It is very remarkable, after the prophet pronounces the curse of confiding in the flesh, and the blessedness of trusting in the Lord, he immediately adds, ‘The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked,’ ver. 9. Hence we may infer, that the poison of pride, vain confidence in the flesh, and self-righteous hopes, may lurk under the most exalted pretensions to piety, holiness, and perfection. This matter calls for great care and circumspection. As many as are of the works of the law, or who in anywise seek to be made righteous by doing, are under the curse. Gal. 3:10 Think it not contrary to the holiness of God to pronounce such to be cursed, as though the Lord did not hate sin,…

As mutual love subsists between Jesus and his believing members, so there is a mutual choice of each other. Hence, saith the church, ‘I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine.’ Cant. 6:3 So also there is a mutual inhabitation; every believer dwells in Christ, and Christ in him. This is only comfortably experienced by continuing in the truth. For ‘whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God; he that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.’ 2 John 9

He that doeth the truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God. John 3:21. This is an infallible touchstone of true conversion, given by the oracle of truth. He that trusteth to his own heart is a fool. Prov. 28:26 Sincerity may be attended with diffidence. Sincere upright souls know they have to do with a heart-searching God: to him they appeal, and desire to be searched and tried by him. What avails the soul, to obtain a favourable opinion from our vain fellow-mortals, if we are conscious that all is not right within! What peace, what comfort, what joy, though men approve, and the soul itself be ever so confident, while conscience testifies that…

Human nature, how low fallen in misery and wretchedness; yet how high doth it rise in pride! Though the meek Lamb of God is the preacher of sovereign grace and distinguishing love, yet the wrath of man dares to exalt itself against his doctrine. Fury bursts forth like fire, vengeance and resentment break the bounds of the law of God and man, and would instantly have put Jesus to death. Pride is the firstborn of Lucifer. ‘Ye shall be as gods,’ hath tainted our whole nature with the cursed leaven, and will be the last enemy that is destroyed in us. Out of the abundance of pride in the heart, the mouth is opened against God’s sovereign grace, discriminating love, and divine dispensations. ‘Be still,…

It is a grand masterpiece of that wisdom which is earthly, sensual, devilish, to call in question the truth of God's word; to insinuate a doubt about it. But here appears more modesty even in Satan, than in some of his servants; for he only puts a query upon it, whereas they absolutely deny and ridicule the truths of Jehovah. In the same way that the old serpent attacked and prevailed against the innocence of our first parents, he still attempts to destroy the comforts and oppose the holiness of God’s children, by artful suggestions against the truth of God’s word. If he can but raise a doubt in our minds concerning what the Lord hath spoken, he strikes at the very foundation of our…

Those who think lightly of sin, and account iniquity a trifling thing, evidently show that the god of this world hath blinded their eyes to the infinite atonement of Jesus, and hardened their hearts through the deceitfulness of sin; therefore they are insensible of grief, and without feeling of godly sorrow for sin. When Jesus is known in the heart, sin is truly abhorred, forsaken, and overcome. But it is most distressing to the regenerate soul when the load of guilt and the burden of sin are suffered to lie, day after day, upon the conscience. Oh the insupportable agony of such a state, none know but those who have experienced it! One would ask, is not this contradictory to that comforting assertion, ‘There is…