And in that we take our refuge, in that we find our comfort, in that our hope must surely rest for time and for eternity. It is an evil as it were innate in us, that we become elated and proud whenever God deals bountifully with us. Men arrogate too much to themselves when they think that they excel in anything. All who exalt themselves wage war with God. Men sin more through insolence and pride than through ignorance.
Nothing is more contrary to faith than pride.
If we truly believe that we do receive every thing good from God, we cannot glory, as if we did not receive it. In proportion as we believe this, we cannot glory in ourselves, in any respect, but in God the giver of every good and perfect gift. We have received it. Then we cannot glory against those who have it not, but our conduct towards them will be full of modesty and humility, of pity and compassion. We know, in general, but little of the word of God as it ought to be known, and we are very much disposed to remain in contented ignorance of what God has written for our instruction.