Isaiah 44:20 He feeds on ashes: a deceived heart has turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say… nces: — The heart discovers its deceitfulness — I. BY ITS STRONG PROPENSITY TO RECEIVE ANY ERROR MORE READILY THAN TRUTH. II. BY ITS EXTREME RELUCTANCE TO THE ONLY WAY OF SALVATION, AND BY ITS VIOLENT PROPENSITY TO EVERY LYING REFUGE. More particularly we observe — 1. That multitudes betake themselves to the general mercy of God. 2. The heart often disposes one to look into itself for something good. 3. Others found their hope on resolutions of reformation. 4. Partial and outward reformation is the confidence of many. 5. Many confide in a bare profession of religion and observation of the form of duties. 6. Others deceive themselves into a reliance on their Church privileges. 7. Some confide in their gifts, or in their usefulness by means of them. 8. Some may trust to a work of the law, as if it were in itself saving. 9. This principle of deceit is discovered by the sinner's endeavours to obtain justification by moral duties. 10. Many trust to their sincerity in religion. But what is this sincerity in which you make your boast before God? Do you not confide in it as the ground of your justification? If so, it must be the sincerity of a person who is not yet justified; that is, of one still under the curse of the law. 11. Another false confidence, which many fly to, is the observance of superstitious rites. 12. Some may rest on their sufferings in the cause of Christ. 13. Others may depend on a notional faith. Some are persuaded of the truth of the Gospel. But they prove that their faith is not Divine, because it is unfruitful. 14. The deceitfulness of the heart operates in others, by making them rest upon supposed attainments in holiness. There is a question the solution of which materially affects every one of us before God. If false professors may have so eminent attainments, and so remarkable a resemblance to true holiness, how may we distinguish between such attainments as are the fruit of the Spirit's saving work and those which only flow from natural affections or from a common operation? (1) These attainments, which are saving, have always a humbling tendency. (2) Saving attainments are consistent with a godly jealousy. (3) The fruit of solid Christian attainments is thankfulness to God. (4) The Christian disclaims all his attainments with respect to justification. (5) Saving attainments leave a lasting impression on the heart. (6) The real believer loses not his confidence in God, even under severe afflictions. (7) The real Christian does not wish to stop short in his attainments. (8) The believer is equal, or at least consistent, in his attainments. While he makes progress in duty, in the exercise of grace, in liveliness and spirituality of affections, he at the same time advances in the mortification of sin. (9) All true Christians have a real love to holiness, (J. Jamieson, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand? |
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