That which is deceitful above all Things, and desperately wicked, is not fit, neither can it lead a Man aright in Things that are good and honest.
But the Heart of Man is such:
Therefore, &c.
[51]But the Apostle Paul describeth the Condition of Men in the Fall at large, taking it out of the Psalmist. There is none righteous, no not one; There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the Way, they are altogether become unprofitable; there is none that doth good, no not one. Man’s Estate in the Fall. Their Throat is an open Sepulchre, with their Tongues they have used Deceit, the Poison of Asps is under their Lips: Whose Mouths are full of Cursing and Bitterness. Their Feet are swift to shed Blood; Destruction and Misery are in their Ways: And the Way of Peace have they not known. There is no Fear of God before their Eyes. What more positive can be spoken? He seemeth to be particularly careful to avoid that any Good should be ascribed to the natural Man; he shews how he is polluted in all his Ways; he shews how he is void of Righteousness, of Understanding, of the Knowledge of God; how he is out of the Way, and in short unprofitable; than which nothing can be more fully said to confirm our Judgment: For if this be the Condition of the natural Man, or of the Man as he stands in the Fall, he is unfit to make one right Step to Heaven.
[51] Rom. 3. 10. Psal. 14. 3. & 53. 2, &c.
Object.If it be said, That is not spoken of the Condition of Man in general; but only of some Particulars, or at the least that it comprehends not all;
Answ.The Text sheweth the clear Contrary in the foregoing Verses, where the Apostle takes in himself, as he stood in his natural Condition. What then? Are we better than they? No, in no wise; for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under Sin, as it is written: And so he goes on; by which it is manifest that he speaks of Mankind in general.
Object.If they object that which the same Apostle saith in the foregoing Chapter, Ver. 14. to wit, That the Gentiles do by Nature the Things contained in the Law, and so consequently do by Nature that which is good and acceptable in the Sight of God;
Answ. 1.I answer; This Nature must not, neither can be understood of Man’s own Nature, which is corrupt and fallen; but of the Spiritual Nature, which proceedeth from the Seed of God in Man, as it receiveth a new Visitation of God’s Love, and is quickened by it: Which clearly appears by the following Words, where he saith, By what Nature the Gentiles did do the Things of the Law.These not having a Law, (i. e. outwardly) are a Law unto themselves; which shews the Work of the Law written in their Hearts. These Acts of theirs then are an Effect of the Law written in their Hearts; but the Scripture declareth, that the Writing of the Law in the Heart is a Part, yea, and a great Part too, of the New Covenant Dispensation, and so no Consequence nor Part of Man’s Nature.