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6. Persons in such an estate are apt to deceive them- selves with false hopes and notions, whereby the deceit- fulness of sin doth put forth its power, to harden them unto their ruin. Two ways there are whereby this perni- cious effect is produced. The one by the prevalency of a particular lust or sin, the other by a neglect of spiritual duties, and a vain conversation in the world, under which the soul pines away and consumes.
As unto the first of these, there are three false notions, whereby the deceitfulnessof sin deludes the souls of men.
1. The first is, that it is that one sin alone wherein they would be indulged. Let them be spared in this one thing, and in all other they will be exact enough. This is the composition that Naaman would have made in the matters of religion; 2 Kings v. 18. and it is that which many trust unto. Hence it hath by the event been made to appear, that some persons have lived long in the practice of some gross sins, and yet all the while used a semblance of great dilio;ence in other duties of religion. This is a false notion whereby poor sinners delude their own souls. For suppose it possible that a man should give himself up unto any lust, or be under the power of it, and yet be observant of all other duties, yet this would give him no relief as unto the eternal condition of his soul. The rule is peremptory unto this purpose ; Jam. ii. 10, 11. One sin willingly lived in is as able to destroy a man's soul as a thousand. Besides, it is practically false. There is no man that lives in any one known sin, but he really lives in more, though that only bear the chiefest sway. With some such persons, these sins appear unto others, who observe their frame and spirit, though they appear not to themselves ; in some they are manifest in themselves, although they are hidden from others; 1 Tim. V. 24. But let no man relieve himself with thoughts that it is but one sin, whilst that one sin keeps him in a con- stant neglect of God. Hence,
2. They deceive themselves hereby, for they judge that although they cannot as yet shake off their sin, yet they will continue still to love God, and abound in the duties of his worship. They will not become haters of God and his ways, and persecutors for all the world, and therefore hope that not- withstan(hng this one Zoar, this lesser sin, which their coiisli-
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tution and their circumstances engage them in, that it maybe well with them at the last. This also is a false notion, a mere instrument in the hand of sin to act its deceit by. For no man that willingly liveth in any sin, can love God at all, as is evident in that rule ; 1 John ii. 15. It is but a false pretence of love to God that any man hath, who liveth in any known sin. Where God is not loved above all, he is not loved at all : and he is not so where men will not part with one cursed lust for his sake. Let not your light deceive you, nor your gifts, nor your duties, nor your profession; if you live in sin, you love not God.
3. They determine that at such or such a season or time, after such satisfaction given unto their lusts or pleasures, they will utterly give over, so as that iniquity shall not be their ruin. But this is a false notion also, an effectual instrument of the deceitfulness of sin. He that will not now give over, who will not immediately upon the discovery of the prevalency of any sin, and warning about it, endea- vour sincerely and constantly its relinquishment, say what he will, and pretend what he will, he never intends to give over; nor is it probable, in an ordinary way, that ever he will do so. When men's decays are from the prevalency of particular sins, by these and the like false notions do they harden themselves unto ruin.
For those who are pining away under hectical consump- tion, a general decay of the vital spirits of religion, they have also false notions whereby they deceive themselves. As,
1. That although they have some cause to mistrust them- selves, yet indeed their condition is not so bad as some may apprehend it, or as they are warned it is. And this ariseth from hence, that they have not as yet been overtaken with any enormous sin, which hath filled their consciences with terror and disquietment. But this is a false notion also; for every decay is dangerous, especially such as the mind is ready to plead for, and to countenance itself in.
2. They are prone to suppose that this decay doth not arise from themselves, and the evil of their own hearts ; but from their circumstances, business, present occasion, and state of life, which when they are freed from, they will at least return unto their former love, and delight in spiritual
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things. But this is a false notion also, by virtue of that rule, Heb. iii. 12. Let men's circumstances and occasions of life be what they will, all their departures from God are from an evil heart of unbelief.