---

"Sit down in the lowest room." But first, let me guard my meaning. To say, "I am not a child of God, He does not love me," this is not to "sit down in the lowest room." This lowers God's grace, but it does not lower you; rather, it puts you up. Neither is it to "go down, and sit in the lowest room " to reason upon any duty; it is above that — "Who am I that I should do such a work as this?" Do you not know that you are one thing, and the grace of God that is in you is another thing? Nor yet is it to "take the lowest room " to be ignorant of, or to deny the possession of talents which God has given you. Still less is it intended that these words should extend to heaven, and that we should be content with the "lowest place" in the "many mansions." I can never for a moment hold with those who say, "Let me get only within the gate of heaven, and I shall be satisfied." Avoiding, then, these misinterpretations, let us now consider what is the real meaning of the words. First, towards God. What is "the lowest room" towards God? Now I conceive it to be, to be content simply to take God at His word, without asking any questions, or raising any doubts, but to accept, at His hand, all that God graciously vouchsafes to give you, the pardon, and the peace; to be a receptacle of love, a vessel into which, of His free mercy, He has poured, and is pouring now, and will go on to pour for ever, the abundance of His grace. Next, it is to be just what God makes you, to rest where He places you, to do what He tells you, only because He is everything, and you are nothing, conscious of a weakness which can only stand by leaning, and an ignorance which needs constant teaching. But now, how to man? This is the point which I wish to view this morning as practically as I can. But unless the relationship is right with God, it is quite useless to expect it will be right with man. Then make the well-balanced sense of what you are, and what God is, the inner sense of weakness and strength which makes true humility, a subject of express, special prayer; that when you pass into company, you may be able to know, by a quick perception, what your own proper part is — to speak, or to be silent; to take a lead, or to go into the shade. But whichever it be, bare prepared yourself to put self out of sight; do not make yourself the hero of what you say, specially when you speak of personal religion. I)o not expect, or lay yourself out for notice, but seeks others' preferment. Anything approaching to argument would be an occasion which would especially call for this self-discipline of "taking the lowest room." Be on your guard, then, that self does not go up. Have a strong jealousy for the right, and fight for it; but do not confound your victory and the vindication of truth. If there be anything particular to be said, or any work to be done, and you see another willing to do it, and who can do it better than you, stand by, and let that other speak or act. But if there be not such a one, it will be as true humility to go boldly forward, and do it yourself. Only copy your great Pattern, and retire out of sight the moment it is said or done. If there be one among those you meet who is less thought of than the rest, show to that one the more kindness and attention. Do not put yourself up into the chair of judgment upon any man; but rather see yourself as you are — everybody is inferior in something, far worse than that man in some things. If you wish to do good to any one, remember that the way is not to treat him as if you were above him, but to go down to his level, below his level, and to speak to him respectfully. Sympathy is power; but there is no sympathy where there is self. If, brethren, you have failed in any relation towards God or man, the reason is mostly that you have not yet gone "low" enough. If you have not peace — if you have few or no answers to prayer — here, probably, is the chief cause. Therefore just try the remedy, "Go and sit down in the lower room." If you are troubled with suggestions of infidelity, the main reason is this, intellect has gone up too high. You are sitting as judge upon the Bible, when you ought rather to be the culprit at its bar. Be more a little child, handling the immensities of the mind of the Eternal. " Go and sit down in the lower room." And if you have not succeeded in your mission of life, this is the root; if you will go and be less, you will do much more.

(J. Vaughan, M. A.)

---

---

KJV: And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them,

WEB: He spoke a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the best seats, and said to them,