Human nature in its fourfold state ... In several practical discourses

as if they were such complete masters over their lusts, that they can allow them to gather more strength, and yet overcome them. They take up resolutions to amend, without an eye to Jesus Christ, union with him, and strength from him; a plain evidence they are strangers to themselves; and so they are left to themselves, and their flourishing resolutions wither; for as they see not the necessity, so they get not the benefit of the dew from heaven to water them. (5.) Men's venturing frankly on temptations and promising liberally on their own heads. They cast themselves fearlessly into temptation, in confidence of their coming off fairly: but were they sensible of the corruption of their nature, they would beware of entering on the devil's ground: as one girt about with bag• of gun-powder, would be loth to walk where sparks of fire are flying, lest he should be blown up. Self-jealousing well become• Christians. Lord, is it I? They that know the deceit of their bow, will not be very confident that they shall hit the mark. (•.) Unacquaintedness with heart-plagues. The knowledge of the plagues of the heart, is a rare qualification. There are indeed some of them: written in such great characters, that he who runs may read them: but there are others more subtle, which few do discern. How few are the• to whom the bias of the heart to unbelief, is a burden? Nay, they perceive it not. Many have had sharp conviction• of other si•s that were […] ⟨p. 90⟩to this day convinced of their unbelief; tho' that is the sin specially aimed at in a thorough conviction, John xvi 8, 9.—He will reprove the world of sin,—because they believe not on me. A disposition to establish our own righteousness is a weed that naturally grows in every man's heart: but few sweat at the plucking of it up: it lurks undiscovered. The bias of the heart to the way of the covenant of works, is a hidden plague of the heart to many. All the difficulty they find is, in getting up their hearts to duties: they find no difficulty in getting their hearts off them, and over them to Jesus Christ. How hard is it to stave men off from their own righteousness? Yet it is very hard to convince them of their leaning to it at all. Lastly, Pride and self-conceit. A view of the corruption of nature would be very humbling; and oblige him that has it, to reckon himself the chief of sinners.