The pride of life
A third symptom of this fatal disease, the love of the world, which is so deeply rooted in our nature, is the pride of life (1 John 2:16), the desire of praise, of the honor that comes from men (John 5:44). This the greatest admirers of human nature allow to be strictly natural, as natural as the sight or hearing, or any other of the external senses. And are they ashamed of it, even men of letters, men of refined and improved understanding? Far from it, for they glory in it! They applaud themselves for their love of applause! Yes, eminent Christians, so called, make no difficulty of adopting the saying of the old, vain Heathen: Not to regard what men think of us is the mark of a wicked and abandoned mind. So that to go calm and unmoved through honor and dishonor, through evil report and good report (2 Corinthians 6:8), is with them a sign of one that is indeed not fit to live. Away with such a fellow from the earth (Acts 22:22)! But would one imagine that these men had ever heard of Jesus Christ or his apostles? Or that they knew who it was that said: How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and seek not the honor which comes from God only (John 5:44)? But if this is really so, if it is impossible to believe, and consequently to please God, so long as we receive or seek honor from one another, and seek not the honor which comes from God only, then in what a condition are all mankind! The Christians as well as Heathens! Since they all seek honor from one another! Since it is as natural for them to do so, themselves being the judges, as it is to see the light which strikes upon their eye, or to hear the sound which enters their ear. Yes, since they account it the sign of a virtuous mind to seek the praise of men, and of a vicious one, to be content with the honor that comes from God only!
1771 text
11. *A third symptom of this fatal disease the love of the world, which is so deeply rooted in our nature, is the pride of life, the desire of praise, of the honour that cometh of men. This the greatest admirers of human nature allow to be strictly natural: as natural as the sight or hearing, or any other of the external senses. And are they ashamed of it, even men of letters, men of refined and improved understanding? So far from it, that they glory therein! They applaud themselves for their love of applause! Yea, eminent Christians, so called, make no difficulty of adopting the saying of the old, vain Heathen, Animi dissoluti est & nequam negligere quid de se homines sentiant: “Not to regard what men think of us, is the mark of a wicked and abandoned mind.” So that to go calm and unmoved thro’ honour and dishonour, thro’ evil report and good report, is with them a sign of one that is indeed not fit to live; away with such a fellow from the earth. But would one imagine, that these men had ever heard of Jesus Christ or his apostles? Or that they knew who it was that said, How can ye believe, who receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour which cometh of God only? But if this be really so, if it be impossible to believe, and consequently to please God, so long as we receive or seek honour one of another, and seek not the honour which cometh of God only: then in what a condition are all mankind! The Christians as well as Heathens! Since they all seek honour one of another! Since it is as natural for them so to do, themselves being the judges, as it is to see the light which strikes upon their eye, or to hear the sound which enters their ear: yea, since they account it the sign of a virtuous mind, to seek the praise of men; and of a vicious one, to be content with the honour that cometh of God only!
About this text
Rendered in modern English, to be read and heard. Open the 1771 text under each part to check the claims and the scripture.
Rendered in modern English. The 1771 panel is his own Pine printing of the Works. It is public domain.
Catalogue & scope
Sermon 44 in the 1771 Works. Genesis 6:5.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.