There is nothing into which the heart of man so easily falls as pride, and yet there is no vice which is more frequently, more emphatically, and more eloquently condemned in Scripture. Pride is defined as having an excessively strong opinion on oneself.
Pride has no solid rock on earth on which to place itself. We have reasons for almost everything, but we have no reasons for pride. Pride is a thing which should be unnatural to us, for we have nothing to be proud of.
Pride brings no profit with it. There is no wisdom in self exaltation. Pride assumes many forms, but here are some of the more common. Sometimes pride takes the doctrinal shape. It teaches the doctrine of self sufficiency. It tells us what man can do and will not admit that we are lost, fallen, debased, and ruined creatures, as we are. It hates divine sovereignty.
It acknowledges that salvation is of the Lord, but still it prompts men to seek Heaven by their own works!
The true throne of pride everywhere is the heart of man. If we desire, by God’s grace, to put down pride, the only way is to begin with the heart. So if we would get rid of pride, let us seek God -- he would purify our hearts from pride. then assuredly, if pride is purged from the heart, our life also shall be humble. Make the tree good, and then the fruit shall be good. Make the fountain pure, and the stream shall be sweet.
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