are not conscious of it. Satan so blinds their eyes, that they cannot distinguish between the unallowed infirmities of their nature, and the indulged corruptions of their hearts. Their evil tempers which are unsubdued, are regarded as light and venial frailties : their carefulness about the things of this world is softened down to necessary prudence : and the reigning im- purity of their hearts is cloked under the veil of temptation. Whatever be their besetting sins, they find some excuse for them ; and, because they have a zeal for the Gospel and make some sacrifices for it, they conclude that all is well with them. Having " a name to live," they have no conception that they can be really " dead." But such jjersons need to be reminded of what our blessed Lord has so plainly and forcibly declared, namely, that one single lust retained in the soul, though dear as a right eye or necessary as a right hand, will infallibly plunge the soul into that lake of fire that never shall be quenched "\ Our blessed Lord has warned us, that the " saying. Lord! Lord!" however confidently we may repeat it, will never avail us, whilst we do not the things which he says : and, that though we may have " cast out devils in his name," we shall find no acceptance with him in the day of judgment, if we have not really, and unreservedly, mortified the whole body of sin". Let all pro- fessors of religion know assuredly, that " without holiness, real and universal holiness, no man shall see theLord°;" and that, whatever estimate they may form of their own state, " not he who commendeth himself shall be approved, but he whom the Lord commendeth P."]
Seeing then that so many mistake the way to heaven, I will ADD a few words,
L To guard you against all erroneous ways — [There is one great evil which more or less pervades all descriptions of men, and that is, an undue confidence in their own opinions. If they " think a thing to be right," they con- clude that it is right, and will take no pains to ascertain the truth or falsehood of their judgment. They think not of the deceitfulness of sin, or of the blindness of their own hearts, or of the subtlety of Satan ; but go on confidently, as if they were in no danger of self-deceit. But why has God so often repeated that admonition, " Be not deceived," if we are not in danger of being carried away by our own delusions ? We are told of many whom a deceived heart hath turned aside, so that they cannot deliver their souls, or say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?" And why should not this be our state, as well as the state of others ? We actually see it in others : why then should we not
m Mark xi. 43 — 48. » Matt. vii. 21 — 23. Luke xiii. 26, 27.
o Heb. xii. 14. p 2 Cor. x. 18.