ness of the heart than the power it possesses to hide its deceits from us. But, that we may present some- what of its deceitfulness to your view, we will dis- tinctly mark it in the three following particulars :
It misrepresents the nature of all things ;
It keeps out of view their tendency ; And
It deceives, not others only, but itself also.
Of course, when we say, " It misrepresents the nature of all things," we must be understood as speaking only of the things which concern the soul. To advert to other things, and to consider how far the powers of the human mind are enfeebled in relation to matters of mere science, would be alto- gether beside our purpose.
But where shall we begin our illustration of this point ? If we look up to God, there is not a perfec- tion of his nature which the unenlightened mind views aright ; and as for those perfections which he exercises as the moral Governor of the universe, they are even held in abhorrence by the carnal mind: his absolute sovereignty is denied, as though the exercise of it were an injustice to man: his holiness and justice are supposed capable of winking at the commission of sin; and his veracity is impeached, to make way for the salvation of those who rebel against him. Some are so foolish and infatuated, as to "say, There is no God:" and, of those who acknowledge his existence, there is not one, unless he have been previously converted by Divine grace, who entertains worthy conceptions of him in his heart.
If we turn our thoughts to the world around us; what is there, that the heart of man views in its proper light? Its pleasures? its riches? its honours? All these, instead of being regarded as snares and worthless vanities, are perfectly idolized, and are sought after as constituting the chief happiness of man.
Look we to morals ? How erroneous are our con- ceptions even of the plainest duties ! Pride, anger,