What delusions!

by Thomas Reade

(You will find it helpful to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)

Jeremiah 17:9, "The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked! Who really knows how bad it is?"

O! what a wretched being is man, when left to himself! Every evil nestles in his heart, producing a thousand stings to torment him in time and through eternity.

It is awful to think what delusions men practice upon themselves. Through the artifices of Satan, and the false reasonings of their own hearts, they are deceived to their own ruin.

They compare themselves with those who are more notoriously wicked—and thus think themselves to be good before God.

They magnify their supposed virtues—and soften down their vices.

They presume upon the mercy of God, as if He were too benevolent to put His threatenings into execution!

They depend upon a 'death bed repentance', not considering that repentance is the gift of the Holy Spirit.

They disbelieve the eternity of Hell-torments, as being a punishment too cruel and severe for the all bounteous Creator to inflict upon His rebellious creatures.

They deny the particular providence of God; esteeming it beneath His glorious Majesty to inspect their trivial concerns, or to notice each trifling deviation from His holy Word.

In short, they suppose the Almighty to be such a one as themselves.

"These things you have done and I kept silent; you thought I was altogether like you. But I will rebuke you and accuse you to your face. Consider this, you who forget God, or I will tear you to pieces, with none to rescue!" Psalm 50:21-22