HUMILITY. Humility is the virtue of Christ and Christians. It consists in having low thoughts of ourselves, founded upon the knowledge of our unworthiness, and dependance on God’s aid. Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, says 1 Pet. v. 5.our Saviour. God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble, says St. Peter.
Humilitas is often used for humiliation. Gen. xxix. 39. Vidit Dominus humilitatem meam. Deut. xxvi. 7. Respexit humilitatem nostram. Esth. xv. 2. Memorare dierum humilitatis tuæ. Psal. ix. 14. Vide humilitatem meam de inimicis meis, &c.
Erasmus had formerly a considerable dispute concerning the word Humilitas in the hymn Magnificat, Luc. i. 48. Quia respexit humilitatem ancillæ suæ, which in this place signifies, as he pretended, the humble and low estate only of the blessed Virgin; so that humilitas in this passage would be equivalent to humiliatio or vilitas. He was opposed by certain Monks, to whom he replied in his Colloquy intitled Medardus. It is plain, humilitas does not always signify the virtue of Humility, but oftentimes the poor, mean, dejected state of people, and the timorous, diffident and modest thoughts which this condition 2 Sam. viii. 1. Psal. lxxi. 4.inspires.
To humble signifies often to afflict, to bring into bondage, to beat, subdue. Humiliatus est Moab: the Moabites were humbled, their force was broken. Percussit David Philistæos & humiliavit eos: he conquered the Philistins, and subdued their power. Humiliabit calumniatorem: God shall humble the slanderer Psal. xvii. 27.or oppressor; he shall load him with confusion, he shall pull him down. Oculos superborum humiliabis; thou wilt humble, confound, or cover the proud with shame.
1 Pet. v. 6.To humble a Virgin, or a Woman taken in war, signifies to rob her of her honour. Jeremiah, Lament. v. 11. Mulieres in Sion humiliaverunt. Ezek. xxii. 10. Immunditiam menstruatæ humiliaverunt in te: They came near a woman at a certain time when the Law forbids it.
To be humbled under the hand of God, to acknowledge his wisdom and power. Hast thou not seen how Ahab is humbled? is contrite, touched with grief and repentance. Because thy heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the Lord; because thou hast been touched with sorrow and repentance at the sight of my people’s transgressions. The Jews being informed that Holofernes was come into their country, humbled their soul in fasting and prayer. St. Paul advises the faithful of Rome, not arrogantly to exalt themselves, but to accommodate themselves to those of low estate. Non alta sapientes, sed humilibus consentientes.