Among the many general causes of decline in grace, we may assign a principal place to spiritual pride and self-admiration. If our attainments in knowledge and giftedness, and even in grace seduce us into a good opinion of ourselves, as if we were wise and good we are already ensnared, in danger of falling every step we take, of mistaking the right path, and proceeding from bad to worse without a power of correcting or even of discovering our deviations! That is unless and until the Lord mercifully interposes, by restoring us to a spirit of humility, and dependence upon Himself. For God, who gives more grace to the humble resists the proud! He beholds them with abhorrence in proportion to the degree in which they admire themselves! It is the invariable law of His kingdom, that everyone who exalts himself shall be abased!
True Christians, through the remaining evil of their hearts, and the subtle temptations of their enemy, are liable, not only to the workings of that pride which is common to our fallen nature but to a certain kind of pride, which, though the most absurd and intolerable in any person can only be found among those who make profession of the gospel. We have nothing but what we have received, and therefore to be proud of our titles, wealth, knowledge, success, or any temporal advantages by which the providence of God has distinguished us is downright sinful! For those who confess themselves to be 'sinners', and therefore deserving of nothing but misery and wrath to be proud of those peculiar blessings which are derived from the gospel of God's grace is a wickedness of which even the demons are not capable of!
The apostle Paul was so aware of his danger of being exalted above measure, through the abundant revelations and peculiar favors which the Lord had afforded him that he says, "There was given me a messenger of Satan to buffet me." He speaks of this sharp trial as a great mercy, because he saw that it was necessary, and designed to keep him humble and attentive to his own weakness.
Ministers who are honored with singular abilities and success, have great need of watchfulness and prayer on this account! Simple-hearted hearers are apt to admire their favorite preacher taking it for granted that he is deeply affected himself with the truths, which, with so much apparent liberty and power he proposes to them. While, perhaps the poor worm is secretly indulging self-applause, and pleasing himself with the numbers and attention of those who hang upon his words!
Perhaps such thoughts will occasionally rise in the minds of the best ministers; but, if they are allowed, if they become habitual, and enter strongly into the idea he forms of his own importance; and if, while he professes to preach Jesus Christ he is preaching himself, and seeking his own glory he is guilty of high treason against the Majesty of Him in whose name he speaks! And sooner or later, the effects of his pride will be visible and noticed. Doctrinal errors, gross misconduct, an abatement of zeal, of gifts, of influence are evils always to be dreaded, when spiritual pride has gained an ascendancy, whether in public or in private life.
[John Newton]
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Isaiah 23:9 ... The Lord of hosts hath purposed it, to stain the pride of all glory, and to bring into contempt all the honourable of the earth.
Matthew 23:12 ... And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
James 4:6 ... But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.❤
