And then a Fifth way in the mystery of knowing how
to be full, is this. A godly heart by his fulness growes
to increase his humility, growes sensible of his unworthi∣ness
by his fulness. Now this is a way of mystery too,
It is a good thing for a man to have humility together
with his fulness, but to have humility by his fulness,
this is a very great mystery; it's a rare thing to see
humble prosperity; but to see a man humble by his pro∣sperity,
this is rare indeed. Affliction will humble men,
that's true, every one can understand that; but how
prosperity should humble men, that's very hard to un∣derstand.
I'll give you a clear Scripture for this, how
prosperity will humble a gracious heart; it's in the 2 Sam.
7. 18. The Lord there had told David of great things
that he would do for him, and spake to him of the ho∣nour
that he had put upon him, and that he would still
put upon him, and he would continue his House to be a
great House, and honourable, like the great men of the
earth. Mark, one would have thought that the heart of
David should have been raised up, when God told him
not onely the great things that he had done, but the great
things he would do. This would have pufft up a carnal
heart. But then mark, in the 18 verse, Then went King
David in, and sat before the Lord, and he said who am
I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that thou hast
brought me hitherto; and this was yet a small thing in thy
sight, O Lord God; but thou hast spoken also of thy servants
house for a great while to come; and is this the manner of
men, O Lord God; and what can David say more unto
tbee; for thou Lord God knowest thy servant for thy words
sake; and according to thine own heart hast thou done all
these great things, to make thy servants know them: where∣fore
thou art great O Lord God. He doth not bless him∣self,
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