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  A TUMOR AND SWELLING IN THE MIND
  by Thomas Brooks
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Summary: Thomas Brooks warns against the dangers of spiritual pride,
which can lead to a fall and rob God of His honor.

Topics: "Humility", "Pride"
Scripture References: Isaiah 2:11, Isaiah 23:9

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DESCRIPTION
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Thomas Brooks emphasizes the destructive nature of pride, describing it
as the root of many vices and a significant danger to the soul. He
illustrates pride as a 'gilded misery' and a 'hidden plague' that leads
to deceit, hypocrisy, and spiritual downfall. Brooks warns that
spiritual pride, in particular, is a severe offense against God, leading
to a false sense of superiority and the despising of others. He cites
biblical examples of pride leading to destruction, reminding listeners
that the Lord will ultimately humble the proud. The sermon calls for
self-examination and humility before God to avoid the pitfalls of pride.

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CONTENT
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"The Lord Almighty has done it to destroy your pride

and show his contempt for all human greatness." Isaiah 23:9

Pride is the original and root of most of those notorious

vices that are to be found among men.

Of all sins, pride is most dangerous to the souls of men.

Pride is . . .

a gilded misery,

a secret poison,

a hidden plague.

Pride is . . .

the engineer of deceit,

the mother of hypocrisy,

the parent of envy,

the moth of holiness,

the blinder of hearts,

the turner of medicines into maladies.

Of all sins, spiritual pride is most dangerous, and must

be most resisted. Spiritual pride is the lifting up of the

mind against God; it is a tumor and swelling in the

mind, and lies in despising and slighting of God--and in

the lifting up of a man's self, by reason of birth, breeding,

wealth, honor, place, relation, gifts or graces--and in

despising of others.

Spiritual pride is a white devil, a gilded poison--by which

God is robbed of His honor, a man's own soul of his comfort

and peace.

Pride is a sure forerunner of a fall. "Pride goes before

destruction, and a haughty mind before a fall."

Herod fell from a throne of gold--to a bed of dust.

Nebuchadnezzar fell from a mighty king--to be a beast.

Adam fell from innocency to mortality.

The angels fell from heaven to hell--from felicity to misery.

"The day is coming when your pride will be brought low

and the Lord alone will be exalted. In that day the Lord

Almighty will punish the proud, bringing them down to

the dust!" Isaiah 2:11-12

"The Lord detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this:

They will not go unpunished." Proverbs 16:5

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/thomas-brooks/a-tumor-and-swelling-in-the-mind/
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