[b]We have been admiring our vile selves!
(William Mason, "The One Thing Needful to Make
Poor Sinners Rich--and Miserable Sinners Happy")
"I hate pride and arrogance!" Proverbs 8:13
What a monster of pride is man! How full of that
cursed venom, is human nature! We cannot receive any
grace or blessing from the Lord--but corrupt nature is
prone to be proud of it--and to boast in it! No one is
exempt from this. I appeal to your hearts. I refer to
your experience. When your heart has been enlarged
in prayer; when your soul has been carried out in
humblings, meltings, longings, aspirings, etc.; when
you have heard the Word with warm affections and
heavenly joy; when your tongue has with sweetness
and liberty, talked of Christ to others; when your hand
has been stretched forth to do any good work; now in
all these--have you not found pride very busy? Have
not you been ready to stroke yourself with pleasure,
and to reflect with delight: "Well, now the Lord loves
me indeed! Surely He loves me better--now that I
find myself so holy--and feel myself so heavenly!"
But where is our precious Jesus all this while? We have
looked at ourselves--until we have lost sight of Him!
We have been admiring our vile selves for our
graces--instead of being in raptures with Christ, who
is altogether lovely, in whom all fullness of grace
dwells, and out of whose fullness we receive grace
upon grace!
"The Lord detests all the proud of heart!" Proverbs 16:5