"He(the Lord) will beautify the meek with salvation." --- Psalm 149:4.
"And if ye suffer for righteousness sake, happy are ye." --- 1 Peter 3:14; Psalm 10:17; 22:26; 37:11; 48:10; Isaiah 54:11.
All this for the humble and poor in spirit. How does that agree --- poor and yet blessed? Oh yes, poor in ourselves, but blessed and glorious in Christ. If we never experience his glory, the reason is, we are not truly sensible of our misery; but when we are come quite low, let us confidently lay hold on Christ, and we shall be blessed; for all is ours.
We may say, O Lord, if thou art a glorious help to the needy, lo! here is want and misery enough: therefore I come, with all my want and poverty, to the fulness of thy grace and riches, with my darkness to thy light, with my death to thy life. Grant that all my evils may be swallowed up by thy goodness and glorious deliverance. Mine innumerable wants I set before thee, as so many empty vessels, and desire to have them filled with thy spiritual and heavenly blessings.
Oh might I hear thy heavenly tongue
But whisper, "Thou art mine!"
Those gentle words should raise my song
To notes almost divine.
How would my leaping heart rejoice,
And think my heaven secure;
I trust the All-creating voice,
And faith desires no more.