A Caution to the Presumptuous

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1 Corinthians 10:12

Why let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.

The vices are the counterfeits of virtues. Whenever God sends from the mint of heaven a precious coin of genuine metal, Satan will imitate the impress, and utter a vile production of no value. God gives love. Satan also fashioneth lust. God bestows courage. Satan inspires foolhardiness. The saving grace of faith ripens into confidence. Satan palms upon us the vice of presumption. Let us —

I. FIND OUT THE CHARACTER OF THE MAN WHO THINKS HE STANDS. I could find men in business who, because they have in one speculation been successful, will risk their all — and lose it too. I might mention others who, presuming upon their health, are spending their years in sin because they think "all men mortal but themselves." I might speak of men who will venture into the midst of temptation, confident in their boasted power. But my business now is to uncover the causes of presumption in a Christian.

1. Worldly prosperity. Give a man wealth, or, if not wealth, continued health, and the consequence, let him be the best Christian who ever breathed, will be presumption; and he will say, "I stand." "In my prosperity," says David, "I said, I shall never be moved." And we are not much better than David, nor half as good. Bless God, then, for our afflictions; but for them we might become too secure.

2. Light thoughts of sin. When we are first converted, our conscience is so very tender, that we are afraid of the slightest sin. But alas! very soon the sensitive plant of young piety turns into a pliant willow. It is sadly true that even a Christian will grow by degrees so callous, that the sin which once startled him does not alarm him in the least. By degrees we get familiar with sin. The men who work in those huge vessels, the hammering of which causes immense noise, cannot at first sleep for the continual din; but by and by they think nothing of it.

3. Low thoughts of the value of religion. We none of us value religion enough. We have nought with which to compare the soul; therefore we cannot tell its value. It is because we do not know this that we presume. Doth the miser scatter his gold on the floor that his servant may steal it? Doth the mother trust her babe by the river-side? Oh! no; what we esteem most precious, we guard with the most anxious care. So, if Christians estimated religion at its proper rate, they never would presume.

4. Ignorance of what we are, and where we stand. We say, "I have a good disposition, and none of those passions that some have; I can stand secure." Take heed, Christian, thou hast a heart of unbelief; therefore watch thou both night and day.

5. Pride —

(1) Of talent. How many that flamed like comets in the sky of the religious world have been quenched in darkness!

(2) Of grace. A man says, "I have great faith, I shall not fall." "I have fervent love," says another, "there is no danger of my going astray." He who boasts of grace, has little grace to boast of. But there are some who think their graces can keep them, knowing not that the stream must flow constantly from the fountain head, else the bed of the brook shall soon be dry, and ye shall see the pebbles at the bottom.

(3) Privileges. "I take the sacrament, I have been baptized; I attend such and such a ministry." Take heed, pride cometh before a fall.

II. SHOW THE DANGER. He who thinks he stands is in danger of a fall. Because such a man —

1. In the midst of temptation will be sure to be more or less careless. He is off his guard; he is not ready to parry the stroke of the evil one.

2. Will not be careful to keep out of the way of temptation, but rather will run into it. Presumptuous men will say they can go into sin, they are so full of moral strength.

3. Will not use the means of grace. I know some professedly religious people who stop away from the house of God because they conceive they are so advanced that they do not want it. They fancy that means are intended for weaker Christians; and leaving those means, they fall.

4. Quenches the Spirit who delights to dwell in the low places. He leaves every heart where pride dwelleth; that evil spirit of Lucifer he abhors.

III. GIVE THE COUNSEL. "Take heed," because —

1. So many have fallen. Could I take you into the wards of that hospital where lie sick and wounded Christians, I could make you tremble.

2. A fall will so much damage the cause of Christ. Nothing has hurt religion one thousandth part so much as the fall of God's people.

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