Pride # 5

Pride # 5

But the attempt is utterly fruitless. These things are wholly distinct in themselves, and must be distinctly managed by the soul in its dealings with God. The confounding of them by pride will only dishonor the grace of God, disturb our peace, and weaken our strength for obedience - as well as keep us from that humble posture which at all times befits us as sinners. This principle of self-righteousness must be mortified, before we can walk humbly with God, and before we can be brought from everything without or within us - to rest simply for favor and acceptance with God, on Him in whom the Father is well-pleased.

Not only is the foundation laid in mere grace, but the top-stone will be brought forth with shouting, "Grace, grace!" The Lord alone must and shall be exalted; and we shall be brought to count all things but loss and dung for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ. Not only shall nothing be exalted for our justification before God besides Him; but nothing shall be exalted with Him; for "the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day.

To correct this self-righteous spirit, the Lord often plunges His own people into the ditch, and causes their own clothes to abhor them - when, it may be, they have washed themselves in snow-water, and thought their hands clean. He takes off the restraint from some one or another of their corruptions - allows the world and the devil, with their temptations to assail them, until feeling still more their sinfulness and misery, they abhor themselves and repent in dust and ashes, and are more frequent and earnest in their applications to His blood which cleanses from all sin, and are brought to exalt "the Lord alone" in their hearts, and to rejoice in "the Lord their righteousness."

V. Are we not become as gods to ourselves, when in our own strength we address ourselves to our work, face difficulties, and encounter temptations?

Is it not natural to us thus to act independently of the Almighty? Do we not, even the best of us, find ourselves every day, almost in everything - acting as if we had an all-sufficiency of might and power in ourselves, and as if our own arms were to bring us salvation? And in this case not the Lord well say, "Behold man has become as one of us?" We are in a manner become insensible, that "in Him we live, move, and have our being," but act as if we had everything in ourselves.

In Him alone, we can live comfortably and usefully. Whatever we do in life that is great and is profitable to ourselves or others, we have all our strength and abilities for it, in every view - from Him. If we resist the devil, overcome the world, subdue the flesh, or live to God - we live in every sense in Him. In Him also we move - all the motions of the soul and body,are from Him entirely every moment. Not one motion of any single part of the body can we for an instant command without His permission - without His aid. Nor can there be in our minds, in the least degree, any spiritual motions of our thoughts, or any holy workings of our affections towards God - but what proceed every moment, in every degree, from Him. In Him we live, move, and have our being - both temporally and spiritually.

But in what heart dwells the practical belief of this? Are we not living, in this sense also, without God in the world? Where are those who are practically sensible, that, without continued influences and aids from above - we have, the best of us, wisdom for no work, no strength for no duty, no success under no trial, and no victory over no enemy? Are we not found making weak attempts for duties, fruitless struggles against temptations, until almost overcome; before we are made truly sensible of our own weakness, and apply to the Lord for strength?

What wonder is it, if in this case we hear people complaining, that they cannot do this work, or overcome that temptation If they could, would they not set up the idol, man, and "sacrifice to their own net?" God is determined in every thing to bring man our of himself. So far therefore as we depend on ourselves - so far we are sure to be disappointed.

It is our pride and self-sufficiency, and not our weakness - which gives any inward or outward enemy the victory over us. In proportion as we are truly humble - God gives effectual grace to help us in every time of need.

~Thomas Charles~

(continued with # 6)