Directions and Instigations to the Duty of Prayer, Sermons · Sermon 6
SERMON VI.
Prov. 4. 23.
Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life.
THere are two great Books which a Christian ought mainly to study, there is God, and his own heart: and he would study to know the unspeakable goodness of the one, and the desperat wickedness of the other: And we may say, the first time that a Christian turns over the first page of his heart, and looks upon that desperat wickedness which is therein, he might be constrained to cry out, Wo is me, I am undone. Yea, there is as much wickedness in every ones heart who is here, as might be a quarrel to destroy a whole world, if God would contend with us in his just judgement! I think Christians can never trust their hears too little, & they can never trust God to much. And have we not received many proofs of both these? I may say as Jeremiah said, The heart is deceitfull above all things, and desperately wicked, who can know it? O but a sight of the evil temper of our hearts, and a sight of the goodness of God, would make many of us renounce our self-righteousness and our spiritual pride, and admire his transcendant righteousness. I think a Christian ought to be as these four beasts which is mentioned in Rev. 4. 6, 7, 8. where the four beasts that are spoken of there, may relate to the Ministers of the Gospel, and may also be taken for every real Christian: First, We should be full of eyes before to wait on Christ and depend upon him as an hand-maid upon her Mistress, and not to reflect upon these things that are behind, as to rest upon them, according to that word of the Apostle, I presse hard toward the mark, forgetting the things that are behind, &c. Secondly, A Christian should look to those things that are behind; to guard against enemies, and to be much in searching his former wayes, to see how much of them hath been given to God, and how much of them hath been given to the Devil. Thirdly, Christians should be full of eyes within to examine themselves and to see their own corruptions. There are many who have eyes without to take notice of other peoples carriage, but they have no eyes to look within to themselves: O would to God that there were fewer markers and observers of other peoples carriage, and moe of the examiners and lookers to themselves, Purifying our selves, even as he is pure. Fourthly, We should be as a Lion in our walk, to point out our boldness against the devil and his temptations. Fifthly, We should be like a Calf, or an Oxe, to point out our laboriousness. Sixthly, We should be like the face of men, to point out our understanding and knowledge. Lastly, We should be like a flying Eagle, to point out our heavenly mindednesse, all our conversation should be directed by the Law of God, all our thoughts and all our actions, and all our words should be conformable to his mind, and as the Eagle hath wings, so also ought we to have wings, even as they had six wings, we should have two of them to cover our face, to point out the reverence which we ought to give to God; and we should have two wings to cover our hands, to shew out our readinesse to obe… Gods Commandements: and we should have two wings to cover our feet, to point out o… Imperfections, and the crooked paths we walk into. O Christians, will ye study these three following things, and ye will not have so high thoughts of your selves as oftentimes ye have. First, It is through the restraining grace of God, that those grievous sins which ye commit, comes not up to the perfection of Adultery, Sodomy and Incest. Secondly, There is no sin which ye commit, but there is some secret inclination to it, although ye think ye hate it much. Thirdly, It is impossible for you to comprend, take up, and remember those iniquities that you have committed since ye were born, as David is convinced, Psal. 51. 2. Cleanse me from my sin, &c. which we conceive to be not only from his known sins, but from his sins which he had forgotten: And therefore he bids God make them known unto him, and I would say this to you, David who was a man according to Gods own heart, he knew not the number of his sins: and O how much lesse can we that never came the hundreth part so far? And also you may see it in the practice of Joh. How many are mine iniquities and sins? make me to know my transgression and my sin.
Now we come to the words, and there is four things which we spoke to from them at the last occasion: First, The duty commanded, Keep thy heart. Secondly, The qualification how this duty of keeping the heart should be gone about, and it is with all diligence. Thirdly, That the heart of man hath many temptations seeking it, which is likewise presupposed in that word, keep thy heart with all diligence. Lasty, The reasons why we should keep it, for out of it are the issues of life. Now for the first thing in the words, we spoke to two things from it, First, That it was a Christians duty to keep his heart. Secondly, What was comprehended under this for a Christian to keep his heart, and likewise of those disadvantages which a Christian hath from the not keeping of the heart. Now for the first thing, to wit, that it is a Christians duty to keep his heart. We shall speak yet to some Considerations to perswade you to this duty.
The first Consideration is, Take notice of the had qualifications of the heart, and there is six or seven bad qualifications of it. First, The heart is exceeding deceitful, Jer. 17, 9. The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperatly wicked, who can know it! and likewise Isaiah speaks of a deceived heart which leads people aside, Isa. 44. 20. The heart of man is a deceitfull thing, it will preach peace, peace, when there is none. O it is deceitfull, it will make us commit sinne when there is no outward pleasure therein. Secondly, That the heart is desperatly wicked, who can know it? that is, if there were threatnings, commands, promises, and convictions of sin, yet the heart will cause you to sin, if hell were put in your way, yet for the pleasure of an idol, ye would run to the sin. Thirdly, That there is a cursed union betwixt the heart and idols, Hos. 4 8. And they set their heart on their iniquity. Hos. 4. 17. Ephraim is joyned to his Idols, let him alone. And that word is thrice repeated in Ezek. 14 3, 4, 5. They have set up their Idols in their hearts: Keep your hearts with all diligence, I say, lest that union be i… tertained. Fourthly, There is many of ou… hearts that is exceeding mad, Eccles. 9. 3. Th… heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madnes… is in their heart, while they live, and after tha… they go to the dead. Alas, there is nothing bu… madnesse in our hearts; according to that word, the land is full of Images, and they are mad up… their Idols. Certainly the madness of our heart… speaks that we keep not our hearts. Fifthly, Our hearts are divided, as in Hos. 10. 2. Then heart is divided, &c. which speaks a great necessity of keeping our hearts. Sixthly, Our hear… are exceeding whoorish, Ezek. 6. 9. Because I am broken with their whoorish heart which hath departed from me, &c. Lastly, Our hearts are exceeding dull and ignorant in the wayes of godlinesse, as in Eph. 4. 18. Having the understanding darkned, being alienated from the life of God, through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindnesse of their heart. There is such an Egyptian darknesse upon our hearts, that wee cannot know sin, there is some of us that (I fear) knows not good by evil.
The second consideration is, that there is such a difficulty to keep our hearts, therefore wee ought strongly to guard them: Adam had his heart but a short time in keeping, and yet hee could not keep it; which shews the difficulty in keeping of it, Psal. 25. 20. O keep my soul, and deliver me, let me not be ashamed, for I put my trust in thee. 1 Pet. 4. 19. Wherefore, let them that suffer according to the will of God, commit the keeping of their souls to him in well-doing, as unto a faithfull Creator. I would say to you, pray that prayer which Christ prayed when he was upon the crosse, Father, into thy hands I commit …y spirit: O pray that prayer every day! for … say, if God forsake us but one hour, O what a great multitude of sinnes would we commit, Acts 5. 4. Why hast thou conceived this thing in …hine heart? thou hast not lied unto men but unto God: Yea, even to God, who is the judge of all, …s if he had said, it was conceived in thine …eart, and then it was brought forth.
The third consideration is, That the heart is …he mother and original of all evil; and if this were believed, no doubt, we would watch with much watchfulnesse, and serious self-examina…ion. Likewise I would say, that the not keep…ng of our hearts, is the cause of many of your walkings so prophanely as we do; It is impossible for you to walk with God aright, if ye have not your hearts keeped: if ye would keep … good conversation, then keep your hearts, for …e must never at any time trust your hearts, for …ither one time or another they will turn ene…ies unto you.
The last consideration is this, It is a most excellent thing for a Christian to keep his heart, would ye win to that commendation that Solo…on hath, Prov. 16. 32. He that ruleth his spirit, … better then he that taketh a city. O then keep …our hearts, as if he had said, It is better to …onquer that Modicum, and little thing, the …eart, then it is for one to conquer a city.
Now, the second thing that I would speak to …rom keeping of the heart, is to these disadvan…ges which is waiting upon the not keeping …f it. Prov. 25. last verse, He that hath not …ule over his own spirit, is like a city that is …roken down, and without walls. And I would give you these disadvantages which will at… upon these that doth not keep their hear… First, A temptation will soon overcome th… person with little difficulty; the devil will … need to use many arguments for the gaining … that persons heart: Alace, our hearts (ma… of them, by all appearance) is in the de… hands, & that he hath a surer grip of them, th… we our selves have. Oh that the devil sho… have so many of our hearts, and that so … of them should be at his command! O beli… it, he is the hardest master, and he is the wo… master that ever ye served, and if he once … us within his grips, it will be hard getting o… again. These hearts which are not keeped, … all put through other with confusion, like … ruinous city, that wanteth government. B… lieve it, ye cannot do God a greater servi… then to keep your hearts well, and the de… would count it a great courtesie done to hi… if ye would resign them to him: Therefore s… which of them ye will obey. Fourthly, If … would consider and look what a thing the hea… of man is, O ye would guard it more then … do; for it is alwayes besiedged with the … which the devil sets before your eyes! … there is three lusts which the devil do … siedge you with, and be sure they shall all ov… come you if ye keep not your hearts. … The lust of the eye; O but that lust hath broug… many to his obedience! Secondly, The lust … the flesh; O that hath overcome many! A… thirdly, The pride of life; O to think ho… these three enemies hath taken many captive…
Now, the next thing which I shall insi… little upon, is, to point out some markes … evidences whether ye have kept your hearts or …ot.
First, If ye have keeped your hearts aright, … will endeavor to crucifie vain thoughts: Are …ere not some here that never knew what it …s to crucifie and crush vain and idle thoghts? …his was an evidence that David kept his heart. …sal. 119. 113. I hate vain thoughts, but thy …w do I love. There is some that repents for …ward breakings out of sin, but not for se…et sins in their hearts, and be sure these ne… kept their hearts. Did ye never read that, …at. 5. 8. Blessed are the poor in heart? Your …ctification shall never grow so long as ye …dge vain thoughts within your breasts. O Je…salem! how long shall vain thoughts lodge with… thee, saith the Lord? Be carefull to think …pon such thoughts as ye may answer for one …y to the Lord, for your mid-night thoughts …all be read in the hearing of angels and men. … would ye not be ashamed and loath your …lves, if ye would consider these vile and vain …houghts that lodge within many of you?
Secondly, These hearts that is not kept, they …mbrace tentations so soon as they are assaulted … them, and they do not take notice that they …e temptations, and that is a mark of one that …eepeth not his heart, that takes not notice of …e devil til he hath shut his temptation with… his breast: this is clear that David keeped …ot his heart when the devils temptations did … assault him, 2 Sam. 11. and got such a victory …ver him; and it is also clear in the practice …f Peter, when he denied his Master thrice, it was a token that he keeped not his heart well.
The third Evidence of one that keepeth not his heart is, he will commit sin with much d… liberation: many of us commit sin after we have been thinking long upon it: hence it … spoken, that there is some that studies iniqui… upon their beds, and when it is light they put … in practice, Micah 2. 1. and likewise in Prov. … Amongst these heinous sins that is odious … hateful to God: Wicked imaginations is reck… ned amongst the midst of them, vers. 18. I s… ye who sin with much deliberation, ye h… losed much of the fear of God; for to sin wi… deliberation or advisement, is more then to … against light.
The fourth mark of these that doth not kee… their hearts, they sin with touch willingne… and pleasure; Ephraim willingly worshipp… the Calfs of Dan and Bethel, are there not so… here, whose hearts are following their Ido… and posting hard after them? But O can yo… idols do you any good, and purchase pleasu… to you one day? and be sure of this, these w… sin with such willingnesse and pleasure, that a clear evidence that they keep not their hea… well.
The fifth Evidence of a heart which is … keeped, is, when a Christians heart can mis… gard opportunities, in which opportunit… communion with God may be attained, it i… token that the Brides heart was not keepe when she would not rise and open to Christ.
The sixth Evidence, when the heart … not up the motions of God towards it, tha… a token that that mans heart is not well keep… who cannot take up Gods motions: but Christian whose heart is keeped, he can … up the motions of the Spirit, this is clear … compare the 2. and 3. Chap. of the Songs …gether.
Lastly, ye may know whether your hearts … keeped or not, and that is, when ye do not …scern the decayes of the graces of the spirit …ithin you. There is four graces by which a …hristian may know whether he keeps his heart … not. First, If the grace of prayer decay. Se…ndly, Tenderness. Thirdly, Faith. Fourth…, Love. O therefore I would desire you to try …ur graces what condition they are in, lest ye … down to the grave with a mistake in your …some: Now I shall shut up our discourse …h speaking these four things.
First, A Christian ought to keep his heart …stantly: The Hypocrite hath a sort of keep…g of his heart, but he keeps it not so con…tly as a real Christian. And there is five …es when especially he keeps it, the first time …, When he is under affictions and crosses, …en he will not let his heart wander from the …yes of Gods commandements, and he will …ep his heart mightily at that time. Second…, He will keep his heart at that time when …victions are sharp and strong upon him, …. 2. 37. When they were prickt in their hearts, …y cryed out, men and brethren, what shall we … amongst which we may conceive there were …dry Hypocrits. The Hypocrite thinks to win …ough the world, under the notion of a real …; but believe it, although ye would win …ough the world under this notion (as many …th) yet the day is coming when ye and your …ctise shall be put to the touch stone. The …ird time when the Hypocrite would keep his …rt, is, when he is going to the Sacrament of the Communion; but when he is come fro… it, he will take no notice of his heart any more and the only reason that he keeps his hear… then, is, that he may have peace with a natural conscience. Yea, I fear, if we were all searched, it would be known that the most end w… pray for, is to satisfie a natural conscience, and not to please God: The 4. time when a Hypocrite will keep his heart, is under sickness & diseases, yea, any gross one will keep his heart … sicknes, they who never prayed (almost) wil pr… at that time. The last time when he will keep his heart, will be when he is called to som… publick holy work, as if he were called to pra… amongst Christians, O then he will keep h… heart diligently! and if he be in a Minister… sight he will keep the Sabbath day: but … these men doth not remember that a grea… one than a Minister sees them; even God th… Lord. A Hypocrite will keep his outward … but not his inward man: he will not swea… but in his heart he will curse God, he will kee… his feet outwardly, but inwardly he will commit adultery in his heart; If ye would be sincere, ye must mortifie your invisible idols … well as your visible idols.
The second thing that I would say, is this, … ye keep your hearts, and not resign them freely to God, although ye were to live eigh… years, and if ye would pray the one fourty … weep the other fourty of these years, (if suc… a thing could be possible) yet all that p… should be for nought, if ye do not freely fi… give him your heart, for you shall get that fearfull sentence pronounced upon you, Depar… from me you cursed, I knew you never! O the… fore while it is called to day, give God your …arts: Psal. 78. 56. Yet they tempted and pro…ked the most high God, and kept not his testi…nies. Psal 34. 16. The face of the Lord is …ainst them that do evil, to cut off the remem…ance of them from the Earth. If ye had the …ogue of an Angel to speak and pray, yet if ye … him not your hearts, all your prayers shall … back empty to you.
The third thing which I would say to you, …his, the heart of man is a thing which ye will … a great difficulty to keep, and this is a proof …, that a Christian will even sometimes …nge in prayer. He will sometimes change … times, First, When he begins, he will be … flame of love to God. And secondly, He … fall secure. And thirdly, He will have …ible thoughts of God. And lastly, (ere he …e done) he will speak to God as to his com…ion, and I would pose all of you that are …e if ye have not been in all (or most part) of …se frames when you have been praying? … I would charge you (as ye will answer Christ one day) that ye would give him your …! there is two words which I would say you, and O that ye would consider upon …, Christ comes and sayes to us first, Take …y Crosse, and deny thy self, and follow me: … is Christs first word unto a Believer: and …ut that be a great mystery to flesh and …d. And the Devil comes and sayes the se…d word, which is, Fall down and worship … and I will give thee a Kingdom. The first …d of the Devil, is ay the fairest word that …all get, and the first of Christs is the sharp… Now which of these two offers will ye chuse? I would only say these two words … you, First, Think yee not shame to refu… Christ so openly as ye do? Secondly, That th… answer which ye give him, is not the answ… which he seeks, I say one day ye shall be broug… before his throne waiting for your condemn… tion, if you give not precious Christ yo… hearts; ye shall stand before his Tribunal to receive your last and fearful doome! O man, and O woman! with what face wilt thou st… and what wilt thou have to say when tho… stands before him? I remember the word of … cursed Emperor who had made defection fro… Christ, he was forced to breath out his l… words, thus, sadly. Thou hast overcome me … last, O Galilean! So he is too strong a pa… to thee to contend with, and at length he w… overcome thee.
Now the last thing that I would say unto y… is, if you do not give him your hearts, I (as … Ambassador of Christ) declare to you, … Christ and you shall fight together! Put … your harness, put on your Steel coat, (s… Christ will be ready for you) and boast wh… ye put off again. And I would say this unto yo… that it is impossible for you to take Christ … cept ye get a sight of Christ and his beauty, … if you saw him in his beauty, ye would … I'le take him although I get not a Kingdo… O the Angels and glorified Spirits of just … now made perfect, may wonder at us why … stand out so long! Oh! Will you give to … ther your hearts, and not to precious Chr… who hath given you his heart, and who worthy of all your hearts: Can you look up… that noble Plant of renown, and not give … your hearts? who had a hole made in his side …hrough which ye may see his heart! Oh man! …nd Oh woman! Why will ye not give Christ …our hearts? what shall ye say, when Christ shall say first to you, why would ye not sincere…y give me one day in your life time? Secondly, Why would you not give me your hearts? … will tell you three things which will be very terrible for you (O atheists!) In that day when …ou shall appear before Gods Tribunal. First, …e hearing of the Gospel. Secondly, Which … more terrible, the Resurrection of Christ▪ …astly, Which is terriblest of all; when that …earfull sentence shall be pronounced against …ou, Depart, Depart! O then you shall curse …he day that ever ye were born in Glasgow o… … Scotland! Now O you inhabitants of this …lace, I charge you (as ye shall answer one day … God) that ye would give him your hearts in …eeping, and in so doing, ye shall have life e…ernal, O therefore, Kiss the Son by the way, …st his anger break out, and you perish for ever! …ow to him who can perswade your hearts to …mbrace him, we desire to give praise.