The most secret, subtle,
and insinuating of all sins!(Edward Payson, 1783-1827)
in all his thoughts, there is no room for GOD!"
Psalm 10:4
The pride of the wicked is the principal
reason why they will not seek after
the knowledge of GOD. Pride renders
GOD a disagreeable and undesirable
object of contemplation to the wicked.
Pride consists in an unduly exalted
opinion of one's self. It is, therefore . . .
impatient of a rival,
hates a superior, and
cannot endure a master!
In proportion as pride prevails
in the heart, it makes us wish . . .
to see no GOD above us,
to acknowledge no law but our own wills,
to follow no rule but our own inclinations.
Thus pride led satan to
rebel against his Creator--
and our first parents to
desire to be as gods.
Since such are the effects of pride,
it is evident that nothing can be more
painful to a proud heart, than the thoughts
of such a being as GOD . . .
one who is infinitely powerful, just, and holy;
one who can neither be resisted, deceived, nor deluded;
one who disposes, according to HIS own sovereign
pleasure, of all creatures and events;
one who, in an especial manner, hates pride,
and is determined to abase and punish it!
Such a being, the proud man can
contemplate only with feelings
of dread, aversion, and abhorrence!
The proud man must look upon
GOD as his natural enemy, his
great enemy, whom he has to fear!
But the knowledge of GOD directly
tends to bring this infinite, irresistible,
irreconcilable Enemy--
fully to the view of the proud man.
It teaches proud man that he has
a superior, a master . . .
from whose authority he cannot escape,
whose power he cannot resist,
and whose will he must obey--
or be crushed before HIM, and be
rendered miserable forever!
It shows proud man what he hates to see . . .
that, in despite of his opposition--
GOD'S counsel shall stand,
that GOD will do all HIS pleasure, and
that in all things, GOD is above them.
These truths torture the proud unhumbled
hearts of the wicked, and hence they hate
that knowledge of GOD which teaches
these truths, and will not seek it.
On the contrary, they wish to remain
ignorant of such a being, and to banish
all thoughts of HIM from their minds.
They endeavor to believe that GOD
is altogether such a one as themselves.
How foolish,
how absurd,
how ruinous,
how blindly destructive of itself--
does pride appear!
By attempting to soar--
pride only plunges itself in the mire!
And while endeavoring
to erect a throne for itself--
pride undermines the ground on which
it stands and digs its own grave!
Pride . . .
plunged satan from Heaven into Hell,
banished our first parents from paradise,
and will, in a similar manner, eternally
ruin all who indulge in it!
Unrepented pride . . .
keeps us in ignorance of GOD,
shuts us out from HIS favor,
prevents us from resembling HIM,
deprives us in this world, of communion
with HIM, and will bar the door of Heaven
forever against us, and close upon
us the gates of Hell.
O then, my friends, beware,
above all things, beware of pride!
Beware, lest you indulge it imperceptibly,
for it is the most secret, subtle, and
insinuating of all sins!
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