A treatise of original sin ... proving that it is

Seventhly, Herein is original corruption greatly depriving the mind of a man, In that it maketh a man pro•e to deceive and cozen himself, so that sin is presented as sweet or profitable, and good to be embraced, holy things are presented as difficult and irksome; Especially this self-deceiving is seen in the judging of our selves good and right, when indeed we are abominable and loathing to God; Whence is it that every mans ways are clean in his own eyes? Whence is it that every man is a Pygmalion in love with himself, or rather a Pharisee to justify himself? Yea, as it is, Psal. 50. 21. They judge of God like themselves, loving what they love, pleased with what they please: As the Ethiopians, though Christians, yet worshipping the Virgin Mary, paint her like a Blackmore, because they are black: Now what a fearful pollution is this, to deceive our selves about God, about sin, about godliness, our own souls? So that when we can have a pretence, or a colour to justify our selves, then we rejoice: This self-deceiving is often taken notice of by the Scripture, ⟨p. 217⟩2. Pet. 2. 13. Gal. 6. 3. 1 Cor. 6. 9. & Jam. 1. 22. it's [Greek or Hebrew], Deceiving your own selves, putting a fallacy, or a false syllogism upon our selves; And indeed it might be easily showed, how many false syllogisms a man imposeth upon himself; Doth not Presumption argue à divisis ad conjuncta, from the means divided, yet to obtain the end? Yea, in every prayer, in every religious duty the natural man taketh, Non causam pro causâ, because he performeth these duties, he thinketh he serveth God, whereas it is not an holy principle, or gracious motive putteth him upon them, but formality, customariness, or some other inferior motive; Thus every natural man deceiveth himself by false causes, he thinketh he repents, he loveth God, he hath a good heart, he shall be saved, when alas all this while thou art deceived, and deceiving of thy self; Mourn then under this native-pollution, that thou art so deceived in all things about thy self, about the work of grace, about what is flesh, and what is spirit, that thou art deluded in all things, and takest counterfeit for that which is true and genuine. Under this head we may comprehend all that craft and subtlety in men (as in the Jesuits) to maintain Idolatry or Heresy;