We earnestly trust that our readers will study most carefully the working out of this subject from Scripture. It is perhaps the most practical subject that has been given as yet, and is full of instruction. We can only just notice one or two points in these few lines. Under the head of “pride” observe the connection of Satan and Antichrist (line 7), the one, seen in Genesis sowing pride in man’s heart, after falling through it himself, the other, in Revelation, stamped with the same sin after 6,000 years, at the close. Notice who are specially in danger of it— “the young, the rich, the learned.” How true this is! Observe closely its six leading varieties and its twelve Scriptural characteristics, the six things it leads to, and the twelve examples of its end. Under the head of “examples” we find the first instance of religious pride is Cain, the last Laodicea! The next group is the pride of rising, and the next of having risen, or of position. Under “pride of person,” it is very remarkable to see the “Daughters of Zion” and “Satan” close together even as from the first in the garden of Eden, as to this particular variety of this many headed sin. Turning to “Humility” we feel at once that we are in a different scene. Hitherto we have had God’s face turned away, and have seen His anger, and His judgment. Now on the contrary all is in the sunshine of His approving smile, for He has respect unto the lowly. Mark too what different company we get into in these examples of humility. Here we find Abraham, Moses, David, and many others, the last, however, figuring in both lists.
Having considered this cloud of witnesses to the grace of humility, we look away from them all to consider a little perfect picture of the grace and humbleness of the man Christ Jesus, and we sit down to gaze at the exquisite panorama of His grace and lowliness presented to us in the selections of the next three pages. Truly we may say that we rise from a study of these pages with a heart freshly bowed in praise of the unique beauty of His spotless life. Think of the eternal God being subject to weariness, asking favors from others, being subject to hunger, working as a carpenter, and subject to the laws of earthly government, and then consider what it must have been to His perfect spirit to be rejected at His birth-place, at His village home, at His “ own” city (Capernaum) at the metropolis, Jerusalem, by His own people, and by His own brethren. Oh, I think of the Christ of God called by the creatures He had made “a glutton, a sorcerer, a demoniac, a blasphemer, a liar, a lunatic, and a sinner!” and bearing it all in perfect grace; and then consider how much of all this you could bear. Oh! how quick we are to resent injuries done to ourselves, how slow to feel insults offered to Him! Think of Him the song of the drunkards, hated, derided, scorned, ill-treated, misunderstood, reviled, tortured, crucified. And all out of love to you and to me. Oh! what love, what grace, there is no love like His! And then to sum up all, when at last He leaves this sinful world to return to His home of glory, He is still the humble Jesus, though Lord of lords, and will yet gird Himself and make His own sit down to meat while He serves still. Blessed Master, would that our hearts might learn more of the beauty of lowliness—of the honor of humility from Thy bright example!