That man will never be a proud man!

(J. C. Ryle, "The Gospel of Luke" 1858)

Humility may well be called the 'queen of the
Christian graces'. To know our own sinfulness
and weakness, and to feel our need of Christ,
is the very beginning of saving religion.

Humility is a grace which has always been the
distinguishing feature in the character of the
holiest saints in every age. Abraham, and Moses,
and Job, and David, and Daniel, and Paul--were
all eminently humble men. Humility is a grace
within the reach of every true Christian.

Would we know the root and spring of humility?
One word describes it. The root of humility is right
knowledge. The man who really knows . . .
   himself--and his own heart;
   God--and His infinite majesty and holiness;
   Christ--and the price at which he was redeemed;
that man will never be a proud man!

He will count himself, like Jacob, "unworthy
of the least of all God's mercies!"

He will say of himself, like Job, "I am vile!"

He will cry, like Paul, "I am chief of sinners!"

Ignorance! nothing but sheer ignorance! ignorance . . .
    of self,
    of God,
    of Christ,
is the real secret of pride! From that miserable
self-ignorance may we daily pray to be delivered!

He is the wise man who knows himself! And he
who knows himself, will find nothing within to
make him proud.