His mind is filled with high thoughts, though they be about others,
not about himself. If he be a truly Christian man, his thoughts
rise higher still. He thinks of Christ and of God, and compares his
weakness, ignorance, and sinfulness with their perfect power,
wisdom, goodness. Do you not see that this man's mind is full of
higher, nobler thoughts than that of the proud man? Is he not more
high-minded who is looking up, up to God himself, for what is good,
noble, heavenly? Even though it makes him feel small, poor, weak,
and sinful in comparison, still his mind is full of grace, and
wisdom, and glory. The proud man, meanwhile, for the sake of
feeding his own self-conceit at other men's expense, is filling his
mind with low, mean, earthly thoughts about the weaknesses, sins,
and follies, of the world around him. Is not he truly low-minded,
thinking about low things?
Now, I tell you, my friends, that both have their reward. That the
humble man, as years roll on, becomes more and more noble, and the
proud man becomes more and more low-minded; and finds that pride
goes before a fall in more senses than one. Yes. There is nothing
more hurtful to our own minds and hearts than a domineering,
contemptuous frame of mind. It may be pleasant to our own self-
conceit: but it is only a sweet poison.
Pages:
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185