A Guide to Godliness, Book 1 · Chapter 10
CAP. X.
Of the third ground of a godly life, which is a pure heart.
§. Sect. 1 Of a pure heart, what it is; and whence it ariſeth.
BEſides thoſe mayne grounds of a godly life before ſpoken of, ſauing knowledge, and a liuely faith, there are two other which Prou. 20. 9.ariſe and ſpring from them, a pure heart, and a good conſcience. By a pure heart, I doe not vnderſtand ſuch an one as is free from all ſinne and corruption: for who can ſay, I hauehave made my heart cleane, I am pure from my ſinne? But ſuch an heart as being regenerate by Gods Spirit, is in part purified and ſanctified, hating ſinne, and louing vertue and holineſſe in the inner man; feeling the waight of corruption, and deſiring to be clenſed from it, and the want of grace, and reſoluing to vſe all good meanes, whereby it may be ſupplyed. And this is a fruit of ſauing knowledge, which diſcouereth vntounto vsus how vgly ſinne is in it ſelfe; and pernicious vntounto vsus, and the beauty and excellencie of grace and godlineſſe in it owne nature, with the profit which redoundeth vntounto vsus by it; and alſo of a iuſtifying faith, which applying the vertue of Chriſts death and reſurrection, doth mortifie our carnall corruptions, and quicken vsus in the life of grace, making vsus to hate that ſinne which we formerly loued, and to louelove and imbrace that grace and vertue which in time paſt wee loathed; and anſwerably to reſolue, that wee will vſe all good meanes to be freed from the one, and furniſhed with the other. All which proceedeth out of our aſſurance of Gods louelove, which being ſhed abroad in our hearts by the holy Ghoſt, doth worke in them vnfained louelove towards Rom. 5. 5.God againe, whereby we deſire, reſolue, and indeuour, to leaue and forſake what he hateth and forbiddeth, and to imbrace and practiſe whatſoeuer he loueth and commandeth.
§. Sect. 2 That all true fruits of godlineſſe ſpring from a pure heart.
And this is that pure heart which is neceſſary to a godly life, as being a chiefe piller that ſupporteth it, and a liuely fountaine, from which all good and vertuous actions doe ſpring and flow. For if the heart be pure, it will purifie all our words and actions: but if it be defiled, we can expect no pure ſtreames from a polluted fountaine; according to that of our Sauiour, Thoſe things which proceed out of the mouth, come foorth of the heart, Mat. 15. 19.and they defile the man: for out of the heart proceed euill thoughts, murthers, adulteries, &c. And therefore as it is in vaine to purge the ſtreames when the fountaine is defiled, becauſe it will ſoone againe pollute them, whereas if the ſpring be cleere, it will ſoone clenſe the ſtreames, though much defiled, that iſſue from it; ſo is it with the fountaine of the heart, and the words and actions, which from it, as ſtreames doe ſpring and flow. The heart is the roote and tree, and the words and workes are the fruits it beareth, which diſcouer what it is; for a good tree bringeth foorth good fruits, Mat. 7. 17, 18.and a corrupt tree bringeth foorth euill fruits; neither can a good tree bring foorth euill fruit, nor a corrupt tree bring foorth good fruit, as our Sauiour hath taught vsus. It is the treaſurie of all our thoughts, ſpeeches and actions. And a good man, out of the good treaſure of his heart, bringeth foorth Luk. 6. 45.that which is good; and an euill man, out of the euill treaſure of his heart, bringeth foorth that which is euill, for of the abundance of the heart, the mouth ſpeaketh. It is the King and Monarch in the little world of man, which giueth lawes to all the other members, raigning and ruling ouer them as it ſeemeth good vntounto it. It is the primum mobile, and firſt moouer, which giueth motion to all other parts as inferiour ſpheares; and as it were the firſt wheele of the clocke, whoſe motion all the reſt follow, ſtanding ſtill when it ſtandeth, and going as it goeth. So that if the heart bee an inditer Pſa. 45. 1. & 57. 7. & 108. 1.of a good matter, the tongue will be the pen of a ready writer; if the heart bee prepared, ſo alſo will be the tongue to ſing and giuegive praiſe; if it nouriſh euill thoughts like vntounto diſcords, there can be no good muſike: but if it be well tuned, we ſhall, in ſinging Hymnes, Pſalmes, and ſpirituall Songs, ſing Col. 3. 16.with grace, and make ſweete melody in Gods eares. And therefore Dauid deſiring to make good ſpeed in the way of godlineſſe, deſireth firſt to hauehave his heart in larged with the louelove of it; I will runne (ſaith he) the way of thy Pſal. 119. 32.Commandements, when thou ſhalt inlarge my heart.
§. Sect. 3 That God chiefly deſireth the heart aboue all other parts.
And hereof it is that the Lord chiefly requireth the heart, according to that of Salomon, My ſonne, giuegive me thy heart. The which alſo Dauid chiefly Pro. 23 26. 1. Chron. 28. 9.required of him in the ſeruice of God; And thou Salomon my ſonne, know thou the God of thy father, and ſerue him with a perfect heart and willing mind: for the Lord ſearcheth all hearts, and vnderſtandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts. It is, aboue all other parts, the ſacrifice which is moſt acceptable vntounto God, according to that of the Pſalmiſt, The ſacrifices of God are a broken ſpirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not deſpiſe. An Pſal. 51. 17.vpright heart is his chiefe delight, and though he requireth ſincerity both in our words and workes, yet aboue all, he deſireth truth in the inward parts. Verſ. 7.And if the heart be ſincere, and deſireth to offer vntounto God perfect ſeruice, the Lord paſſeth by and pardoneth our imperfections, and accepteth as perfect, our weake and worthleſſe indeuours; according to that of the Apoſtle, If there be firſt a willing minde, it is accepted according to that a man 2. Cor. 8 12.hath, and not according to that he hath not. An example whereof we hauehave in Iehoſaphat and Aſa, who though their inward corruptions did breake out into diuers open ſinnes, yet becauſe they prepared their hearts to ſeeke the 2. Chr. 19. 3.Lord, he eſteemed them as perfect, and what they did, ſeemed iuſt and 1. King. 15. 11.right in his eyes. Whereas on the other ſide, how glorious ſoeuer our words and actions ſeeme to be, yet if we regard wickedneſſe in our hearts, the Lord Pſal. 66. 18.will not regard vsus nor our prayers; if we will not lay Gods Word to our heart, Mal. 2. 2.to giuegive glory to his name, he will ſend a curſe vponupon vsus, by which, euen his bleſſings ſhall be accurſed.
§. Sect. 3 That God reſpecteth no duty, vnleſſe it proceed from a pure and ſincere heart.
Neither can any duty of a godly life which we performe vntounto God, be approoued of him, vntill our hearts bee firſt approoued. And as Dauid 2. Sam. 3. 13. Deut. 6. 6.would not accept of Abners ſeruice, nor let him hauehave the fauour of ſeeing his face, except he brought his wife with him; ſo neither will the Lord regard any ſeruice which we offer vntounto him, if we leaue our hearts behind vsus, which are aboue all other parts eſpouſed vntounto him by ſolemne Couenant. In all our obedience the heart is chiefly required. Theſe words which I command thee this day, ſhall be in thine heart: ye ſhall lay vp theſe words in your heart, and in your ſoule, and binde them for a ſigne vponupon your hand, that they may be as frontlets betweene your eyes. And againe, Set your hearts vntounto Deut. 11. 18. & 32. 46.all the words which I teſtifie among you this day. In our conuerſion vntounto God, the heart muſt firſt turne vntounto him. Turne ye vntounto me with all your heart, &c. and rent your heart, and not your garments, and turne vntounto the Lord your Ioel 2. 12, 13.God. Breake vp your fallow ground, and ſow not among thornes; circumciſe your ſelues vntounto the Lord, and take away the foreskin of your hearts. In our Ier. 4. 3, 4.ſpirituall warfare againſt the enemies of our ſaluation, the Court of gard muſt keepe the carefulleſt watch about the Caſtle of our hearts, that it may not be ſurprized, neither by the ſecret treaſon of the fleſh, nor the open violence of the deuill or the world, ſeeing if we loſe this fort, we ſhall loſe the life of grace which is preſerued in it; according to that of Salomon, Keepe thine heart with all diligence, for out of it are the iſſues of life. The curing Pro. 4. 23.our ſoules of their ſpirituall diſeaſes, muſt beginne at the heart; and the inward cauſe of corruption muſt thence bee purged, before there can bee any true reformation, or ſound health in the outward parts: Euen as the heate of the face is not much abated, by caſting vponupon it water or cooling things, but by allaying inwardly the heate of the liuer. Finally, our ſeruice of God (if wee would hauehave it accepted) 1. Tim▪ 4. 8.muſt not bee performed onelyonly with the outward man: for as the Apoſtle ſpeaketh, Bodily exerciſe profiteth little: but it muſt bee the ſeruice of the heart, and performed in ſpirit and truth. Otherwiſe it Ioh. 4. 23.will bee vaine, and but loſt labour, according to that of the Prophet cited by our Sauiour; This people draweth nigh vntounto mee with their lippes, but their heart is farre from mee. But in vaine they worſhip Matth. 15. 8.mee, &c. If wee waſh our hands, and not our hearts, and make cleane the outſide of the cup and platter, and let the inſide bee defiled with corruption and ſinne, wee ſhall not exceed the Phariſes, who by our Sauiours cenſure, did not exceede the hypocrites, and were worſe then Publicanes and profeſſed ſinners: and if wee gild the outſide by a glorious profeſſion, and inwardly in the heart nouriſh our corruptions, wee ſhall with them bee rightly compared to painted ſepulchers, which were outwardly glorious, but within full of dead mens bones and all vncleanneſſe.Mat. 23. 25, 27.
§. Sect. 4 That all true reformation & repentance muſt begin with the conſecrating of our whole hearts vntounto God.
And therefore when we goe about the reformation of our liues, let vsus firſt begin witht he purging of our hearts, and offer them vntounto God, as a Pſal. 40. 8. Pſal. 119. 112, 167 & 141. 4.free-will offering, and the firſt fruits of our new obedience, if wee meane to hauehave a good crop of godlineſſe, and the whole harueſt ſanctifyed to our vſe. And this was Dauids practice, watching chiefely ouer his heart, that he might conſecrate it, aboue all other parts, to the Seruice of God. I delight (ſaith he) to doe thy will, O my God, yea thy Law is within my heart. And againe, I hauehave inclined mine heart to performe thy Statutes alway euen vntounto the end. My ſoule hath kept thy teſtimonies, and I louelove them exceedingly. So Moſes prayeth vntounto God, in behalfe of himſelfe and the people, Teach vsus ſo to number our dayes, that we may apply our hearts to wiſdome. Neither is it ſufficient, eyther to pleaſe God, or to attaine vntounto ſanctification and a godly life, to conſectate our hearts in part only vntounto Gods ſeruice, and to reſerue part for the ſeruice of the world. For wee cannot ſerue two maſters ſo contrary in diſpoſition, nor at once pleaſe God and Mammon, as our Sauiour hath taught vsus. We muſt not halt betweene two opinions, but if God be God, wee muſt ſerue him: If Baal be God, we muſt ſerue him. God Matth. 6. 24. 1. King. 18. 21.is a iealous louer, and will indure no corriuals in the heart, which aboue all parts he chiefely loueth. And therefore if we intend to leade a godly life, and to pleaſe God in all our courſes, wee muſt ſet our whole hearts to ſeeke and ſerue him, and as he requireth, louelove him with all our heart, and Deut. 6. 5. Mat. 22. 37. Pſal. 119. 10, 34.with all our ſoule, and with all our mind. So Dauid; With my whole heart hauehave I ſought thee, O let me not wander from thy Commandements. GiueGive mee vnderſtanding, and I ſhall keepe thy Law; yea, I ſhall obſerue it with my whole heart. And thus Aſa and his people entred into a Couenant to ſeeke the Lord God of 2. Chro. 15. 12.their fathers, with all their heart and with all their ſoule.
§. Sect. 5 That we muſt take ſpeciall care for the purifying of our hearts, and wherein it chiefely conſiſteth.
By all which it appeareth how neceſſary it is, that intending to lead a Godly life, we deuote and conſecrate our hearts, yea, our whole hearts, Eſa. 66. 3.to the ſeruice of God. And becauſe he being moſt pure, can indure no corruption or pollution, and therefore will abhorre our moſt formall ſeruice, if our hearts continue and delight in their abominations, yea, will as much hate the heart it ſelfe polluted with ſinne, if it be offered vntounto him, as Swines blood, or a dogs head; therefore from hence alſo it appeareth how neceſſary it is, when we ſet our ſelues to pleaſe God by a godly life, to take ſpeciall care to hauehave in the firſt place, our hearts purged, and purified from the filth of ſinne. For naturally our hearts are full of all vncleaneneſſe, fountaines of maliciouſnes, and ſinkes of ſinne, ſpiritually blind and fooliſh, but vntounto all impiety, witty, ſharp-ſighted, and, as the Prophet ſpeaketh, wicked and deſpightfull aboue all things; auerſe vntounto all Ier. 17. 9.good, and prone to all euill, dead and dull to Gods ſeruice, and full of life and vigour to the ſeruice of the diuell, the world, and our owne carnall concupiſcence. Finally, they ſwarme with all noyſome luſts, as pride, hypocriſie, couetouſneſſe, voluptuouſneſſe, ambition, malice, enuie, diſdaine, worldly louelove, and all manner of carnall corruption. And therefore it is moſt neceſſary that our hearts be firſt cleanſed and purged, before wee can offer vntounto God any acceptable ſeruice: for what can iſſue out of theſe ſinks and puddles of corruption, but all manner of ſinfull impiety? and what ſtreames of Gods ſeruice ſo pure in themſelues, which will not bee polluted, if they runne thorow theſe dennes and ditches of all abominations? Now this purging of the heart conſiſteth in the mortification of the fleſh, and its ſinfull luſts, and in ſpirituall renewing vntounto holineſſe and new obedience, whereby we begin to hate all that euill which we formerly loued, and to louelove that good which we formerly hated; to loath the tyranny of ſinne and Satan, vntounto which, with all willingneſſe we ſubiected our ſelues in time paſt, and to imbrace the true ſeruice of God, in all ſincerity, which before, we eyther neglected, or performed after a formall, cold and careles manner: And finally, hauehave our hearts and affections weaned from the louelove of the world and earthly vanities, vponupon which, in the dayes of our ignorance, wee wholy doted, as on our chiefe delight and treaſure, becauſe we now ſee that they are vncertaine, momentany and mutable, worthleſſe and vnprofitable; yea, to thoſe that ſet their hearts vponupon them, hurtfull and pernicious. And contrariwiſe, adhere and cleaue vntounto the Lord, with all our ſoules, as being all-ſufficient, and infinite in all perfection, chuſing him for our portion, and inheritance, our rocke and refuge, and farre preferring him before all earthly treaſures and delights. And thus the Lord, when he called Abraham out of Vr of the Chaldeans, to bee his ſeruant, withdraweth his heart from the louelove of worldly things, as being inſufficient to preſerue him from euill, or to furniſh him with any true good, by promiſing that he himſelfe would be his ſhield and exceeding great reward. And thus he perſwadeth him vntounto vprightneſſe of Gen. 15. 1.heart, and to walke before him in holineſſe of life, becauſe, if hee would chuſe him for his portion, he ſhould finde him almighty, and all-ſufficient, and therefore able to preſerue him from all danger, and to relieue and Gen. 17. 1.ſupply all his wants, though for his profeſſion and practice of Gods true Religion, he ſhould be abandoned of all worldly helpes, & expoſed to the malice of many and mighty enemies. And thus Moſes contemned the world, and refuſing the pleaſures of Egypt, and the honours of Pharaohs Court, adhered vntounto God and his pure Religion, chuſing rather to ſuffer Heb. 11. 25.affliction with his people, then to inoy the pleaſures of ſinne for a ſeaſon. So Dauid being in his heart and affections, like a weaned child, and lothing the worlds breſts, from which he had formerly ſucked the ſweet milk of earthly Pſal. 131. 2.vanities, with ſo much delight, doth with all his heart and ſoule cleaue vntounto the Lord, chuſing him for his portion, and inheritance, and eſteeming him as his ſole treaſure. The Lord (ſaith he) is the portion of mine inheritance, Pſal. 16. 5, 6.and of my cup; thou maintaineſt my lot. The lines are falne vntounto me in pleaſant places, yea, I hauehave a goodly heritage. And when he was forſaken of all worldly helpes in the day of trouble, hee was not (like worldlings) as a man forlorne and deſperate, but, he cryed vntounto the Lord, and ſaid, Thou Pſal. 142. 5. & 119. 57.art my refuge and my portion, in the land of the liuing. So elſewhere he profeſſeth, that all his ioy and comfort was in the Lord, and the aſſurance of his louelove, the which was better and greater, then was incident to worldlings in all their poſterity. There be many (ſaith he) that ſay, Who will ſhew Pſal. 4. 5, 6, 7.vsus any good? Lord lift thou vp the light of thy countenance vponupon vsus. Thou haſt put gladneſſe in my heart, more then in the time that their corne and their wine increaſed. And thus the Church in the Lamentation, was not in her greateſt miſery, left hopeleſſe and helpeleſſe, but cleauing to the Lord with her heart, ſhee cryeth out; The Lord is my portion, ſaith my ſoule, therefore Lam. 3. 24.will I hope in him.
§. Sect. 6 Of the cauſes of the hearts purity.
And theſe are the things wherein this purity of heart doth conſiſt. The principall efficient which worketh it in vsus, is the whole Trinity, the Father, Sonne and holy Spirit. God the Father beginneth this ſanctification and holineſſe in our hearts, by taking away their hardneſſe, and making them ſoft and tender, and by giuing vntounto vsus his Spirit, to purify them from the filth of corruption, and to quicken them in the life of grace; according to that promiſe; I will giuegive them one heart, and I will put a new ſpirit Ezech. 11. 19. & 36. 26.within you; and I will take the ſtony heart out of their bodies, and will giuegive them an heart of fleſh. And againe; After thoſe daies, ſaith the Lord, I will put my Ier. 31. 33.Law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts. And therefore if we would hauehave this grace, we muſt with the Apoſtle hauehave our recourſe to God, praying for our ſelues, as he did for the Theſſalonians: The very God of peace ſanctifie you wholy; and I pray God, your whole ſpirit, and ſoule, and 1. Theſ. 5. 23.body, be preſerued blameleſſe vntounto the comming of the Lord Ieſus Chriſt. God the Sonne purifieth our hearts by ſhedding his precious blood, that it might be a Lauer of regeneration, wherein our polluted hearts might be cleanſed. For ſo deepely are they engrayned in the skarlet dye of ſinne, that nothing elſe will take away their ſpots and ſtaines, and bring them vntounto ſnowy whiteneſſe. It is onelyonly his Croſſe, that crucifieth theſe carnall corruptions, and the vertue of his death, that killeth and mortifieth ſin in vsus. And this is that Fountaine which the Lord promiſeth ſhould be opened Zach. 13. 1.to the houſe of Dauid and Hieruſalem, for ſinne and for vncleaneneſſe: in which if our hearts be not waſhed, they will remaine in their naturall filthineſſe. God the holy Ghoſt purifieth our hearts, by vniting them to Chriſt, & by dipping and waſhing them in this Fountaine of his blood; and ſo maketh Ioh. 3. 5.the death and merits of our Sauiour, which are ſufficient in themſelues, effectuall vntounto vsus for our purification. For as the Poole of Betheſda had, Ioh. 5.by the mouing of the Angell, vertue in it to cure diſeaſes, but yet did good to none, but thoſe only which were put into it; ſo though the blood of Chriſt be ſufficient to cure the heart of the leproſie of ſinne, and to make it cleane, yet it is of no efficacie vntounto any, ſauing thoſe who are by the holy Spirit dipped and waſhed in it; ſeeing, like the poore lame cripple, wee are naturally impotent, and cannot make any vſe of theſe meanes of our recouery, vnles we be aſſiſted by the holy Spirit. The inſtrumentall cauſe of this purificatiō is a liuely faith wrought in vsus by the Spirit to this end, the which we may apply vntounto our ſelues, Chriſt his death and precious bloodſhed, for our ſpirituall purging from ſinne: which is perfected in our iuſtification, in reſpect of the guilt and puniſhment, and begun in our ſanctification, by purifying our hearts from their natural corruptions. Act. 15. 9.In which reſpect, faith is ſaid to purifie our hearts, not materially or formally, by any vertue inherent in it ſelfe, but inſtrumentally, by applying vntounto vsus the vertue of Chriſts death and bloodſhed. And vntill we hauehave this faith wrought in vsus by the Spirit, whereby we are aſſured of the riches of Gods grace in this life, and glory and happineſſe in the life to come, our hearts remaine it their naturall filthineſſe, and are full of all carnall and worldly luſts, neither is it poſſible that they ſhould be perſwaded to contemne the baites of worldly vanities, and to tread vnderunder-foot the pleaſures of ſinne, with which they are naturally ſo much delighted, till they hauehave an offer of better things from God, and hauehave ſome aſſurance, that vponupon their renouncing of the world and fleſhly luſts, and ſeeking after theſe richer gifts, they ſhall moſt certainely attaine vntounto them; according to that of the Apoſtle, Bleſſed be God, and the Father of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, 1. Pet. 1. 4.who according to his abundant mercy, hath begotten vsus againe vntounto a liuely hope, by the reſurrection of Ieſus Chriſt from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and vndefiled, and that fadeth not away, reſerued in heauen for you. And this purged Moſes heart from the louelove of the world, and made him willing to ſuffer afflictions with the people of God, becauſe with the eye of faith he looked vponupon the recompence of reward. And this cauſed the Saints of God Heb. 11. 25.to content themſelues to dwel in tabernacles, & not to regard any earthly manſions, becauſe they looked for a City which hath foundations, whoſe builder Heb. 11. 9, 10.and maker is God: & the holy Martyrs, to indure with patience & ioy moſt cruell perſecution, not accepting deliuerance, becauſe by faith they were perſwaded, that they ſhould obtaine a better reſurrection. Of which comforts of Heb. 11. 33.fayth, wee hauehave great neede to be thereby ſupported vnderunder the Croſſe, and perſwaded vntounto the contempt of the world; ſeeing Ieſus, the Author and finiſher of our faith, who was free from all worldly luſts and carnall corruption, was by his heauenly hopes incouraged in his earthly ſufferings: for as the Apoſtle teſtifieth, He, for the ioy that was ſet before him, endured the croſſes, deſpiſing the ſhame, and is ſet downe at the right hand of the Heb. 12. 2.Throne of God.