PRIDE by Albert Stone

Seventh-Day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Thursday, January 1, 1880

FromAdvent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 55, No. 1

PRIDE

By Albert Stone

BY ELD. ALBERT STONE.

Pride is defined as the master-sin and the first-born of the devil. It is the forerunner of destruction. Prov. 16:18. The unsanctified heart is greatly in love with it, though its manifestation is usually called by another name. One writer says: “Pride is the high opinion that a poor, little, contracted soul entertains of itself. It manifests itself by distress and rage when slighted, impatience of contradiction, and opposition to God himself.” The evil effects of pride are a deep which no man can fathom.

It was the first sin that entered the world, and it seems the last to be conquered. Meekness and humility are its reverse. Pride is a sin which is especially abhorrent to God. His richest blessings and saving mercies come to such as are poor and of a contrite spirit, and tremble at his word. Those who revere God and his works will strive to overcome their pride. With it, pure religion can have no sympathy or agreement; yet many professed Christians strive to harmonize these principles, and induce them to love and fellowship each other.

No sin pleads more importunately for indulgence than does pride, and no pleadings are more successful. The pride of fashionable dress and gay equipage, like the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet, is seen standing where it ought not. This gigantic monstrosity has forced an entrance into the temple of God, and threatens more serious damage to the cause of present truth than the Roman army could effect in Jerusalem. The love of frivolity and fashion sways too many hearts among us as a people. Painful observation proves the truth of this proposition.

Wrong influences and forbidden practices are seeking to gain a foothold among us. We feel this matter like fire shut up in our bones; we cannot hold our peace. Are the demands of the goddess of fashion so imperious that the plain testimonies of inspired prophets, of apostles, and of Christ, must give way before them? If the Lord be God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him. We cannot serve two masters. At whose bidding do ladies incase themselves in the tight-fitting, fashionable, trailing dress, with head-gear and other fixtures to match?

God, by the prophet (Isa. 3), denounces terrible calamities upon the daughters of Zion who are guilty of these things. Does God mean anything by these threatenings? Is there any force in what Paul, Peter, James, and other inspired men, have written on this subject? Some do not seem to heed the good counsel of the Lord as it relates to this matter. They say, at the same time, that the fourth commandment is binding. Oh, yes; we are thankful for the light on the Sabbath; we rejoice that we have a name and place with the people that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.

But what does the faith of Jesus require? Are you striving to obey the gospel of Jesus Christ? Let us test this matter right here, by the very rule by which you must be judged. Hear Paul: “In like manner, also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broidered hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array, but (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.” 1 Tim. 2: 9, 10. Hear Peter: “Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.” Other texts might be quoted, but these are sufficient.

Now, if we observe the Sabbath, and yet disregard other plain duties by conformity to the ridiculous fashions of the world, and do this in spite of warning and reproof, thus grieving the Holy Spirit and retarding the work of God, our religion is vain and our profession a lie. I speak not now of such as have just professed the truth, and have not had opportunity to gain an experience, and to learn fully the sentiment of the church and the mind of God in regard to these things. May the Lord pity them and save them, in spite of the bad example of those who ought to be their teachers. But I speak of those who know these things, and do them not. Such should realize that their course is a just cause of grief to those who bear the burden of the cause, and a breach of solemn covenant vows. Is it not, moreover, an insult to God, whose behests they so lightly esteem?

If any say they do not see these things in the light in which they are here presented, is it not because the god of this world has blinded their mind, lest the light of the glorious gospel of the Son of God should shine unto them? An accepted gospel will kill these things, as surely as the frosts of autumn will cause the forest leaves to fall to the ground.