in it, as the word is,
1 John v. 19, "The whole world, ({~GREEK SMALL LETTER KAPPA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER ALPHA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER TAU~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER ALPHA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER IOTA~}) lieth in wickedness: but we know
that we are of God," therefore the apostle subjoins here very seasonably a
caution or correction of that which was spoken about the walking in the
light, and fellowship with God, which words sound out some perfection,
and, to our self flattering minds, might possibly suggest some too high
opinion of ourselves. If we, even we that have fellowship with God, even
I, the apostle, and you believing Christians, if we say, we have no sin,
no darkness in us, we do but deceive ourselves, and deny the truth. But
who will say that I have no sin? Solomon gives a challenge to all the
world, Prov. xx. 9, "Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure
from my sin?" And, indeed, there is no man so far a stranger to himself,
but if he, in sobriety and calmness, retire into his own heart, the very
evidence of the impurity of it will extort this confession from him. As it
useth to be said of an atheist, he feels that Divine majesty within his
secret thoughts and conscience which he denieth with his mouth, and he is
often forced to tremble at the remembrance of him whom he will not
confess.(244) So if there be any so far bewitched and enchanted into so
gross and impudent a delusion, as to assert his own perfection and vacancy
from sin, and freedom from obligation to any divine command (as this time
is fruitful of such monsters), yet I dare be bold to say, that in the
secret and quiet reflections on themselves, they find that which they will
not confess. Inwardly they feel what outwardly they deny, and cannot but
sometime or other be filled with horror and anguish in their consciences,
by that inwardly witnessing and checking principle, when God shall give it
liberty to exercise its power over them. The end of such will be, as of
professed atheists. They pretend the securest contempt and most fearless
disregard of God, but then, when he awakes to judgment, or declares
himself in something extraordinary, they are subject to the most panic
fears and terrors, because then there is a party armed within against
them, which they had disarmed in security, and kept in chains. So,
whensoever such men, of such high pretensions, and sublime professions,
who love to speak nothing but mysteries, and presume to such glorious
dis