Bringing a Knife to a Gunfight

“We have many occasions to be puffed up in self-conceit. We see ourselves grow in age, in degrees, in learning, in honour, in reputation and estimation. To many of us God gives an abundant supply of his gifts. But there are many temptation to allure us to pride and over-inflated opinions of our own value . . . if we follow the direction of our proud natures and trust in our own ability, gifts and learning, we are using carnal weapons in a spiritual warfare” (Perkins, The Art of Prophesying, p. 129).