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I. AN EVIL ANTICIPATED. That of having the heart deceived.

1. The scantiness and imperfection of human knowledge.

2. The deceitfulness of the heart.

3. The deceitfulness of sin.

4. The deceitfulness of the world.

5. The deceitfulness of the devil.Such are the reasons we have for believing that our hearts may be deceived. But the text assumes that this deception is an evil pregnant with very pernicious consequences. And this appears from the consideration, that those whose hearts are deceived are involved in a state of the most palpable error. What tradesman would wish to make errors in his accounts? What scholar would not guard against error in his sums? But these errors are trivial, when compared to the grievous error in which those are involved whose hearts are deceived concerning their salvation and their God. Nor is this all; those whose hearts are deceived, are exposed to extreme danger.

II. THE CAUTION URGED AGAINST THIS DECEPTION. "Take heed to yourselves," etc.

1. Be alive to a sense of your extreme danger. Let us consider what we are — how deeply fallen! Let us weigh well our circumstances, dangers, and enemies; this will lay the foundation for caution and circumspection.

2. Seek for the illuminating and sanctifying influences of the Holy Spirit; O, seek His influence by fervent, importunate prayer. "Take heed to yourselves."

3. By the constant practice of self-examination.

4. By watching over yourselves. "Watch and pray." "Be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer." "Watch thou in all things." Watchfulness will lead you to keep a strict guard over your thoughts, words, actions.

(Sketches of Four Hundred Sermons.)

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KJV: Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them;

WEB: Take heed to yourselves, lest your heart be deceived, and you turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them;