“How heavenly their souls act
Who act from enjoyment of Christ.”
The temptation with which Satan disturbs the people of God is to hinder them from living on Christ as poor, needy, helpless sinners, and from finding all they want in His fullness. This exalts the Saviour too much, and makes them too safe and happy; therefore Satan would persuade them to get riches, and strength, and a clean heart, quite without sin, in themselves, so that they may look inwards with compliancy – outwards with, “Stand by thyself, I am holier than thou” – and upwards with, “God, I thank Thee that I am not as other men are.” Thus pride enters, and Christ is thrust out.