The deceitfulnef of Mans heart. of the affeáions 1 as a fo concerning the whole do- ârine of the deceitfulneffe of the heart. CHAP. XXVI. Ofthegreatnef of the hearts decertpulne)4nd$fthe caul of her deceitfulnefe. ,Aving thus Cpoken of the deceitfulneffe of 1 mans heart, it remaineth that now wee should Cpeak of thofe three Illuítrations , which in the beginning we noted the Prophet ufed to let it forth by. The firft is, from the greatneffe of this deceitful- neffe. It is deceitfull , íayes the Prophet, Above all things. Above all things ? what, above Sathan that old Serpent? The meaning is not, that our hearts have more craft than Sathan , who is an old trained Souldier, and is Craftf-matter in this Art, wee be- ing but punies,and as of yefferday unto him, who is of many thoufand years ftanding , but that that de- ceit which isin our hearts, in regard of us, and the dangerous cor.Equences thereof to us, is greater than that in Sathan. r As to murder ones felfe is a greater matter than to murther another,rhongh he doe not ule the like cruelty in ftabhing and woundiná o± himfelfe , which is often ufed in the killing ofothers : So allo, to deceive ones Celle (which is alnoa Cpirituall k,nde Of murther) is a greater deceit than to deceive ano- X4 che: 299 Illuftrations of the hearts de- ceitfulneffe. [ The great- neffe of it.
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