We may deceive ourselves, and we do deceive
ourselves, again and again, and fancy that our souls are strong when
they are weak--that they are simple and truthful when they are full
of deceit and falsehood--that they are loving God when they are only
loving themselves--that they are doing God's will when they are only
doing their own selfish and perverse wills. No man can take care of
his own spirit, much less give his own spirit life; "no man can
quicken his own soul," says David, that is, no man can give his own
soul life. And therefore we must have someone beyond ourselves to
give life to our spirits. We must have someone to teach us the
things that we could never find out for ourselves, someone who will
put into our hearts the good desires that could never come of
themselves. We must have someone who can change these wills of ours,
and make them love what they hate by nature, and make them hate what
they love by nature. For by nature we are selfish. By nature we are
inclined to love ourselves, rather than anyone else; to take care of
ourselves, rather than anyone else. By nature we are inclined to
follow our own will, rather than God's will, to do our own pleasure,
rather than follow God's commandments, and therefore by nature our
spirits are dead; for selfishness and self-will are SPIRITUAL DEATH.
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