Solitude Sweetened
by James Meikle, 1730-1799
"The fool says in his heart, 'There is no God.' They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none who does good." (Psalm 14:1)
The ungodly flatter themselves with false hopes—that all shall be well with them, "until their iniquity be found to be hateful" by the tremendous omniscient Judge in the decisive day.
The most heinous people flatter themselves, that they are not in so bad a state, and that they will safely arrive in heaven. True, salvation is offered to the chief of sinners. But then they must be saved from sin—but cannot be saved in sin; which is the error here. Some conceive such a notion of mercy as would destroy the other attributes; as if God should trample on his holiness, truth, and justice—to exalt his mercy in saving a sinner, or in pardoning sin without any atonement. But this is repugnant to what he himself has declared.
Others flatter themselves, that as God is just and merciful, he could never make so many rational creatures to be damned. Yet they refuse the one true and living way, which God has pointed out—by which they must be saved.
Others would gladly believe that God will never condemn them for committing some sins, which, say they, are implanted in their nature; and thus (O horrid blasphemy!) they make the Author of their being the author of sin! But God planted man at first wholly good, though he is now turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine.
Others, again there are, that through a pious education, common convictions, knowledge of the truth, and such like, are convinced that their present course of life is sinful and dangerous—but flatter themselves that all shall yet be well; for, when they are aged, and have wearied themselves out with sinning—they intend to amend their lives, repent and turn to God; and in this they promise themselves success, since God never refuses the penitent. Thus they set themselves above God, making themselves Lords of their own time, and promising themselves years to come; although they cannot boast of tomorrow.
