Truth Afresh

The manna favored Israel’s meat,
Was gathered day by day;
When all the host was served, the heat
Melted the rest away.
 
In vain to hoard it up they tried,
Against tomorrow came;
It then bred worms and putrefied,
And proved their sin and shame.
 
’Twas daily bread and would not keep,
But must be still renewed;
Faith should not want a hoard or heap,
But trust the LORD for food.
 
The truths by which the soul is fed,
Must thus be had afresh;
For notions resting in the head,
Will only feed the flesh.
 
However true, they have no life,
Or unction to impart;
They breed the worms of pride and strife,
But cannot cheer the heart.
 
Nor can the best experience past,
The life of faith maintain;
The brightest hope will faint at last,
Unless supplied again.
 
Dear Lord, while we in prayer are found,
Do thou the Manna give;
O! let it fall on all around,
That we may eat and live.
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I am still chewing on this one.  The fourth, fifth, and sixth stanza are intriguing to me.  I understand what Newton is saying here, but I am not certain that I fully grasp it. 

What he is saying is that we cannot simply get by with past knowledge, past experience, or a past work of grace.  Our faith and experience must be vibrant and alive.  Just like the Israelites needed new manna everyday so we need a new experience of grace each day.  He is saying something similar to Jerry Bridges that we need to preach the gospel to ourselves every day. 

Where I am stumbling is in understanding the connection between rotting manna and pride.  How is it that “notions resting in the head will only feed the flesh”?  What do you think?  How does a truth embraced coldly breed pride and strife?

I think it may have something to do with this: The Necessity of Personal Wrestling.