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I. WE MUST NOT THINK TOO HIGHLY OF OURSELVES, especially of —

1. Our knowledge (Jeremiah 9:23; 1 Corinthians 8:1). We know little either in —

(1)  Naturals, of which we know but few, and then largely by conjectures.

(2)  Spirituals. We know but little of God (Hosea 4:1; Jeremiah 9:3); of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:2); of our souls; of our estate as to God (2 Corinthians 13:5); as to the world to come, and all knowledge we owe to God (Matthew 11:25).

2. Our gifts.

(1)  None can perform their duty aright (Ecclesiastes 7:20; 2 Corinthians 3:5).

(2)  What gifts we have we are bound to God for (1 Corinthians 4:7).

(3)  We can do no good with it without God (John 15:5; 1 Corinthians 3:6).

3. Our graces.

(1)  Few have all.

(2)  Those we have are imperfect (Philippians 3:11-13).

(a)  Love to God (Matthew 22:37).

(b)  Faith in Christ (Luke 17:5).

(c)  Repentance of sin (2 Corinthians 7:10).

(d)  Justice to our neighbour (Matthew 7:12).

(e)  Charity to the poor (1 Corinthians 16:2; 2 Corinthians 9:6).

(3) If we think too highly of them, they are no true graces (Matthew 11:29; 1 Timothy 1:15; Ephesians 3:8).

II. WHAT CAUSE, THEN, IS THERE NOT TO BE PROUD —

1. Of strength (Jeremiah 9:23),

(1)  Wherein the beasts excel us.

(2)  Whereof we may any moment be deprived (Isaiah 2:22).

2. Of riches.

(1)  Which cannot make us happy.

(2)  But keep us from happiness (Matthew 19:23, 26).

(3)  Which we must part with before we can be eternally happy.

3. Honours.

(1)  Which depend on the thoughts of others.

(2)  May deprive us of true honours (John 12:43).

III. STUDY HUMILITY.

1. Towards God (Micah 6:8; Isaiah 57:17; Isaiah 66:2). Considering —

(1)  How many sins you are guilty of (Psalm 19:12).

(2)  How many you are defiled with (Isaiah 1:5, 6).

2. Towards men. Consider —

(1)  You know not but they are better and more dear to God than yourselves (Romans 14:3, 4; Philippians 2:3).

(2)  If you excel them in some things, they may excel you in others (ver. 4).

(3)  The more proud you are, the less cause have you to be proud; pride causing —

(a)  Division among men (Proverbs 13:10).

(b)  Separation from God (1 Peter 5:5).

(Bp. Beveridge.)

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KJV: For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

WEB: For I say, through the grace that was given me, to every man who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think reasonably, as God has apportioned to each person a measure of faith.