Whosoever shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:4. For every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. Luke 18:14.
If we had learned all things, yet we could never be said to have learned humility enough. For though we have once been thoroughly convinced, that we deserve to be damned, nay the chief of sinners, yet are we still in danger of being puffed up. An humble mind does not know itself; he that believeth himself to be humble enough, is very far from really being so.
Oh my dear Saviour! give me thy humble mind, to be willingly little and humble, so as never to delight in honour, since it does not belong to me.
Show me, Father, what I am,
Show me what in Christ thou art;
All my glory, all my shame:
Give me, Lord, an humble heart.
Listen to my ceaseless cries,
Mean and little may I be,
Base and vile in my own eyes,
Grieved at my own misery.
Show, and then my sickness cure;
Make me know as I am known,
Wound my spirit, make me poor,
Break, O break this heart of stone.