Oséias 5:5

DISCOURSE: 1150
THE DANGER OF PRIDE

Oséias 5:5. The pride of Israel doth testify to his face: therefore shall Israel and Ephraim fall in their iniquity; Judah also shall fall with them.

ALL profess to hate pride; yet all are more or less infected with it. The very best of men are not wholly free from its influence. But, in the unregenerate, it is the governing principle of all their actions. It was one of the most distinguishing features in the character of Sodom [Note: Ezequiel 16:49.]. The professing people of God also were led captive by it. And were brought thereby under his just and heavy displeasure. We shall make some observations upon,

I. The prevalence of this sin—

The state of Israel was not peculiar to that nation. Human nature is in all ages the same. Nor does pride manifest itself more strongly any where than amongst ourselves,

1. Nationally—

[There is no nation that boasts more of its privileges, or that acknowledges less the hand of God in them, than Britain. If judgments come, we impute them to the misconduct of our government; and if success be vouchsafed to us, we ascribe it to our own skill in arts, or prowess in arms. And though confessedly our sins are manifold, no one thinks of national humiliation: so truly may it be said of us, as it was of Israel, “Our pride testifies to our face; and we do not return to the Lord our God, nor seek him for all this [Note: Oséias 7:10.].”]

2. Personally—

[Behold the careless sinner. What determined opposition is there in the hearts of many to the authority of God! They will not submit to his light and easy voke. If required to obey, they object to the command itself as severe and impracticable. If warned of the consequences of their disobedience, they make light of all God’s threatenings. If urged to receive the Gospel salvation, they deride it as foolishness [Note: 1 Coríntios 2:14.]. The language of their heart is, Who is Lord over us? We know not the Lord; neither will we obey his voice [Note: Salmos 12:4.Êxodo 5:2.]. That this proceeds from pride, there can be no doubt. God himself traces such conduct to this, as its proper source and principle [Note: Salmos 10:4.]. And doth not this “testify to the face” of many amongst us? Is not this the conduct which almost universally obtains? Yea, are not we sensible that it too justly describes, if not our present, yet certainly our former, state?

Behold also the self-righteous formalist. Persons of this description have kept themselves free from gross enormities, or perhaps have reformed their conduct after having given the rein to all their appetites; but their pride rises in proportion to their fancied attainments. They look with contempt on others who are openly immoral [Note: Isaías 65:5.], and bless themselves that they are not as other men [Note: Lucas 18:9; Lucas 18:11.]: meanwhile “they feel not the plague of their own heart.” They deny the representation which the Scripture gives of their fallen state [Note: Apocalipse 3:17.]. They cannot endure to think themselves deserving of God’s wrath, nor will they submit to be saved by the righteousness of God [Note: Romanos 10:3.]: and whence does all this originate? Surely pride and self-exaltation are properly pointed out as the spring from whence it flows [Note: Lucas 18:14.]: yet doth not this disposition also lamentably prevail? Doth it not “testify to the face” of some whom we are now addressing? Are there not some amongst ourselves who trust in their own wisdom, strength, and righteousness, instead of fleeing to Christ as blind, helpless, hopeless creatures? some also, who are too proud to accept salvation on the footing of publicans and harlots? yea, and some too, who will rather perish in their sins, than seek to have them purged away in the Redeemer’s blood?

I am grieved to add, Behold also many religious professors. None are more puffed up with pride than some who would be thought followers of the lowly Jesus. They are conceited of their knowledge, and will bear with none who do not pronounce their shibboleth. They profess indeed to believe that their hearts are deceitful and desperately wicked; yet they will never listen to instruction or reproof: nor can they be persuaded to deny their own will in any thing for the good of others. None are more ready than these to set up themselves in opposition to all constituted authorities. St. Jude speaks of them as “murmurers and complainers,” as “despising dominion and speaking evil of dignities [Note: Jude, ver. 8, 16.].” Nor are there any people under heaven to whom Solomon’s description of the proud man may be more fitly applied [Note: Provérbios 30:12.]—. Alas! does not this spirit also “testify to the face” of many? Perhaps there scarce ever was a period or a nation where such spurious religion prevailed in so great a degree. Surely it may well be numbered among the most heinous sins of this favoured land.]

Having followed the sin of Israel, what can we expect but to participate in,

II.

The judgment denounced against it—

To “fall” must certainly import some heavy judgment. This threatening was not fully accomplished but in the utter destruction of the Jewish nation. Nor can we hope to escape the displeasure of God while we harbour in our hearts an evil that is so offensive to him—
This must be said of us as a nation—
[We see at this moment the judgments executing upon other nations (France, Belgium, Poland, Russia) and can we hope that the cup shall not be put into our hands? Who can tell what a storm is gathering over us, or what ruin may ensue from the acts of our Government this very week [Note: June 19, 1831.]? Yet how few are crying to God as the occasion requires!]

But whatever occurs to us as a nation, the proud individually shall surely be dealt with according to their deserts—
[They will most generally fall in this world. In their own conceit their mountain stands so strong as to bid defiance to every assault. They think that they shall never be moved [Note: Salmos 30:6.]. But how irresistibly have the haughtiest monarchs been hurled from their throne [Note: Daniel 5:20; Daniel 5:23.]! How speedily have even the most powerful empires been brought to desolation [Note: Ezequiel 28:2; Ezequiel 28:6; Ezequiel 28:8; Isaías 14:12.]! How instantaneously have God’s judgments often marked the heinousness of this sin [Note: 2 Crônicas 32:25.Atos 12:23.]! If they be exalted for a time they are almost invariably brought low at last [Note: Salmos 73:6; Salmos 73:9; Salmos 73:18; Salmos 73:20.].

At all events they are absolutely certain to fall in the eternal world. If indeed they repented of their sin, they would find mercy with God. A broken and contrite heart he will never despise [Note: Salmos 51:17.]. Though he will resist the proud, yet he will give grace unto the humble. He will look on him with pleasure and complacency [Note: Isaías 57:15.]: but nothing can ever reconcile him to “a man that walketh in pride.” He will surely abase the proud [Note: Daniel 4:37.]. He has irreversibly decreed their utter destruction [Note: Malaquias 4:1.]. Nor shall the whole universe combined prevent the execution of his vengeance on one single individual amongst them [Note: Provérbios 16:5.]

The observance of ceremonial duties will never compensate for the want of true humility—
[Judah retained the forms of religion which Israel and Ephraim had cast away. Yet because Judah resembled Israel in their sin, they were to be involved in Israel’s calamity [Note: The text.]. Thus must all, however zealous and exemplary in other respects, be brought down and confounded before God [Note: Isaías 2:11.]. Even a preacher of righteousness, if lifted up with pride, shall fall into the condemnation of the devil [Note: 1 Timóteo 3:6.]. The rule laid down by God himself shall surely be observed to all eternity [Note: Lucas 18:14.]—.]

Infer—
1.

How excellent is the Gospel of Christ!

[Nothing but the Gospel ever did, or ever can, humble the soul. The law may terrify; but it is the Gospel alone that melts us into contrition. That no sooner reaches the heart, than it brings down our high looks. It turned, in an instant, thousands of blood-thirsty murderers, into meek, loving, and obedient followers of the Lamb [Note: Atos 2:37; Atos 2:41.]. And thus does it still operate on all who receive it in sincerity [Note: Atos 9:6; Atos 16:29; Atos 16:33.]. Let us then listen to it with delight. Let us pray, that a sight of the crucified Saviour may produce its due effect upon us [Note: Zacarias 12:10.]. And let us lothe ourselves the more in proportion as we are persuaded that God is pacified towards us [Note: Ezequiel 16:63.]

2. What need have we all to watch and pray!

[There are none who are out of the reach of this malignant principle. St. Paul, after having been caught up to the third heavens, was in danger of being overwhelmed by it [Note: 2 Coríntios 12:7.]. And who amongst us does not find that it is ready to puff us upon every occasion? Let us remember that this ruined the very angels in heaven. And that it must be mortified in us, if ever we would obtain mercy in the last day. Let us guard against the first risings of it in the heart; and, whenever it “testifies to our face,” let us implore mercy of the Lord, that the thought of our hearts may be forgiven us [Note: Atos 8:22.]. In this way we shall be preserved, though in the midst of danger; and be exalted in due time to glory, and honour, and immortality.]