Minissimus , Estius . a Superlative . Lesse then the least of all Saints is a double diminitive , and signifies lesser then the least , if lesser might be . Here you have the greatest Qui parvus est in reputatione propria , magnus est in reputatione divina . Gregory . He that is little in his own account , is great in Gods esteeme . Apostle descending downe to the lowest step of humility . Great Paul is least of Saints , last of the Apostles , and greatest of sinners . The choycest Buildings have the lowest foundations ; the best Balsome sinkes to the bottome ; those eares of Corne , and boughes of Trees that are most fill'd , and best laden , bowe lowest : So doe those soules that are most loaden with the fruits of Paradise . Vnto me who am lesse then the least of all Saints .

In the Greek , or was this Grace given . The word that 's here rendred Grace , is taken in Scripture , not onely for the favour of God , but also for his Gratious gifts ; and so you are to understand it in this place : Grace is taken for the gifts of Grace , and they are two-fold : Common ; or Speciall . Some are Common to Believers and Hypocrites ; as knowledge , tongues , a gift of prayer , &c. Some are Speciall and peculiar to the Saints , as feare , love , faith , &c. Now Paul had all these , the better to fit him for that high and noble Service to which he was call'd . That I should Preach .

That is , declare good newes , or glad tidings . The Greek word answers to the Hebrew word which signifies good newes , glad tidings , and a Joyful Message . That I should Preach among the Gentiles .

Sometimes this Greek word is generally used for all men , or for all Nations . Sometimes the word is used more especially for the people of the Jewes . Sometimes 't is used for the Gentiles distinguished from the Jewes , so 't is used , Mat. 6. 32. For after all these things doe the Gentiles seeke ; and so 't is used here ; those that are without God in the world , that stand in Armes against God , that are ignorant of those riches of Grace that are in Christ : This Grace is given to me , that I should preach among the poore Heathens , the unsearchable riches of Christ .

That I might Preach among the Gentiles . What ? my selfe ? No , but The unsearchable riches of Christ .

The Greek word signifies , Not to be traced out . Here 's Rhetorick indeed ! here 's riches , unsearchable riches , unsearchable riches of Christ . Riches alwayes imply two things . First , Abundance . Secondly , Abundance of such things as be of worth . Now in the Lord Jesus Christ is the greatest riches , the best riches , the choycest riches ; in Christ are riches of Justification , Tit. 2. 14. in Christ are riches of Sanctification , Phil. 4. 12 , 13. in Christ are riches of Consolation , 2 Cor. 12. 9. and in Christ are riches of Glorification , 1 Pet. 1. But of these glorious unsearchable riches of Christ , we shall speak Omnebonum in summo bono . All good is in the chiefest good . hereafter .

I shall begin at this time with the first words : Vnto me who am lesse then the least of all Saints . There are these two Observations that naturally flow from these words . First , That the most holy men are alwayes the most Observat. 1. humble men ,

None so humble on Earth , as those that live highest in Heaven .

Or if you will , take the Observation thus ,

Or thus :

All Saints are not of an equall growth , or stature .

I shall begin with the first Observation , That the most holy men , are alwayes the most humble men ; Soules that are the most highly esteemed and valued by God , doe set the least and lowest esteem upon themselves . Vnto me who am lesse then the least of all Saints , &c.

In the handling of this Point I shall doe these three things .

And then the Use . Iob 1. 8. Job was a none-such in regard of those perfections and degrees of grace that he had attained to beyond a●ny other Saints on earth . Job was high in worth , and humble in heart . Job 42. 5 , 6. Humilitas animi , sublimitas Christiani . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A me , me salva Domine Aug. Deliver me O Lord from that evill man my selfe . 2 Cor. 12. 1. 7 vid. Bezim 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Wordless words , such , as words are too weak to utter . Isa. 6. 1. 5 , 6. compared . The clearest sight & vision of God does alwayes give a man the fullest sight of his own emptinesse , sinfulnesse , and nothingnesse . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a I am out off . Luke 5. 8. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , a man , a sinner , a very mixture & compound of dirt and sin .

For the first , That this is so , I shall give you most clear proofs , and open them to you .

See it in Job ; no man ever received a fairer , or a more valuable Certificate under the hand of God , or the broad Seale of Heaven , for his being a soule famous in grace and holinesse , then Job ; as you may see , Job 1. 8. And the Lord said unto Satan , hast thou considered my Servant Job , that there is none like him in the Earth , a perfect and an upright man , one that feareth God , and escheweth evill . And yet no man could speak more undervaluingly of himselfe , then Job did , Job 42. 5 , 6. I have heard of thee by the hearing of the eare , but now mine eye seeth thee , I abhor my selfe in dust and ashes . This expression , is the deepest act of abhorrency . Abhorrency strictly taken , is hatred wound up to the height . I abhor my selfe , the word that 's rendred Abhor , signifies to reject , to disdaine , to contemne , and to cast off . Ah sayes Job , I abhor my selfe , I reject my selfe , I disdaine my selfe , I cast off my selfe , I have a vile esteem of my selfe . So our blessed Apostle , who had been caught up into the third Heavens , and had such glorious Revelations as could not be uttered ; yet he accounted himselfe lesse then the least of all Saints . Not that any thing can be lesse then the least , the Apostles holy Rhetorick doth not crosse Aristotle's Philosophy ; but the Originall word being a double diminitive , his meaning is , that he was as little as could be ; therefore he put himselfe downe so little , as could not be lesse then the least .

Another proof you have , Isa. 6. 1 , 5 , 6. As Paul among the Apostles was the greatest ; so Esay among the Prophets was the clearest and choycest Gospel-Preacher , and holds out more of Christ , and of his Kingdome and glory , then all the other Prophets doe . Isa. 6. 1. he sees the glory of the Lord in a Vision , and this makes him cry out , vers. 5. Wee is me , for I am undone , because I am a man of uncleane lips , and I dwell in the midst of a people of uncleane lips , for mine eyes have seene the King , the Lord of Hosts . I am undone , the Hebrew is , I am cut off , I am a forlorne man , why ? For I have seen the King , the Lord of Hosts . Here you have the highest and choycest among the Prophets ( as you had Paul before among the Apostles ) abasing and laying low himselfe .

So Peter , Luke 5. 8. Depart from me , for I am a sinfull man , O Lord . When he saw that glorious Miracle wrought by the Lord Jesus , he cryes out as one very sensible of his owne weaknesse and sinfullnesse , Depart from me , for I am a sinfull man . Ah I am not worthy to be neer such Majesty and glory , who am a meer bundle of vice and vanity , of folly and iniquity .

Take another cleer instance , Gen. 18. And Abraham answered , Gen. 18. 27. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gnaphar vae pher , dust and ashes , i. e. base , vile , worthles . Solemnly think that thou art dust and ashes , and be p●oud if thou canst . Isa. 6. 1 , 2. Gen. 32. 10 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I am lesse then all meretes , to wit , in worth or weight , &c. and said , Behold I have taken upon me to speake unto the Lord , who am but dust and ashes . Here you have the Father of the Faithfull , the greatest Believer in the world , accounting himselfe dust and ashes . Dust notes the basenesse of his Originall , and Ashes notes his deserving to be burnt to ashes , if God should deale with him in justice , rather then in mercy . The nearer any soule drawes to God , the more humble will that soule lye before God . None so neere God as the Angels , nor none so humble before God , as the Angels .

So Jacob , Gen. 32. 10. I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies , and all the truth which thou hast shewed unto thy servant , &c. Jacob a man eminent in his prevailing with God , a Prince that had the honour and the happinesse to overcome the God of mercy , yet judges himselfe unworthy of the least mercy . Ah , how low is that soule in his owne eyes , that is most honourable in Gods eyes ?

David you know was a man after Gods owne heart , a man highly honoured , much beloved , and dearly prized by the 1 Kings 15. 5. Lord , yet 1 Sam. 26. 20. He counts himselfe a Flea , and what 1 Sam. 26. 20. Psal. 22. 6. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tolagnath . An humble soule is a little , little , nothing in his owne eyes . is more contemptible then a Flea ? In Psal. 22. 6. I am a worme ( saith he ) and no man . The word that 's there rendred Worme , is a word that signifies a very little Worm which breedeth in Scarlet , a Worme that 's so little that a man can hardly see or perceive it . A Worme is the most despicable Creature in the world , trampled under foot by every one . Sayes he , I am a despicable worme in my owne eyes , and in my enemies eyes .

And thus you see the point proved , that the most holy men have been alwayes the most humble men .

The second thing that I am to doe , is , To shew you the Properties of humble soules . I confesse , when I look abroad in the world , and observe the carriage of all sorts of men , my heart is stirr'd to speak as fully and as home to this point , as Christ shall help me . 'T is very , very sad to consider , how few humble soules there be in these dayes : Ah , the damnable pride that reignes and rules in the hearts & lives of most men ; God loves to heare this as a parcell of his praise , Pa●cere subjectis & debellare superbos , to spare the lowly and strike downe the proud . Isa. 23. 9. I think 't is far greater then hath been knowne in the Generations before us . Ah England ! England ! what folly , what damnable wickednesse is this , that thou shouldest be a lifting thy selfe up in pride , when God is a staining the pride of all glory , and bringing into contempt the honourable of the Earth , and a setting his feet upon the neck of pride .

Now the first property that I shall lay downe of an humble soule , is this , An humble soule under the highest spirituall discoveries , and under the greatest outward mercies , forgets not his former sinfullnesse , and his former outward meannesse . Paul 1 Property . 2 Cor. 12 1 , 2 , 3 , 4. 1 Tim. 1. 13. Chrysostome observes it of Paul , as his greatest honour , that although he had obtained pardon of God for his sins , yet he is not ashamed to reckon them up to the world . Rom. 7. 23. The Spouse of Christ , under all the kisses and embraces of Christ , acknowledges her selfe to be black . Cant. 1. 2. 5. compared . Gen 32. 10. Omnia mea me cum porto . All my Goods I carry with me . had been taken up into the third Heavens , and had glorious revelations and manifestations of God , he cryes out , I was a Blasphemer , a Persecuter , and Injurious . Under the choycest discoveries , he remembers his former blasphemies . So Rom. 7. 23. I see a Law in my members warring against the Law of my mind , and bringing me into captivity to the Law of sin , which is in my members . He had been at this time about fourteene yeares converted , as some judge . He was a man that lived at as high a rate in God , as any we read of , a man that was filled with glorious discoveries and revelations , and yet under all discoveries and revelations , he remembers that body of sin and death , that made him cry out , O wretched man that I am , who shall deliver me ? Who shall ease me of my burden ? who shall knock off these Chaines that make my life a hell ? I will by a few instances prove the other branch , Gen. 32. 10. I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies ( saith Jacob ) for with my staffe I passed over this Jordan , and now I am become two bands . I remember , saith he , when I went over Jordan , I was as a footman that carried all his wealth with him . Under his outward greatnesse he forgets not his former meannesse . An humble soule is good at looking back upon his former low estate , upon his thred-bare Coat that was his best and onely Robe .