With all lowliness and meekness
. In the exercise of humility, which shows itself in believers,
in entertaining and expressing the meanest thoughts of
themselves, and the best of others; in not envying the gifts and
graces of others, but rejoicing at them, and at every increase of
them; in a willingness to receive instruction from the meanest
saints; in submission to the will of God in all adverse
dispensations of Providence; and in ascribing all they have, and
are, to the grace of God: and so to behave, is to walk agreeably
to their calling of God; and what the consideration of that may
engage them to, when they serve the low estate and condition out
of which they are called, in which they were before calling: and
that in effectual calling they have nothing but what they have
received; and that others are called with the same calling that
they are: and to walk humbly before God and man, is to walk
according to the will of God that calls; and it is walking as
Christ walked, who is meek, and lowly; and is agreeable to the
blessed Spirit, one of whose fruits is meekness; and is what is
very ornamental to the saints, and is well pleasing in the sight
of God.
With longsuffering;
bearing much and long with the infirmities of each other; without
being easily provoked to anger by any ill usage; and not
immediately meditating and seeking revenge for every affront
given, or injury done; and so to walk, is to walk worthy of the
grace of calling, or agreeable to it, to God that calls by his
grace, who is longsuffering both with wicked men, and with his
own people.
Forbearing one another in love;
overlooking the infirmities of one another, forgiving injuries
done, sympathizing with, and assisting each other in distressed
circumstances, the spring of all which should be love; by that
saints should be moved, influenced, and engaged to such a
conduct, and which should be so far attended to, as is consistent
with love; for so to forbear one another, as to suffer sin to be
on each other, without proper, gentle, and faithful rebukes for
it, is not to act in love.