2. The natural Inclinations of the hearts of men are corrupt and evil inclinations. The hearts of men are naturally averse from and indisposed unto that which is good. They have neither wit nor will for a good matter. Jer. 4 22. They are sottish Children, they have none understanding, they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge. That which the Prophet there speaks, concerning the Jews, is no less true of all men considered as what they are by nature. Heart does answer Heart, as in the water, Face does answer Face. The Jews spoke what was in their hearts, when they said unto the Prophet, as for the word which thou hast spoken to us in the Name of the Lord, We will not hearken to thee. Jer. 44. 16. Let a good motion be presented, and the carnal heart can find an hundred Excuses, Evasions, and Objections ⟨p. 10⟩against it; but let an evil motion present it self, and the heart is ready to close with it immediately. Sinners are not only uninclinedto that which is good, but woefully inclined unto that which is evil. Eccles. 8. 11. Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. The heart of a sinner is wickedly bent. 'Tis set for evil, nay fully set to do evil. The truth is (and a sad truth it is) there is no evil so bad, no sin so abominable, but there is a natural propensity in the Unregenerate heart to close with it. Well does the Scripture say, that the heart of man (and what worse could be said of the heart of a Devil) is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked. Jer. 17. 9. 'Tis not only false, but deceitful above all things; not only a subject of sin, but wicked and desperately so. There is not an Unregenerate man in the world, but if the Holy God should wholly remove from him the restraints of His Grace and Providence, and give him up to the natural inclinations of his own heart; there is no wickedness so great, no sin so bloody, but he would soon become guilty of it. Therefore the Apostle speaking concerning what men are by nature; he saith, their feet are swift ⟨p. 11⟩to shed blood, Rom. 3. 15. Every man has by nature the heart of a Murderer in him. Is he not subject to rash and undue anger? That's a degree of Murder, and would end there, did not special or common Grace prevent it.
2. The natural Inclinations of the hearts of men are corrupt and evil inclinations. The hearts of men are naturally averse from and indisposed unto that which is good. They have neither wit nor will for a good matter. Jer. 4 22. They are sottish Children, they have none understanding, they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge. That which the Prophet there speaks, concerning the Jews, is no less true of all men considered as what they are by nature. Heart does answer Heart, as in the water, Face does answer Face. The Jews spoke what was in their hearts, when they said unto the Prophet, as for the word which thou hast spoken to us in the Name of the Lord, We will not hearken to thee. Jer. 44. 16. Let a good motion be presented, and the carnal heart can find an hundred Excuses, Evasions, and Objections ⟨p. 10⟩against it; but let an evil motion present it self, and the heart is ready to close with it immediately. Sinners are not only uninclinedto that which is good, but wofully inclined unto that which is evil. Eccles. 8. 11. Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. The heart of a sinner is wickedly bent. 'Tis set for evil, nay fully set to do evil. The truth is (and a sad truth it is) there is no evil so bad, no sin so abominable, but there is a natural propensity in the Unregenerate heart to close with it. Well does the Scripture say, that the heart of man (and what worse could be said of the heart of a Devil) is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked. Jer. 17. 9. 'Tis not only false, but deceitfull above all things; not only a subject of sin, but wicked and desperately so. There is not an Unregenerate man in the world, but if the Holy God should wholly remove from him the restraints of His Grace and Providence, and give him up to the natural inclinations of his own heart; there is no wickedness so great, no sin so bloody, but he would soon become guilty of it. Therefore the Apostle speaking concerning what men are by nature; he saith, their feet are swift ⟨p. 11⟩to shed blood, Rom. 3. 15. Every man has by nature the heart of a Murderer in him. Is he not subject to rash and undue anger? That's a degree of Murder, and would end there, did not special or common Grace prevent it.
