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(seq. 21)
The deceitfulness of the heart.
Some extracts from {Jeremiah} 17.9.10. The heart is deceitful above all things & despa rately wicked, who can know it? I the Lord search the heart & try the reins, that I may give to every one according to his ways, according to the fruit of his works. (a borrowed book)
By the heart is meant the soul of man in all its faculties, understanding, will & affections - there is deceit in every faculty.
The word, "deceitful", signifies in the original, a supplanter. The heart of every man is a Jacob, or a Supplanter aiming to trip up our heels in run:ning the race set before us.
The heart of the unregenerate is wholly deceitful - there is no truth or grace in it. The heart of the regenerate is partly deceitful, that is, as to the un:regenerate part in them. Tho' it be said of some that they were without guile & w.r perfect, yet it means only as to the regenerate part in them, or the new man. the old man in them is deceit (deceitful.
(seq. 22)
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The heart is an unsearchable depth of si & deceit. that is, tis unsearchable by merely by our own wit & skill. but spirit which searcheth the deep thin of God, can search the depths of Sata & of our heart, & can cause us to kno something of them. the word is th mean by which he doth this. {Hebrews} The word of God is quick & powerf Sharper than any two edged sword peircing even to the dividing asund of soul & spirit, & of the joints & m :row, & it is a discerner of the thots intents of the heart. Neither is th any creature that is not manifest its sight. namely, of the word be spoken of, for so it may be, witho violence to the Text interpreted. The word creature I take for the creatu of the heart; namely the thots & intent thereof before mentioned. The word discerneth the thots of our hearts, n some, but all. Nothing that the hear forgeth, frameth, & which it, as it w createth within itself, but what the word taketh notice of.
The deceitfulness of the heart, discour to us in the word, may be reduced these two heads.
(seq. 23)
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First, the deceitfulness whereby we decieve others
Secondly, that whereby also we decieve ourselves.
The former is not that which is here much aimd at, I shall therefore not much insist on it. It shows itself especially in two things. In Dissi :mulation, & in simulation. In dis:sembling & concealing that which indeed is, & infeigning & counter :feiting that which indeed is not. Dissimulation is either of evil or good. The dissembling of evil is of evil to be done, or already done. Dissembling of good is, when we conceal & smother that grace & conscience which is in us, being in such places & companies, where such things may be prejudicial to us. But what a shame is this, to be ashamed of religion which is indeed our greatest glory!
The deceit of Simulation is espe:cially that, where by men make shew of that grace & godliness, which either they have not at all, or else not in that measure they make shew of, being especially swayed by the sinis
(seq. 24)
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sinister respects of gain or glory. The latter is incident to the godly the former peculiar to the wicki Thus for the hearts deceitfulness a it respects others.
Two uses of it in this view
1. To teach us wisdon & wariness in giving entertainment in our he to others; that we do not presently s open the doors to let in all. No, th they be such as come commended unto us, with all the grace that ou :ward shews (can) lend them. otherwi if we be negligent herein, makin our hearts common inns for every one to lodge in, instead of angels may quickly receive filthy fiend
- It is not good indeed to wrong man with groundless suspicions, neither is it good to wrong oursel with overeasy credulity. The sam spirit that saith "charity believe all things", saith also, that a fool :lieveth all things. But charity no fool. As it is not easily suspici so neither highly credulous.
2. We must all take notice of this cor :ruption of our hearts, whereby we ar
(seq. 25)
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ready to decieve our brethren - what by feigning - what by dissembling. Some have the form of godliness but deny the power. - Spy out the mote in their brothers eye, but cannot see the beam in their own. O that we coud once leave this prying into others, & turn our eyes upon ourselv For the prophet here saith "the heart" not of this kind of men, or that, but in general, challenging us all, the heart is deceitful. Either then deny thyself to be a man, or confess thy deceitfulness. And indeed whose heart can plead guiltless? whose can with a good consience before Gods tribunal say, I am not sowerd with this heaven? Who in general performeth as much in works, as he maketh a shew of in words? Such an one may well be wondered at with our Saviours "Ecce" behold an Israelite indeed! how many Co :vers & curtains hath every ones heart drawn before it to hide itself The eyes, the forehead, the countenanc do often lye, the tongue how often? Let us therefore ransack our own hearts, & finding any of the vizors of deceitfulness, let us take them off by repentance.