We have been admiring our vile selves!

(William Mason, "The One Thing Needful to Make Poor Sinners Rich-and Miserable Sinners Happy" 1773)

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"I hate pride and arrogance!" Proverbs 8:13

What a monster of pride is man! How full of that cursed venom, is human nature! We cannot receive any grace or blessing from the Lord-but corrupt nature is prone to be proud of it, and to boast in it! No one is exempt from this. I appeal to your hearts. I refer to your experience.
When your heart has been enlarged in prayer;
when your soul has been carried out in humblings, meltings, longings, aspirings, etc.;
when you have heard the Word with warm affections and heavenly joy;
when your tongue has with sweetness and liberty, talked of Christ to others;
when your hand has been stretched forth to do any good work;
now in all these, have you not found pride very busy? Have not you been ready to stroke yourself with pleasure, and to reflect with delight: "Well, now the Lord loves me indeed! Surely He loves me better-now that I find myself so holy, and feel myself so heavenly!"

But where is our precious Jesus all this while? We have looked at ourselves-until we have lost sight of Him! We have been admiring our vile selves for our graces-instead of being in raptures with Christ, who is altogether lovely, in whom all fullness of grace dwells, and out of whose fullness we receive grace upon grace!

"The Lord detests all the proud of heart!" Proverbs 16:5