The Mystery of Self-Deceiving, Chapter 29
CHAP. XXIX.
Certaine generall vses arising out of the former doctrine of the heartes deceitfulnes, or an exhortation to watchfulnesse ouer, and dealing wisely, and straitely with our heartes.
HAuing by Gods goodnesse thus finished the whold doctrine of the hearts deceitfulnes, it Vses, 5 remaineth now in the conclusion, that besides those particular vses which wee hauehave already made of some of the particular branches of this doctrine, we shew also the generall which ariseth from the whole. And they are specially fiue.
1. If our heartes be such deceiuers, it standes vsus 1 For watchfulnesse.then in hand alwaies to hauehave our eyes in our heads, and to hauehave our wittes about vsus, hauing to deale with so noble a iugler, so full of cunning trickes, and sleightes, continually ready to snare vsus. We walk in Chrys. hom. 15. ad pop. Ant.the middest of snares, not only neere them, but in the very middest of them, incompassed with them on eueryevery side. Therefore let vsus alwaies bee suspicious, and iealous ouer our heartes, in all places, and vponupon all occasions, in our solitarinesse, in our companie, in our businesse with men, in our dealings with God, in hearing, praying, meditating; in our dealings also with Sathan, in wrestling with his temptations. When the Philistimes were going out to warre against the Israelites, they durst not 1. Sam. 29.let Dauid go with them; they had him in iealousie, because of the louelove he bare to his owne Countrie, and therefore put him out of the armie. Happy were it for vsus in our spirituall warre with Sathan, if wee could as easily rid our selues of our naughty, deceitfull hearte, as they did themselues of Dauid. We hauehave farre greater cause to suspect our heartes, then they Dauid. The acquaintance of the flesh with Sathan, and Sathans interest in the flesh is greater then the Israelites in Dauid. Besides that they neuer had any experience of Dauids deceitfulnesse, and vnfaythfulnesse, as we hauehave had of the fleshes. Therefore I say it were well, if wee could wholy cashire this trecherous, and perfidious flesh. But since it stckes so close, as that we cannot possibly be shift of it, therefore we must alwaies hauehave an eye ouer it; euen as we would hauehave ouer an vntrustie, pilphring seruant, who, not obserued, wil filch. For certainely such is the deceitfulnes of our harts, that if our eye be neuer so little off them, off goes the yoke of the Lord presently, and they break out into some vnlawfull liberty, or other. Keepe wee then our heartes, as Salomon counsels, fensed with a double gard, as the Iailer his close prisoner. See Prou. 4.the doores be fast locked. Yea looke to the windowes, as Iob did. If there bee any open passage, this deceiuer will either let in some body to him, Iob. 31. 1.which should not come in, or els he will out himselfe. If we fall asleepe and neglect our watch, either the Diuell, and his suggestions will enter; euen as when the sense of a vineyard is downe, then the wilde boare, and all manner of wild beasts come in, and deuour all: or else our hart it selfe will wander abroad, like a gadding Dinah, in the idle rouinges of her owne vaine imaginations. Thus then should we thinke with our selues eueryevery morning, This day I am to venture into the world, and snares euerie where lie thicke, and threefould. If I take not heed, easily shal I be caught. For what alas is there wherin my heart is not ready to deceiue me? I am now going to praier. My heart will bee ready to thrust in idle, and wandring fansies, vnles I watch ouer it. I am now to giuegive an almes, or to go to confer with my Christian friends. Pride, and vaine glory will foile me, vnlesse I looke well to my selfe. I am now going to deale in such a controuersie, with a contentious, and wrangling man. My heart will quicklie breake out into rage, and distemper, and my mouth will soone ouershoote it selfe, if I holde it not as with a bridle. I am going to a feast. If I put not a knife to my throate I shall easily bee ouer-reached by my deceitefull appetite. If I let loose the reines to mine owne corrupt heart Pro. …3, 1.I shall soone offend in excesse, either of meate, or mirth. I am now to go forth into the streete. And how many are the temptations ready to incounter me? euen eueryevery thinge I either see, or heare. If I see my enemie, in what danger am I of wrath, and malice? if my friend, flourishing, of enuie? poore, of disdaine? if a beautifull woman, of lust? If I heare rotten speach, how ready am I to bee corrupted with it? if reuiling, and iniurious, how ready am I to be prouoked with it? This is the cautelousnesse we must vse in all our occasions whatsoeuer. For all places are full of these snares, the streete, the house, the bourd, the bedde, the closet, yea the Church, the pulpit. The exhortation of Paul to Timothie, Watch thou in all thinges, is needfull; because 2. Tim. 4. 5.the heart, deceitfull aboue all thinges, is also deceitfull in all thinges, euen in the best things that may be. And therefore Christ bids vsus take heede to our heartes, euen in our almes, in our praiers, and Math. 6.other the holiest seruices, we can possibly performe for euen in them snares will bee set for vsus. In these actions we had neede shut the doore of our heartes that our mindes steale not away from God. Neuer then trust thou this heart of thine, that it will bee well ordered, and kept in good frame, though thou cary not alwaies so heauy a hand and narrow an eye ouer it. No, if thou looke not thus straightly to it, it will be gone as a wild-horse, if a man once let goe the bridle, as hee is walking in his iourny. And then when he is once gone, hee will not bee gotten againe in hast; but a man must spend as much time in recouering of him, as would haply hauehave been sufficient to hauehave dispached the whole iourny. So will it fare with thy heart, if once thou let go this bridle of watchfulnesse. It will run out so farre, that it will bee long ere thou wilt catch it againe. It will be so frozen, that it will be long ere thou can bring it to melt. It will bee so loose, and idle, that it will be long ere thou canst worke it vntounto true deuotion. And thou must spend as much time, nay more, in seeking to regaine thy heart againe, and to bring it into temper, and tune, for the seruice of God, then would hauehave serued for the good performance of the seruice it selfe. But aboue all thinges see thou trust not thine heart with such thinges as may bee dangerous occasions of euill. Looke better to it then so. Be as fearefull of this, as thou art of giuing a knife to a childe, or a sword to a mad-man. Thine eye cannot bee quick enough for thy heart then. The mad-man wil speake sometimes so soberly, and vse such faire persuasions to be vnfettered, and promise that he will be so quiet &c. But no sooner is he loose, but he plaies reakes, woundes, slaies, destroies whatsoeuer is in his way, yea euen him that loosed him. So likewise deale our heartes with vsus. They can flatter with vsus, & ô why should we trouble our selues so much, alwaies to be looking to them? and why should we deale so hardly with them, alwaies so to keepe them in, as a bird in a cage? to hold them so short of all liberty? why? they hauehave better gouernement of themselues, then that we need to feare them so &c. But when once they hauehave gotte free, then they serue vsus like the mad-man, so that we shall rue that time, that euer we gaue them such liberty.
2. This deceitfulnesse of our heartes must cause 2 Vse; To binde our selues to God by couenant.vsus often to renew our couenant with God, and by solemne vowes, and protestations of our repentance, as it were with strong ropes, to binde, and hold fast these fugitiues. If a man be knowne to be a common deceiuer, wee will neuer take his word for any thing: but if wee must needes deale with him, we will be sure to hauehave his hand and seale, and the best security we can get. So wise, and wary are we in the matters of this life. Well, thy heart is far more cunning to deceiue thee, then the craftiest fox that is to ouerreach his neighbour. Be not now so simple as to beleeue eueryevery sigh, eueryevery wish and word, eueryevery motion, and inclination of thy heart. For how often, as I hauehave shewed before, doe our heartes deale like Zarah when hee was to be borne, Chap. 21.make many good profers of comming forth out of their sinnes as it were the darknesse of the wombe, into the light of grace, but they recoile presently? EueryEvery slight occasion is in steade of a Perez vntounto them. And yet lo the sillinesse of men; to beleeue their hearts that are so light of faith. They thinke verily when they feele some fitte of good affection, O now I hauehave gotte the victory, sinne shall neuer so preuaile against me as it was wonte; when yet the same houre, it may be, sees them in worse takeing, then euer before. Saul, though, affected with 1. Sam. 24. 17. 18. 19.Dauids apologie, he acknowledged both Dauids innocence, and his owne vniustice, and though with teares, with good wordes, My sonne Dauid, with good praiers, The Lord render thee good, he witnessed good will to Dauid, yet for all this Dauid trusted Vers. 23.him not, but kept himselfe in the hold still. For shortly after Saul was hunting after him againe. And though then also he seemed to relent, & promised Dauid peace, Come againe my sonne Dauid, I will 1. Sam. 26. 21.doe thee no more harme, yet for all that Dauid hearkened not. For what heede is to bee taken to a false, and fickle-hearted mans wordes? Our heartes being as fickle, and inconstant in their relenting affections towards the Lord, as Sauls was toward Dauid, should we trust them any more in such fittes, then Dauid did Saul? No: but, since euen the strongest bondes are to weake too hold such slippery heartes, that they slide not out of our hands, therefore, cause them to enter into solemne couenant with the Lord, as those in Nehemiah, Esra, and the Chronicles. Thus did Dauid, I hauehave sworne, saith hee, Neh. 10. Esr. 10. 3. 2. Chr. 15. 12. Psal. 119. 106.and will performe it, that I will keepe thy statutes. In euill things, to which prone by nature, we can bind our selues by oathes, and vowes, when wee feele our selues disposed vntounto them, as to reuenge, when the iniury is fresh, and our hotte bloud is vp: how much more then should wee doe the like in good? The diuell sees that wrath is a fire soone out: therfore Chry. hom. 8. ad pop. Antioc.he will nourish it with an oath: how much more should we nourish the fire of zeale, and good affections, which hauehave no fuell from within vsus, as anger hath, and so are farre more easily extinguished? how much more I say should wee maintaine, and vphold in our selues all good thinges with this proppe of an oath, and couenant-striking with the Lord? And here see that thou register, and recorde in thy accountes-booke this thy couenant, that so when thy deceitfull heart shalbe offering to start aside, and giuegive thee the slippe, thou maiest presently recall it, and keepe it in with putting it in minde of this couenant. What? didst not thou, on such a time, when thou wert humbled vnderunder the hand of God, and haddest some good desires kindled in thee by his spirit, didst not thou then solemnely giuegive thy faith to God, and by the straitest bondes of thy vowe, and oath firmely knitte thy selfe vntounto him, and wilt thou so soone be offering to make escapes from him? Hast thou so soone forgotten thy couenant? Thou false fugitiue, but yesterday wast thou brought home to thy master, then thou humbledst thy selfe vntounto him, soughtest reconciliation, promisedst more faithfull seruice. And yet art thou now offering so quickely to take thee to thy heeles againe?
3. This deceitfulnesse of our heartes must teach 3 Vse, for wisedome to apprehend all good opportunities.vsus wisedome, to take them at the vantage, when at any time we finde them in a good moode, in any sort well affected, or disposed to any good duty. Thou hast this wisedome in the thinges of this life. Hauing to deale with a light, and inconstant man, when thou findest him in the good vaine, then thou wilt be sure to lay hold of that opportunity, and to take him then at his word. For thou knowest, that if thou shouldest let him goe on neuer so little longer, within an houre, or two, he would be of another minde. Assuredly thy heart is far more variable, and vncertaine, then the ficklest man that can be. Doest thou then feele at any time, that thy heart is warmed with good motions, inlarged with good affections, lift vp to heauen in spirituall meditations, doest thou feele any sparkled of the heauenly fire; take thou the bellowes presently, blowe till they flame, cherish, and make much euen of the smoaking flaxe. Now is the time for thee, now I say, in this floate of good affections, when thy heart is so well prepared, to fall to praier, to confession of thy sinnes, to reading, to all the good exercises of repentance, and inuocation, and in a word to the doing of that good worke for the which motions, and desires are risen in thy minde. For how often hauehave the best of vsus beene beguiled here? to thinke we should do afterwards that which in present we purposed, and desired, and within an houre, or lesse, all our heat is gone, our affections are growne chil, and coole, our heats heauy, our spirits drousie, and dead, and so our selues wholly disabled for the dooing of that wee thought. And why? because we stroke not the iron whiles it was hot, wee held not our hearts fast, when we had hold of them, we vsed not the meanes to keepe them still in good frame, and temper. And so all our good thoughts vanish, and come to nothing. Excellentlie Dauid, My heart O God is prepared. What? shall I suffer now Psal, 57. 7.other occasions to cal me another way? No: for then all that life and vigor which now I feele, wil be gone: but I will arise, and giuegive thanks, and so, I will arise and pray, arise and confesse, &c. Oh if we would go to prayer in this spring-tide, as it were, of good affections, how then, as the Prophet speaketh, should wee poure out a praier? how would the riuers of repenting Esa, 26. 16.teares ouerflow? whereas, neglecting this occasion, our praiers come but droppingly from vsus afterward in the ebbe of our affections. It cannot be spoken how little a thing will distract and vnsettle our hearts. They are like to glasses, that will bee hurt with a little breath, and vntounto musicall instruments, that will be put out of tune with the least distemper of the aire. And therefore we had not need pretermit the opportunity, when we feele them wrought vpō in any sort by the holy spirit of God. What good impressions would they not receiue then, beeing so soft and tender? whereof afterward they will not be capable, being returned to their former hardnesse? Do then good thoughts, & desires offer themselues, doe such guests seeke lodging in thy heart? Oh welcome them in the kindest manner, lay hold of them, and by thy kinde and respectiue vsage of them, constraine Luk, 24, 29.them, as they once our Sauiour, to stay still with thee; what is this kind intertainment, wee are to shew them, but the intertainement of our prayers, reading, and conferring of the worde? If wee would doe so, after once good affections are entred into our hearts, wee should euen locke vp the doore vponupon them, that they could not get out againe, and so we should hauehave more of their company then now we hauehave; in stead of visiting vsus now and then, they would become daily guests, and ordinary residentiaries with vsus. Salomon bids vsus establish our thoughts by Pro. 20, 18.counsell. This Prouerbe hath his truth euen in holy and spiritual thoughts, the which alas will soon faile, vnlesse wee settle and confirme them in our harts, & after the spirit hath once entred them into vsus, doe so pegge and hammer them in, and driue them downe so deepe by the vse of good meanes, as that we may not easily loose them afterward. At the first rising then of a good thought, pray with Dauid, because thou fearest the deceitfulnesse of thine heart, knit my heart, this false fickle fugitiue heart, alwaies ready to steale from thee, knit it O Lord, and tie it fast Psal, 86. 21.vntounto thee, that as it is now with thee, so it may stil remaine with thee, and againe with the same Prophet in the behalfe of his people, when they were so well disposed in their cheerefull offering to the temple, O Lord keep this for euer, this frame of the thoughts of thy seruants hart. And frame his mind towards thee. 1, Chr. 81. 29.This counsell-taking with God in praier, is the onelyonly remedy against the deceitfulnesse of our heart, for the preseruing and establishing of all good thoughts and desires.
4. The deceitfulnesse of our hearts must cause vsus IV. Vse for strait examination of our hearts.daily to keepe an audit in our owne conscience, euer and anon calling them to their accounts. A trusty seruant, an Eleazar, we will let go on, and recken but seldome with him. But a Gehezi, one that is but of slippery fidelity, hadneed be reckned with eueryevery day The miserable experience then which we hauehave had of the falsnes of these harts so oftē deceiuing vsus, must make vsus to be very strait and seuere in examining of them. Salomon not obscurely intimates this to be the cause of our harts deceitfulnes, that we do not take this paines of a strict triall. EueryEvery mans waies are pure in his owne eies: but the Lord trieth the hearts, & Prou. 21, 2.so sees their secret deceit, which wee perceiue not, because we trie not. Let vsus neuer therefore let reckonings runne on, but eueryevery day let vsus make all euen, let vsus chastize our selues eueryevery morning, examine our seluer eueryevery euening, euen in the still silence of the night, as we lie waking on our beds. In the matter of disbursement of money for the repairing of the temple, Iosiah gaue charge that no reckoning should be made with them, into whose hāds the money was deliuered; for (saith hee) they deale 2. Kings 22. 7.faithfully. Indeede, if our hearts dealt faithfully with vsus, wee also might spare this labour of daily countscasting. But because both the word of God, and our owne experience hauehave sufficiently discouered their vnfaithfulnesse, therefore wee contrarily must say, Let there be daily, yea hourely recknings kept with our hearts, for they deale exceeding vnfaithfully. The musitian because his instrument quickly growes out of tune, euen whiles he is in playing, therefore euen then he will be tuning of it, as soone as hee spies the least iarring in any of the strings: so must wee intermixe the correction, and amendment of our hearts, (which is done by strict examination) together with their vse, and imployment, and not to bee like the foolish mower, that still mowes, and neuer whets his sith.
Lastly; since all our hearts naturally are so full fraught with guile, being so immeasurably and vnsearchablie V. Vse, for exhortation to sincerity.deceitfull, as heere the Prophet teacheth; it must cause vsus in the hearty bewailing, and confessing of this corruption to striue for the contrary grace. Wee, that by the mercy of God professe religion more sincerely, are ready to thinke our selues wronged, if we be called hypocrites, and deceitfull people. No, let vsus make vse of such imputations, and profit by the railings of our enemies. For they lay no other imputation on vsus, then heere God himselfe doth, saying, The heart of man, without exception of any, is deceitfull. So that the heart euen of the most holy, and regenerate is still in part deceifull, as in part it is wicked. Let vsus not then deny that in our selues, which the God of truth hath laid vponupon vsus, but let vsus rather search out this priuie, and close hypocrisie of our hearts, and hauing found it, purge them of it. Praying with the Prophet, Renue a right spirit in me, labouring for that same truth in the inward parts which God so loueth, that so wee may Psal. 51.with Apelles, be approued in Christ, and with Nathaniel, Rom, 16. Iohn 1. Gal, 6.true Israelites, in whome no guile, euen the Israel of God, pure in heart. The which, that wee may attaine vntounto I will heere set downe certaine, both meanes and motiues.