The Bowels of Tender Mercy Sealed in the Everlasting Covenant, Religious treatise · Part 2 · Chapter 10
CHAP. X. The ſtony heart taken away.
2. Doct. THat God will take away that hardneſs of heart from his people. (I God takes away hardneſs of heart from his people.will take away the ſtony heart out of your fleſh) you have the ſame promiſe in Ezek. 11. 19. I will take the ſtony heart out of their fleſh.
For the opening of this Point, I would ſpeak unto theſe Particulars.
1. The manner how God takes away the hardneſs of heart from his people.
2. Why the Lord will do ſo?
3. How this can be affirmed, ſeeing there doth remain much hardneſs of heart in the people of God?
SECT. I.
Queſt. 1. THe manner how God takes away the hardneſſe of heart from his The meanes how God takes it away.peeople?
Sol. For Anſwer unto this, remember that hardneſs of heart may be taken away,
1. Preparatively.
2. Effectually.
3. Succeſſively.
4. Perfectly and compleatly.
Firſt, The Lord takes away the hardneſs of heart Preparatively, when he lets in ſuch a powerful work of his Spirit, by the Law which doth both convince Preparatively.and break the heart of a ſinner: The Spirit by the Law doth let in the ſenſe of ſin and wrath which is irreſiſtible upon the Conſcience, which is of that authority and force, that it rents the heart, and fills it with fear, and trembling, and aſtoniſhment. This is that which the Schoolmen call Attrition: And our Divines uſually ſtile Legal preparation, and the Scripture the ſpirit and bondage whereby all the powers, and preſumptions, and confidences of the ſoule are ſhaken, and the heart is made ſo ſenſible of its tranſgreſſions, that it quakes, and trembles, and hath no reſt nor peace, but is filled with bitterneſs, and terror, and cries out with woful complaints, I have undone my ſelf, I have ſinned, I have ſinned, and what will become of me! I feel the wrath of God, and what ſhall I do to be delivered! I cannot live thus, and I dare not dye thus! if the Lord ſhew me not mercy, I periſh for ever!
Secondly, The Lord takes away the hardneſs of the heart Effectually; and this Effectually.he doth when he di…ſolves and melts the ſtonyneſs of the heart. It is one thing to break a ſtone into pieces, and it is another thing to melt a ſtone (as it were) into water: Simile The Lord doth by the Law break the ſtony and ſtout heart of a ſinner; but he melts and diſſolves the heart by the Goſpel, and on this wiſe he doth diſſolve and melt it;
1. By revealing of mercy, and hope of mercy to the broken and diſtreſſed ſinner; thus and thus haſt thou …nned againſt me, and now thou ſeeſt and findeſt it to be an evil and bitter thing to ſlight my Word, and reſiſt my Spirit, and to harden thy heart; thou art now fallen into the hands of the living God, and I can make all my wrath to fall on thee, and to deſtroy thee at once for all thy rebellions; But I am the Lord, merciful and gracious; I deſire not the death of a ſinner, but rather that he turn and live. Lo! I have given mine own Son Jeſus Chriſt to dye for ſinners, and I have ſaid that whoſoever believes on him ſhall not periſh, but have everlasting life, Joh. 3 16. Therefore go thou broken-hearted ſinner, go thou unto him and be ſaved; accept of him, and thou ſhalt find mercy to pardon all that is paſt; he is able to ſave thee to the uttermoſt, and he is a merciful High Prieſt. O how this works on that ſinner! but is it poſſible that there ſhould be ſuch a ſurpaſſing goodneſs in God? what, and to ſuch a proud and ſtout-hearted ſinner as I have been? what mercy to one who hath ſo often ſlighted mercy? and Chriſt for one who hath ſo often refuſed Chriſt? this begins to melt the hard heart of the ſinner.
2. By the offer of mercy, and particular invitation of the broken-hearted ſinner to lay hold on it: The Lord Jeſus comes as it were to the very houſe of this ſinner, and knocks at the door, and ſaith, Here dwells a broken-hearted ſinner, and my Father hath ſent me to him that I may ſave his poor ſoul: Come, come unto me, be not afraid, I my ſelf do call thee to come unto me: And I do aſſure thee in the word of a Saviour that I will not reject thee, but I will pity, and help, and refreſh thee; I will anſwer for thy ſins, and I will make thy peace; though thou haſt been very wicked, I will not ſtand upon that; and though thou art utterly unworthy, yet I will not ſtand on that neither; only receive me, and I will be thine, and mercy and ſalvation ſhall be thine freely and a…ſuredly.
3. By the collation of Faith which makes the ſinner willingly and really to cloſe with Chriſt: The Lord by his Spirit doth enable the broken-hearted ſinner to receive Jeſus Chriſt, and to take livery and ſeizin of a reconciled, merciful, loving, bleſſing God in and by him. And now the apprehenſion and poſſeſſion of all this rich mercy, and great love, and exceeding goodneſs of God in Chriſt melts and diſſolves the ſtonyneſs of the heart, this works in him a tenderneſs, a mournfulneſs, a pliableneſs, and all that is contrary to hardneſs of heart.
Thirdly, The Lord takes away the ſtony heart from his people, ſucceſſively, Succeſſively.or by degrees; indeed the dominion of it is taken away in an inſtant, as ſoon as ever the ſinner is brought into Chriſt, as ſoon as he is called and converted, the raigning power of hardneſs is taken away, the man ſhall never have ſuch a ſtubborn, oppoſing, reſiſting, baſe heart any longer.
But yet the grudging of the ſtone, the remaining gravel, the reliques of hardneſs are taken away by degrees; the remaining hardneſſe the Lord takes away
Firſt, one while by Afflictions: Pſal. 119. 67. Before I was afflicted I went aſtray, but now I have kept thy Word.
Secondly, Another while by mercies and kindneſſes: Ezek. 16. 60. I will remember my Covenant with thee in the dayes of thy youth, I will eſtabliſh unto thee an everlaſting Covenant. Ver. 61. Then ſhalt thou remember thy wayes and be aſhamed. So Hoſe▪ 3. 5. Afterwards ſhall the Children return and ſeek the Lord, and ſhall fear the Lord and his goodneſs.
Thirdly, Sometimes by his Word and Ordinances, which are like Refining fire to melt and purge away our droſs. How frequently do the people of God find the Word of God to be the power of God to melt away their careleſneſs, and their indiſpoſition of heart, and deadneſs of heart, and backwardneſs, and unrulineſs of heart!
Fourthly, The Lord takes away the ſtony heart from his people perfectly and compleatly, Root and Branch; ſo that no part of it, and no degree of it ſhall Perfectly.ever be found in their hearts any more. This ſhall be done in the very moment of death; when we come to the diſſolution of ſoul and body, we ſhall then come to the perfect diſſolution of all hardneſs, and of all remaining ſinfulneſs of heart.
Queſt. 2. Now to the ſecond queſtion, why the Lord will take away the ſtony Why God takes away the ſtony heart, and that by promiſe. The Lord will do it, that They may be his people.heart from his people? and why he himſelf doth undertake it by promiſe?
Sol. The Lord will take away the heart of ſtone from his people, That
Firſt, They may be his people, and receive him for their God and Lord: Beloved, as long as hardneſs of heart prevails on any people, it is impoſſible that they ſhould become the people of the Lord; they will not hearken to his voice, nor obey his voice, nor receive his Laws, nor fall in with his offers and entreaties; but will reject his Word, and deſpiſe his counſel, and will follow the luſts of their own hearts; and therefore of neceſſity the Lord muſt take away the hardneſs of heart; if he will have any people to be his people, he muſt break down the pride, and ſtoutneſs, and reſiſtance, and rebellion of their hearts; there muſt be a mutual will, and conſent, and agreement, which cannot be, till reſiſtance in our hearts be removed, that ſo our hearts may be made willing to comply with him, and with his will, and with his wayes, and with his works.
Secondly, That he may bring them all into union with Jeſus Chriſt; his people Bring them into union with Chriſt.are a people given unto Chriſt from all eternity (Thine they were, and thou gaveſt them me, Joh. 17. 6.) And as they are given to Chriſt by an eternal compact; ſo they muſt be given in to Chriſt in time by effectual vocation in a way of believing: And for this reaſon alſo he will take away the hardneſs of their hearts, which is imcompatible with cloſing with Chriſt; Heb. 3. 7. To day if ye will hear his voice; ver. 8. harden not your hearts.
Thirdly, That he may enjoy communion with them, and they with him: This is one Reaſon why he makes us to be his people, that he might make known all Enjoy communion with them.his love and goodneſs unto us, and that our hearts might be taken up with him, and ſet on him in love, and fear, and deſire, and joy and hope: None of which will or can be, unleſs the Lord were pleaſed to take away the heart of ſtone from his people, &c.
Fourthly, That he may bring upon them all the good which he hath promiſed unto And bring upon them all the good that he hath promiſed.to his people, viz. All the bleſſings of mercy, and peace, and comfort, and joy, of which they are not capable untill the Lord take away the hardneſs of their hearts. Would you have the Lord to ſettle pardoning mercy on a hard heart! and to ſpeak peace to a hard heart, and to revive with comfort and joy the ſoul of an hardened ſinner, who will hold faſt his iniquities, and who will not obey his voyce, and will none of him, This is as it were a foundation-work for the other works of the Covenant.
Sol. 2. Again, the Lord himſelf doth again by promiſe undertake to take away God by promiſe undertakes it. Becauſe of the impoſſibility of it.the ſtony heart from his people, upon a twofold account.
Firſt, On the impoſſibility of the work without his own Omnipotency: None but the Almighty can cure the ſtone of the heart; neither Angels, nor Men, nor Miniſtry, nor Self-power; for the hard heart is too hard for all means whatſoever; only the Lord is too hard for it; he can ſubdue all the powers of ſin, and he can pull down all high imaginations which do exalt themſelves, and he can abaſe the pride of man, and he can circumciſe all the ſtoutneſs of the heart, ſo that the rebellious ſhall ſubmit themſelves.
Secondly, The other, that his people (when they are made ſenſible of their That men may not deſpair.hardneſſe) may not deſpair, but may apply themſelves unto him who is able to work all their work in and for them, and to heal all their diſeaſes, and to ſubdue all their iniquities. Beloved, a Promiſe of God (in any kind) is a ſingular foundation for Faith and Prayer: And ſo it is in this buſineſs of hardneſs of heart; if the Lord promiſe to take it away, then the work is poſſible, it may be done, and it is likewiſe de futuro, it ſhall be done: As the Lord is able to perform whatſoever he promiſeth to his people, ſo he is faithful and will perform the ſame. And both theſe are grounds for Faith and Prayer to go unto the Lord and beſeech him, and truſt upon him, that he will according to his word take away the hardneſs of our hearts.
Queſt. 3. How this can be affirmed for a truth, ſeeing that much hardneſſe How this can be, ſince much hardneſs remains. A difference betwixt the hardneſs remaining in the beſt, and that in the wicked. The godly are ſenſible of it.of heart remaines in all the people of God, all the dayes of their lives?
Sol. This hath been anſwered in part already, in the manner how God takes away the hardneſs of heart from his people: only I will adde, that there is a vaſt difference 'twixt the hardneſs of heart remaining in the people of God, and that hardneſs of heart abiding in ungodly men, v. g.
Firſt, Though hardneſs of heart (in ſome degrees) remains in the people of God, yet they are ſenſible of it as their great evil and burden, and do exceedingly bewail it, and complain to the Lord of it, and cry out, Why haſt thou hardned our hearts from thy fear? Iſa. 63. 17. But wicked men are unſenſible of the hardneſs of their hearts, they are paſt feeling, and their conſciences are ſeared as with a hot iron, as the Apoſtle ſpeaks, 1 Tim. 4. 2. When a part of the body is feared with a hot iron, it becomes utterly ſtupid and unſenſible, &c.
Secondly, The hardneſſe of heart remaining in the people of God, it It is ſtill mortifying in the beſt.is ſtill mortifying and decreaſing; the more they feel it, the more they pray againſt it, and never give over till they have obtained more grace and ſtrength againſt it, untill they find their hearts more tender and pliable: But the hardneſs of heart in ungodly men, as it is raigning, ſo it is raging, it ſtill increaſeth unto more hardneſs; ungodly men ſin more and more, and ſtill oppoſe the means of ſoftning their hearts; and the more they do ſin, the more they do harden their hearts; and the more they do oppoſe the light and means of ſoftning, the more they do augment their ſins and hardneſs.
Thirdly, Though hardneſs of heart doth remain in the people of God, yetThough it remains, yet They do not willingly take thoſe wayes that tend to hardening.
1. They do not willingly and adviſedly give up themſelves to any wayes and courſes which tend to the hardning of their hearts; as to the neglect of the Ordinances, to the omiſſion of holy duties, to the commiſſion of ſins againſt the light of the Word and of Conſcience.
2. They do cordially uſe all the means to work off the hardneſs of their hearts, as frequent ſelf-examinations, humble confeſſions, and ſelf-judgings, earneſt Prayer for more Faith, and fear, and tenderneſs of ſpirit, and the Lord doth Cordially uſe the means againſt it.graciouſly …ear them in theſe Requeſts. But thus it is not with ungodly men whoſe hearts are hardened, they practice wickedneſs, and they ſell themſelves to work wickedneſs in the ſight of the Lord, 1 King. 21. 25. And give themſelves over unto laſciviouſneſs to work all uncleanneſs with greedineſſe, Epheſ. 4. 19. And trample under feet the light of the Word, and the actings of Conſcience, and whatſoever ſtands in their way to reſtrain them from ſinning, and are ſo far from improving any means for the removing of the hardneſs of their hearts, that they deride and ſcorn at them, and reject and abhor them. When did you ever ſee any ungodly hardened ſinner judging himſelf for his hard heart, and begging of the Lord to heal it! or willingly applying himſelf to a … heart-breaking Miniſtery! &c.
SECT. II.
Ʋſe 1. DOth the Lord promiſe that he will take away the ſtony heart from his people! and doth he really do ſo in his time! Hence it will follow;
Firſt, Then they are none of the people of God, whoſe stony heart doth They are none of the people of God whoſe hard heart is not removed.ſtill abide in them, and compleatly raign in them; and then in what a wofull condition are many people (… fear) amongſt our ſelves! e. g. All thoſe who are unſenſible of their ſinful eſtate! all thoſe who incorrigibly go on in their ſinful wayes! all thoſe who were never wrought on by the Word of Chriſt! all thoſe who oppoſe, and reject, and ſlight the Word in the threatnings and precepts thereof! all thoſe who do continue impenitent and unbelieving, notwithſtanding all the offers and invitations of grace, &c.
Secondly, Then no marvel that the people of God are of another ſpirit, and The people of God are of another ſpirit than other men.of another temper than the common ſort of people are! that they dare not run into the ſame exceſſe of riot with others, nor live ſo as other men do live; that they are ſo much altered as to themſelves: Heretofore they were frequent in ſwearing, and now they fear an oath; heretofore they made nothing of great tranſgreſſions, and now a ſmall ſin (even a little neglect, careleſneſs, remiſneſs) doth exceedingly diſquiet and deject their hearts; heretofore they could neglect the Word as well as others, and ſcoff at it, and refuſe to be ordered by it; but now they ſtand in awe of the Word, they are preſently bound up by it, and wholly moulded, and faſhioned, and ruled by it. The reaſon of all this is, becauſe God doth take away the hardneſſe of our hearts, &c.
Thirdly, Then it is no ſign of an evil eſtate to be troubled for our own ſins, or for the ſins of others: David did water his couch for his own ſins, Pſal. 6. 6. It is no ſign of an evil ſtate to be troubled for our ſins.And rivers of tears did fall from his eyes for the ſins of other men, Pſal: 119. 136. When your former ſins are your grief, and your preſent ſins are your burden, and future ſins are your fear, and other mens ſins are your ſorrow, this is a clear evidence that the ſtony heart is taken away; and therefore you ſtand in relation to God as his people. To ſin and not to be troubled for ſin, is a ſign of an hard heart, and of an evil condition; but to fear ſin, and to be grieved for ſinning, this is a ſigne of a changed and broken heart.They are not to be blamed who oppoſe Hereſies and blaſp…emies.
Fourthly, Then it is very unjuſt to accuſe and diſcountenance any of the people of God (as ill affected) for this reaſon only, Becauſe they do oppoſe the Hereſ…es, and blaſphemies of theſe times; and becauſe they doe ſo earneſtly contend for the Goſpel and Ordinances of Chriſt by Prayers, and tears, and ſpeaking, and writing, &c. Why, are you angry with them that God hath taken away from them the heart of ſtone? muſt we be ſenſible of Gods diſhonour, or muſt we not! And if if Chriſt wept at the hardneſs of heart in Jeruſalem becauſe ſhe would not receive the Goſpel, is there not much more reaſon to weep and pray becauſe of the hardneſs, nay of the deſperateneſs of any man who endeavours to pull down and extirpate the Goſpel! I ſay the Goſpel in which all the love and goodneſs of God is revealed, and in which all the glory of Chriſt is intereſted, and in which all the ſalvation of poor ſinners ſouls is ſo neceſſarily concerned.
Ʋſe 2. Will the Lord take away the heart of ſtone from his people? what Bleſſe God for this.cauſe then have thoſe people to bleſs the Lord, who do find this cure wrought in their hearts! O it is an unſpeakable mercy and favour! whether you reſpect the evil from which you are delivered, or elſe the good which falls in upon the removal of hardneſs of heart.
Firſt, If that you do conſider the evill from which you are delivered, by being In reſpect of the evil from which you are delivered.delivered from an hard h…art. One ſaith it is the greateſt ſin in the world; another ſaith it is the greateſt judgement in the world: Certainly it is one of the ſtrongeſt holds of ſin, and it was the hardneſs of heart which kept up all the power of your ſins, and all the ſinful pract…ſes; it was the foundation of your long impenitency; you had long ere this repented, had not your hearts been hardned. If the Lord had not in wonderful mercy by his exceeding power of grace taken away the hardneſs of your hearts, your ſouls would never have been brought in to Chriſt, but you would have gon on in your ſins, and dyed in your ſins, and been damned for your ſins: And yet again, that after the long re…ſtance of Gods grace, offers of mercy, callings of the Goſpel, ſtrivings and reſiſtings of his Spirit, the Lord ſhall paſs by all this, and mercifully cure thy fooliſh, proud, ſtout, ſelf-deſtroying▪ ſoul; O what mercy was this, and what grace was this?And the good which falls in with it.
Secondly, If you do likewiſe conſider the good which falls in upon the removal of hardneſs of heart, certainly you have great cauſe to bleſſe God, &c. e. g.
1. An immediate receptivity or capacity to have the Law or will of God written and engraven on your hearts, Simile. as when the wax is ſoftned, it is thereby made capable of any impreſſion.
2. A ſpring of repentance is ſet up in the heart to bewail all our ſins and tranſgreſſions; and fear to tranſgreſs any more.
3. An obediential principle appears in making of us ready and willing to comply with the precepts of God; liberty and ability, &c.
4. The great work of Faith to receive the Lord Jeſus into our hearts.
5. Affectionate communions with God, and a ſpecial delight in his preſence, and Ordinances, and Services.
6. A liberty, and confidences in our acceſſes unto the throne of grace.
7. In one word, a newneſſe of heart, and a newneſs of relation unto God as our God and Father. All theſe flow in upon the ſoul when God takes away the hardneſs of the heart; and in time all the good of the Covenant; and therefore unqueſtionably you have great obligations lying on your hearts to bleſſe God if he doth take away the hardneſs of your hearts.
Object. I, will ſome ſay, no queſtion it is a great bleſſing to be delivered from an hard heart! but we feare it is not ſo with us; for we finde ſometimes, ſuch
1. A ſtrange indiſpoſition to what is good.
2. A marvellous unſenſibleneſs, and cannot mourn for our ſins.
3. No delight in communion with God, cannot pray.
Sol. For your help in theſe caſes, know
Firſt, Melancholy is one thing, and hardneſs of heart is another thing: Melancholy breeds an indiſpoſition to all works Religious and Civil; unfit to Pray, and unfit to Trade: But hardneſs of heart is rather an oppoſition than an indiſpoſition: Melancholy indiſpoſeth for a time, for a fit; but when that is off, the ſoul is free again.
Secondly, Indiſpoſition from temptation is one thing, and from affection is another: Temptations may deject the heart, and diſtract it; but theſe are grievous and burdenſome to the ſoul.
Thirdly, Indiſpoſition is abſolute; no heart at all; or comparative, not ſo full, free, quick, and lively as at ſometimes.
Fourthly, Conſtant, And tranſient, approved, reſiſted, and bewailed.
And to that of unmournfulneſs;
Firſt, There is direct grief, and there is reflexive grief; a mourning becauſe we cannot mourn.
Secondly, There is dolor voluntatis, which is diſpleaſing; and dolor paſſionis, which is vexing; this not alwayes, nor always alike.
Thirdly, Though you finde not your hearts ſo mournful, yet you have hearts to beſeech the Lord to give a Spirit of mourning, Zach. 12. 10.
We cannot pray!
Firſt, What, not at all, never, no deſires!
Secondly, Not at ſometimes, with that freedom, fulneſs, chearfulneſs, uninterruptedneſs.
Thirdly, Yet you will pray, you will look up.
Fourthly, Three things may comfort and quiet you, though you cannot pray with that earneſtneſs, and enlargedneſs; yet if you can can pray, 1. With a believing heart. 2ly With an humble heart in the ſenſe of it. 3ly With a ſincere heart and deſire, God will accept you.
SECT. III.
Ʋſe 3. DOth the Lord himſelf undertake to take away the heart of stone from They who partake of this mercy, ſhould beware of hardning themſelves again.his people? O then let all ſuch who are the people of God (whoſe hearts God hath cured of this Spiritual diſeaſe of hardneſſe) let them in a ſpecial manner beware that they ſuffer not their hearts to harden themſelves again.
Perhaps this may be a word in ſeaſon to ſome of us this day, who have loſt our former tenderneſs of heart, and do now find a ſtrong obduration upon our ſpirits, and we know not therefore what to think of our ſelves and conditions.
With your favour I will ſpeak three things unto this Caſe.
1. The real Symptomes of an heart harding in a godly man.
2. The ſadneſs of that condition.
3. Directions in this caſe for recovery.
I. The real Symptomes of an heart hardning in a godly man.
Symptomes of it. Liſtleſtneſs to the Ordinances.Firſt, A liſtleſtneſſe of heart to the Ordinances; the man hath not that flying ſpirit unto them Simile. (flies not as Doves to the windows) nor that hungring ſpirit after them as heretofore; he longs not for a Sabbath, nor doth his ſoul complain for his appointed food. It is with him as with a man on whom a diſeaſe is ſeaſing; his ſtomack begins to fail him, and he mindes not his meat as he was wont to do: So it is with a good man on whom hardneſs of heart is ſeaſing; the Ordinances are not ſo precious and dear to him as heretofore, he falls in the high eſtimation of them, and in the wonted affectionateneſs of them, and the man can miſs many a Sermon quietly, and neglect any Ordinance: Ah friend, remember from whence thou art falling; conſider whither thou art going: Hardneſs is growing, when careleſneſs is riſing, &c.
Secondly, A flatneſs of ſpirit under the Ordinances: The time was that the Flatneſs of ſpirit under Ordinances.mans heart was to the Word, as wax to the ſeal; every part of the world would have wrought, and imprinted ſomething on his heart; a threatning would have ſtartled him; a Precept would have guided him; a promiſe would have revived him; there was ordinarily a vigour and warmth falling from the Ordinances upon his heart. But now his heart is chill, and cold, and formal, and dead under the means of life; he is little or nothing ſtirred or moved: He comes and hears the ſound of the Word, but he ſeldome meets with the power of the Word; there is not that mourning, nor joy, nor fear, nor truſting as formerly: Divine Precepts do not quicken his heart; Divine Promiſes do not eſtablſh his heart; Divine Exhortations do not encourage and enlarge his heart; Divine Tryals and diſcourſes do not make him to ſearch his heart; Divine Rewards do not affect and open his heart as heretofore they have done.
Thirdly, A careleſneſſe of mind after the Ordinances: Heretofore when the man had heard the Word, home he would go, and retire himſelf, and conſider, Careieſneſſe of mind after Ordinances.and confeſs, and pray, and bleſs the Lord; Lord! in ſuch a Point thou dideſt diſcover my ſin and failing, O pardon and heal me! in another thou didſt clear my doubts, be pleaſed ſtill to ſettle and quiet my ſoul; in another Point thou didſt ſhew me more of my work, O now grant unto thy ſervant more of thy ſtrength; in another Point thou didſt raiſe my faith, and comfort my ſoul; my ſoul did therefore love and bleſs thee. You would not imagine what pains the man took with a Sermon; after a Sermon what wreſtlings with God; what tears and cries to take out the leſſons of God, to be caſt into the mould of every Divine Truth.
O but now it is not ſo with him, he hath quickly done with the Word, after he hath read or heard the Word; the Word doth not dwell with him, nor go home with him; he is ſeldom in after Meditations, in after Applications, in after Supplications: The Word of God comes and goes; is heard and laid aſide; perhaps the man ſpeaks a little of it, but mindes it not as a Meſſage or Errand from God to him.
Fourthly, A remiſneſſe concerning private duties; when theſe begin either to Remiſneſs in private duties.be omitted, or ſeldomly to be performed; rather out of courſe than Conſcience, without that intentiveneſs of minde, and without the labour of the heart and affections which God requires, and which the Chriſtian formerly found and expreſſed. v. g. The Chriſtians confeſſions, were wont to be with ſingular ſenſe of ſin, compunction, and brokenneſs of heart▪ judgings, mournings, ſhames, and condemnings of himſelf; his Prayers were wont to be ſtrong cries, importunate wreſtlings, vehement ſtrivings and pleadings in the name of Chriſt; humble urgings and preſſings of the promiſes of God, unſatisfiable thirſts after mercies, graces, comforts. O but now they are not ſo, or are very ſeldom ſo: This poor Chriſtian is ſcarce ſenſible of the ſins which he doth now confeſs; and ſcarce apprehenſive of any Spiritual good which he ſeems to crave; he doth not inſiſt on theſe with his ancient affections, and ancient expectations; he ſeemes to be ſatisfied with what he doth, and not with what he deſireth: Ah friend! when the edge and fervor of the ſpirit is gone, when fervency daily degenerates into formality, ſurely tenderneſs is falling into hardneſs of heart.Watchleſneſs over the ſpirit
Fifthly, A watchleſneſſe over the ſpirit or ſoul; it is not minded, obſerved, lookt unto in its motions, affections, tranſactions as formerly; but the guard is drawn off; there is leſs fear, and more ſecurity; leſs diligent care and more looſe preſumption. The man was wont to keep his heart with all diligence, narrowly obſerving the paſſages and workings of his Spirit, the inclinations of his heart, temptations of Satan, behaviours of every day, alone and in company; and accordingly did apply himſelf with variety of petitions to God, and humbled himſelf for what was amiſs, and renewed his ſtrength in the Lord for the time to come: O but now it is not thus; the precious ſoul is neglected, the City is not watched, the thoughts, and affections, and actions are not obſerved, the poor man is aſleep, and drowſie, and his ſpirituall frame is impaired, and he conſiders it not.
2ly The ſadneſſe of this condition.The ſadneſs of this condition. It is an evill diſtemper.
Firſt, It is a very evil and naughty distemper; an hard heart ſoftning, that is good; but the ſoft hardning again, that's very evil. Was it good to tremble at the Word? what is it now not to be moved by the Word! was it good to think of ſin, and mourn? what is it now to hear of thy ſins, and not to be troubled at all! was it good to act duties with affections and life? what is it now to neglect the duties, or to act them with a heavy and careleſs Spirit!
There are four things which ſhew this hardning to be very evil.
1. The marvellous ingratitude in it, that the Lord ſhould ſhew ſo much mercy to heal the diſeaſe, and yet you relapſe into it again.
2. There is an expreſs ſelf-condemnation; why! you were exceedingly troubled at the hardneſs of your hearts, and prayed againſt it, and ſought the prayers of others, and now to harden your hearts again!
3. There is preſumption in it, you do tempt the Lord by it; Do you mean to continue in this caſe? then you are undone; do you mean to come out of it? why do you then tempt the Lord by falling into it, and preſuming on his grace to recover you?
4. If you look not ſpeedily to your ſelves, where think you will this hardning end! perhaps in ſome great deſertion, perhaps in ſome great tranſgreſſion! perhaps in ſome exceeding great and long trouble of conſcience.
Secondly, It is a very uncomfortable condition: How is thy Sun eclipſed! It is a very uncomfortable condition.and thy Spring cut off! what is become of that ſpirit of Prayer? what is become of that excellent aſſurance of which thou haſt ſo much ſpoken? where is that ſweetly excuſing teſtimony of Conſcience! what is become of that joy in the Holy Ghoſt? and that peace with which thou waſt wont to work? Ah! thou haſt ſuffered thy heart to harden again, and God looks not on thee as he was wont, and Conſcience ſpeaks not as it was wont, and the Spirit of God manifeſts not himſelf as he was wont, and Ordinances ſmile not on thee as they were wont, nor doth Providence ſhine upon thy Tabernacle as it was wont: But inſtead of theſe, thou meeteſt with many a ſharp affliction, with many piercing reproofs, with many a ſad item, and reckoning, and ſcourges, which no man knows and feels (in the ſting and bitterneſs of it) but thou thy ſelf.
Thirdly, It is a very formal and empty eſtate; how may it grieve thee to ſee It is an empty ſtate.a fruitleſs Vintage of thy ſoul? Tell me what returns haſt thou had all this while that this hardning diſtemper hath been upon thee! thou heareſt careleſly and negligently; what haſt thou been the better for all the Sermons which thou haſt heard! thou prayeſt coldly and formally; and what good hath returned upon thy ſoul after them! thou haſt had no trading all this while at heaven! how dull muſt grace be which is not uſed! and how decaying muſt thy Spiritual ſtrength be, which all this while recovers no more ſtrength?
Fourthly, It is a very dangerour poſture; though it be not abſolute Apoſtacy, It is a dangerous poſture.yet it looks toward it. Though I will not ſay that it is the turning of the grace of God into wantonneſſe, yet it bends towards it: Though it be not falling from grace, and though it be not a forſaking of God; yet unqueſtionably it is a g…ieving of God, and a provoking of him, and for which he may very far leave a perſon.
3ly. Directions in this caſe for recovery.Directions for recovery. Finde out the cauſe.
Firſt, By all means find out the cauſe or cauſes of the hardning; obſerve well
1. What conſcience tells thee in thy bed at night, or in the day of fear and affliction, or in a day of Solemn Humiliation, or in the meditation of thy ſhort appearances before God.
2. What the Word of God hints and points at in thee, at what it levels and ſtrikes; there is an arrow (ſome time or other) ſhot which falls into thy very heart; a meſſage that is ſecretly delivered in way of conviction and reproof, which ſaith, Thou art the man, and this is thy way and thy doings.
3. What thy faithful and watchful friends ſay unto thee; what their ſuſpicions and fears are, and unto what their friendly counſels do tend. A thouſand to one but ſome of theſe things (which I ſhall mention) have brought on thee this new hardneſs upon thy heart.
1. Either ſpiritual pride, this hath made thee to neglect thy watch, and to neglect the Ordinances.
2. Or a worldly ſurfet; thou haſt been taking in too much of the world, and worldly buſineſs, and this hath robbed thee of thy precious time, to converſe at heaven, to meditate, to examine, to read, to hear, to pray, to confer with thy Fellow-Chriſtians.
3. Or the deceitfulneſs of ſin: Thou haſt ventured on leſſer ſins, and they have enſnared thee, and drawn thee to greater ſins, and theſe have brought upon thee the hardneſs of thy heart again, &c.
Secondly, When you have found out the ſpiritual cauſes by which your hearts Judge your ſelves and repent.have been hardned, then judge your ſelves and repent; remember from whence thou art fallen, and repent, ſaid Chriſt unto Epheſus, Rev. 2. 5. Nay, do not ſtay to look when this hardning will fall off from thee; but haſten, but compel thy ſelf to retiredneſs, and to a penitential conſideration of thy hardning with the cauſes of it, and the great evils in it, and fall down before the Lord in humble confeſſions of thy great back-ſlidings, and poure out prayer upon prayer: O wreſtle with the Father of mercies for his Chriſts ſake to pity, and pardon, and heal, and once more to cure and recover thee: Follow on to ſeek the Lord, though he doth ſecretly upbraid thee, though for a while he delays thee; though to thy apprehenſion thy heart is more hardned, yet pray, and yet pray that God would heal thy back-ſlidings: Praiſe the Lord in the Name of Chriſt, preſenting his Covenant unto him, wherein he promiſeth to take away the heart of ſtone. And this contains in it not only the natural or original hardneſs of heart, but alſo the accidental contracted hardneſs by his people; the Covenant of taking away the heart of ſtone extends to both of them: O Lord, cure this hardning as well as the former hardneſs: I have hardned the heart which thou haſt ſoftned, O do thou ſoften the heart which I have hardned; revive thy work, and quicken my almoſt dead heart, reſtore my ſoul, and recover my ancient eſtimations, affections, tenderneſs, love, fear, care, zeal, &c.
Thirdly, If the Lord (at length) begins to make thy heart to relent by Bleſs God for any ſoftning.his Word or by his Rod, or by his Spirit, O bleſs his Name; He is come, he is come, ſaid the Martyr; ſo, &c. get thee into a corner, help on the ſpring, pump the water when the water comes, enlarge thy confeſſion, abound now in ſupplications.
Fourthly, Be earneſt with God to pardon thee, and to give thee aſſurance of the pardoning Be earneſt for pardon and aſſurance.of this hardning, and be importunate with him for it; I tell thee ſuch a gracious aſſurance will preſently ſoften and melt thy ſoul, aſſuredly raiſe and reſtore thy ſoul to thoſe careful and tender communions with God, and watchful walking with him.
Fifthly, When you are recovered, then bleſs God and keep up tenderneſs Keep up tenderneſs of heart.of heart, and beware of ſuffering hardneſſe to grow upon your hearts again.
Queſt. What is to be done for this?
Sol. I anſwer.
Firſt, Never truſt hardning cauſes any more; as Eliphas ſpake, in Joh. 15. Never truſt hardning cauſes.31. Let not him that is deceived truſt in vanity, for vanity ſhall be his recompence. After your great humblings, and prayings, and wreſtlings, and prevailings with God, do not now go and tamper with ſinne and ſinful occaſions again; and do not go and over-world your ſelves again; and do not go and renew familiarity with wicked company again; and do not neglect the Ordinances any more, &c. If you do, you will harden your hearts more than ever.
Secondly, If at any time you do eſpy any hardneſs creeping and riſing Reſiſt hardneſs returning.upon your ſpirits, O make a preſent reſiſtance, and wreſtle againſt it, even unto preſent victory: When you pray, if you finde coldneſs and formality in your ſpirit, O ſtirre up Prayer, ſtirre up the heart, and ſtirre up the grace…; Simile. blow the ſpark, break the ice when it begins to harden, &c.
Thirdly, Be often in the ſearch of your hearts; and keep a daily and Search your hearts often.ſtrict watch over them and your ways: Bleſſed is the man that feareth always, Prov. 28. 14.
Fourthly, Conſtantly and ſeriouſly attend the Ordinances, which do beget, Attend the Ordinances.and preſerve, and encreaſe ſoftneſs and tenderneſs of heart.
Ezek. 36. 26.
And I will give you an heart of fleſh.
I Have finiſhed two Propoſitions already from theſe words, viz.
1. That there is a natural hardneſs in every mans heart.
2. That God will take away that ſtonyneſſe, or hardneſſe of heart from his people.
I ſhall now proceed unto the third and laſt Propoſition from the Text, which is this.