Pride # 7

Pride # 7

The deceitfulness of the heart, and the subtlety of satan, in no one thing appears so great, as in the workings of pride. Nor have we in anything, more cause for continual watchfulness, than pride. Nothing is so subtle, so secret, so insinuating - as pride! it often surprises us at an unexpected hour - and is in actual possession of us, before we are aware of its approach. It will feed on the ashes of other sins, and gain strength by the exercise of real grace and of true humility. And though nothing so effectually tends to mortify pride and bring us to our proper place, as creatures and as sinners, as a great degree of the Divine presence, and much communion with God - yet great temptations to pride do also hence arise.

Though the experience of such favors effectually mortifies pride in one way - yet it affords an occasion to it in another. We are in danger of worshiping ourselves as saints - when we have denied ourselves as sinners - so apt are we to forget ourselves, and overlook our unworthiness, through the enjoyment of distinguishing blessings!

The circumstances and situation of the angels who fell, most directly tended to suppress pride in every shape - yet though they had no principle of pride in them, their high honors and privileges wholly overset and eternally ruined them by this temptation.

The Apostle Paul also, though, as we have seen, so eminent for humility, was not without great danger from this spiritual enemy. After his admission into the third Heaven, where doubtless he had such glorious discoveries of the Divine majesty, as tended most effectually to make and keep him humble - yet even then he needed a "thorn in the flesh, lest through the abundance of revelations he should be exalted above measure."

Reflecting upon, and talking about, former experiences, without the grace of those experiences in exercise - is what pride would be continually engaged in, and is often the beginning of our ruin, and the first step towards our downfall. In this case God himself is out of sight; and the efforts of His presence and power are only contemplated - and thus we are effectually turned from the Creator to the creature, and are as great idolaters, as if we worshiped stocks and stones!

It is no greater idolatry to worship the devil, than it is to worship an angel; nay, to be a gods to ourselves, when renewed by grace, is more abominable and detestably odious in the sight of God, than it was in our natural state of blindness and alienation from Him; because our motives to humility must be clearer, more powerful and more numerous, and because we are returning to the place from whence we were taken - in opposition to all the light, knowledge, undeserved goodness and mercy, which have been bestowed upon us.

To talk much about ourselves, of our own experiences and discoveries, though under pretense of giving glory to God - is a sure proof that we are as gods to ourselves, and that we would have others filled with admiration of the distinguishing favors we enjoy, and have them know what eminent saints we are. This was the very spirit of the Pharisee in the parable. In words he gave glory to God, for making him to differ, "God, I thank you, that I am not as other men." He was not as other men - he was distinguished with divine favors, and was far more eminent in holiness and piety than all others. It is true, he acknowledges that God made him to differ; but then his mind dwells on the difference itself, until he is swollen bigger than all mankind put together! To ascribe all in words to the grace of God in Christ - in no degree prevents our thinking highly of our attainments and holiness; nor is it any proof that we are emptied of the pride and vanity of our natural minds.

Were we under the continual influence of a humble spirit, our attainments in religion would not be so apt to glitter in our own eyes - nor would we be so forward in admiring and talking about own loveliness and beauty - but we would be more apt to consider ourselves as little children in grace, and our attainments to be those of babes in Christ. We should be daily ashamed of, and sorely lament, our great blindness and ignorance of God, our astonishing ingratitude, and the coldness of our love to Him. Until we are brought to this state of true humility, taking shame to ourselves, and giving glory to God in and for everything - we cannot possibly enjoy communion with God, and growth in grace cannot possibly take place. Real humility takes nothing to itself, but sin and shame. Real humility gives all the glory to God, who is the Giver of every good and perfect gift.

~Thomas Charles~

(continued with # 8)