King Uzziah and the Same Sickness

Learn too how Uzziah, the ancestor of the king we have been speaking of, was cast down by the pride of empty glory. He too was praised in all things by the witness of Scripture, highly commended for his virtue, and won countless triumphs by the merit of his devotion and faith. “And the name of Uzziah went out,” we are told, “for the Lord helped him and had made him strong. But when he was made strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction, and he neglected the Lord his God.” You see another example of a most terrible downfall, and how two men so upright and excellent were undone by their very triumphs and victories. From this you see how dangerous the successes of prosperity usually are. Those whom adversity could not harm are ruined by prosperity unless they are careful; and those who have escaped the danger of death in the clash of battle fall before their own trophies and triumphs. [a]