A Tumor and Swelling in the Mind
Thomas Brooks warns against the dangers of spiritual pride, which can lead to a fall and rob God of His honor.
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.
Text
"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
Sermon Outline
- Pride is a Sin
- Pride is the root of most vices
- Pride is a gilded misery and a secret poison
Key Quotes
“Pride is a gilded misery, a secret poison, a hidden plague.” — Thomas Brooks
“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.” — Thomas Brooks
“The day is coming when your pride will be brought low and the Lord alone will be exalted.” — Thomas Brooks
Application Points
- We must recognize and resist spiritual pride in our lives, lest it lead to a fall.
- Humility is essential for a right relationship with God and for avoiding the consequences of pride.
- We must prioritize God's honor and glory above our own self-interest and pride.