Durum telum Necessitas. La poverta e la madre di tutti l'arti.—Italian proverb. 64 CONCLUSION.-Let us therefore grapple boldly with distress, and be of good courage, for a way will be found for escape." THEME XXIII. Pride is the Bane of Happiness. INTRODUCTION. An overweening conceit of our own superiority, accompanied with a mean opinion of every other person, will be the source of such constant annoyance as to embitter life. 1ST REASON.-A proud man esteems himself too highly, and is not satisfied unless others regard him with a reverence commensurate to his own conceit: But as none will do this except from interested motives, he will feel constantly annoyed at every one with whom he comes in contact. 2ND REASON.- A proud man thinks too meanly of every person except himself, and is not willing to pay them that respect which they justly deserve; in consequence of which, he is constantly subjecting himself to the retaliations of their wounded pride. 3RD REASON. The proud man is never happy while another is superior, or held even in equal estimation with himself But as every proud spirit must come into constant collision with persons of higher rank, or more exalted talent, or wider fame, or at least more ardent esteem and love than himself, his life will be a perpetual warfare between envy, self-conceit, and mortified pride. 4TH REASON. Every one dislikes a haughty spirit, and pays it unwilling service; in consequence of which the proud man does not receive that portion of homage which is due to him, and the thread of disgust runs through even the eye and lip reverence which interest accords to him. 5TH REASON.-Every one is pleased at exposing a proud man's foibles, and making the most of them; But as proud men are more sensitive than others, their peace of mind is in continual jeopardy even from the squandering glances of a fool." 6TH REASON. The wants of nature are few, but the wants of pride are boundless; and if we examine into the matter we shall find, that by far the largest portion of our mortifications and difficulties arise, not from a lack of what is needful, but from the withholding of some empty homage, or some mark of honour, or some form of etiquette, which our pride conceived to be our due. 7TH REASON. Independent of other men, the very spirit of pride contains the elements of unhappiness and the proud man is equally miserable in his own private room, as when subject to the annoyances of a disrespectful crowd. 8TH REASON. The spirit of pride is mortified by retrospection, and harassed by anticipations. It loves to brood on imaginary insults received, to plot schemes of revenge, and study to annoy those who have given annoyance. Its prospect for the future is no less cheering, being haunted with the fear of similar grievances, and the hopelessness of ever attaining the position which is considered due. SIMILES.-When the Peacock spreads his gorgeous tail in the swelling of his pride, the other birds instantly cry out against his ugly legs and voice. Three silver trouts being permitted to choose whatever they pleased, one asked for wings, and perished in the desert; one asked for knowledge, and starved through fear of danger; but the third, in humility, left the choice in the hand of God, and lived happily. A Stork seeing an Eagle soar aloft through the air, thought he would be more majestic if he did the same, and accordingly mounted up on high: He next saw the eagle pounce upon a lamb, and, making a similar attempt, broke his leg in his descent. A proud Oak, which stood on the banks of a river, was blown into the water by a violent storm; and as it floated down the troubled current, passed a Reed which was still standing uninjured. The oak asked the reed how such a feeble thing could resist a storm which had blown down one so sturdy as himself? "Why, sir," said the modest reed, "I bowed to the blast, and it went over me; but you were too proud to bend, and the storm broke you." The humble rill is sweet and clear, but the proud torrent is muddy and turbulent. The modest violet is sweet-scented and long-lived; but the proud tulip blooms for a few hours, and is without perfume. Alba ligustra cadunt, vaccinia nigra leguntur.- Virgil. HISTORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS. The pride of Alexander made him believe himself a God, and this folly led him into every kind of extravagance, even to drink more wine than any other. man to prove his superior nature. This absurd pride threw him into a fever, of which he died in the prime of life. Haman, though placed in the court of Ahasuerus above all the princes of the realm, was wretched, because Mordecai, a poor Jew, would not bow down to him. This overweening pride led Haman into a murderous plot against the whole race of Israel: which being found out, Haman was hanged on a gallows he had caused to be erected for Mordecai.-Esther, iii. v. vi. vii. Lucifer the archangel, unwilling that the Son of God should be advanced before him, rebelled against his Maker, and was cast into the pit with all the fallen angels. Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, being too proud to submit to Moses, were swallowed up alive by the yawning earth with their 250 followers. Nebuchadnezzar, through pride, was so infatuated as to believe himself a wild beast, and attempted to live upon grass, like an ox. Herod Agrippa, in his pride of heart, assumed to be a God; but, being stricken by the Almighty, was eaten up of worms and died most miserably. Tarquinius Superbus of Rome. Capaneus, one of the seven heroes who marched from Argos against Thebes, dared to defy the gods in his arrogant pride, and was struck by Zeus with lightning, as he was scaling the walls of Thebes. Ajax the Telamonian contended with Ulysses for the armour of Achilles, and being beaten in the contest, was so wounded in his pride that he became raving mad. One day rushing from his tent he fell upon a flock of sheep, which he fancied were his enemies, and ultimately put an end to his own life. Acts, viii. 9, 10. Mark, x. 41, 42. Luke, xi. 43, and xiv. 7-9. QUOTATIONS.-He that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.-Prov. xvii. 19. Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.-Prov. xvi. 18. When pride cometh then cometh shame.-Prov. xi. 2. A man's pride shall bring him low.-Prov. xxix. 23. Only with pride cometh contention.-Prov. xiii. 10. Proud and haughty scorner is his name who dealeth in proud wrath.-Prov. xxi. 24. Seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not: for behold I will bring evil upon all such, saith the Lord. -Jer. xlv. 5. D* God hath a special indignation at pride above all sins. -Bp. Hall. Be not wise in your own conceit.—Rom. xii. 16. By that sin fell the angels, how can man then, Pride that dines on vanity, sups with contempt.— Franklin. All pride is abject and mean.-Dr. Johnson. A proud man, while he despises others, neglects himself.-Bacon. Pride is the ivy of virtue.-Bacon. Of all the causes which conspire to blind Men would be angels, angels would be gods.-Pope. Superbiam, fastidium, arrogantiam, fugiamus.-Cicero. Ex arrogantia,, odium: ex insolentia, arrogantia.Cicero. Via virtutis, est via honoris. Invidia Siculi non invenere tyranni tormentum majus. Dei istius recordissimi mentem cura metuque terrebant. -Cicero. |