The pride of life
And how hard it is, even for the children of God, wholly to conquer the pride of life. Saint John seems to mean by this nearly what the world calls the sense of honor. It is nothing else than a desire for the honor that comes from people, and a delight in it. It is a desire and a love of praise, and, always joined with that, a matching fear of blame. Closely allied to this is evil shame, being ashamed of the very thing in which we ought to glory. And this is seldom separated from the fear of man, which brings 1,000 snares upon the soul.
Where is the person, even among those who seem strong in faith, who does not find in himself some degree of all these evil tempers? So even these believers are only in part crucified to the world. The evil root still remains in their heart.
1771 text
7. And how hard is it even for the children of God wholly to conquer the pride of life? St. John seems to mean by this nearly the same with what the world terms the sense of honour. This is no other than a desire of and delight in the honour that cometh of men: a desire and love of praise, and (which is always joined with it) a proportionable fear of dispraise. Nearly allied to this is evil shame: the being ashamed of that wherein we ought to glory. And this is seldom divided from the fear of man, which brings a thousand snares upon the soul. Now where is he even among those that seem strong in faith, who does not find in himself a degree of all these evil tempers? So that even these are but in part crucified to the world: for the evil root still remains in their heart.
About this text
Rendered in modern English, to be read and heard. Open the 1771 text under each part to check the claims and the scripture.
Rendered in modern English. The 1771 panel is his own Pine printing of the Works. It is public domain.
Catalogue & scope
Sermon 14 in the 1771 Works. Mark 1:15. Dated at Londonderry, 24 April 1767.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.