The boaster!
(John Colwell, "Little Foxes; The Little Sins That Mar the Christian Character" 1882)
All such boasting is evil!"
James 4:16
All that the boaster has to say revolves
around one center, namely, SELF.
The only really important part of speech
in his grammar, is the first person singular.
When he speaks of himself, which
he too often does, it is always in
such a way as to impress you with his virtues,
his wisdom, or his greatness. And when
he does not speak of himself--
he elevates self, though it may
be in a less direct manner.
The boaster is full of little histories,
in which the historian or narrator
is always the chief actor. His stock
phrases will be painfully familiar to us all:
"When I was in such a place."
"When I was a young man."
"I will tell you what I once did."
Every one of these expressions
is the introduction to a long
glorification of self.
Why should we employ ourselves
in self-praise?
anyone else? What do you have that
you did not receive? And if you did
receive it, why do you boast as though
you did not?" 1 Corinthians 4:7
It is a hard and delicate subject for a man
to speak of himself. Therefore, let him who
aspires after wisdom take the advice
of Scripture,
own mouth; someone else, and not
your own lips!" Proverbs 27:2
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