Chapter XI.
The instance of King Uzziah who was overcome by the
taint of the same malady.
Of
Uzziah, the ancestor of this
king of whom we have been speaking, himself also praised in all things
by the witness of the
Scripture, after great commendation for
his virtue, after countless triumphs which he achieved by the merit of
his devotion and faith, learn how he was cast down by the pride of
vainglory. “And,” we are told, “the name of Uzziah
went forth, for the Lord helped him and had strengthened him. But when
he was made strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction, and he
neglected the Lord his God.”
1011
You behold
another instance of a most terrible downfall, and see how two men so
upright and excellent were undone by their very triumphs and victories.
Whence you see how dangerous the successes of prosperity generally are,
so that those who could not be injured by adversity are ruined, unless
they are careful, by prosperity; and those who in the conflict of
battle have escaped the danger of death fall before their own trophies
and triumphs.
1011
2 Chron. xxvi. 15, 16
.