HUTISILITY (Heb. 71.R, an-aw vaw', gentleness, affliction ; Gr. rareLvocbpoa6vn, taki-nof-ros-oo'nay, lowliness of mind; Prov. xv:33, et al.; Acts xx:19 in R. V. is "lowliness of mind").
Humility is the effect of divine grace operating on the soul, and always characterizes the true Christian. The heathen philosophers were so lit tle acquainted with this virtue that they had no name for it ; what they meant by the word we use was meanness and baseness of mind.
To consider this grace a little more particu larly, it may be observed : (r) That humility does not oblige a man to wrong the truth, or himself, by entertaining a meaner or worse opin ion of himself than he deserves. (2) Nor does it oblige a man, right or wrong, to give every body else the preference to himself. A wise man cannot believe himself inferior to the ignorant multitude ; nor the virtuous man that he is not so good as those whose lives are vicious. (3) Nor does it oblige a man to treat himself with contempt in his words or actions ; it looks more like affectation than humility when a man says such things in his own dispraise as others know, or he himself believes, to be false ; and it is plain, also, that this is often done merely as a bait to catch the praises of others.
Humility consists: (I) In not attributing to ourselves any excellence or good which we have not. (2) In not overrating anything we do. (3) In not taking an immoderate delight in ourselves. (4) In not assuming more of the praise of a quality or action than belongs to us. (5) In an inward sense of our many imperfections and sins. (6) In ascribing all we have and are to the grace of God.
TM(' humility will express itself: (t) By the modesty of our appearance. The humble man will consider his age, abilities, character, func tion, etc., and act accordingly. (2) By the mod esty of our pursuits. We shall not aim at any thing above our strength, but prefer a good to a great name. (3) By the modesty of our con versation and behavior. We shall not be loqua cious, obstinate, forward, envious, discontented or ambitious.
The advantages of humility are numerous:0) It is well pleasing to God ( Pet. iii :4). (2) It has great influence on us in the performance of all other duties, praying, hearing, conversing, etc. (3) It indicates that more grace shall be given (James iv :6 ; Ps. xxv :9). (4) It preserves the soul in great tranquillity and contentment (Ps. lxix :32, 33). (5) It makes us patient and resigned under afflictions (Job i:22). (6) It enables us to exercise moderation in everything.
To obtain this excellent spirit We should re member: ( The example of Christ (Phil. ii :6, 7, 8). (2) That heaven is a place of hum& ity (Rev. v:8). (3) That our sins are numerous. and deserve the greatest punishment (Lam. iii : 39). (4) That humility is the way to honor (Prov. xvi :18). (5) That the greatest promises of good are made to the humble (Is. lvii :15 ; IRVI: 2 ; I Pet. v :5 ; Ps. cxlvii :6 ; Matt. v :5).
Brown.
(htlin'tah), (Heb. n'47, khoom-taw', fortress), a city in the mountain district of Judah ( Josh. xv:54). It has not been identified with any modem place.