authority" : it defeats the end of Christ's incarnation and death ° : it argues an entire want of sincerity p : it therefore justly brings the curse of God upon usq.]
There is one thing indeed which renders the con- sideration of this extremely awful ; namely,
II. The difficulty of discerning whether we have any allowed sin in us or not —
The rule of our duty is clear enough ; but it is by no means easy to determine how far our experience corresponds with it. This is evidently implied in the solicitude which David expresses for divine aid and direction. It may be confirmed also by many scrip- ture examples —
[What ignorance of his own heart did Hazael discover1"! James and John little thought by what spirit they were ac- tuated3, nor was Peter aware of his own instability*. Paul himself could not venture positively to determine the extent of his own innocence". God has declared that no one can attain a perfect knowledge of his own heart x.]
Many reasons might be assigned for this difficulty —
[The very best of our actions are blended with sin. Self- love tempts us to view them in too favourable a light : we put specious names on our bosom-sins. Hence it is hard to dis- cern the exact quality of our actions.]
To evince however that there is one way of judging aright, we shall proceed to shew,
III. The means we should use for the ascertaining of it- Self-examination is a duty inculcated in Scripture y.
It is necessary for the attaining of self-knowledge. The Christian therefore can adopt the words of Asaph2. — But he does not rest satisfied with his own exertions —
[He is aware of " the deceitfulness of sin," the treachery of his own heart, and " the devices of Satan." Though he re- joices in the testimony of his own conscience, he dares not confide in it too mucha.]
n Jam. ii. 10, 11. ° 1 John iii. 8. p John i. 47.
Q Jer. xlviii. 10. r 2 Kings viii. 13. s Luke ix. 55.
' Matt. xxvi. 35. u 1 Cor. iv. 4. x Jer. xvii. 9.
y 2 Cor. xiii. 5. z Ps. lxxvii. 6. a Prov. xxviii.2G.