Humble souls – Thomas Brooks

None on earth are so near to God, and so high in their communion with God as humble souls. And as they have the clearest visions of God, so God gives them the fullest sight and knowledge of their own sinfulness and nothingness.

“I have heard of you by the hearing of the ear but now my eye has seen you, I abhor myself in dust and ashes.” says Job.

In a vision the Lord reveals His glory to the prophet Isaiah, “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” Oh, the vision that I have had of the glory of God has given me such a clear and full sight of my own vileness and baseness, that I cannot but loathe and abhor myself.

When Abraham draws near to God, then he accounts himself but dust and ashes, Gen. 18:26-27.

Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” That is a man, a sinner a compound of dirt and sin! When Peter saw that glorious miracle wrought by the Lord Jesus, he cries out as one very sensible of his own weakness and sinfulness. Depart from me, for I am a sinful man.” Ah! I am not worthy to be near such majesty and glory who am a mere bundle of vice and vanity, of folly and iniquity!

The angels that are near God, that stand before Him, in humility they cover their faces with two wings, as with a double scarf, in Isaiah 6:2