1889 Watch Tower - A2Z.org

*So applied by the canonists, and so quoted by Pope BonifaceVIII., Extrav. C. "unam sanctum."+That word is heresy (airesis). "As concerning this sect [i.e.heresy] we know that it is everywhere spoken against." (Acts28:22.) So Acts 5:17; 15:5; 26:5. In all these instances heresy istranslated sect. But in 1 Cor. 11:19 we read, "There must be alsoheresies amongst you," or if we choose, sects, or denominations,"for one saith, I am of Paul, and another of Apollos." (1 Cor.3:4.) Then again, Gal. 5:20. "The works of the flesh aremanifest, which are these, adultery, fornication, uncleanness,lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulation,wrath, strife, seditions, heresies"--or sects or denominations.====================R1131 : page 8THE ANATOMY OF CONCEIT.Every man sees with his own eyes. He discovers in the worldonly what his capacity and range of vision fit him to see. Soevery man thinks and judges and estimates other men andhimself according to standards and limitations peculiar to hisown mind. The eye of the soul has its limit of vision. Many aman has no right estimate of his fellow men, because hemeasures them by the false standards of his own thinking. Stillmore men have no right estimate of themselves. Wrongestimates of others and of ourselves are sure to be foundtogether sooner or later; they spring from the same root, namely,a bad standard or a false application of good standards. In thisway a man may either underestimate or overestimate himself.Thus arises conceit. This quality is simply erroneous selfmeasurement.Conceit implies a narrow and superficial knowledge of theworld. As in perception we determine the size of things bycomparison of them with other things, so we estimate men andourselves by comparison. The earth seems very great to us whenwe cross its oceans and traverse its continents. But when wepursue the astronomer's reasoning, and learn that there areworlds in comparison with which our planet is little more than afloating particle of dust, our estimate of its relative size andimportance is wholly changed. A better knowledge of theuniverse humbles our judgment concerning our world as a partof the creation of God. In like manner, all self-estimates arerelative. In self-conceit, man dwarfs the universe in order tomagnify himself. With a true conception of the majesty of theuniverse, and of the wisdom and power revealed in it, conceit isimpossible. The mind is overwhelmed with the impression of itsweakness in the presence of that gigantic system of things inwhich it finds itself.