Luke 1:46-55 And Mary said, My soul does magnify the Lord,… As weeds naturally grow in rich soil, so pride is commonly engendered by prosperity. The devil and his angels when they were in heaven, and desired to usurp the place of God; our first parents when they were in Eden, and aspired to be as gods; Haman when he was the favourite of Ahasuerus, and wished everybody to honour him; David when he became great, and commanded Joab to number Israel that he might know how mighty a king he was; — are Scripture illustrations of pride and its results. Bajazet, Sultan of the Turks about five hundred years ago, was a great conqueror, till at length he was completely defeated by Timur, the Emir and general of the Tartars. In reply to Timur's question, " Had you conquered what would you have done with me?" Bajazet haughtily answered, "Put you in an iron cage, and exhibited you wherever I went." "Proud man," angrily replied Timur, "it shall be done so to thee;" and for about three years Bajazet was exhibited like a wild beast, till, in his misery, he killed himself by beating his head against the bars of his cage. When the first Napoleon was preparing to invade Russia, a lady, trying to dissuade him, said, "Man proposes, but God disposes;" "Madame," he proudly answered, "I dispose, as well as propose." It was remarked that from that time he never prospered. "Great gifts are beautiful as Rachel, but pride makes them barren as she was." "A proud heart and a lofty mountain are never fruitful." (H. R. Burton.) Parallel Verses KJV: And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, |
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