convictions of conscience, and to " speak peace to themselves, when there is no peace." For the benefit of such persons, we will endeavour to shew,
I. What need we all have of healing —
Sin has infected all the powers of our souls
This melancholy truth is,
1. Asserted in the Scriptures —
[" God made man upright ; but he has sought out many inventions'1." His very heart is corrupte; so that "every imagination of it is evil, and only evil, continually f." The extent of his depravity can scarcely be overstated : as the
Apostle clearly shewsg and the description given of
the Jewish people may be well applied to every people, yea, and to every individual also in the whole world: "The whole head is sick, and the whole heart is faint : from the sole of the foot even to the head there is no soundness in us ; but wounds, and bruises, and putrefying sores V]
2. Confirmed by experience —
[Who is there amongst us that must not confess this to be his own state ? Who does not find darkness in his under- standing, rebellion in his will, sensuality in his affections? Who is there that does not perceive a partiality in his con- science, and, as far as spiritual things are concerned, a forget- fulness in his memory ; so that, in all his faculties, he is unlike what he was when he came out of his Creator's hands? That there are some traces of his original excellence, I willingly admit. There is in some persons a measure of benevolence towards man : but towards God there is in all the same rooted indisposition and enmity : " The carnal mind is enmity against God ; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be1."]
But, as many think themselves healed whilst yet they are in a perishing condition, I will proceed to shew,
II. Who they are that heal their wounds slightly — Of these there are many classes : many " speak
peace to themselves, when there is no peace." Amongst these are,
1. They who rely on the uncovenanted mercy of God—
d Eccl. vii. 29. e Jer. xvii. 9. f Gen. vi. 5.
s Rom. iri. 9 — 18. h Isai. i. 5, 6. * Rom. viii. 7.