The Vain Self-Flatteries of the Sinner # 3

The Vain Self-Flatteries of the Sinner # 3

6. Some hope by their strivings to obtain salvation of themselves. They have a secret hope, that they shall, by degrees, work in themselves - true repentance of sin, and love towards God and Jesus Christ. They are striving to do themselves - that which is the work of God. Many who are now seeking, have this vain hope - and labor, pray, hear sermons and go to private meetings - with the view of making themselves holy.

7. Some sinners flatter themselves that they are already converted. They sit down and rest in a false hope, persuading themselves that all their sins are pardoned; that God loves them; that they shall go to heaven when they die; and that they need trouble themselves no more. (Rev. 3:17), "You say, I am rich. I have everything I want. I don't need a thing!" And you don't realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked."

III. Sinners very generally go on flattering themselves in some or other of these ways, until their punishment actually overtakes them. These are the "baits" by which satan catches souls - and draws them into his snare! Such self flatteries as these - keep men from seeing what danger they are in, and that make them go securely on in their false hopes, "like a bird darting into a snare - little knowing it will cost him his life!"

Those that flatter themselves with hopes of living a great while longer in the world, and very commonly continue to do so - until death comes! They did not think of dying at that time, nor at anytime near it. And so that thought goes along with them as long as they live, or until they are just about to die.

Men often have a dependence on their own righteousness, and as long as they live, are never brought off from it. Multitudes uphold themselves with their own intentions, until all their prospects are dashed in pieces by death. There are many also that hold a false hope, a persuasion that they belong to God; and they never will be persuaded to let go their vain hope until it is torn from them by death. Thus men commonly uphold themselves, and make themselves easy - until hell fire makes them uneasy! Everlasting ruin comes upon them as a snare, and all their hopes are at once cut off, and turned into everlasting despair! (1 Thess. 5:3). "When they shall say, peace and safety," then destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a woman, and they will not escape."

APPLICATION

1. Hence we learn one reason why there are but few saved, and why so many perish from under the gospel. All men know they must die, and all who sit under the light of the gospel have been told many a time, that after this life - there is another world; that there are but two states in that other world, a state of eternal happiness, and a state of eternal misery; that there is but one way of escaping the misery, and obtaining the blessedness of eternity - which is by obtaining a saving interest in Christ, through faith in Him; and that this life is the only opportunity of obtaining a saving interest in Christ. Yet men are so much given to flatter themselves in those ways which we have mentioned, that there are but few who take care of their salvation. Indeed they cannot but be in some measure concerned about their souls; yet they flatter themselves with one thing or another, so that they are kept steadily and uninterruptedly going on in the broad way to destruction.

2. Hence we learn the reason why the awakening truths of scripture, and awakening sermons, make no more impression upon men. It is in itself an astonishing and surprising thing, that God's denunciations of eternal misery, and threatenings of casting sinners into the lake which burns with fire and brimstone forever and ever - does not affect them, does not startle them. But the truth is, they flatter themselves, by such means as we have mentioned, that this dreadful misery is not for them; that they shall escape it, though multitudes of others are involved in it. They do not take  these threatenings to themselves; they seem to think that they do not belong to them.

How many are there in this congregation, who, for all the awakening sermons they have heard - are yet secure in sin! And who, although they are sensible that they are in a Christless condition, and are still going on in sin - yet intend to go to heaven, and expect that by some means or another, that they shall arrive there. They are often told, that God is very angry with them; yet they think God is a very merciful God, and they shall be able to pacify Him. If they be told how uncertain life is, that does not awaken them, because they flatter themselves with long life. If they be told how dangerous it is to delay the business of religion, they promise themselves, that they will hereafter engage in it with more earnestness than others - and so obtain the end, the salvation of their souls. Others, when they are told that many shall seek - who shall not be able to obtain, think surely, that they, having done so much for salvation, shall not be denied.

~Jonathan Edwards~

(continued with # 4)