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When destruction walks through the land, it casts its shadow; it is in the shape of pride. When honour visits a man's house, it casts its shadow before it; it is in the fashion of humility.

I. THE VICE OF PRIDE.

1. Describe pride. It is a groundless thing; a brainless thing; the maddest thing; a protean thing, ever changing its shapes.

2. The seat of pride. The true throne of pride is the heart of man.

3. The consequence of pride — destruction.

II. THE GRACE OF HUMILITY. A good man may have honour in this life. But God forbids our making that honour a cloak for pride,

1. What is humility? To think rightly of ourselves. Humility is to make a right estimate of ourselves. It is no humility for a man to think less of himself than he ought.

2. What is the seat or throne of humility? It is the heart. I hate, of all things, the humility that lives in the face. Cringing men that bow before everybody are truly proud men; humble men think of themselves so little, they do not think it worth while to stoop to serve themselves.

3. What comes of humility? "Before honour is humility." Humility is the herald which ushers in the great King. He who has humility will have honour afterwards. Apply this spiritually.

( C. H. Spurgeon.)

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KJV: Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.

WEB: Before destruction the heart of man is proud, but before honor is humility.