Instructions About Heart-Work, Text (7 of 8)

Instructions About Heart-Work · Text (7 of 8)

p. 2423. A feeling of theſe things. I mean now, a feeling beforehand; a feeling that's gotten by your fore-knowledge. What we believe and underſtand if they be great things, will make impreſſions upon our ſenſes. By the knowledge of God, and of the bleſſedneſs of Heaven, the Saints get ſome …or…es of that Glory and Bleſſedneſs. 1 Pet. 2.2. If we have ta…d that the Lord is gracious. And by the knowledge of the Wrath and Judgments of God, ſome p. 243ſinners get a taſte of that wrath; it makes their hearts to begin to burn above ground. There's an heaven begun in the hearts of Saints, and an hell begun in the hearts of ſome Sinners.

And this now is that, which I mean by a ſenſe of the things to come; the getting ſuch a belief of the certainty of theſe things, ſuch an underſtanding of the greatneſs of theſe things, that may deeply affect the Heart; that may leave powerful impreſſions on the Senſes; that the heart may be powerfully moved and deeply affected with them. Sinners hearts are as ſtones and ſenſeleſs ſtocks, when we have ſpoken to them of the deep things of God, we may ſay of theſe eternal things, as the Apoſtle of his temporal Sufferings, Acts 20.24. None of theſe things move them, or will in the leaſt work upon them; but if we could let in a little more light into their Minds, if we could ſhew them ſome glimpſes of the Glory to ſome, ſome flaſhes of the Eternal fire, this would make thoſe ſtocks to feel.

2. This ſenſe of the eternal things is the ſinews of Government. There can be no Government without Rewards and Puniſhments, and if theſe Rewards and Puniſhments be not believed, known and perceived, its all one as to Government, as if there were none at all. 'Tis the underſtanding and ſenſe of theſe Rewards, that is the ſtrength of Government.

Now there is according to the two different Rewards, a different ſenſe of them.

1. an alluring encouraging and obliging ſenſe: A ſenſe of the Magnificence, of the Kindneſs and Mercies of the Lord will encourage to Subjection and obedience to him. It will draw forth our love, and ſtir up all our Powers, to active Obedience. O how would the lively ſenſe of God and the bleſſedneſs of Heaven kindle Affection enlarge our deſires, raiſe our hopes, and fill us with joy? What would be loved as God is loved? what would be deſired as God is deſired? what would be hoped for, as heaven is hoped for? what would our love or deſires or hopes find too much to be done or ſuffered, where there is a deep ſenſe of theſe great things, that ſhall be the reward of all.

And how would ſuch a lively ſenſe of God and of heaven, abate our love, and cool our deſires after earth p. 244and the things thereof? Who would regard duſt and ſtones and traſh, that had Gold and Pearles before him? what would this money be, theſe Sheep and Oxen be, theſe carnal pleaſures and ſports be, how eaſily could they be wanted, how little would they be loved or deſired, were that Glory, Honour, Immortality that is above, more before our Eye and upon our Hearts? you complain you can't get your hearts looſned and diſintangled from theſe earthly things; O 'tis becauſe heaven is ſo much out of ſight: you have ſo little ſenſe of the good things to come, that hence it is you fall a luſting ſo after the good things preſent. Get more ſenſe of God into your hearts, and you will feel your Affections to fall, and abate towards theſe earthly things. Look on the things not ſeen, as the Apoſtle did, 2 Cor. 4.18. Upon the things that are eternal, and you will diſdain and contemn, the things that are ſeen which are but Temporal.

2. The ſenſe of the puniſhments to come will be an awing ſenſe. The ſeverities of the Lord, and his dreadful wrath and vengeance would awe the heart into ſubjection to him. O what an influence would this have upon the Governing our fears, and our griefs and our anger? whom ſhould we then fear but God? what would the wrath of man be, what would temporal ſufferings be, how little would they be feared, were there a due awe of God upon our hearts? your awe of God would ſay the ſame to you as the Prophet. Iſa. 2.22. Ceaſe ye from man, truſt not in him, and fear him not; and as Chriſt ſaid, Rev. 2.10. Fear none of thoſe things you ſhall ſuffer. And Luk. 12.5. Fear not them that kill the body — fear God who is able to caſt into Hell. Whom ſhould we then fear but God? and what ſhould we then fear but ſin againſt God, which maketh ſo obnoxious to his wrath? you that now make light of Sin, can lye, and defraud, and be covetous, and do any thing elſe your hearts lead you to, and make nothing of it, or but a ſmall matter, Get an awe of God on your hearts, and your ſins would make you tremble, and what an influence would it have upon the ſuppreſſing your ſinful Anger? it would take up all our quarrels; a ſenſe of Heaven and Hell would make us all friends, thoſe great things would ſwallow up the leſſer. What do I ſtand vexing and fretting mv ſelf at every one that croſſeth me? how ſtands it with my Soul to God ward? p. 245how may I eſcape the wrath to come? Is it peace betwixt the Almighty and my Soul? Friends, 'tis a ſign that you have little ſenſe of your eternal conceraments, where every little thing ſo exceſſively moves, and diſturbs your Spirits.

3. How to get and maintain upon our hearts, this ſenſe of the eternal things.

There are two things, I have told you, are ſuppoſed to this ſenſe, a believing, and an underſtanding theſe great things; and to the improving of what we believe, and underſtand of them, there's a third thing neceſſary, Meditation and frequent thinking upon them. Exerciſe your thoughts more upon the Eternal World; ſpend more thoughts, think oftner upon it, and ſpend more deep thoughts of heart upon them. Our thinking and meditating, is the ſame with that looking on the things not ſeen, mentioned before, 2 Cor. 4. Look more Heavenward, and look more towards hell, and this will affect your hearts; particularly think theſe three thoughts.

1. Think this thought, In this eternal world I muſt ſhortly be, one of theſe two Rewards muſt be my Reward; one of theſe two States, Eternal Bleſſedneſs or Eternal Miſery, muſt be my State. That Heaven which I now hear Preach'd of, that Hell which I now am warned of, I ſhall be [in] one of them, in a little while. As ſure as I am alive, and here this day, ſo ſure ſhall I be in Heaven or Hell a few days hence, What's become of thoſe many that were alive a few years ſince, that I knew and was acquainted with, and did eat and drink with, and buy and ſell with, that now are no more ſeen? Where are they all? they are all paſſed over, and gone into the other World, They are gone, and I am following after, I muſt ſhortly be with them. The Saints that are dead and gone, they are entred into their Reward, they are gone to Chriſt, they are entred into the joy of their Lord; and if I be one of them, partaker of the ſame Faith, walking in the ſame holy ſteps, I alſo ſhall have the ſame reward. The ſinners that are dead and gone, they are entred into their Reward; ſhut out from the Preſence and Joy of the Lord, and ſhut up under Chains of darkneſs, and burning in the Furnace of Fire; and if I follow them in their ſins, and be impenitent therein, a little p. 246while hence I ſhall I ſhall overtake them; I ſhall have [my] chain with them, my furnace with them.

Well let this be one thought of your hearts, how nearly you are all concern'd in the other World, and how certainly you ſhall be there. As ſure as you have a being for a time in this World, ſo ſure ſhall you every one of you have an Eternal being in the other World; either in the everlaſting pleaſures above, or the everlaſting pangs and plagues below.

2. Think much this thought, Which of theſe two ſtates in Eternity muſt be my state, is determining every day. It is thy preſent life, thine every days courſe here, that muſt determine the Caſe, whither thou muſt, when thou goeſt hence, Rom. 2.7, 8. Thy reward muſt be according to thy work, thy reaping muſt be according to thy ſowing. Gal. 6.7, 8. Think with your ſelves, I am every day working for Eternity, ſowing for Everlaſting; what would you reap? what would you, ſhould be your reward in the other world? I know what you would anſwer here, I would reap in Mercy, I would be rewarded in Joy and Glory. But what [muſt] you reap, where muſt your reward be? why that you are every day determining. Look what your ways and your works are, ſuch your reward muſt be, Sow in Righteouſneſs and you ſhall reap in mercy, Hoſ. 10.12. Sow in tears, and you ſhall reap in j y. Pſal. 126.6. But if you ſow in Tares, ſow to your fleſh, ſow Sin and Vanity, I leave it to your ſelves to judge, what your reaping muſt be.

Were ſuch thoughts abiding upon our hearts, what manner of Perſons ſhould we then be? Is this the buſineſs of my life? Is this the great debate of every day, where mine everlaſting dwelling muſt be, whether in the Paradi…e of God, or in the dungeon with Devils, whether in everlaſting Bleſſedneſs, or Burnings? Is this the great queſtion to be reſolved and determined, what I ſhall be hereafter, by what I am every day? O no more ſinning againſt God; O no more neglecting of Chriſt; O no more hardneſs and impenitency of heart; O no more of this worldlineſs, or wantonneſs, or drunkenneſs; mine heart ſhakes to think, whither theſe are carrying me, and where they will lay me. Ariſe O my Soul, ſhake off theſe Luſts, ſhake thy ſelf out of ſleep; 'tis high time to awaken; ſtop, ſtop this evil courſe; caſt off the p. 247works of darkneſs, leaſt thou be ſuddenly ſwallowed up of Everlaſting darkneſs.

3. Think this thought, The state and the way of mine [heart] is the great thing that must determine what mine eternal state muſt be. My works muſt determine what my reward muſt be, and the ſtate of mine heart will determine what my works will be.

Well now, exerciſe your ſelves to ſuch thoughts; dwell in ſuch Meditations; and think not that you have done any thing to purpoſe, till your thoughts have begotten ſtrong impreſſions upon your hearts, and you are wrought to a ſenſe of thoſe great things, and let your ſenſe of them be an abiding ſenſe.

O what even and ſteady lives ſhould we then live; the evenneſs of our lives will be both the beauty of our Converſations, when there is a due proportion of our dayes one to another, this will make our lives beautiful; and 'twill be, the evidence of our integrity. Fits of Devotion, fits of holy Affections, will prove little to us of our uprightneſs; our deadneſs and dumps, when thoſe fits are overs will weaken all our hopes and confidences, and call all into queſtion. It is our ſtanding holy Affections, that will be our ſtanding Comfort.

O friends, how uneven and unſteady are we? what unſtable Souls? what wandring ſtars are we? how ſadly different are we from our ſelves? ſometimes in our ſecret duties, or at publick Ordinances, our hearts ſeem full of God, full of heavenly Affections. What movings, what meltings, what enlargements of heart do we feel? all ſpirit, and love, and joy, and then ſhortly after, behold all is loſt; our Sun dips into a Cloud, the ſtars fall to the Earth, our Spirits ſink and flag, and the fleſh gets up again. O if we could but hold in the ſerene temper we ſometimes are in, what a life ſhould we have of it! but it doth not hold; we are given to Changes, the temper of our hearts often change with our buſineſs and employments; when we are buſying our ſelves about the things of God, then we are ſpiritual and heavenly, ('twere well if it were ſo always) when we are called forth about our earthly employments, we become as earthly as other men. Do you none of you find it ſo? do you not complain 'tis ſo? Lord help me, it is even too true, I even find it ſo with me; ſometimes our tempers change with our company, p. 248when we are converſant with thoſe that fear God, there is ſome Spirit, and ſome ſavour in our Converſes, O it were well if it were alwayes ſo; ſometimes and too often, we are barren, and carnal and dead, in the beſt Society, our converſing with Chriſtians, is too often an uſeleſs, and carnal, and unſavoury Converſe. But if it be better with us, when in good company, how doth it uſe to be, when we fall into carnal company, or vain company? we ſeem to have even quite loſt our God, and our Religion, our eternal concernments are laid by, and our care about them is intermitted, our God and our Souls are thruſt behind the door, or trodden under foot.

Whence is all this? O our ſenſe of eternal things, is for the time worn off. Brethren, God is the ſame God, Mal. 3.6. I am the Lord, I change not. There's the ſame eye of God upon you, wherever you be, he that looks how you carry it in your Duties, looks upon you in your buſineſſes, looks upon you in every company. Whereever you are; and as God is the ſame God, ſo your everlaſting concernments are ſtill the ſame; Heaven is as much to be deſired, Hell as much to be feared, your Salvation is to be as carefully wrought out; you have as important buſineſs lying upon you every where, as you have any where, and this work will never proſper, if it hath not your conſtant care. 'Tis true, we are not to ſpeak the ſame words, in all Companies, and our behaviour is not to be alike, in its particular Circumſtances, in all Companies; but in the general, a ſerious and holy behaviour, the carrying our ſelves ſo as men that are in a journey heavenwards, the owning and propagating ſerious Religion, the behaving our ſelves ſo, that others may evidently ſee the ſpirit of Glory, and of God reſting upon us, and may be both convinced that God is in us of a truth, and if it be poſſible, be gained to God; or at leaſt made aſhamed of their own ſinful and carnal ways. Such a temper ſhould we be in, and ſuch a carriage ſhould we be of, in what Company ſoever we be; we are alwayes in the ſight of God, and we ſhould be no where but upon buſineſs for God, and we ſhould carry our ſelves as ſuch; What the Apoſtle ſpeaks of his Miniſtry, ſhould be exemplified in the practiſe of Chriſtians, 2 Cor. 2.17. As of ſincerity, as of God, in the ſight of God, p. 249ſo ſpeak we in Chriſt. Wherever you are, behave your ſelves in ſincerity, in ſimplicity; whatever you ſpeak, ſpeak it as in the ſight of God; be faithful, approve your ſelves to God in all that you do.

O friends, this, even this ſteady, this ſincere courſe of life, this univerſal approving your ſelves to God in all you do, will be the fruit of ſuch an abiding ſenſe of God upon your hearts. This will be the poiſe that will make you move ſwiftly, this will be the Ballaſt, that will make you ſail ſteadily. And this ſwift and ſteady motion heavenward, will both make you appear to be Chriſtians indeed, and mightily improve and advance your ſouls, in that grace of God that bringeth Salvation. O beloved that this now might be the fruit of theſe many words, that I have ſpoken to you; that you would, every one of you, ſet your hearts to it, to get and to hold, ſuch a deep ſenſe of the eternal things upon your ſpirits, as might have influence to the carrying you on in this even and ſteady courſe. Do not every one of you need ſome eſtabliſhment? more ſettledneſs, more fixedneſs in an heavenly frame? do not you feel your ſelves ſo up and down, ſo off and on, that you can hardly fix? Would it not be more comfortable for you, if you could get to be more like the unchangeable God, that as he is the ſame God, ſo you might be the ſame Chriſtians, of the ſame Spirit, of the ſame way, ſo fixed and compoſed in your Spirits, that you might not be moved from the hope, nor from the holineſs of the Goſpel? would it not be comfortable to you, were it thus with you? would it not be much to the honour of the Goſpel, and to the joy of your own Souls? then once again, I exhort you by the Lord Jeſus, get this ſight of God in your eye, keep this ſenſe of God upon your hearts, which will have its fruit unto this ſettled and even courſe of holineſs, the end whereof will be everlaſting life. This is that which I ſtrive for, and am reaching towards in mine own Soul, and I muſt ſay with the Apoſtle, Phil. 3.12. I preſs theſe things upon you, not as though I had already obtained, but I follow after if I may obtain through Christ Jeſus. And what I ſeek, and wait, and hope for in mine own Soul, my hearts deſire is, that you alſo may follow after, and be partakers of the ſame Grace, that my Soul is in purſuit of, p. 250that you and I may rejoyce together in the day of the Lord. Thus much for the keeping the heart under Government.

2. Keep the Heart under Guard. Keep it, and all the good that's in it in ſafety, that it be not loſt. Chriſtians muſt keep their Hearts, as Worldlings keep their Money, and their Jewels, and their writings, by which they hold their Eſtates. If they have any ſtronger or ſafer place than other, there they lay them up, and whatever elſe they have to look to, their ſpecial eye and their ſtricteſt Watch, is upon their treaſure. And here I ſhall ſhew you,

1. Why Christians muſt eſpecially guard their hearts.

2. How Christians must guard their hearts.

1. Why Christians must eſpecially guard their hearts. They muſt ſet a guard upon their tongues, they muſt watch their words, and all their carriages, but above all keeping, they muſt keep their hearts. So the word in the Text is rendred, and interpreted by ſome, keep the heart with diligence, above all keepings. Keep the heart, but why ſo? becauſe the heart is,

1. The fountain of Life.

2. The ſpring of all vital actions.

3. The record of all our ſacred Tranſactions.

4. The cabinet of our Jewels.

5. Our box of evidences.

6. The ark of our ſtrength.

7. A ſacrifice for God.

8. The temple of the Lord.

1. Becauſe the heart is the fountain of Life. It is the reaſon urged in the Text, for out of it are the iſſues of Life. The iſſues, that is, the ſtreams, or rivu…ets of life. The heart is the fountain from whence all our living ſtreams do flow. Chriſt is our life, and the ſeat or habitation of Chriſt is in the heart; therefore that expreſſion, Col. 1.27. Chriſt in you the hope of Glory. The hope of the Saints is a living and lively hope, the life of our hope is from Chriſt, and from Chriſt within us, Eph. 3.17. Chriſt dwells in the heart by Faith. The heart Natural, is the fountain of Natural Life, it is the primum vivens; and the heart Spiritual is the fountain of Spiritual Life; we begin to live from within; as death begins in the heart, ſo life. p. 251Death Natural ends in the heart, the heart is the laſt that dieth, but death ſpiritual begins in the heart, the heart is the firſt that dies. Sinners dead works do all ariſe from their dead hearts; the root dies firſt, and then the branches, and fruit wither and fall off; the Devils great deſign is, firſtly upon the heart, when he hath ſlain the good that is within, he can with eaſe deſtroy whatever good is without, the fruit will fall off of it ſelf, when the root is dead. The heart is the firſt that dies, in a ſpiritual ſenſe, and 'tis the firſt that lives. It is there the ſeed of God, his immortal Seed, is firſt received, and takes its root; ſo that there is the ſame reaſon to ſet a guard upon our hearts, as to preſerve our life, if you would keep your ſelves alive, if you would not fall down among the dead, then look well to your hearts which are the fountain of life.

2. It is the ſpring of all our vital actions and operations. This is included in the former; the heart is the fountain of life, and life is the fountain of action. A dead man cannot ſee, nor hear, nor ſpeak, nor move, he muſt live before he can ſpeak or move. And what can the ſpiritually dead do? The dead praiſe not the Lord, Pſal. 115.17. The living, the living, he ſhall praiſe thee, Iſ. 38.19. That is ſpoken, of the naturally dead, and living; and muſt we not ſay the ſame, of the ſpiritually dead, and the living Souls? dead Souls can't praiſe the Lord; they can't pray, nor believe, nor hope, nor ſerve the Lord; the living, the living Soul, it ſhall praiſe thee, it ſhall pray unto thee, and ſerve thee. Hypocrites are all dead at heart, and therefore all their ſervices are but dead ſervices; they make a ſhew, and keep a ſtir in the outward parts of Religion; they can talk as Chriſtians, and walk and move; but it is with theſe dead Souls, as with thoſe dead bodies, which we call walking Ghoſts; they look like men, and ſpeak like men, and go up and down like men, but ſtill they have no Soul in them; It is the Devil that acts in them, and ſpeaks in them, and carrieth them up and down; none of all their actions or motions are vital actions; the devil can make them ſpeak, and walk, and look like living men, but he cannot make them live; ſuch is the Hypocrites Religion, he can pray, and hear, and ſing, and ſpeak as Chriſtians do, but he is dead at heart, and thereupon all his duties are but dead duties.

p. 252Friends, you are as much concerned to keep your hearts, as you are to be able to do any thing that will pleaſe God, or ſave your Souls. What is the intent of your Religion? why do ye come together to pray, and hear, and partake of the Table of the Lord? You will ſay, I come to perform theſe duties, to pleaſe the Lord, I come in order to the ſaving of my Soul. Do you ſo? then look to your hearts better, ſee that there be the root of Religion within you: ſee that your praying be the praying with the heart, that your hearing be not the opening your ear, but the opening of your heart to the Word; ſee that whatever you do, that hath any ſhew of Religion in it, you do it heartily; watch your hearts when you come into the houſe of the Lord, watch your hearts, when you ſet upon any work for God, leſt they give you the ſlip, and ſo make all your Services to be but bodily exerciſes, which as 1 Tim. 4.8. profit little. Bodily exerciſes, that is, the outward part of our Religion; Ear Religion, Tongue Religion, Knee Religion; theſe bodily Exerciſes, where there is not an heart at the bottom of them, profit nothing at all; they will do nothing to the pleaſing of God, or the ſaving our Souls.

Friends, beware of Hypocriſie; take heed leſt any of you be found hypocrites; that your faith you ſeem to have, be not the faith of hypocrites, that your hope be not the Hypocrites hope, that your praying, and faſting, and almes, be not all the Sacrifices of hypocrites; and ſuch ſacrifices they are, if they be Sacrifices without an heart. Come not before the Lord with hollow Veſſels, which will make a ſound, but have nothing in them. We that look upon you, can't tell what there is within you; we ſee your faces, and hear your voices, but what is under, God knows; look you to it, that it be not all hollow, and empty within; he that ſeeth the heart, ſeeth what there is within; and will accept or reject according to what he finds of the heart in all you do.

Friends, What do ye here this day? have you brought with you ever a Sacrifice for God, ever a living Sacrifice? the living God will regard none of you, if you bring not a living Sacrifice. He doth not require of you, as he did of old, a Bullock, or a Ram for a Sacrifice; No, nor a Dove, nor a Lamb for a Sacrifice, it is a Soul for a Sacrifice, a living Soul, that is quickned and ſanctified by the Bloud and Spirit of Chriſt. And upon this account p. 253farther are you concerned to look to, and to keep your hearts; as ever you would do any thing in Religion, that is acceptable with God, or of any avail to your own Salvation. The heart is the ſpring of all vital Actions, and they are only our vital Actions, our living and lively duties, that will be accepted of the living God. Would you not be rejected for hypocrites? would you not compaſs the Lord about with lies, as Ephraim did, Hoſ. 11.12. would you not come before the Lord with lies, and comfort your ſelves with lies? then ſee that you bring your hearts with you before him. Is there any life begotten in your hearts? is Chriſt formed upon you? is the Spirit of Chriſt poured forth into you? is there the life of God in your hearts? and is this the ſpring of all your acceptable ſervices? then as you love your lives, as you fear to ſerve the living God with dead ſervice, ſet a careful guard upon your hearts, that neither theſe be ſtolen away from God, nor that life which is within you be ſtolen out of your hearts.

Brethren, I would not that any of you be found hypocrites; therefore do I labour with you, therefore do I preach to you, and warn every one of you, that you may be preſented perfect and upright in the day of the Lord. I would not that you be found hypocrites in that day, nor would I that your Religious actions be found hypocritical actions, in your preſent day. 'Tis ſaid of the limbs of Antichriſt, 1 Tim. 4.2. That they ſpeak lies in hypocriſies. I would have Chriſtians, not only none ſuch, as ſpeak lies in hypocriſie, no nor to ſpeak truth in hypocriſie, to do good in hypocriſie; and therefore 'tis, that I have ſpent ſo much time among you, upon this Subject of looking to your hearts, that theſe may be right with God, in all that you do. I fear there are hypocrites among you, I fear that much of the Religion of ſome of you, may be but hypocritical Religion; but look to your ſelves, and as you would be loth to have no better acceptance than hypocrites, as you would dread to have your portion with hypocrites, ſo dread it to ſatisfie your ſelves with hypocritical duties; ſerve the God of your hearts with an hearty ſervice; ſerve the true God, with an heart, and with a true heart; ſerve the living God with living hearts; ſee that there be the life of God in your hearts, and let the life within you, be the Spring of all your Performances; p. 254that all that ever you do in Religion be the iſſues of life.

3. It is the record of all the tranſactions, which have been betwixt Christ and your Soules. If ye be Chriſts, there have been great dealings betwixt Chriſt and your Souls; Chriſt hath been dealing with you; dealing with you by his word, dealing with you by his Spirit; inſtructing and enlightning your Souls, convincing and awakening your Hearts, perſwading and alluring your hearts after him; Chriſt hath been dealing with you, about your repenting and turning to the Lord, about your Reconciliation and making peace with God; God hath been in Chriſt reconciling you to himſelf, 2 Cor. 5.19. You have not had us dealing with you, in the name of Chriſt, who are the Miniſters of Reconciliation, 2 Cor. 5.18. but he who is the great Reconciler, Chriſt himſelf hath been dealing with you, and hath reconciled you to God. So ſure as the Devil hath been dealing with ſinners, he hath drawn them away from God, drawn them to ſin and wickedneſs againſt God, hath been hardning them againſt God; you could never have been ſo wicked, you could never have been ſo hardned, againſt God, as you are; hardned againſt converſion, hardned againſt repentance, if the Devil had not been dealing with you. You ſee what hard hearts you have; we cannot humble you, we cannot perſwade you to repent and turn, our words do nothing with you; you will not be perſwaded to return, but you go on your way, and remain ſtupid, and ſenſleſs of your ſin and miſery; you will not be perſwaded 'tis ſo bad with you. We cannot for our hearts, make you ſenſible of your wretched caſes, nor put a ſtop to you in your ſins; You may ſee well enough who hath been dealing with you, that you continue ſo ſinful ſtill, and ſo hardned in your ſins; It is the Devil that hath had to do with you, thus to deprave you, and to harden you; as ſure as the Devil hath been dealing with ſinners, ſo ſure hath Chriſt been dealing with his Saints. 'Tis not Miniſters that have awakened you, that have convinced and humbled you, and brought you about to the Lord, 'tis Chriſt that hath done theſe things for you. We could never have humbled you, we could never have perſwaded, nor turned, nor reconciled you to God, if Chriſt himſelf had not done it. You were once fooliſh and diſobedient, led about p. 255with diverſe luſts; you were once Drunkards, Liars, Covetous and Prophane, and you had been amongſt this uncircumciſed Crew to this day, if Chriſt had not fetched you off; 'tis with him you have had to do, as 'tis ſaid, Heb. 4.13. All things are naked and open before his eyes (with whom we have to do). You have to do with Chriſt, Chriſt hath been dealing with you that are Chriſtians, or you had never come to this, you had never been theſe living Souls; you had never known what you do of God, nor known what you do of Sin, nor been waſhed from your ſins; your had never been here praying, and hearing, and praiſing the Lord, and become followers of the Lamb, if Chriſt had not had to do with you. Particularly you that are Chriſtians, there have been great tranſactions betwixt God and your Souls.

1. In point of Covenant. Behold, you that are Chriſtians, you are in Covenant with the Lord; by reaſon whereof, I may ſay concerning you, as Moſes concerning Iſrael, Deut. 26.17, 18. Thou haſt avouched the Lord to be thy God, to walk in his ways and keep his ſtatutes. And the Lord hath avouched thee to be his peculiar People. You have avouched the Lord to be yours, and the Lord hath avouched you to be his; a ſolemn and mutual Covenant hath there paſſed, between the Lord and you; he is become your Covenant God, you are become his Covenant People; How came this to paſs? how is it, that you are not ſtill as poor ſinners are, in Covenant with Death, and Agreement with Hell? how comes it to paſs, that when poor ſinners are in Covenant with the Devil, you are in Covenant with God? O you may thank Chriſt for this, he hath been effectually dealing with you in this thing. He hath not only procured ſuch a gracious Covenant, a Covenant of Mercy, a Covenant of Pardons, a Covenant of Peace, but he hath alſo,

1. Made offer of this Covenant of God to you; inviting you to come and joyn your ſelves to the Lord, in a perpetual Covenant that ſhall never be forgotten.

2. He hath made void your Covenant with Death, and diſanull'd your Agreement with Hell. He hath given you an heart to break and make void that wicked Covenant; to break with the Devil, to break with Sin and the World, and to come out from among them.

p. 2563. He hath effectually perſwaded you into this Covenant of God. He hath brought you into the bond of the Covenant. Ezek. 20.37. He hath ſprinkled you with the Blood of the Covenant, and hath gained your hearty acceptance of all this. You have opened your Mouth to the Lord, you have vowed your ſelves, you have ſworn your ſelves his Covenant Servants; not with your Mouths only, not in profeſſion only, but you have engaged your hearts to the Lord. Jer. 30.21. Your Hearts are no longer your own, you have given them to the Lord, to be his for ever. So that you can now ſay, through Grace to the Lord, what he ſaid to Iſrael. Iſ. 54.20. The Mountains ſhall depart, and the Hills ſhall be removed, but through the help of God, my faithfulneſs ſhall not depart, nor ſhall the Covenant of my peace ever be removed. His I am, and through his Grace I am determined to be the Lords for ever.

Friends, ſuch a ſolemn and ſacred Covenant tranſaction, hath there been in thoſe very Hearts of yours, betwixt the Lord and you. He hath avouched himſelf to be yours, and you have avouched your ſelves to be his own; and thoſe Hearts of yours, are the Records wherein this Tranſaction is regiſtred, and kept. Remember, and look back and conſider, if there have not been ſuch mutual engagements paſſed betwixt the Lord and you. Look into your Cloſets, and remember what of this kind hath paſſed between him and you in ſecret, look back to your Sacraments, and remember what Covenanting have been between the Lord and you at his Table; and what ſolemn ſealing there hath been, God ſealing to you, and you ſealing back to him. Your Hearts are the Records, wherein theſe Sacred Tranſactions have been Regiſtred; look into thine Heart, doth not this teſtifie for thee, how thou haſt bound thy ſelf to be the Lords for ever, and haſt accepted of his Bond to thee? The remembrance of this Covenant Tranſaction, will be of uſe to you as long as you live; will be of uſe to comfort you in the day of your doubts and fears, to confirm you in the day of Temptations, to hold you cloſe to the Lord, according to the Vows that are upon you, to quicken you and hold you on in that way of holy and lively Obedience, which you have covenanted for. When you grow cold and careleſs and remiſs in your way of Religion, then remember, Is this the Life I covenanted with God to live? When p. 257you are tempted to decline to a worldly life, or a fleſhly life, then remember, I have promiſed to the Lord, that I will never return to ſuch a life again. When you are out of heart, and complain of weakneſſes and want of ſtrength, and ſo are diſcouraged and diſheartned, I ſhall never be able to hold to ſuch an induſtrious life, then remember the Covenant of the Lord with you; who hath ſealed to you, that he will help you and never fail you, nor forſake you; when your fleſh and your heart fail you, he will be the ſtrength of your heart. When you are in doubts and fears, that you are none of the Lords, nor can lay any claim to him, then remember the Covenant which hath been made between him and you, and how you own it, and ſtand to it to this day, and that may ſatisfie you. Of ſuch great uſe will this Covenant of God be to you, and therefore your hearts, which are the Records where it is kept, muſt be carefully looked to.

2. In point of Communion. There have been great dealings between Chriſt and you, in a way of Friendly Communion. What Correſpondencies have there been held betwixt Chriſt and you? what friendly interviews have there been between you? Chriſt hath been often looking down upon you, and rejoycing in his portion, and you have been often looking up to him, and ſolacing your ſelves in his love; Chriſt hath been ſupporting and ſuſtaining your hearts, and you have been ſtaying and leaning upon your beloved. What mutual entercourſes have there been? Chriſt hath been often ſending down Meſſages of love to you; telling you, Soul I am thine; Hath he never ſent thee ſome tokens of his love? ſent thee thy pardon, ſent thee his peace? hath he never ſent thee down ſome taſtes of the hidden Manna, and the white ſtone, and the new name? Rev. 2.17. and ſuch a comfortable word with it, Soul be of good comfort, thy ſins be forgiven thee, thy name is written in heaven. And do you never ſend up to your beloved? If you have nothing but a ſigh to ſend, or a tear to ſend, yet up it muſt be ſent to your beloved, to tell him, I am ſick of love, or at leaſt, I am ſick for love.

How often hath thine heart aſcended in Prayers, and his heart deſcended in gracious returns? what mutual embraces have there been, of thy Faith with him, and his p. 258love with thee? There hath been a Jacobs Ladder ſet up betwixt Chriſt and thee.

Chriſtians, Such experiences I hope ſome of you have had, of ſuch comfortable Communion with Chriſt. But what becomes of all theſe bleſſed Experiences? haſt thou forgotten them? are they loſt? O how haſt thou kept thine heart? ſure ſuch Mercies ſhould be carefully recorded, and the record ſhould be warily kept.

4. It is the Cabinet of all our Jewels. Chriſt and all his Graces are kept in the heart.

1. Chriſt and his Graces are jewels. Chriſt is a precious Jewel, he is the pearl of great Price, which the wiſe Merchant, Mat. 13.46. traded for; and is there ſaid to be a Pearl of great price; of ſo great a price, that this one Pearl bought the whole World. Its intimated Mat. 16.26. that one Soul is more worth than all the World; this Pearl is more north than a whole World of Souls. It hath bought not only this world below, but the World above; this one pearl hath bought the whole Kingdom of heaven, all the everlaſting treaſures, the everlaſting joy and pleaſures above, that exceeding eternal weight of glory, all hath been bought by this Pearl. Chriſt is reckon'd by fooliſh ſinners, at a very low rate; Judas ſold this Pearl for thirty pieces of ſilver; Sinners, many of them ſell Chriſt at a lower rate than this, for their fooliſh and fleſhly Luſts. They tread this Pearl in the duſt and take very dung in its ſtead. The very dung of their filthy Pleaſures is that which ſinners take in Exchange for Chriſt. Whilſt the Apoſtle counted all things dung in compariſon of Chriſt, ſinners make very dung of Chriſt, for the ſake of their ſins; but whatever ſinners count him, Chriſt is a Pearl, more worth then all the world; and all the Glory and Bravery and Beauty of the World, are but Dunghil things, in compariſon of Chriſt.

As Chriſt, ſo all the Graces of Chriſt are jewels. Faith is a jewel called 2 Pet. 1.1. Precious Faith. Meekneſs and Humility are jewels, of great price in the ſight of God. Love is a jewel, and of ſo great price, that it is not to be bought for Money. Cant. 8.7. If a man would give all the Subſtance of his houſe for love, it would be contemned. As little reckoning as ſinners make of the love of God now; though this Grace be offered them, and they may have it for the taking; an heart to love the Lord, is p. 259one of the branches of the Covenant, which the Lord freely offers to ſinners, yet now they ſo ſlight it that they will not accept it; a luſt is taken up in ſtead of this love; yet hereafter theſe very ſinners, would give all that ever they have for the leaſt grain of the ſaving love of God. As little as you regard the love of God now, we can't perſwade you to accept it, yet when you come to die, there's none of you, but would give all that ever you are worth, for a little ſincere love to Chriſt. O now for a little Faith! O now that I could love the Lord Jeſus in ſincerity! I would be content to be a beggar, and not to have a Mite left me in all the World; all my Farmes, all my Oxen, all my Houſes and Lands, all my Money, all the ſubſtance of mine Houſe, they ſhall all go, ſo that I might now find the ſaving love of God in me. No, they will not be bought ſo; If a man would give his houſe full of Gold for it, it would be contemned, as a poor and low price to buy love. The like may be ſaid of every Grace, they are all Jewels, and they make thoſe who have them to be Jewels. Mal. 3.17. in the day that I make up my jewels. Every gracious Soul is a Jewel in the ſight of God. Sinners tread the Saints under feet, make very dirt of them, but God will take them into his boſom as his precious Jewels.

2. Theſe Jewels, Chriſt and his Graces, are all kept in the heart. As the Heart is the Seat of Grace, Faith dwells in the heart, and Love dwells in the heart, and Hope dwells in the heart, ſo is it alſo the ſeat of Chriſt; Chriſt dwells in the heart by Faith, intimated in that Prayer of the Apoſtle. Eph. 3.17. If Chriſt hath any dwelling in ſinners, 'tis only in their Mouths and upon their Lips; theſe will talk of Chriſt, and talk of Grace, but they have no dwelling in them, but upon their Tongues; but it is in the heart of the Saints, that Chriſt and his Graces dwell; Col. 1.27. Chriſt in you the hope of Glory. The heart of Saints is as the Heavens, all beſpangled with theſe beautiful Stars. Chriſt is the Sun in thoſe heavens, his Graces are as ſo many Stars, that have their brightneſs and luſtre from his light. The hearts of ſinners are meer Dungeons, and dark holes, in which neither Sun nor Star appears; if there be any glimmering light, they are but Commets, or Torches, or ſtinking Snuffs, that they take for Star-light. Sinners, whatever brightneſs p. 260or beauty there be in any of your Faces, whatever Gaudy or merry Outſides you have, yet what an inſide have you, your hearts are all dark holes, where dwells every abominable thing; Toads and Serpents, Zim and Jim, Owles and Satyrs, and every unclean thing dwells within you. Thou that haſt the faireſt outſide, there are Toads and Serpents and Worms crawling and breeding in thine heart. You would every one of you be afraid of your ſelves, you would loath your ſelves, and you would tremble at your ſelves, you would (if you knew how) run away from your ſelves in a fright, if you knew what were in your hearts. Sinners care not to look into their hearts, and ſome of them are afraid to look inwards; and well enough you may, you would ſee ſuch ugly and monſtrous Sights, as might even ſcare you out of your Wits. Saints have all their Riches within them, they have a treaſure in their hearts. A good man out of the good treaſure of his heart, Mat 12.35. There may be, and often is, poverty without, but there's a treaſure within; the richeſt of ſinners they have all their Treaſures without them; in their houſes, in their Purſes, in their ſhops, in their Cheſts, but all the while, there's poverty and beggery in their hearts. Thou art a very beggar, Sinner, with all thy load of Wealth; 'tis a poor beggarly Soul thou haſt, how richly ſoever thy Carcaſe be provided for. 'Tis the heart of the Saints, where God beſtows all his Riches.

Chriſtians, Look to your hearts; you carry more riches in you then the whole World is worth; you looſe all that ever you are worth if you looſe your hearts. He that hath a Treaſure in his houſe, will look more carefully, to the locking of his doors; eſpecially the room where his Riches lye muſt be moſt fortified with Bolts and Bars. You have more to looſe than the Princes of the Earth, and therefore have the more reaſon to keep thoſe hearts wherein all your riches lye. Not only your graces, but your good works, are all kept in your hearts. If ever you have done any good in all your lives, whereof you hope for a reward in the other World; all your Duties, the holineſs and fruitfulneſs of your Converſation, your works of Righteouſneſs, your works of Mercy, theſe are all kept in your hearts. Conſcience is the keeper of them, the Conſcience of an honeſt holy gracious heavenly life, is a precious Treaſure kept within you. p. 2612 Cor. 1.12. This is our rejoycing, the Teſtimony of a good Conſcience—. All your Duties ariſe from your hearts, all your Holineſs and Fruitfulneſs and activity for God, are ſo many holy ſtreams, flowing from an holy heart; and all theſe ſtreams return into the heart, there they muſt be kept againſt the day of Accounts.

5. It is the Ark of your strength. Some mens ſtrength lies in their heads, in their Wiſdom and Counſel, and Policy; a wiſe man is a ſtrong man. Other mens ſtrength lies in their hands, a Princes ſtrength lies in his Armies, in his Forts and Caſtles and ſtrong Towers; but a Chriſtians ſtrength is in his heart. The Lord is in his heart, and Pſal. 73.26. Thou art the ſtrength of mine heart. Eph. 6.10. Be ye strong in the Lord; and in the power of his might, The weakeſt Chriſtians have a ſtrong God, and hence it is they are ſtrong and of good courage.

Chriſtians have need of ſtrength;

1. Of Strength for their Work, there are great things they have to do; they have much work, hard ſervice; the life of a Chriſtian is not a toying but a toyling life. You ſhall never get to Heaven by play, or by Idleneſs, you have much buſineſs lying upon you, and great buſineſs. The working out your Salvation is hard work. The Soules of Sinners lye idle, as if they had nothing to do. What pains doſt thou uſe to take for thy Soul? What haſt thou done all thy life long, towards the working out thy Salvation? Sinners, you live as if God ſhould throw in Heaven upon you, and cloath you with Glory and immortality, whilſt your Souls are faſt aſleep; no you muſt work if you will live; you muſt labour for the meat that endures to eternal life, Joh. 6.27. if ever you will have the eating of it. You muſt pray, and watch and ſtrive to enter in at the ſtrait gate, if ever you will get in. This ſhould be your work, and it is the work of Chriſtians; and for this their great work, they have great ſtrength given them, and all their ſtrength is in their hearts.

2. Chriſtians have need of ſtrength for their burthens, Chriſtians have hard work, and heavy burthens lying upon them. Beſides the Care that is upon them for their Souls, which is a great and weighty burthen, and their fear of miſcarrying in the matters of their Souls, which is another burthen; they have burthens of Sufferings, and Afflictions, ordinarily upon their backs. All the hatred p. 262and malice, all the ſcorns and reproaches of this Evil World, light and lie upon the backs of poor Chriſtians, and how ſhall they bear their burthens if they have no ſtrength.

3. They have need of Strength againſt their Enemies. Chriſtians live in the midſt of Enemies; Enemies without, the Devil and his Inſtruments; Enemies within, their own Luſts and Corruptions; and they muſt be in continual fight againſt theſe Enemies; and their Enemies being ſo many, and ſo ſtrong, they have need of ſtrength to reſiſt them.

Chriſtians have need of ſtrength, and ſtrength they have, and all their ſtrength is in their hearts. There their Armour lies; The ſhield of Faith, the breaſt-plate of Righteouſneſs, the helmet the hope of Salvation; and there their Captain dwells; the Captain of their Salvation lodges in their hearts.

Loſe your hearts, and loſe your ſtrength, and what will you do at your Work? how will you bear your burthens? how will you ſtand againſt your Enemies, when your ſtrength is loſt? What became of Sampſon, when he was deprived of that, wherein his ſtrength lay? what weakly Souls are careleſs Chriſtians? every little duty is too hard them; how quickly are they weary? weary of Praying, weary of Hearing, weary of Meditation, weary of a watchful Life; a little work will make them weary. How little can they do, and how little can they bear? every little croſs ſinks their ſpirits; and what reſiſtance can they make againſt Enemies? every luſt is apt to carry them away, every Temptation overcomes them. O Chriſtians, by how ſlow a pace do we keep on our way? how little ſign do we make at our work? we have been Chriſtians ſome of us, of twenty years ſtanding or more; how little good have we done, how little treaſure have we gotten in, how little execution have we done upon our ſins and luſts, what poor weakly, lifeleſs, half-ſtarv'd Souls have we to this day? ſure we have been ill keepers of our hearts; the ark of our ſtrength hath been laid waſte, ſtrangers have gotten in and devoured our ſtrength, whilſt we have loytered and ſlept. Friends, do not lye down and idly complain, I am weak, I am a poor feeble ſoul… I cannot do the things that I would, I cannot pray, I cannot hear, I cannot live but at a ſad, and halting, and p. 263broken rate, God help me, 'tis a barren, and unſavoury, and unprofitable life, that I live; 'tis a wearineſs to me that I can live to no better purpoſe, fain I would be more heavenly, and more lively, and more fruitful in my Life, but woe is me, I cannot, I cannot obtain; thus you complain of your weakneſs, of your unprofitableneſs; but why do ye ſtand complaining? look to your hearts better, where your ſtrength lies. Hast thou Christ in thine heart? hast thou Grace in thine heart? and yet complainest thou haſt no strength? look better to thine heart; keep Chriſt cloſer to thee, get thy Faith increaſed, ſtir up and kindle that ſpark of love, call up all the Grace thou haſt, and keep it in action Let not the ruſt eat up thy ſtrength, a little more care and labour about your hearts, to get and keep thoſe in better plight, will recover and renew your ſtrength, and ſilence thoſe unprofitable complainings.

6. In your hearts are preſerved all your evidences for heaven. This follows from the former. What are our Evidences for Heaven but the being of Chriſt, and the Graces of Chriſt in us? your ſincerity in the Covenant, your having your Converſations in all good Conſcience, prove that Chriſt is in you, and you thereby prove that you ſhall hereafter be with him. Prove that you have Grace and you thereby prove that you ſhall have Glory. Prove that you are in Covenant with God, and walk before him, in all good Conſcience, and that will prove that your names are written in heaven. And whether muſt you look for all this, but into your hearts? there as I told you, is a record kept of your Covenant and your Conſcientious Life, and theſe are the Rooms where you muſt look to find Chriſt and his Grace.

The Devil will tell ſinners, that they ſhall all to heaven; and to make them believe it, will provide them evidences, ſuch as they are; but they are falſe and deceitful evidences. Thou art a Chriſtian, thou haſt been baptized into the name of Chriſt, thou attendeſt on the Ordinances of Chriſt, thou goeſt to hear and to pray, &c. therefore thou needeſt not fear, but thou ſhalt to heaven. But let ſinners look but into their hearts, where all good evidences are kept, and there they can find nothing; there's no Chriſt within them, no love to Chriſt, none of the holineſs of Chriſt; their heart is a meer Hell, full of Darkneſs, Ignorance, Unbelief, Enmity againſt Chriſt, p. 264and his holy ways. As Chriſtians Evidences for Heaven, ſo Sinners Evidences for Hell are moſtly in their hearts. Whatever your hopes are, if you would look into, if you could ſee what hear… you have, theſe would quickly tell you, whether you muſt. There you ſhould find your Covenant with Sin, and with …ea h not diſanull'd; no Chriſt, no Grace, no Conſcience, but an evil one, a guileful one, a guilty one, and nothing elſe but that which is vile and abominable.

Sinners Evidences for Hell are in their hearts; and ſuch evidences they might find, as would kill all their hopes of Heaven. But Chriſtians Evidences for Heaven are in their hearts, the Devil …ill be telling them, that they are none of Chriſts; he will ſay to the Saints as God ſays to Sinners, Pſal. 50.16. What has thou to do to take my Covenant into thy mouth. What haſt thou to do with Chriſt? thou art mine, thou art none of his.

Let thine heart be carefully kept, and thou mayſt anſwer the Devil; None of his? whoſe is this name that is written in my heart? whoſe image are theſe Graces of my heart? I find the Faith of Chriſt in me, the love of Chriſt in me, the very life of Chriſt in me; Chriſt hath ſent me many a token of his love, which I ſtill keep by me; I remember what hath paſſed between Chriſt and me; I have given my ſelf to Chriſt, I have laid hold on his Covenant, and have bound my ſelf in Covenant to him, and I ſtand to that Covenant to this day. And there's my Conſcience alſo within me, bearing me witneſs, that my care and endeavour hath been to walk before him according to the Covenant of my God; and therefore go on to lie thus unto me while thou wilt, Sathan, I will not believe thee; I believe God, who hath ſaid, there is no condemnation to them that are in Chriſt, and walk not after the fleſh but after the Spirit; and I will not bel…e mine own ſenſe, and experience of my ſelf; this is the Teſtimony of my Conſcience, that I have walked not after the Fleſh but after the Spirit. And therefore Chriſt is mine, and I truſt I ſhall one day be with him where he is.

Friends, if you look well to your hearts, and keep the records clear, this will be your benefit; whatever fears the Devil raiſes, 'tis but looking inwards, and there you will ſee that which will turn all your Fears into lively p. 265Hopes. But if you look not to your hearts, and keep them clean, you will be at a perpetual loſs; you will never long know what to make of your ſelves, nor what is like to become of you. Aſſurance neceſſarily depends on watchfulneſs, never look for a grounded peace without it; and never truſt to that confidence, or aſſurance you ſeem to have, whilſt you are of a careleſs heart. Whatever progreſs you have hitherto made in Religion, whatever experiences you have formerly had, of the workings of the Spirit of Grace in you, a carelſs heedleſs Spirit will ſo darken all your Experiences, and blot your Evidences, and leave you under ſuch uncertainties, that for ought you know, you may be damned at laſt. As ever therefore you would maintain an abiding Aſſurance, that its well with you at preſent, and ſhall be well with you hereafter, be watchful over your hearts, that Record of all your Evidences. The reaſon why we are at ſuch uncertainties, and ſo full of our doubts and fears, it lies all here; in our careleſneſs of our hearts. And yet who will take warning? O friends, ſtedfaſtly reſolve, through the Grace of God, I will look better to it. Since my heart can never comfort me, unleſs I watch it more narrowly, mine eye ſhall be upon mine heart Night and Day. I will commit my ſelf to the keeper of Iſrael, and I will ſet my ſelf to keep whatever good thing he hath committed unto me.

7. It is a ſacrifice for God. Pſal. 51.17, The Sacrifices of God are a broken heart.

1. It is the heart that is a Sacrifice for God, therefore Prov. 23.26. Give me thine heart. It is the Sacrifices, all the Sacrifices of God is the Sacrifice of the heart. There are other Sacrifices, but whatever they be, 'tis the heart that makes them ſuch. Prayer is a Sacrifice, Pſal. 141.2. Let my prayer come before thee as incenſe and the lifting up of mine hands, as an evening ſacrifice. Praiſe is a Sacrifice; Pſal. 50.14. Offer up to God thanksgiving. Almes are a Sacrifice; Heb. 13.16. With ſuch ſacrifices God is well pleaſed. But what maimed Sacrifices are all theſe, if offered up without an heart. What is Prayer without an heart? what is Praiſe; what are Alms, when the heart is not offered up with them? they are heart Prayers, and heart Praiſes, and heart Alms, that are ſuch Sacrifices, with which God is well pleaſed.

p. 2662. What kind of heart it is, that is a Sacrifice to God. A broken or a wounded heart. The broken heart is the only ſound heart. The wounding of the heart is as the lancing of the Impoſtume, it lets out the corruption, and leaves it a ſound heart. The hard heart is a Sacrifice for the Devil; with ſuch Sacrifices, with hard and unbroken hearts, the Devil is well pleaſed. Is thy heart an hard heart, and wilt thou thus give it up to God? Get it to be broken, or thou mayeſt as well carry it to the Devil for a Sacrifice. The Devil loves an hard heart, but it is an abomination to the Lord. An hard heart is an unclean beaſt, which is not for Sacrifice. All the filthineſs and rottenneſs of the heart lies baked up together, in an hard heart; 'twill never be gotten out, 'till the heart be broken. In the Law, the Sacrifices were to be without blemiſh, Lev. 22.20, 21, 22. Whatſoever hath a blemiſh, that ſhall ye not offer. It ſhall be perfect and without blemiſh. Whatſoever is blind, or maimed, or having a Wenn, or Scurvy, or Scabed, ye ſhall not offer. The unbroken heart, is an heart full of Blemiſhes, Wens and Ulcers; a Scurvy and a Scabed heart; 'tis the wounded or broken heart, that is the perfect heart, or an heart without blemiſh.

Now herein you ſee, both the neceſſity of looking to your hearts, and what it is that you muſt ſecure your hearts againſt; from all things, that may be a blemiſh to the heart; from all thoſe Malladies and Diſeaſes, that will be a blemiſh to the heart; that ſo you do not Sacrifice to God a corrupt thing. Mal. 1.14. He that ſacrificeth to God a corrupt thing, curſed be that deceiver. A ſacrifice without an heart is a lame and maimed thing, a ſacrifice from a polluted heart is the ſacrifice of a corrupt thing.

Beloved, you come with your offerings to the Lord, but what have you to offer? O you have prayers and praiſes to offer up, but is there an heart in your prayers, an heart in your Praiſes, and is it a perfect and upright heart, an heart without blemiſh? A perfect heart, an heart without blemiſh? who can bring ſuch an heart? who can …y, mine heart is perfect? who can ſay, mine heart is clean? Lord be merciful to me, mine heart is the worſt thing within me; all ſores and all blemiſhes and corruption.

p. 267Obj. My mouth muſt be ſtopped for ever, my tongue muſt be ſilent for ever, If I muſt never pray, nor praiſe God, till mine heart is a clean and a perfect heart.

Sol. There is a double perfection, a double cleanneſs of heart.

1. Legal, and ſo that only is a perfect heart, that fully anſwers the Righteouſneſs of the Law, or firſt Covenant; that only, in this ſenſe, is a perfect heart, which hath nothing of Evil or Hypocriſie; no ſpot or blemiſh at all in it, that the ſtricteſt Juſtice could be offended at; thus there's not a man in the World can ſay, mine heart is perfect, mine heart is a clean heart.

2. Evangelical, Such a perfection, which the new Covenant accepts, uprightneſs; a ſincere heart is in a Goſpel Senſe, a perfect heart. An heart that hath been broken by the Word of Chriſt, and been purged by the bloud of Chriſt; an heart that is a purging and cleanſing daily, that hath its great ſpots and blemiſhes of unbelief and impenitence purged away, and hath no ſpots, but are begun to be purged, and are cleanſing dayly.

Now an heart that hath been thus initially purged and cleanſed, will unleſs it be carefully looked to, contract new ſpots; the impoſthume will gather and feſter again, the Leproſie will fret and eat deeper and deeper into it; longer than the purging work is carried on, the corrupting work will be carrying on. If the wounds of the heart be not carefully kept open, the Devil will quickly heal it up; his hardning is his healing the heart. He will be ſearing the heart ſo, as that though there be never ſo much wickedneſs in it, it ſhall not be felt and perceived; and when we ceaſe to feel our ſores, when the heart grows ſenſeleſs of its ſins, then is a time, when iniquity is like to abound. And there's no way in the World to prevent this increaſe of our corruptions, and hardning our hearts under it, but by keeping a conſtant Guard upon them, the Devil will be doing, ſin will be working and growing upon us, if there be not a conſtant watch kept.

And what will ye do then for a Sacrifice for God? wherewithal will you come before the Lord, and bow your ſelves before the moſt high God, if you have not an heart, a clean heart, a perfect and upright heart, that he will accept? As you would be loth that God ſhould meet p. 268you in all your Duties; your praying and hearing and praiſing his Name, and ſay unto you, as to Iſrael: Iſa. 1.11. To what purpoſe is the multitude of your Sacrifices? when you come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hands, to tread my Courts? Bring no more vain Oblations, your incenſe is an abomination to me. Your Sabbaths, your coming to the Aſſemblies I cannot away with, it is iniquity even your ſolemn meeting. Your meetings my Soul hateth, they are a trouble to me, I am weary to bear them; and when you ſpread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you. Yea when you make many prayers, I will not hear. Friends, would you have the Lord thus to ſpeak to you? Is this all the entertainment and acceptance you would have? when you come together to pray, and to hear, would you have the Lord to ſay, I am weary of this People, I am weary of theſe meetings, my Soul hateth this praying, and this hearing? Doubtleſs this will be all the entertainment you will have, whilſt you come hither and bring not your hearts for a Sacrifice, yea, and that broken hearts, hearts without guile, ſincere and perfect in the ſight of God; and ſuch hearts you will never bring, unleſs you will take more care and pains about them; and therefore I exhort you, as the Prophet goes on, ver. 16. Waſh ye, make ye clean, put away the evil of your doings; ſo alſo, watch ye, keep ye clean, prevent the return of your evils upon you. And then I ſhould be bold to add as ver. 18. to call upon you, and encourage you in the Name and the Words of the Lord, Come now and let us reaſon together, ſaith the Lord. Let your hearts be thus kept, and then come; come with your prayers, come with your praiſes and I will hear and accept you.

8. It is the Temple of the Lord. 2 Cor. 6.16. Ye are the temple of the living God. 'tis the heart eſpecially, that is this Temple.

There are four things in the Temple of God, which are ſo many reaſons, why our hearts ſhould be carefully kept, and guarded.

1. The law of God is in his Temple. The law was read in the Temple, and kept in the Temple; and as in that Temple made with hands, ſo in that living Temple, made without hands, the Law of God is placed and preſerved. Chriſtians have the Law of God within them, their Bibles p. 269in their hearts; in the heart of a Chriſtian is the Copy of the Bible. God hath not only preach'd it to their hearts, but they have laid it up in their hearts. Pſal. 119.11. I have hid thy word within mine heart that I might not ſin againſt thee. Mary kept the ſayings of Chriſt and laid them up in her heart: Luk. 2.51. God promiſed, Jer. 31.33. I will write my Law in their hearts: and he hath done what he promiſed; he that once wrote his Law in Tables of Stone, hath alſo written it in fleſhly Tables of Hearts. Therefore Pſal. 40.8. Thy Law is within mine heart.

The Law written in the heart Notes.

1. All thoſe holy Notions of God, of Chriſt, of Glory, Honour, Immortality, of the Power, Wiſdom and Goodneſs of God, and of the Miſtery of Chriſt, which are written in the Scriptures are revealed in the heart.

2. All thoſe holy Principles or divine Axioms, concerning Truth, Righteouſneſs, Holineſs, Mercy, Temperance, Sobriety, &c. the nature and neceſſity of them, to true Godlineſs and Bleſſedneſs.

3. That Law of the Spirit of life, which is in Chriſt Jeſus, the new Law, or Covenant of Grace, by which we are freed from the Law of ſin and death, Rom. 8.2. the Tenour and the Terms of the Covenant, the Promiſes and the Conditions of the Covenant; the great Charter of the Saints, which gives them Title to, and will give them an entrance into the Everlaſting Kingdom. The writing that Law is the writing the new Covenant in the heart.

4. That inward living Law, the holy bent, inclinations, diſpoſitions begotten in the heart, by the Word, and Spirit of the Lord; that renewed Conſcience, inwardly obliging and holding the heart, to the Obedience of the Word. A Chriſtian hath not only ſomething without him, but ſomething within him, binding him to obedience; whereby it may be ſaid, much more of him, then of thoſe Gentiles, Rom. 2.14. He is a law to himſelf. His own heart holds him in to Chriſt, his own heart holds him on in Obedience to the Goſpel. If all our Bibles ſhould be loſt, or burnt, if all our Preachers, that urge and preſs our Obedience, were laid aſide and trodden under foot, a Chriſtian hath that within him, that would hold him on in his Chriſtianity. That knowledge of God, and thoſe Principles of Chriſtianity, that love of Chriſt, p. 270and that renewed Conſcience within him, will keep him a Chriſtian ſtill.

Now all this treaſure, thoſe holy Notions, holy Principles, this Law of Grace, and this living law of the new Covenant being all kept in the heart; the heart being the Temple of God, wherein all this is preſerved, had need be carefully kept. Would you not have all the Notions of God, and the knowledge of Chriſt dimm'd, and darkned, and razed out? would you not looſe all your holy Principles of Righteouſneſs and Honeſty of Temperance and Sobriety? would you not have the book of the Covenant ſtolen away, on which all your Hopes and Expectations, all your title to Everlaſting bleſſedneſs depends? would you not looſe that holy bent, and thoſe holy inclinations, and that renewed Conſciences, by all which you are diſpoſed, and inwardly bound, bound in Spirit to the life of Chriſtianity, would you not that all theſe ſhould be loſt? would you not return to be dim ſighted, and dark Souls? would you not exchange your holy Principles, for carnal Principles, your renewed purged Conſciences, for corrupt Conſciences? would you not that the Temple of the Lord be robb'd? would you not that your heart be robb'd of all theſe Treaſures? then ſet a Guard upon your hearts.

2. The name of God is in his Temple. Jer. 7.10, 12. 'tis ſaid often, he places his name there. And of theſe living Temples, the hearts of Saints, 'tis ſaid, Rev. 3.12. I will write the name of my God, and the name of the City of my God upon them. And Chap. 2.17. in this heart, there is a precious ſtone put, and upon this ſtone a new name written, which no man knows but he that hath it. A Chriſtian hath not only the names of Chriſt call'd upon him, he is call'd a Chriſtian, after the name of his Lord; but he hath this name written upon him, written upon his heart. Sure that Table ſhould be kept clean in which is written ſuch a precious name. What ſhall the name of God be written on a dunghil? wilt thou ſuffer Sin and the Devil to make a very dunghil of thy heart, and in that dunghil write the name of thy God? If the heart be not well guarded, the Devil will be not only carrying out, but carrying in all the precious Treaſures that are in your hearts, let Satan alone a while, and hee'l carry them all away; Whatever thou haſt now, thou ſhalt have nothing of God left in thee, p. 271nothing of Chriſt leſt in thee; none of all thy Graces, none of all thy comforts. Haſt thou love for Chriſt, haſt thou hope in Chriſt, haſt thou peace or joy in God, haſt thou either the image or the comforts of God in thee? Satan ſtands ready, if thou look not to him, to carry all away; thou wilt quickly be left a very miſerable Soul, poor and blind and naked, if thou take not heed. And as the Devil will be carrying out, ſo he will be alſo, carrying in, to that heart of thine. Thy Gold and thy Jewels he will carry away, and he will bring in dirt, and filth, and traſh. As he unloads thee, he will load thee; unload thee of the treaſures of light, and load thee with the treaſures of darkneſs. He will fill thoſe hearts with every unclean thing, he will make thoſe Temples to be very Stables, or Sties; he will make that heart a very Dunghil; and Chriſt muſt either have no name within thee, or that precious name written on a dunghil; and will you ſuffer ſuch an affront and abuſe to be put upon your Lord? If you do not keep your hearts, ſo it will be.

3. The Worſhip of God is in his Temple. Mine houſe ſhall be called an houſe of Prayer. Mat. 21.13. In this inward Temple, the heart, is the inward and ſpiritual Worſhip of God. The people of God, are ſaid to be the People that worſhip God in ſpirit, Phil. 3.3. There are great thoughts of heart, and many Scruples, ariſing about the outward Worſhip of God; about the keeping that pure, about the clearing and ſecuring of that, againſt the Superſtitious Inventions, and corrupt mixtures of humane Impoſitions. And 'twere happy if the Houſes of God in the Land, were ſwept cleaner, and kept cleaner from theſe than they are. But the main of our care lies not here; theſe are not the great things we are concern'd to take care about. If outward Ordinances were never ſo purely adminiſtred, and kept never ſo free from adulterating mixtures, there's a greater thing then this, that lies upon us; that the inner Temple be kept pure, that the heart Worſhip be kept pure and intire. The heart alſo is to be an houſe of Prayer, and ſhall we make this houſe of Prayer, a den of Theeves, or an houſe of Merchandize? O what droves of unclean beaſts are let in to theſe hearts of ours! what houſes of Merchandize are theſe houſes of prayer become! theſe Sanctuaries of the Lord are become meer ſhops of buyers and ſellers. Whilſt p. 272they ſhould be employed in thoſe ſpiritual excerciſes, of loving and fearing, of praying and praiſing God, offering up living and ſpiritual Sacrifices to the Lord, behold how our money is brought into our hearts; our ſheep and Oxen, buying and ſelling and trading and getting gain, theſe are the inhabitants and theſe are the exerciſes of our hearts. It is a very grievous thing to conſider, how much the [hearts] of Chriſtians are taken up with theſe things; we cannot love the Lord as we ſhould, we cannot mind Glory and Immortality as we ſhould, It is miſerable praying, lamentable praiſing, or meditating on God that is to be found in us; we are ſo diſordered, diſtracted and confuſed in theſe ſpiritual exerciſes, there is ſuch a mixture of Carnal thoughts; ſuch carnal Affections, worldly Projects and Cares are thruſting in, that corrupt and ſpoil and enervate all our ſpiritual Duties, that we can find nothing but blind and broken and maimed Sacrifices, to offer up unto the Lord.

Friends, How do you find it, when you ſet your ſelves to pray, or meditate on God? Is not the World preſently thruſting in? are not your carnal Friends, or your buſineſſes or pleaſures thruſting in? and do not your thoughts and affections fall a g…ing, and a wandring after theſe? and do you not hereby looſe many a Prayer, and looſe many a Sermon, and ſadly complain of your ſelves, that whatever duty you perform, its all ſpoil'd in the doing, ſo that you can take no comfort in them? What help is there for it, but ſetting a better guard upon your hearts? Sure friends we had every one of us need to be mo e vigilant and watchful, to prevent theſe ſad matters of our complaints. It is not complaining how b…d 'tis, that will make amends or make up the matter; po …ibly your complaints of your ſelves, may ſeem to give you …ome eaſe, but conſider, the ſame complaints that you make of your ſelves God alſo makes of you; The Lord God hath complaints againſt you for the ſame things. Think … that more than you do; God complains of you; do you ſay I am weary of ſuch a diſtracted divided worldly heart? and I am weary too, ſays the Lord, Ah I will eaſe me of them, Iſa. 1. I am weary of theſe halting, trifling, diſtracted hearts; theſe cold Prayers, theſe hypocritical Praiſes, theſe maimed, broken, confuſed Services, I am weary of them, ſaith the Lord. If you go on thus to p. 273Worſhip God, come hither as often as you will, God will be weary to meet you here; he hath been waiting from week to week, from Sabbath to Sabbath, to ſee if it may be better, if he could meet with ſuch Sacrifices here, ſuch hearts here as might be pleaſing to him; he hath waited thus ſo long, and ſtill finds ſo little of what he likes, ſo few living Sacrifices; he hath waited ſo long and found ſo little, that 'tis to be doubted, if we continue thus, we may come hither to meet one another, but our God will be weary to give us a meeting. Friends, if you would not that the things that offend in your hearts, ſhould drive God away, then take more heed how you ſuffer theſe offences, or things, to come in, or to lodge any longer in you.

4. God himſelf is in his Temple; 2 Cor. 6.16. Ye are the Temple of the living God. God hath ſaid, I will dwell in them and walk in them. The hearts of the Saints are the houſe of God, and the houſe of God is his Habitation. The holy God will have none but an holy habitation. Will you let ſin in, and the Devil in, to Gods habitation. Theſe will darken and defile your hearts. Thoſe hearts are but blind houſes, and dirty holes, where Sin and the Devil dwells, and is this the beſt habitation you can afford to the Almighty? what place do you think God will prepare for you, if you prepare no better a place for him; How long will the Lord ſtay with you, how certainly will he withdraw and forſake you, if you let luſt in with him?

Sure Friends, if you had a due and a deep ſenſe upon your hearts, of the Holineſs, of the Glory, of the Majeſty, of the Jealouſie of the holy God, If you did verily believe, that of a very truth this Holy and Glorious God, had a mind to come and take up thoſe very hearts of yours, for his own habitation, that he would come and dwell in you, and walk in you, and make thoſe hearts his Chambers of Preſence, and the Thrones of his Glory, If you had ſuch reſpect for God, and ſuch affection that you would have him pleas'd with his habitation, and not meet with that, which is an offence and a loathing to him in you; were you ſenſible, did you verily believe all this, you could not but take more care to keep theſe hearts cleaner and more free for him.

p. 274If you had a great Friend, a Lord or a Knight that would come but to lodge a Night in your houſe, what would you do? How would you prepare your houſe, for the entertaining of ſuch a friend? what ſweeping and waſhing, and rubbing, and ſcouring, and adorning, would there be; every Veſſel would be brighted, every room would be beautified. Would you let it lie all dirty, and duſty, hang'd with Cobwebs and Spiders? would you let it lie naſty and filthy, and every thing out of its place and order? Sure you would not, and when he were come in, would you ſet open your doors, to let in a rabble of ſordid Beggars, or common Rogues or Drunkards, to come and drink and roar and ſpue in the very room where your friend were entertained? no you would ſweep all within, and ſet a Porter at your doors, to keep the unclean rabble out. O what is the greateſt friend in the World, to the great and holy God? Prepare him an holy habitation; open the doors and let the King of Glory come in, and then ſhut the door, and let no unclean thing enter, to offend and diſpleaſe him; that ſo the Lord may take pleaſure in you, and delight in you, and may ſay concerning you, this is my reſt, here will I dwell for ever.

2. How the heart is to be kept under Guard.

1. What 'tis to be guarded againſt, that is, againſt

Theeves.

Blots.

Diſtempers.

1. Againſt Theeves. The great Thief is the World, and all that is of the World; and all that in the World, which is purloyning from the heart. Its profits or worldly gains, its Pleaſures and carnal Mirth, its Favour and Friendſhip and Fawnings. Theſe all lie in wait for entrance into the heart, to the end they may rifle and ſpoil it of all that it hath. The World ſteals in upon the heart, and it never comes there, but to ſteals away its Treaſure; and therefore 'tis to be obſerved, that the hearts of ſuch Chriſtians, as are moſt poſſeſſed of the World, are ever the moſt poor and beggarly. Never look to find much of Chriſt or his Grace, if any thing at all, where the World hath gotten Poſſeſſion. Chriſt comes into the heart on purpoſe, to carry away the heart from the World; his Word is, where he comes, give me thine heart, Prov. 23.26. Love p. 275not the world nor the things of the world, 1 Joh. 2.15. And the world comes into the heart on purpoſe, to ſteal it away from Chriſt again. There is never any one that embraceth this preſent World, but 'tis to his loſs; whatever the World brings, it takes away better than it brings. 2 Tim. 4.10. Demas hath forſaken us and embraced this preſent world. He embrac'd the World, and what got he by it? the ſame day he embraced the World, he forſook Chriſt.

Chriſtian, art thou fallen in with the World? Are its gains and its pleaſures gotten into thy heart? doth it fawn and ſmile upon thee, and is thine heart taken and pleaſed with its fawnings? Look to thy ſelf; what haſt thou within thee? haſt thou Grace? haſt thou Peace? does thy Soul flouriſh? for ought I know thou haſt ſeen the laſt of thy good days, what time this World is thus embraced by thee.

O friends, ſet a watch againſt this Thief, ſet a guard againſt it; Take heed and beware of Covetouſneſs, Luk. 12.15. That's the ſame Counſel, as guard your hearts againſt this World. Covetouſneſs is the opening the door to let the world in, nay the world is gotten in already where Covetouſneſs is. Thou which haſt a Covetous heart, thine heart is already poſſeſſed of the world. May be thou haſt yet but a little of it in thine hand, but thine heart is already full of it, the whole world is gotten in, where Covetouſneſs is gotten in.

Worldly Profeſſors, methinks you ſhould be ſtartled at it, if you conſidered, what a Theif you have within you. Whatever thou ſeemeſt to have of Chriſt, or the Treaſures of heaven, thou art like to be but a poor wretch, in a little time.

And how is it like to be with thee, whoſe heart hath entertained the Pleaſures and the merriments of the world? or the favours and fawnings of the Men of the world? who loveſt to be ſome body with evil men, to have their reſpect and eſteem? he that would fain be ſome body with the world, is like to be no body with Chriſt. Make the world to know its diſtance, and whatever you have to do in it, keep it at a diſtance from your hearts. Never look to thrive in Chriſtianity, whilſt you venture to be too buſie with this world, or to dote on its favours or friendſhip.

p. 276O it were well with us, were we yet but ſenſible what a ſnare this world is to us; what a bane it is to all that's good in us. Never a flower in all our Garden will flouriſh, where theſe thorns ſtand ſo thick about it; that little Grace you have will be leſs dayly, it will be choked up and devoured, if you keep you not more clear of this world. It were happy for us, were we deeply ſenſible of the danger we are in; but there's the Miſery of it, people will not be ſenſible, nor be warned to take heed of it; this Theif ſteals away mens Reaſon and Conſciences; makes them ſuch children and fools, that they will not underſtand what an enemy it is to them. How many Sermons have been preached and publiſhed, to warn you, to take heed of a worldly heart; and yet how very few hearts are there, that do eſcape it! 'tis who can be richeſt, and who can be greateſt in the world, that the moſt of our hearts are ſet upon; 'tis not who can be the holieſt, or moſt heavenly, 'tis not who can improve in the Faith and Hope of the Goſpel; in the love and fear of the Lord; who can get moſt of Chriſt and Heaven into his heart, and grow rich unto God; but who can grow greateſt in this preſent world. Is not this too common a Caſe? though the Lord hath been knocking off our fingers from it, pulling off our Chariot wheels, and making us to drive heavily; letting looſe the ſpoilers upon us, to catch from ſome of us, what we have gotten, fed the Husbandman with ſhort harveſts, filled the Tradſman with complaints of bad Markets; yet all is one, how little ſoever many men can catch of this world, yet they will catch after it ſtill; and what wonder is it then, while this world doth ſo generally carry our hearts, that Chriſt hath ſo much loſt them. You that would ſave any thing of what you have left in you, you that would ever get any more while you live, you that would not go down to your graves ſtrip'd and naked of all that ſhould then comfort you, get again I ſay to you, take heed of this world, take heed of this worldlineſs.

2. Againſt blots, that is, againſt wilful allowed ſins: Every wilful ſin, will be a blot upon your hearts. Our ſins are blots and blemiſhes upon our lives, but every blot upon the life is alſo a blot upon the heart.

Blots will

Darken and Obſcure.

Defile.

p. 2771. Blots will darken and obſcure the Heart. I told you, that in the heart is kept, all our evidences for heaven; our ſins that we give way to, will be blots upon our evidences; will ſo obſcure and blur them, that they will not be legible. Our ſins will do the direct contrary to what the blood of Chriſt will do; the bloud of Chriſt will blot out the hand writing that was againſt us, Col. 2.14. Our ſins will blot out, whatever hand-writing there is for us. Thou that art a Chriſtian, there is an hand-writing upon that heart, there is the Covenant of God, which is thy Charter for glory, written upon thy heart. There is the token of the Covenant, and thine intereſt in it, the Circumciſion of the heart; there are the Articles of the Covenant, which have been conſented to, between the Lord and thee, recorded in thine heart; whilſt thou keepeſt thine heart clean, there thou may'ſt read thy Title to Glory; thou wilt find that within thee, which will comfort thee concerning thine everlaſting ſtate. There are the very Prints and Marks of the Lord Jeſus, his image formed upon thy ſoul; which mark thee out for an heir of life; but what wilt thou do for comfort, when theſe writings and this holy image, are all blotted? when thy Circumciſion is become as uncircumciſion? will blotted evidences Satisfie thee? will a defaced image prove thy Title to Chriſt go…d? Set a guard againſt Sin; allow not your ſelves in any iniquity, fear what ſad work it will make upon your inner man. Hath the bloud of Chriſt blotted out the hand-writing that was againſt you? hath the Spirit of Chriſt, engraven a new hand-writing for you? O watch againſt iniquity, which will renew the old handwriting, and blot out the new. Have you any comfortable Title to Glory? any comfortable evidences for heaven? O ſin them not away. Whatever comfortable evidences you have, never look that they ſhould ſpeak comfortably to you, longer then you keep your watch againſt ſin; nor never truſt to that comfort, which will hold up the head, whilſt thou alloweſt thy ſelf in ſin. Pſal. 66.18. If I regard iniquity in my heart God will not hear my prayer. And what comfort canſt thou have, when thou art become ſuch a one as God will not hear, when thou prayeſt? Thou art a Profeſſor of Religion, and thou haſt comfort in Chriſt, and confidence thou ſhalt be ſaved through him; and yet for all this, thou canſt lie for thy p. 278advantage, or to cover a fault; thou canſt drink, if not to down right drunkenneſs, yet to intemperate exceſs, and make thy ſelf a fool if not a down-right beaſt; or at leaſt be a companion of Drunkards in their drunkenneſs: Thou canſt defraud or do wrong, put off falſe wares, uſe deceitful ballances; thou canſt defame or backbite, thou canſt be peeviſh and give rope to thy fretful paſſions, and let thine anger reſt upon thee; thou canſt prophane the Sabbath, by Working, or Travailing or Loytering; thou canſt live in an ordinary neglect of thy Family, and the Souls of them, without inſtructing them or praying with them, and the like, and thou canſt let thy ſelf alone in theſe evils, or ſome of them, or ſome other ſuch like. But how doſt thou hold up thine head under theſe things? when thou lookeſt into thine heart, how doſt thou find it there? doſt thou not find thy ſins to be blots within thee? doſt thou not find the writing blotted, thine evidences blurr'd, the image of Chriſt defaced, thy comforts vaniſhed? If thou doſt not, if thou canſt be of good comfort ſtill, if thou art of good chear, and confident ſtill; this comfort, this confidence is not the comfort of God, but falſe and deceitful. Thou may'ſt comfort thy ſelf, and ſpeak peace to thy ſelf ſtill, but miſtake not thy ſelf, God ſpeaks not a word of comfort to thee in ſuch a caſe: if thou hadſt any real comfort before, that thou wilt find all blotted, and the true ſenſe of it utterly loſt. If thou haſt peace in thine heart 'tis none of the peace of God, that is broken by thy returning to have peace with ſin; Pſal. 85.8. God will ſpeak peace, but let them not turn again to folly.

2. Blots will defile. They are ſtains upon all our Glory. The coming in of Sin upon the heart, is as the breaking in of the Heathen upon Gods inheritance. Pſal. 79.1. O God the heathen are come into thine inheritance, thine holy temple have they defiled. The heart of a Chriſtian, is (as is ſaid) the Temple of the Lord; the Temple of the Lord is holy. Holineſs becometh thine houſe, Pſal. 93.5. 'tis only a clean heart that is a fit habitation for God. God hath been at great coſt, to make the hearts of his people clear, that they may be a fit habitation for him. He hath waſhed them with bloud, with the bloud of his Son; hath waſhed out thoſe original blots and ſtains, that were upon them. 1 Joh. 1.7. The bloud of Jeſus Chriſt cleanſeth p. 279— He hath waſhed them with water. The Sanctifying work of his Spirit. God hath made him a clean habitation, and he looks that we ſhould keep it clean. 1 Cor. 3.17. If any man defile the Temple of the Lord, him ſhall God deſtroy. God will depart from, God will pull down that houſe, and make a dunghil of it, which ſin is ſuffered to defile, we had need take heed of ſuch blots and ſtains upon our hearts, leſt they drive out the holy One of Iſrael from us. Whilſt we keep our ſelves pure, the Lord God will delight to take his abode with us; Who is it Chriſtians, you would have to dwell in you? O let me be an habitation for the Lord; let the holy Jeſus, let the holy Spirit dwell in me; none but God, none but Chriſt, thou Lord art mine inhabitant, let me be thy habitation. Where God dwells, there light dwells, there peace dwells, there hope and joy dwells; I count upon nothing, I have no joy, no hope, no peace, all that I have is loſt, all that I have to comfort me, all that I have to ſtay or ſupport me, all that I have to delight and refreſh me, all is loſt, yea I have loſt my ſelf, when God is departed from me. Do you indeed look upon it, as ſo miſerable a caſe, when the Lord hath forſaken you? then take heed how you defile his habitation. Let wilful ſin in, and that will certainly drive the Lord out; and if you would keep ſin out of the heart, keep it out of your lives. Life ſins are heart blots. Jer 2.22. Their iniquity is marked before me. And 'tis the heart that bears its black marks upon it.

O friends, what ſad marks have we upon us! what ſpeckled and ſpotted ſouls have we! how miſerably are our inſides defiled! Minds defiled, Affections defiled, Conſciences defiled? 'tis a ſign what Lives we have lived, 'tis a ſign how well we keep our Garments, how well we keep us from practical iniquity; our heart ſtains, our heart defilements ſhew ſufficiently, how much iniquity hath abounded in us.

Friends, look inward; ſee what work ſin hath made within you, what a Conſcience hath it left you, what affections hath it left you? how hath it dimm'd and defaced the Image of God in you? Do you complain that God is withdrawn from you! that you have loſt his quickning preſence, his comforting preſence? that you have loſt your Acquaintance, loſt your Communion with God? p. 280that your only friend and portion and hope is become a ſtranger to you? learn to keep you cleaner if you would have it better; count upon it, there is no hope that God ſhould take pleaſure in you, or give you any pleaſure in him; that God ſhould be a comfort to you, longer then you keep you more pure. Oh get your hearts waſhed anew; we have need of many waſhing dayes, who have ſo many ſinning dayes. Every day ſhould be a waſhing day to us. Take that counſel of the Prophet; Iſa. 1.16. Waſh ye, make ye clean, put away the evil of your doings. Make you clean, and keep you clean. Waſh ye and watch ye, put away the evil of your doings, if you would that your hearts ſhould long be kept clean. Waſh your hands and waſh your face, and waſh your feet, or theſe will defile your hearts. Put away the Garment ſpotted with the fleſh, keep your outward man clean, keep you unſpotted from the World, that ſo you may be blameleſs and unreprovable in the ſight of God. O Chriſtians, let us ſtudy every one of us, to get to ſuch a blameleſs and unrebukable Converſation, that not only the world may have nothing to ſpot us with, but that our Conſciences may have nothing to ſpot us with, that our hearts may not have wherewith to reprove us? as little as may be, of the common and unavoidable infirmities of our fleſh; but however we may be overtaken as to theſe, yet be unreproveable, as to any tolerated or allowed iniquities; theſe are the great blots wherewith the heart is defiled.