Page:A Beacon to the Society of Friends.djvu/97

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SER. IV.
ON THE HEART.
93

1st,—Did the Lord Jesus Christ, or his Apostles, ever give this indiscriminate recommendation?

2nd,—What law, is written in the heart of the wicked? Is it the law of God, or is it the law of "The prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience?" The Holy Spirit expressly declared by Jeremiah, "The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron, and with the point of a diamond: it is graven upon the table of their heart.." Jer. xvii. 1.

What is said more in this extract is gratuitous, and may be answered by the two following quotations. Only we would ask, What evil propensities can there be in the human heart, which are not condemned by God's Holy law in the Scriptures?

"If any man consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth." 1 Tim. vi. 3-5.

"But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned, and

hast been assured of; knowing of whom thou hast learned them; and that from a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. I charge thee, therefore, before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing,