08 July 2011

What is Humility?

Groveling self-deprecation?

Smarmy self-loathing?

Incessant refusal to acknowledge anything one contributes, by God's mercy, to the world?

Edwards:
True Christian humility of heart tends to make persons resigned to the will of God, patient and submissive to his holy hand under afflictions, full of awful [i.e. awe-full] reverence towards the Deity, ready to treat divine things with great respect, and of a meek behavior towards men . . . respectful towards superiors, gentle, easy to be entreated, not self-willed, not envious, but contented with his own condition, of a peaceable and quiet spirit, not disposed bitterly to resent injuries, but apt to forgive.
--Jonathan Edwards, Charity and Its Fruits, Works, Yale ed., 8:304-5

1 comment:

Bob Smart said...

Thank you so much for sharing your finds from the best of theologians. I enjoy following your blog, and look forward to your future writings on Jonathan Edwards's spirituality.