This most
hateful disposition!
(J. A.
James, "The
Sunday School Teacher's Guide")
Temptations
vary with our circumstances, but there
is no scene from which they are entirely excluded.
There is no situation, however obscured by solitude,
or elevated by piety--from which all temptations can
be effectually shut out. The fact is, that as our chief
danger arises from our own evil heart. Until we can
be separated from our vile selves, we shall look in
vain for a spot sequestered from the attack of
temptation.
One temptation to
which Sunday School teachers
are
exposed, is a spirit of PRIDE.
To be a teacher of others;
to be invested with authority;
to be regarded as an oracle;
to be listened to with deference;
is a situation which has
its temptations, and which
some weak minds have found
quite too powerful for
the growth of humility.
You mistake, if you suppose that merely being a teacher
of children, is too small to induce pride. Pride is a vice
that does not dwell exclusively in king's houses, wear
only
elegant clothing, and feed sumptuously every day
upon
lofty titles, fame or affluence. Pride . . .
is generated in the
depravity of our nature,
accommodates itself to our
circumstances,
and adapts itself to our taste!
Pride is found as often in the poor cottage, as in the elegant
mansion. Consciousness of superiority--whatever be the
object of comparison--is the basis of this
most hateful
disposition of pride; and this may be supplied even from
the office of a Sunday School teacher!
Be watchful therefore, over your own heart--for the loss
of humility is
a destruction in the Christian character,
which cannot
be repaired by the most splendid talents,
or the most active
zeal.