2. Those who through grace have obeyed his
blessed will —
[Truly this is of the Lord, who alone has "made you willirigf," and has thus caused you to "differ from those
around youg." Be thankful for this distinguishing
grace ; hut remember that you still need his gracious in- fluences as much as ever. There is not any part of the divine life that can be carried on within you but by the operation of the Holy Spirit. He must be within you "a Spirit of wisdom and understanding, a Spirit of counsel and of might, a Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord, and must make you of quick understanding in the fear of the Lordh." Seek him, then, for all these gracious ends : and be careful that you " do not grieve him," by any sinful disposition, or any secret neglect'. It is by him that you are to be " sealed unto the day of redemption k," and by him that you are to be " ren- dered meet for your heavenly inheritance." To him, there- fore, " I commend you, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them that are sanctified1."]
f Ps. ex. 3. e 1 Cor. iv. 7. h Isai. xi. 2, 3.
1 Eph. iv. 30. k Eph. iv. 30. ' Acts xx. 32.
Gen. vi. 5. God saiv that the wickedness of man tvas great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart ivas only evil continually.
THE extent of man's wickedness is far greater than the generality of mankind have any conception of. Whilst a person's words and actions are inoffen- sive before men, he is supposed to conduct himself acceptably to God. And even when his words and actions are blameworthy, he is judged as having nothing wrong in his intentions, and as possessing, on the whole, a good heart. But God looks chiefly at the heart, which is the fountain from whence every thing that is evil proceeds a: and his testimony respecting it is, that " the heart," not of this or that
a Matt. vii. 21 — 23.
13.] EXTENT OF MAN's WICKEDNESS. (u
more egregious offender, but of every man by na- ture, " is deceitful above all tilings and desperately wicked." In the passage before us, God assigns his reason for destroying the whole world by an uni- versal deluge. And that we may be suitably affected by it, I shall set before you,
I. The testimony of God respecting man —
He speaks more immediately respecting the ante- diluvian world —
[In general, the wickedness of man was great in the earth. No doubt, every species of wickedness was committed, in the most shameless manner. But, more particularly, "the hearts" of men were evil; " the thoughts" of their hearts were evil ; " the imaginations " of the thoughts were evil, and this too without exception, without mixture, without intermission ; for every imagination was evil, and " only" evil, and that " con- tinually." What an awful statement is here !
But how could this be ascertained ? Who could be com- petent to judge of this ? and on what authority is this de- clared? I answer, It is the declaration of God, who can discern all tilings ; for " all things are naked and opened be- fore himb;" and he himself says, " I know the things that come into your mind, every one of themc." And, as he knows every thing, so he is able to estimate the quality of every thing; for " he weigheth the spirits'1." And this is his tes- timony, after a thorough inspection of every human being.]
But the same must be spoken of man at this day —
[God himself repeats the same testimony, in relation to those who survived the deluge, and of all their descendants6. And it is as true of us, as it was of them. In proof of this, I will appeal to your own observation and experience. What, from observation, would you yourselves say was the state of the world around you ? Do you not see that evil of every kind obtains to a vast extent ; and that piety, except in some very narrow circles of persons whom the world regards as weak enthusiasts, is altogether banished ; insomuch that you may mix in society for months and years, and yet never once hear them speak with admiration and gratitude respecting all the wonders of Redeeming Love ? Of what passes in the hearts of others you are not able to judge ; and therefore, in relation to that, I appeal to every man's own experience. What has been the state of your hearts ? As to your words and actions, I will suppose them to have been correct : but your " hearts,"