Secondly, Here is denoted in this expression, That all sin is potentially and seminally in our hearts; For it's not said to be an evil heart in some respect, and as to some actings, but indefinitely and generally, an evil treasure of the heart. Hence Rom. 3. 14, 15. There are in man by nature crimson actual sins of the greatest guilt, viz. The poison of Asps is under their tongues, their mouth is full of cursing, their feet are swift to shed blood, &c. These sins which some few of mankind only, and those the worst of men, do ordinarily commit, yet they are attributed to every man by nature; And why? because there is the treasure of these in his heart; you cannot name the vilest actions that are, though for the present like Hazael, thou wouldst defy such things, saying, Am I a dog, a devil, that I should do them? yet did not God bind up this treasure of evil in thee, as he doth the clouds, that are his treasures of rain, thou wouldst quickly be overwhelmed with them; what trembling should this make in a mans heart, when he shall consider, there is not the vilest and most profane atheistical man breathing, but thy heart would carry thee out to do the like, did not God say to this sea of corruption within thee, Hitherto thou shalt go and no further? It is because of this, that David and other eminent godly men, have fallen into such gross and loathsome sins, that you would have thought they had not been in the least danger of, that they were as far from, as the East from the West, yet how quickly could these materials for sin in their hearts ripen, and break out into a flame? How quickly did even the green Tree burn? What then would the dry Tree do? Look then upon thy self, as the vilest sinner in the world, in respect of thy principles, and propensity to all sin; Say, it is not because I have a better nature, I have less original sin in me, but because God is pleased to put a restraint upon me! Certainly, if this will not make us like Job, abhor our selves, as it were, upon the dunghill, what will?
Secondly, Here is denoted in this expression, That all sinne is potentially and seminally in our hearts; For it's not said to be an evil heart in some respect, and as to some actings, but indefinitely and generally, an evil treasure of the heart. Hence Rom. 3. 14, 15. There are in man by nature crimson actual sins of the greatest guilt, viz. The poison of Asps is under their tongues, their mouth is full of cursing, their feet are swift to shed blood, &c. These sins which some few of mankind only, and those the worst of men, do ordinarily commit, yet they are attributed to every man by nature; And why? because there is the treasure of these in his heart; you cannot name the vilest actions that are, though for the present like Hazael, thou wouldst defie such things, saying, Am I a dog, a devil, that I should do them? yet did not God bind up this treasure of evil in thee, as he doth the clouds, that are his treasures of rain, thou wouldst quickly be overwhelmed with them; what trembling should this make in a mans heart, when he shall consider, there is not the vilest and most prophane atheistical man breathing, but thy heart would carry thee out to do the like, did not God say to this sea of corruption within thee, Hitherto thou shalt go and no further? It is because of this, that David and other eminent godly men, have fallen into such gross and loathsom sins, that you would have thought they had not been in the least danger of, that they were as farre from, as the East from the West, yet how quickly could these materials for sinne in their hearts ripen, and break out into a flame? How quickly did even the green Tree burn? What then would the dry Tree do? Look then upon thy self, as the vilest sinner in the world, in respect of thy principles, and propencity to all sin; Say, it is not because I have a better nature, I have less original sin in me, but because God is pleased to put a restraint upon me! Certainly, if this will not make us like Job, abhorre our selves, as it were, upon the dunghill, what will?
