And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
Ver. 12. And whosoever shall exalt himself, &c.] Lo here a great miracle, saith Augustine, a God is on high, and yet the higher thou liftest up thyself, the farther thou art from him; the lower thou humblest thyself, the nearer he draweth to thee. Low things he looketh close upon, that he may raise them: proud things he knows afar off, that he may depress them. The proud Pharisee pressed as near God as he could: the poor publican, not daring to do so, stood aloof off; yet was God far from the Pharisee, near to the publican.
a Videte magnum miraculum: altus est Deus, &c.