The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-06-11
"Wise In His Own COncelt."

Snow, q little below these mountains,
on the left hand, lieth the country of
Conceit; from which country there
comes into the way in which the pill
grims walked a little crooked lane.
There, therefore, they met with very
brisk lad, who came out of that coun-
try, and his name was Ignorance. In
this "Brisk lad," Bunyan pictures self
conceit and its results.
Solomon never uttered truer word
than when he said: "Seest thou man
wise in his own conceit; there is more
hope Of fool than of him." Religious
ly, it is easier to deal with q drunkard,
debauchee or q harlot than with
conceited person. There is more hope of
success with the former. Business men
understand how this conceit works in
ordinary affairs, The boy, the clerk,
who "knows it ALL" has no fear of fail
ure, only wants an opportunity to exer-
else his wonderful gifts, is ready for any
position, the higher the better-this is
not the one whom the business man
wants.
"The brisk lad" from the country of
Conceit, is not the one who promises
well for the future; but it is the humble
lad, ready and eager to learn, willing
TO put his hand to anything, and whose
only plea is willingness to try, and to
do the best he can. The latter may not
have the natural quickness or skill of
the former, but even stupidity and
clumsiness, with eagerness to improve,
have in them more upon which to base
hope than intellectual quickness and
natural aptitude, with conceit Not q
few are the failures to succeed in busi-
ness springing from conceit. Emphat-
ically is the same thing true in relig-
ious matters. There is more infdelity
and skepticism, Of the blatant sort, COM
ing from self-conceit than from any
other source, unless it be from vice or
wrong living, and that springing from
conceit is the more hopeless.
This produces the kind of skeptics
who are proud OF their disbelief, and
brag of it. Instead of asking how a be-
liever in the Bible interprets and ex-
plains the account of Jonah, they ask:
"What do you think of the nautical ex-
periences OF JonahP" Instead of argu-
ing reverently or respectfully concern
ing the proof Of the resurrection of
Christ, they ask: "How can l take the
evidence Of Tom, Dick and Harry
against my senses?" There are doubt
ers and questioners who are entitled to
the warmest sympathy and the kindest
treatment; but q self-conceited skeptic,
the "brisk lad" mouthing the cant OF
disbelief, is simply contemplate, and
30 hopeless case as to forbid wasting
time and strength upon him.
When ono Of these brisk lads takes n
religious turn, he is not only insuffer-
able, but has in him little upon which
to base hope. He boasts Of his own
good-feeling, consistency and useful
ness, and lectures others, who in prin-
ciple and good sense are far his
superiors. He stands so high in his
own judgment that he sees little need
of going higher, is so strong that he
feels little need Of help. Ten to one,
he is soon out Of the way, and then
loudly proclaims the hypocrisy of the
church, or joins the ranks of Dragging
skeptics. Look out for the "brisk lad"
from the country Of Conceit. Do not
let him get inside you.-Golden Rule.