Especially beautified

(William Plumer, "Vital Godliness: A Treatise

on Experimental and Practical Piety" 1864)


"Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility." 1 Peter 5:5


Humility is lowliness of mind — the opposite of pride and

arrogance. It belongs to the essence of experimental

religion. A humble spirit is the opposite of a lofty one.

True humility is an inward grace based on a view of our

own guilt, weakness, vileness, and ignorance — as

compared with the infinite excellence and glory of God.


Humility is one of the most lovely of all the traits of a

child of God. It is opposed to all ostentation. It hides

the other graces of the Christian from the gaze of

self-admiration. Its aim is not to be thought humble,

but to be humble. The godly man loves to lie low — and

cares not to have it known.

Humility will not disfigure, but adorn you. As Rebecca

was not the less lovely, but the more so, when she took

a veil and covered her beauty and all her jewels; so the

child of God is especially beautified when arrayed in

humbleness of mind.