Everything on this side of hell is mercy. By Thomas Brooks. Proverbs chapter 13, verse 10. Pride only breeds quarrels.

Labor every day to be more humble and more lowly and more little in your own eyes Who am I, says the humble soul, that God should cross me in this mercy and take away that mercy and pass a sentence of death upon every mercy? I am not worthy of the least mercy. I deserve not a crumb of mercy. I have forfeited every mercy.

It is only pride that puts men upon contending with God. A humble soul will lie quiet at the foot of God. it will be contented with bare necessities. A dinner of green herbs well suits the humble man's palate, whereas a fattened ox is but a coarse dish to a proud man's stomach. A humble heart thinks none are less than himself, nor any worse than himself. A humble heart looks upon small mercies as great mercies, and great afflictions as small afflictions. and small afflictions as no afflictions. He therefore sits mute and quiet under all. Do but keep humble, and you will keep silent before the Lord.

Pride kicks and flings and frets, but a humble man has his hand upon his mouth. Everything on this side of hell is mercy, much mercy, rich mercy to a humble soul. Therefore, he remains mute under God's smarting rod.

I was silent. I would not open my mouth. For you are the one who has done this. Psalm 39 verse 9.