nigh to God with their lips," but will not inquire whether they have " worshipped him in spirit and in truth." What can we expect from such partial views of their conduct, but that they will vaunt and boast themselves, as if they were worthy of the highest commendation?]
Having traced the self-applause of men to its true source ; we proceed to shew,
II. The folly and danger of it —
To illustrate this, let two things be considered:
1. God will not regulate his judgment by theirs —
[Man is often influenced by the opinions of his fellow- creatures ; and it is proper that he should be so ; because others may have more accurate information than he, or be more capable of forming a just conclusion from the premises before him. But " unto God all things are naked and open:" however specious any appearances may be. He cannot be deceived : He will " lay righteousness as a line or plummet" to the souls of men, and thereby mark the smallest deviations from perfect rectitude. In vain will the boaster vaunt before him ; for he will with one single interrogation confound him utterly, and lay him in the dust. In vain will the self-deceiver bring forward in his defence the good actions that he has done ; for his God and Judge will indignantly dismiss him as unworthy of the smallest regards To have the approbation of men will avail him nothing: for " God will not judge according to appearance, but will judge righteous judgment:" "he will shew, that many things which are highly esteemed among men, are an abomination in his sight'':" and, when he passes sentence on them, he will " be justified in his saying, and and clear when he judgeth''."]
2. Instead of sanctioning, he will reprove, their conceit —
[Nothing is more odious in the sight of God than pride : " the proud in heart, we are told, are an abomination to the Lord"^." Indeed " pride was not made for man:" it assimilates us, as much as any thing can do, to the devil himself: and will certainly bring us into the same condemnation with him^. Our own high opinion of ourselves will have an effect directly opposite to that which we wish. It will cause our God to " resist V' abase ^, and utterly destroy us*^.
a Matt. vii. 21 — 23. *> Luke xvi. 15. <= Ps. li. 4.
^ Prov. xvi. 5. "^1 Tim. iii. 6. ^ Jam. iv. G.
g Dan. iv. 30—32, 37. >' Isai. x. 12—16. with Luke xviii. 14.