If the heart be once filled with a vain self-confidence, not alone does it lose the Divine assistance, but its own strength also is unnerved, its vigilance relaxed, and it falls an easy prey to Satan's snares. Thus have we often read how some great army, strong in numbers and in warlike skill, being filled with an over-confidence of victory, and so despising the foe with whom it had to fight, has fallen into the hidden ambush, or been taken unawares and smitten by an inferior enemy. Thus is it in the heavenly war. If God be on our side, and His strength be made perfect in our weakness, then we need not fear what man or Satan can do against us. But if God turn away His face in displeasure from the proud and confident heart, it will fall as Peter fell, and mourn as Peter mourned.

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