“I shall now come to some helps and directions that may be useful to keep us humble and low in our own eyes. And the first is this:
[1.] Dwell much upon the greatness of God’s mercy and goodness to you.
Nothing humbles and breaks the heart of a sinner like mercy and love.
Souls that converse much with sin and wrath may be much terrified; but souls that converse much with grace and mercy will be much humbled. Luke 7, the Lord Jesus shews mercy to that notorious sinner, and then she falls down at his feet, and loves much and weeps much.
In the 1 Chron. 17, it was in the heart of David to build God a house. God would not have him to do it, yet the messenger must tell David that God would build him a house, and establish his Son upon the throne for ever.
Look into the verses (1 Chron. 17:15-17), and there you shall find that David lets fall such an humble speech, which he never did before that God had sent him that message of advancement.
‘And David the king came, and sat before the Lord, and said, Who am I, O Lord God? and what is mine house, that thou hast brought me hitherto? And yet this was a small thing in thine eyes, O God; for thou hast also spoken of thy servant’s house for a great while to come,’ (2 Sam. 7:18-19).
And this sweetly and kindly melts him, and humbles him, before the Lord.
Oh, if ever you would have your souls kept low, dwell upon the free grace and love of God to you in Christ.
Dwell upon the firstness of His love, dwell upon the freeness of His love, the greatness of His love, the fulness of His love, the unchangeableness of His love, the everlastingness of His love, and the activity of His love.
If this does not humble thee, there is nothing on earth will do it.
Dwell upon what God hath undertaken for you.
Dwell upon the choice and worthy gifts that He has bestowed on you.
And dwell upon that glory and happiness that He has prepared for you, and then be proud if you can.”
–Thomas Brooks, “Precious Remedies,” in The Works of Thomas Brooks, Volume 1 (Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 1666/2001), 1: 36-37.