10.  Inward peace and quietness of conscience may deceive some; and they may suppose that all is right with them; because they do nothing over the belly of their conscience.  Their heart doth not accuse them of falsehood and dissimulation in their way with God or man, but they do all things according to their light.  No doubt that young man (Luke xviii. 21,) spoke according to his judgment and light, when he said, “All these things have I kept from my youth.”  And Paul saith of himself (Acts xxiii. 1,) “that he had lived in all good conscience before God till that very day;” meaning, that even while he was a Pharisee unconverted, he had not tortured his conscience, nor done anything directly against it, but had always walked according to his light.  See Acts xxvi. 9.

11.  A way of zeal may deceive many who may think their case unquestionable, because they are zealous for their way, and, as they think, their zeal is pure for God.  Was not Paul, while a Pharisee, very zealous, when, out of zeal to his way, he persecuted the church, Philip. iii. 6.  See my zeal for the Lord, could I thus say, 2 Kings x. 16; and the Jews had a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge, Rom. x. 2; and Christ tells us, that such as should persecute the Apostles unto death, would think they did God good service, John xvi. 2.

12.  Some also may put it beyond question, that they are in the right way, because they are more strict in all their ways than others, and will not so much as keep fellowship or company with them; saying, with those, (Isaiah lxv. 5) “Stand by, I am holier than thou, come not near to me,” who yet are but a smoke in God’s nose, and a fire that burneth all the day.

13.  Some may rest on, and deceive themselves with their great attainments, and more than ordinary experiences, when, alas! we see to what a height some may come, and yet prove nothing.  Let such souls read with trembling that word of Paul, Heb. vi 4, 5, where we see some may come to be enlightened, to taste of the heavenly gift, to be made partakers of the Holy Ghost, to taste the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, and yet prove cast-aways; taking these expressions as pointing forth something distinct from real grace.

Many such false ways, wherein men please themselves, might be mentioned; by these every one may see cause of searching and trying over and over again.  It is a dreadful thing to be deceived here, and it is best to put it to a trial, when there is a possibility of getting the matter helped.  And many may fear and tremble when they see they are not yet come the length of many such as sit down without Christ, and lose all their labour.  Oh, if this could put people to a serious examination and trial of themselves, and of the nature of that way wherein they are, and rest at present!

Thirdly, We might here observe, that this true and living way is but one for all.  There is but “one Mediator between God and man,” 1 Tim. ii. 5.  One Mediator for both Old and New Testament, the seed of the woman.  Howbeit the Lord’s dispensations with his people, in that one way, may be various, as his way with his people under the law is different from his way with his people under the gospel; and his dispensations with individual believers, whether under the law or under the gospel, is not the same in all things.