XVII. HUMILITY AND PRIDE.

Duty of humility-Warnings against pride-God the source of every good-Our insufficiency-God's regard to the humble-Evils and miseries of pride-Advantages of humility—Common objects of pride-Humility in our conduct to others.

i. Is humility particularly required of the young?

Likewise ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder: yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility, for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time. (I. Pet. 5. 5, 6.)

2. How does Isaiah describe the pride of the young as a national curse?

The child shall behave himself proudly against the ancient, and the base against the honourable. (3 Is. 5.)

3. Who is the only proper object of trust?

Trust in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord JEHOVAH is everlasting strength; for he bringeth down them that dwell on high. (26 Is. 4, 5.)

Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory. (115 P. 1.)

4. Is the danger greatest when we think ourselves most secure?

Let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall. (I. Cor. 10. 12.)

5. What did Christ say to his disciples when they were striving who should be greatest?

He that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. (22 Lk. 26.)

6. When Christ washed the feet of his disciples, how did he exhort them?

If I then your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, For I have given ye also ought to wash one another's feet. you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his Lord, neither he that is sent, greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. (13 Jn. 14 to 17.)

7. How does the apostle enforce humility by referring to the Godhead and humiliation of Christ?

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus; who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (2 Phi. 5 to 8.)

8. What exhortations to humility are given in the epistle to the Romans?

Be not high-minded, but fear. (11 Ro, 20)

I say, through the grace of God given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly. (12 Rom. 3.)

Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits, (12 Rom. 16.)

9. How does St. James enforce humility?

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. (4 Jas. 10.)

10. While St. Paul acknowledged " himself the least of the Apostles," how did he magnify the grace of God?

By the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed on me, was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. (I. Cor. 15. 10.)

11. How does he speak of the insufficiency of ministers without divine help?

Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves, but our sufficiency is of God. (II. Cor. 3. 5.)

12. How did God comfort Paul in his afflictions?

My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me for when I am weak, then am I strong. (II. Cor. 12. 9, 10.)

13. Does the Apostle connect our duty with our dependance on God's Assistance?

Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God which worketh in you, both to will and to do of his good pleasure. (2 Phi, 12, 13.)

14. How did the Psalmist rejoice in the favour of God to the humble and contrite?

The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart, and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. (34 P. 18.)

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. (51 P. 17.)

Though the Lord be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly, but the proud he knoweth afar off. (138 P. 6.)

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15. For what purpose does God instruct?

That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man. (33 Job 17.)

16. How was the Psalmist enabled to declare his humility before God?

Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty; neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me. Surely I have behaved and quieted myself as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child. (131 P. 1, 2.)

17. Has God promised to bless the humble?

To this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and tren bleth at my word. (66 Is. 2.)

18. Did Christ renew the blessing when on earth? Blessed are the poor in spirit, for their's is the kingdom of heaven. (5 Mt. 3.)

19. By what significant and endearing action did Christ teach the importance of humility?

And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, and said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter Whosoever therefore shall into the kingdom of heaven. humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (18 Mt. 2 to 4.)

20. Does God bestow grace on the humble?

Submit your

He giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. selves therefore to God. (4 Jas. 6, 7.)

21. Does God notice and punish the "proud in

heart?"

Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord; though hand join in hand he shall not be unpunished. (16 Pr. 5.)

22. How does Solomon shew the connexion between pride and ruin?

Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. (16 Pr. 18.)

Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before, honor is humility. (18 Pr. 12.)

A man's pride shall bring him low; but honor shall uphold the humble in spirit. (29 Pr. 23,)

23. Is pride closely connected with shame, and humility with wisdom?

When pride cometh, then cometh shame; but with the lowly is wisdom. (11 Pr. 2.)

24. Does pride produce contention?

Only by pride cometh contention; but with the well advised is wisdom. (13 Pr. 10.)

25. Is pride closely connected with deceit?

The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee: thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high, that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground? Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the Lord. (Obad. 3, 4.)

His soul which is lifted up is not upright in him. (2 Hab. 4.)

26. Are we able to direct our own steps?

O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. (10 Jer. 23.) 27. What curse does God pronounce on him who trusts in man, and what blessing on him who trusts in the Lord?

Thus saith the Lord, Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord. For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh, but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land, and not inhabited,