the Lord ; neither will we obey his voice d. That this proceeds from pride, there can be no doubt. God himself traces such conduct to this, as its proper source and principle6. And doth not this " testify to the face " of many amongst us ? Is not this the conduct which almost universally obtains ? Yea, are not we sensible that it too justly describes, if not our present, yet certainly our former, state ?
Behold also the self-righteous formalist. Persons of this description have kept themselves free from gross enormities, or perhaps have reformed their conduct after having given the rein to all their appetites ; but their pride rises in proportion to their fancied attainments. They look with contempt on others who are openly immoral f, and bless themselves that they are not as other meng : meanwhile " they feel not the plague of their own heart." They deny the representation which the Scripture gives of their fallen stateh. They cannot endure to think themselves deserving of God's wrath, nor will they sub- mit to be saved by the righteousness of God1 : and whence does all this originate? Surely pride and self-exaltation are pro- perly pointed out as the spring from whence it fiowsk: yet doth not this disposition also lamentably prevail ? Doth it not " testify to the face" of some whom we are now addressing? Are there not some amongst ourselves who trust in their own wisdom, strength, and righteousness, instead of fleeing to Christ as blind, helpless, hopeless creatures ? some also, who are too proud to accept salvation on the footing of publicans and harlots? yea, and some too, who will rather perish in their sins, than seek to have them purged away in the Redeemer's blood? I am grieved to add, Behold also many religious profes- sors. 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 dignities1." Nor are there any people under heaven to whom Solomon's description of the proud man may be more fitly applied™ — . Alas ! does not this spirit also " testify to the face " of many ? Perhaps there scarce ever was a period or a nation where such spurious
d Ps. xii. 4. Exod. v. 2. e ps> x. 4, 5. f Tsai. ixv. 5.
s Luke xviii. 9, 11. h Rev. iii. 17. ' Rom. x. 3.
k Luke xviii. 14. 1 Jude, ver. 8, 16. m Prov.xxx. 12, 11.