Elimination of pride
Spiritual Experiences 170. On the Punishment of pride, i.e. of trust in oneself
From actual experience I was allowed by God the Messiah’s mercy to learn how self-trust is punished by the pain of dejection. There was deep grief, unceasing lamentation, accompanied by near despair of any salvation. But I did observe that in the midst of the grieving and lamenting, hope of salvation was constantly present, which softened the pain. Otherwise, pride is also suppressed by a seemingly spontaneous submission, causing a person to desire nothing but lowly things – but this is a gift of God the Messiah. 1747, the 24th day of August (old calendar). A continual compassion also attended me. I distinctly perceived at the time that an evil spirit was attacking, and that God the Messiah was ever assisting by inspiring hope of salvation.
