I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two bands.
Ver. 10. I am not worthy of the least, &c.] In prayer, we must avile ourselves before God to the utmost; confessing our extreme both indigency and indignity of better. "I am dust and ashes," saith Abraham. "I am a worm, and no man," saith David. "I am more brutish than any man," saith Agur. "I am a man, a sinner" (ανηρ αμαρτωλος Luk 5:8), saith Peter. "I am not worthy to be called thy son," saith the prodigal. Pharisaeus non vulnera, sed munera ostendit. The proud Pharisee sets forth not his wants, but his worth: "God, I thank thee," &c. But if David were so humbled before Saul that he called himself "a flea," 1Sa 26:20 what should we do to God? Unworthy we should acknowledge ourselves of the least mercies we enjoy, with Jacob; and yet not rest satisfied with the greatest things in the world, for our portion, as Luther. Valde protestatas sum me nolle sic a Deo satiari: he deeply protested that God should not put him off with these poor things below. a
For with my staff I passed over this Jordan.] Paupertatem baculinam commemorat. Jacob, though now grown great, forgets not his former meanness, but cries out with that noble captain, ‘ Eξ οιων, εις οια : From how small, to how great an estate am I raised! b So did Agathocles, who, of a potter's son, became King of Sicily; yet, would ever be served in earthen vessels. And in the year of Christ 1011, one Willigis, bishop of Ments, being son to a wheelwright, caused wheels, and such like things, to be hanged on the walls, up and down his palace, with these words written over them, in capital letters; Willigis, Willigis, recole unde veneris. c Excellent was that counsel that Placilla, the Empress, gave her husband Theodosius: Remember, O husbaud, what lately you were, and what now you are: so shall you govern well the empire, and give God his due praise for so great an advancement. d
a Melch. Adam. in Vita. Luth.
b Iphicrates.
c Siffridus. Bucholc.
d Hist. Trip.