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The Vain Self Flatteries of Sinners

The Narrated Puritan
The Narrated Puritan
Episode • May 14, 2023 • 28m
Some flatter themselves that death is a great way off, and that they shall hereafter have much opportunity to seek salvation- and they think if they earnestly seek it, though it be a great while hence, they shall obtain. Although they see no reason to conclude that they shall live long, and perhaps they do not positively conclude that they shall- yet it doth not come into their minds that their lives are really uncertain, and that it is doubtful whether they will live another year. Such a thought as this doth not take any hold of them. And although they do not absolutely determine that they shall live to old age or to middle age, yet they secretly flatter themselves with such an imagination. They are disposed to believe so, and do so far believe it, that they act upon it and run the venture of it.-Men will believe that things will be as they choose to have them, without reason, and sometimes without the appearance of reason, as is most apparent in this case, Psalm xlix. 11. -Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations- they call their lands after their own names.--The prepossession and desire of men to have it so, is the principal thing that makes them believe so. However, there are several other things which they use as arguments to flatter themselves. Perhaps they think with themselves, that since they are at present in health, or in youth, or that since they are useful men, do a great deal of good, and both them selves and others pray for the continuance of their lives- they are not likely to be removed by death very soon.

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