[b]The peacock of pride[/b]

(William Secker, "The Consistent Christian" 1660)

He is the most lovely Christian--who is the most lowly Christian. As incense smells the sweetest when it is beaten smallest--so saints look loveliest when they lie lowest. God will not allow such a weed as pride to grow in His garden, without taking some course to root it up.

Pride is a sinner's torment--but humility is a saint's ornament. "Be clothed with humility." The garment of humility--should always be worn on the back of Christianity. Where humility is the corner-stone--there glory shall be the top-stone.

God many times places a thorn in the flesh--to pierce the balloon of pride. He makes us feel a sense of our misery--that we may sue for His unmerited mercy. The first Adam was for self-advancement--but the second Adam is for self-abasement. The former was for having SELF deified--the latter is for having SELF crucified.

We live--by dying to ourselves; and die--by living to ourselves. There is no proud man--who is not a foolish man; and scarcely is there any foolish man--who is not a proud man. It is the night-owl of ignorance, which broods and hatches the peacock of pride.

"I hate pride and arrogance!" Proverbs 8:13. God abhors those people worst--who adore themselves most. Pride is not a Bethel--that is, a house where God dwells; but a Babel--that is, a stinking dungeon in which Satan abides. Pride is not only a most hateful evil--but it is a radical evil. As all other lusts are found lodging in it--so they are found springing from it. Pride is a foul leprosy, in the face of morality; and a hurtful worm, gnawing at the root of humility. Pride is a cancer within, and a spreading plague without!

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SI Moderator - Greg Gordon