A Word About Pride (A Puritan Classic)

This book is sobering and insightful. I took some notes from it, and have been helped multiple times by reviewing them. These are not exact quotes, but my takeaways from this book.Pride makes me speak to impress when I should say only what glorifies God and helps others.Pride makes me look for signs that people approve of me rather than signs that I'm growing spiritually and benefiting others.Pride makes me jealous of others' gifts and position when I should be thankful that God gave them gifts to glorify himself and edify me.Pride makes me unwilling that my ideas be shown false, though their error hurts both me and others.Pride makes me angry at those who do not agree with me and flatter me, even if I am wrong.Pride makes it difficult for anyone to avoid offending me.Pride makes me unwilling to hear my sin condemned plainly and without soothing compliments.Pride is the sin of devils.Pride is a contradiction of the gospel.Pride scorns the example of Jesus, who washed feet and loved the lowly.Pride makes me boast in knowledge, but shows that my knowledge is shallow.Pride makes me condemn myself when I commend humility to others.Pride is a damnable devotion to self, a sure path to hell; it is the opposite of holiness, which is devotion to God.Pride tempts me to a facade of godliness wherever godliness is esteemed.Pride is so ugly to see in others that I hide my own pride under false humility.

In the last half of the 20th century and continuing into the 21st century there has been an ongoing interest in the writings of the Puritans.Their written legacy continues to influence God's people,for good,in our generation.Richard Baxter through his preaching,writing and his godly life had an enormous in his generation.The publisher notes on the back cover that Baxter's writings were exceeded in popularity,only by Bunyan's 'The Pilgrim's Progress',amongst the Puritans.The author was writing primarily for Pastors here,but his exhortations can be applied to all believers,to help them guard against this root sin.With those in the Gospel Ministry in mind he writes-"...it maketh men both in studying and preaching,to seek themselves,and deny God,when they should seek God's glory,and deny themselves." The denying of self is a key component of sanctification and the motive should be the glory of God not the exaltation of oneself.Thomas Manton,a contemporary Puritan Pastor of Baxter's distinguishes (in his standard work 'A treatise Of Self Denial')between things that are called 'self'- "some are absolutely evil,and must be denied without limitation;as lusts and carnal affections",but for those in the Gospel ministry Manton's second distinction would especially apply to that which is called 'self'- "other things are only evil in a relative sense,as they prove idols or snares to us ...comforts,and conveniences of life,such as liberty,honor,wealth,friends and health-they are all called self." when studying and preaching is their great concern to faithfully expound the Scriptures(come what may)or does any concern creep in,as to what men may think or(are they most concerned with what God thinks?).What is the antithesis of pride? James 4:6b "...God resisteth the proud,but giveth grace unto the humble.' Matthew 23:12 'And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased;and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.' Just as pride is a root sin,humility is a root grace.Here are a few of Baxter's choice thoughts on humility-p.19 "The very design of the Gospel is to abase us,and the work of grace is begun and carried on in humiliation."(This is one reason why believers profit from the Gospel being preached,both from the pulpit and to ourselves,it brings them back to the foundation of God's saving work in them and reminds them that there is nothing in them that caused God to be merciful to them,but as he said to Moses 'I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy'.-p.20-21 "When so much of the nature of grace consists in humility,it is a great absurdity to be proud of it." Pride is a damning sin and humility is a mark of grace.-p.24 "...Doth anyone live more to himself,or less to God,than the proud man?"One of the main reasons I love 'The writings of the Puritans' is because I believe,under God's blessing,they help promote godly living in the lives of Lord's people.Any who are familiar with their writings,and desire to be more holy,will readily acknowledge the help to be found there.Richard Baxter was very highly esteemed by his Puritan brethren.What a desperate need there is for godly men and women in our generation.May our gracious Lord be pleased to continue to use the writings of men such as Baxter,to promote godliness in our needy times.

Baxter does it again