3. Thirdly, The common works found in unregenerate souls de- ceive many, who cannot distinguish them from the special works of the Spirit in God's elect ; see that startling scripture, Heb. vi. 4. where you find, among the common operations of the Spirit upon apostates, that illumination which gives perspicuity to their minds in discerning spiritual truths, and that frequently with more distinctness and depth of judgment than some gracious souls attain unto; besides, it is the matter out of which many rare and excellent gifts are form- ed in admirable variety, which are singularly useful to others, as they are exercised in expounding the scriptures, defendmg the truths of Christ by solid arguments, preaching, praying, &c. and make tlie subject of them renowned and honoured in the church of God, whilst mean time, they are dazzled with their own splendour, and fatally ruined by them.
There you find also tasting as well as enlightening : so that they
* Dr. Goodwin's Child of light.
CAUSES OF SFLF-DECEIT. 523
seem to abound not only in knowledge, bnt in sense also ; i. e. in some kind of experience of what they know : for experience is the brinoino^ of things to the test of spiritual sense. They do taste or experience the good that comes by the promises of the word, and discoveries of heaven and glory, though they feel not experimentally the transforming efficacy of these things upon their own souls.
Now, that illumination furnishing them with excellent gifts (as be- fore was noted), enabling them to assent to gospel-truths, which the scripture calls faith, Acts viii. 12. and working in them conviction of sin, 1 Sam. xv. 24. reformation of life, 2 Pet. ii. 20. and touching their affections also with transient joy in the discovery of those truths. And this taste, which comes so near to the experience, which the sanctified soul enjoys, seems to put their condition beyond all contro- versy, and lay a foundation for their ill-built confidence: nothing is more apt to beget and nourish such a confidence than the meltings and workings of our affections about spiritual things ; for as a * grave divine hath well observed, such a man seems to have all that is re- quired of a Christian, and to have attained the very end of all know- ledge, which is operation and influence upon the affections. When they shall find heat in their affections, as well as light in their minds, how apt are they to say (as these self-deceivers in the text did) they " are rich, and have need of nothing."" Now of all the false signs of grace by which men cozen themselves, none are so dangerous and destructive to souls as those that come nearest true ones : nev^r doth Satan more effectually and securely manage his cheats than when he is transformed into an anfjel of light.
Among this sort of self-deceivers, how many gifted men, and, among that sort, some employed in the office of the ministry will be found, whose daily employment being about spiritual things, study- ing, preaching, praying, &c. do conclude themselves sanctified per- sons, because thev are conversant about sacred employments, as if the subject must be, because the object is sacred. O ! that such would seriously ponder these two scriptures, Matth. vii. 22. " Many " will say unto me in that day. Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied " in thy name ? and in thy name have cast out devils ? and in thy " name done many wonderful things t'^ And 1 Cor. ix. 27. — " lest " that by any means, when I have preached unto others, I myself " should be a cast-away."*"*
4. Lastly^ To add no more, this strengthens self-deceit exceeding- ly in many, viz. Their observations of, and comparing themselves with others. Thus the Pharisees (those gross self-deceivers) " trust- " ed in tliemselves that they were righteous, and despised others,'* Luke xviii. 9. Their low rating of others gave them that liigh rate and value of themselves. And thus the proverb is made good,
521- A SOLEMN WARNING TO ALL TROFESSORS,
Regnat luscus inter coecos ; he that hath but one eye is a king among" the blind.
Thus the false apostles cheated and befooled themselves, 2 Cor. X. 12. " But they measuring themselves by themselves, and com- *' paring themselves among themselves, are not wise."" God hath not made one man a measure or standard to another man, but his word is the common beam or scale to try all men.
These men are as sharp-sighted to not& other men's evils as their own excellencies ; to eye the miscarriages of others with derision, and their own performances with admiration.
They bless themselves when they behold the profane in their im- *' pieties, Luke xviii. 11. " God, I thank thee that I am not as other " men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican ;" q. d. O what a saint am I in comparison of these miscreants ! the Pharisee's religion you see runs all upon iiots ; a negative holiness is enough to him : and the measure he takes of it is by comparison of himself with others more externally vile than himself A. Christian may say with praise and humilit}^ " I am not as some men are ; but " though he knows nothing by himself, yet is he not thereby justi- *' fied,'"' 1 Cor. iv. 4. He neither rakes, together the enormities of the vilest, nor the infirmities of the hohest, to justify and applaud himself as these self-deceivers do. And these are the causes and occasions of that general deception, under which so great a part of the professing world bow dov/n and perish.
3. In the last place I shall improve this point variously, according to the importance and usefulness of it, with as much brevity and closeness of application as I can. And,
Use 1. Shall be for caution to professors. Before I tell you what use you should make of it, I must tell you what use you may not make of it.
First, Do not make this use of it ; to conclude from what hath been said, that all professors are but a pack of hypocrites, and that there is no truth nor integrity in any man : this is both intolerable arrogance to ascend the throne of God ; and unparalleled uncharit- ableness, to judge the hearts of all men.
Some men are as apt to conclude others to be hypocrites, by mea- suring their hearts by their own, as others are to conclude them- selves saints, by comparing their own excellencies with other men's corruptions : but, blessed be God ! there is some grain among the heap of chaff, some true diamonds among the counterfeit stones : the devil hath not the whole piece ; a remnant, according to election, belongs really to the Lord.
Secondly, Do not make this use of it, that assurance must needs be impossible, because so many professors are found to be self-de- eeivers.
A SOLEMN WAUNIXG TO ALL PROFESSORS. 525