Pride # 6

Pride # 6

If denying ourselves, our own schemes, contrivances, and our own strength - we steadfastly look to Him for deliverance under trials, difficulties, and temptations - then we shall infallibly obtain effectual relief, and experience His grace alone to be sufficient for us. But if, on the contrary, we forsake the Lord, and confidently rely on ourselves - what wonder is it, if, falling like Peter, when in a similar frame of mind, we be woefully taught how weak we are.

"I am ready," said Peter, "to follow you, not only to prison, but to death! Though all should forsake you - yet I will not!" This was talking at a very high rate indeed; and it was a language very unsuitable in the mouth of one who had been told, a little time before, that without Christ he "could do nothing." He was really, it seems, and had everything necessary in himself, to endure trials, enter dungeons, and face death in its most terrible forms. Yes, he had more strength than all the rest. "Though all should forsake you - yet I will not!" Surely he had forgotten what and who he was!

Peter doubtless had, on many former occasions, stood up boldly in the face of Christ's enemies, preached the Gospel in His name with success wherever his Master had sent him. What - he fall, who had stood so long and done so much? He deny Christ - who had so often owned and confessed Him before man - before enemies! But he forgot the hand that supported him, and the grace that strengthened him, otherwise he would have said, as on a former occasion, "Lord, save me - or I perish." Pride blinded his eyes, so that he saw not the invisible hand which had hitherto kept him from falling. Secretly puffed up, he thought that there was no doubt of his courage. But in proportion to his dependence on himself, was his dreadful fall - for in this case, as he would seek none, so he could receive no help from above to keep him from falling.

Whoever, like Peter, thinks he stands - let him, above all others, take heed lest he fall.

The everlasting arms being in this case neglected, and he confiding in a bruised reed - a fall is the sure consequence. "Cursed be the man who trusts in man" - in himself or in any other creature - "and makes flesh his arm; and whose heart departs from the Lord."

The outcome of things will assuredly prove him to be cursed, and awfully convince him, that in departing from the Lord - he forsakes his own safety, exposes himself to every evil, and becomes a prey to every enemy. God is determined in everything, to bring man out of himself. As he is not to live to himself, neither is he to live upon himself; but to live to and upon God - that the comfort may be ours, and the glory entirely the Lord's!

VI. Are we not become as gods, when we take and keep to ourselves, the praise and glory due to God only?

Everything that is good, done in us or by us - every good thought, desire, word, or work - proceeds immediately from God; and to Him all the glory is due. But are our hearts freely disposed to render to God the  things that are God's? Or are we not secretly prone to value and commend ourselves, as if we had done something? "They sacrifice to their own net," says the Prophet, "and burn incense to their dragnet." Instead of seeing the hand of God in them - they ascribe their successes, victories, and prosperity to their own schemes and contrivances - to their own diligence and power.

But see the contrary spirit of sincere humility, conspicuously shining in the whole of Paul's conduct. Whatever is good was found in him, or done by him, he ascribes the glory and praise of all to God, "the giver of every good and perfect gift." He styles himself "less than the least of all saints," and "the chief of sinners" - no doubt feeling inwardly at the same time, what he expressed. Though his whole life was one continued exertion in the Lord's service - and though he labored more abundantly than all the rest of the Apostles - yet the genuine language of his heart at all times was, "By the grace of God, I am what I am" - "not I, but the grace of God which was with me." Here we see him where he ought to be, as a creature and as a sinner - he is nothing - and God is all in all, and must have all the glory.

To say of the Apostle's expressions is easy, but it is not so easy to feel what he felt, and to lie down in the same dust and ashes in which he lay. Often a great show of humility in speech and behavior, covers the rankest and most diabolical pride in the heart, but the veil is so thin, that its motions are easily seen by those who have their senses exercised to discern between good and evil. But how many deceive themselves in this matter, being unable or unwilling to distinguish between the shadow and the substance! Many think themselves most humble, when at the same time they are wholly devoid of the humble air and deportment of those who are guided and led to a behavior befitting humility,by the vigor of a lowly spirit within; but are filled, it may be, with the glory of their own humility, and exalted to Heaven with the high opinion of their self-abasement. Their humility is without one spark of gratitude to God, or any disposition to give Him the glory.

~Thomas Charles~

(continued with # 7)