Pride

Pride, with a desire of liberty, makes men think it to be a diminishing of greatness and freedom either to be curbed, or to curb ourselves. We love to be absolute and independent; but as it brought ruin upon our nature in Adam, so it will upon our persons. Men, as Luther said, are born with a pope in their belly, they hate to give an account, even to themselves, their wills are a kingdom to them.
Let us, therefore, when any lawless passions begin to stir, deal with our souls as God did with Jonah, 'Do you well to be angry' (Jon. 4:4), that you should fret this way? This will be a means to make us quiet; for what weak reasons have we often of such strong emotions. We think, 'Such a man gave me no respect, another looked kindlier upon someone else than upon me,' etc. You have some of Haman's spirit that for a little neglect would ruin a whole nation (Esth. 5:13). Passion presents men that are innocent as guilty to us, and because we will not seem to be mad without reason, pride commands the mind to justify anger, and so one passion maintains and feeds another. It would prevent much trouble in us and others, if at the first beginnings of any unruly passions and affections, they would be taken control over. Like ill-nurtured children, who, being not chastened in time, that it is often above the power of parents to bring them in order. A child set at liberty, said Solomon, 'breeds shame, at length, to his parents' (Prov. 29:15). It is a great fault in bringing up children, for fear of taking down their spirits, not to take down their pride, and get victory of their affections.
A proud, unbroken heart brings more trouble often than all the world beside. It is better to be taken down in youth, than to be broken in pieces by great crosses in age. Early in life or later, self-denial and victory over self is absolutely necessary; otherwise faith, which is a grace that requires self-denial, will never rule in the soul.

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Richard Sibbes 'Refreshment for the Soul.'
The Soul's Conflict with Itself, Works, vol. 1, pp. 146-47
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