3. The hypocritical professor [None are more puffed up with pride than some who would be thought followers of the lowly Jesus-They are conceited of their knowledge-And will bear with none who do not pronounce their shibboleth-They profess indeed to believe that their hearts are deceitful and desperately wicked -Yet they will never listen to instruction or reproof-Nor can they be persuaded to deny their own will in any thing for the good of others-None are more ready than these to set up themselves in opposition to all constituted authorities-St. Jude speaks of them as "murmurers and complainers," as "despising dominion and speaking evil of dignities"-Nor are there any people under heaven to whom Solomon's description of the proud man may be more fitly applied'-Alas! does not the Spirit also testify to the face of many?-Never was there a period when it prevailed in so great a degreeSurely it may well be numbered among the most heinous sins of this nation-] Having followed the sins of Israel, what can we expect but to participate in II. The judgment denounced against them To "fall" must certainly import some heavy judg: ment-This threatening was not fully accomplished but in the utter destruction of the Jewish nation -Nor can we hope to escape the displeasure of God while we harbour in our hearts an evil that is so offensive to him The proud will most generally fall in this world [In their own conceit their mountain stands so strong as to bid defiance to every assault-They think that they shall never be moved"--But how irresistibly have the haughtiest monarchs been hurled from their throne!"-How speedily have the most powerful empires been brought to desolation!"How instantaneously have God's judgments often marked the heinousness of this sin!P-If they be exalted for a time they are almost invariably brought low at last!-] They are absolutely certain to fall in the eternal world [It indeed they repented of their sin, they would find mercy with God-A broken and contrite heart he will never despise-Though he will resist the proud, yet he will give * Ver. 8, 16. Prov. xxx. 12, 13. m Ps. xxx. 6, 7. Dan. v. 20, 23. • Ezek. xxviii. 2, 6, 8.. Isaiah xiv. 12—15. 2 Chron. xxxii. 25. Acts xii. 23. grace unto the humble-He will look on him with pleasure and complacency-But nothing can ever reconcile him to "a man that walketh in pride"-He will surely abase the proud -He has irreversibly decreed their utter destruction"-Nor shall the whole universe combined prevent the execution of his vengeance on one single individual amongst them-] The observance of ceremonial duties will never compensate for the want of true humility [Judah retained the forms of religion which Israel and Ephraim had cast away-Yet because Judah resembled Israel in their sin, they were to be involved in Israel's calamity— Thus must all, however zealous and exemplary in other respects, be brought down and confounded before God-Even a preacher of righteousness, if lifted up with pride, shall fall into the condemnation of the devil The rule laid down by God himself shall surely be observed to all eternity] INFER 1. How excellent is the gospel of Christ! [Nothing but the gospel ever did, or ever can, humble the soul-The law may terrify; but it is the gospel alone that melts us into contrition-That no sooner reaches the heart; than it brings down our high looks-It turned, in an instant, thousands of bloodthirsty murderers into meek, loving, and obedient followers of the Lambe-And thus does it still ope rate on all who receive it in sincerity"-Let us then listen to it with delight-Let us pray, that a sight of the crucified Saviour may produce its due effect upon use-And let us loath ourselves the more in proportion as we are persuaded that God is pacified towards us] 2. What need have we all to watch and pray! [There are none who are out of the reach of this malignant principle-St. Paul, after having been caught up to the third heavens, was in danger of being overwhelmed by its And who amongst us does not find that it is ready to puff us up on every occasion?-Let us remember that this ruined the very angels in heaven-And that it must be mortified in us, if ever we would obtain mercy in the last day-Let us guard against the first risings of it in the heart-And, whenever it testifies to our face, let us implore mercy of the Lord, that the thought of our hearts may be forgiven ush-In this way we shall be preserved, though in the midst of danger-And be, exalted in due time to glory and honour, and immortality-] Isaiah lvii. 15. x Prov. xvi. 5. a 1 Tim. iii. 6. t Dan. iv. 37. y The text. b Luke xviii. 14. d Acts ix. 6. and xvi. 29, 33. f Ezek. xvi. 63. 2 Cor. xii. 7. u Mal. iv. 1. CCCCVIII, AGAINST PRIDE AND SECURITY. Rom. xi. 20. Be not high-minded, but fear. THE deep mysteries of our religion are calculated at once to encourage sinners, and to humble saints. The sovereignty of God is a great depth; and it was awfully displayed in the rejection of the Jews, and the admission of the Gentiles into his church. This is the subject of which the Apostle speaks in the whole context: and he makes use of it as the means of provoking to emulation the Jews themselves, and at the same time of guarding the believing Gentiles against self-preference, and selfsecurity. In considering his exhortation, we shall I. Explain its import The former part of it contains a dissuasive from pride [The proper tendency of religion is to produce humility: but, through the corruption of our nature, pride will take occasion even from the grace of God itself, to rise in our hearts. What self-complacency will sometimes arise from a consciousness of our superior attainments in truth and holiness! What acrimonious severity towards those, who dishonour their profession! And what contemptuous disregard of those who are yet immersed in ignorance and sin! Together with this selfpreference, we are also too apt to indulge a secure and selfdepending spirit, and to think "our mountain so strong, that we can never be moved." But as the former disposition is most hateful to God, so the latter also is an object of his utter abhorrence. In both these views therefore it becomes every believer to attend to the Apostle's advice, and, instead of entertaining too high an opinion of his own wisdom, strength, or goodness, to "think soberly."d] In the latter part the Apostle recommends humility and watchfulness [By "fear," we are not to understand a slavish dread of God's wrath; for that, so far from being opposite to pride, is in many cases the offspring of it. That which is here recommended is, a holy jealousy over ourselves, lest by any means we be tempted to walk unworthy of our high privileges, and thereby provoke God to deprive us of them. We are in the • Ps. xxx. 7. © Jer. xvii. 5. Prov. xxviii. 26. VOL. IV. M m b Isaiah lxv. 5. midst of an ensnaring world, beset with many and subtle adversaries, and ready to be beguiled by a treacherous and deceitful heart. Hence, like St. Paul himself, we are necessitated to use the utmost circumspection, diligence, and self-denial, lest, after all our exertions, our labour prove in vain.] To shew the importance of this exhortation, we shall II. Point out the reasons of it Many reasons might be assigned: but we shall content ourselves with noticing three: 1. We have no stability in ourselves [As all our ability and inclination to what is good, are derived from God at first, so must we receive continual supplies from him, even as of light from the sun. Without his constant superintendence, both the visible world, and the new creation in the soul of man, would soon revert to their original chaos. This the Apostle elsewhere urges as a motive to diligence, and, in the words before us, to humility and care. Nor can we well have a more powerful-argument; for if “ we stand by faith" only, and not by any wisdom or strength of our own, it becomes us to maintain a spirit suited to our weak and dependent state.] 2. Others, apparently as safe as we, have been rejected [Many have long made a profession of religion, and departed from it at last. Demas stands as an awful monument of human weakness.h Lot's wife is pointed out to us in the same view The Jews, who were brought out of Egypt, and yet were destroyed in the wilderness, are expressly set forth as examples to us. And, above all, the rejection of the Jewish nation for their iniquities, after they had been so long the peculiar people of God, speaks loudly to us. This in particular is urged by the Apostle in the words following the text; and it teaches us, never so to value ourselves either on our relation to God, or our experience of his goodness, as to forget, that we also may be rejected, if we do not rely upon him, and unreservedly deVote ourselves to him.] 3. That which was the ground of the rejection of the Jews, is very prevalent in us [God had given to the Jews a revelation respecting the Messiah: but they disbelieved his record, and rejected his Son: and for this their unbelief they were "broken off from the olive" which God's right hand had planted. A still clearer I Cor. ix. 27. 2 Tim. iv. 10. f Phil. ii. 12, 13. 8 1 Tim. i. 19. *Jade 3. 1 Cor. x. 11. See also Jer. vii. 12. Ver. 21, 22. revelation God has given unto us: and is there not much unbelief in our hearts with respect to it? Are even the most advanced Christians so much affected with the declarations of God's word, as they would be, if faith were in constant and perfect exercise? Alas! the faith that realizes things invisible, and gives a present existence to things future," is found in but few, and operates but weakly in the best: and, if it should wholly fail, Satan would sift us as wheat, and we should be found chaff at last." When therefore we consider how weak our faith is, and that it is "by faith we stand," we have reason to fear, lest a promise being left us of entering into God's rest, any of us should seem to come short of it."] We shall conclude the subject with some suitable AD, VICE 1. Bear in mind what you once were [To"look to the rock whence we were hewn, and to the hole of the pit, whence we were digged," will be a good antidote to pride. While we remember what we were, we shall see no reason but for humiliation and thankfulness before him, who has made us to differ both from others, and from our former selves.P] 2. Consider what you still are [You are, we trust, " brands plucked out of the fire:" true; but you still bear the marks of the fire upon you; and have a disposition to catch fire again, the very instant you are exposed to temptation. Let every one view himself in this light; and he will see need enough of attending to the exhortation in the text.] 3. Be aware of the deceitfulness of your own hearts [In ten thousand instances we must have seen how liable we are to err even in things wherein we are most confident. So blinded are we at times by pride, passion, or interest, that we think ourselves right, when others evidently perceive, that we know not what spirit we are of. Let us be aware of this tendency to deceive ourselves; and beg of God both to search our hearts, and to guide our feet.] 4. Guard against temptations to sin [Many are the temptations that assault us from without. From these we should flee, shunning both the occasions and the very appearance of evil. Many also are our temptations from within. These we should resist in their very first rise. We may easily extinguish a fire at its commencement, when all our efforts may be baffled, if we suffer it to proceed. For m Heb. xi. 1. n Luke xxii. 31. P Tit. iii. 3-6. 1 Cor. iv. 7. . 1 |