A God-Given Sensitivity Towards Sin
”Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart.”—2 Chronicles 32:28
Outward, gross, abominable sins, self-righteous pharisees cry out against, and profess to humble themselves for; but to mourn over and be humbled for heart-sins and spiritual pride, is peculiar to gracious souls only. We read of two things in the word, the most opposite to each other. Hear and adore the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, ‘humbleth himself to visit man.’ Psalm 113:6. Hear, and be astonished: ‘Man opposeth and exalteth himself against God.’ 2 Thess. 2:4. ‘Pride proceeds out of the heart,’ saith Jesus: this makes us murmur against the God of providence, fretful under his dispensations, forgetful of his benefits, and unthankful for his mercies. Pride opposeth the sovereign God of grace, and would snatch the crown of glory from the everlasting God of love, and place it upon the head of that guilty creature of a day, man. Pride swells the haughty mind with indignation against the truths of Jehovah; that salvation is wholly by grace, free favour, and unmerited love. Unconditional election of God the Father by Jesus Christ, is contrary to the proud vain thoughts of man; therefore man is against this, for it leaves him nothing whereof to glory in himself that he has done or can do, to fulfil terms and conditions, to gain an interest in salvation, or procure a title to glory.
Here God alone is glorified, and Christ exalted; grace reigns, and truth is established. The poor sinner’s mouth is stopped, his honour laid in the dust; and in self-abasement he humbles himself for the pride of his heart. So grace triumphs over all the ruin of the fall, and all boasting is excluded. Oh righteous Father, thy will be done, in sovereign grace and electing love. Thou hast a right to do what thou wilt with thine own. Grace, favour, mercy, faith, repentance, hope, peace, love, holiness, heaven, all is thy free gift by Jesus. None hath any claim on thee; guilt has forfeited all. But to the wretched and helpless thou hast made thyself a debtor by free promise and sovereign proclamation in Christ Jesus. Do I see this? Is my heart soft and yielding to submit to salvation by grace only? Wherefore is this to me, while others are blinded to the truth, and their hearts hardened against it. The work is thine, all the glory is due to thee alone; ‘even so, Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight.’—Such are the sentiments of gracious humble souls, to whom he giveth more grace. God resisteth the proud, who oppose the Father’s electing love; and the righteousness of his Son; but giveth grace to the humble, whose hope is not in himself, but in the Lord his God. ‘Humble yourselves therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.’ 1 Pet. 5:6.
William Mason (1719-1791) was a High-Calvinist author. For many years he served as a Justice of the Peace, and in 1783 was appointed a Magistrate. He served as editor of the Gospel Magazine before and after the editorship of Augustus Toplady. He is best known for a morning and evening devotional entitled, “A Spiritual Treasury For The Children Of God.”
