Gods Call from Heaven Echoed, Part 1 · Chapter 5
CHAP. V. IV. What is done in this effectual calling, or what parts are wrought upon?
THe whole Man is altered, but principally theſe two Cardinal parts, or faculties, which are as King and Queen to the reſt.
1. The wit▪ Or 1. The Head.
2. The will. Or 2. The Heart.
1. The Head is changed: before it was an S. 1 Head of Braſſe, now an Head of Gold; before it was night, now it is day with it, now the bright morning Star appeareth in the Horizon Revel. 2. 28.of the Soul: The ruddy morning is come and the Sun putteth forth his head. Epheſ. 5. 8. Ye were ſometimes darkneſſe; but now are ye Light in the Lord. So dark is the Soul while in the Womb of nature, that it is darkneſſe it ſelf in the abſtract; a greater darkneſſe than that which God ſent as a ſore Judgement upon the Egyptians, for that was felt: but ſinful Souls Exod. 10. 21.feel not, nor perceive this darkneſſe. Epheſ. 4. 18. Their underſtanding is darkned, and there is ignorance and blindneſſe in them: but now God makes a Window in the Soul, and let's in enlightening beames, that it ſeeth into the myſteries Ʋtraque cognitio, Dei ſcilicet & tui tibi eſt neceſſaria ad ſalutem. Bern. Sup. Cantic.of Iniquity and Godlineſſe, whereof it had no knowledge before: Now it knows ſomething of it ſelf of a Saviour, which it underſtood not before; it is in a new world, in a Region of Light even to admiration: the Scales are fallen from it's eyes. Col. 3. 10. And have put on the new Man, which is renewed in knowledge: In renovation there is illumination; now is the Soul a Spiritual Scholler, whereas before it was a very ignoramus in the Spiritual underſtanding of the things of God, though it might have parts and common knowledge enough.
2. The Will and Heart is changed; the former S. 2 is not ſufficient unleſſe ſeconded by this: The Lord goeth down from the upper ſtory of the Head into the Heart, the Center of the whole man; and refineth, and purgeth that: it was full of Traſh and Vanity, like a Childs Pocket; but the Lord emptieth it of that, and maketh it like a Cabinet full of precious and coſtly Jewels; before it was full of Weeds and Nettles; but the Lord taketh away them, and ſoweth the Seeds of grace, and planteth the Roots of true goodneſſe there: And this Doctor Ames calleth the paſſive reception of Chriſt. Med. 1. lib. 26. cap. 21. theſ.Epheſ. 2. 5. Even when we were dead in Sins hath he quickened us together with Chriſt. The Will and Heart of man is a Rebellious Catiline, but now it is made a loving Friend, and an obedient Subject: now it is endued with principles of true Godlineſſe, and hath the image of God impreſſed upon it in the conformity thereof to his mind: It is now a Paradiſe full of Trees of the Lords own Planting: The Will now ſtands right for God, and looketh Heavenward.
Now it hath that new Heart which God promiſeth to give. Ezek. 36. 26. A new Heart alſo will I give you, and a new Spirit will I put within you, and will take away the ſtony Heart out of your Fleſh, &c. O precious Heart, worth more than the Treaſures of both the Indies: the compariſon falls too ſhort; the Lord takes and gives, but doth not give and take: For this Heart ſhall never be loſt: this new Heart is a ſtock of ſaving and Sanctifying grace; the Fountain, Spring, Source, Habits, from whence come, and flow the Acts, and ſtreames of grace, and Piety: now doth God lay the principle, bottom, and Foundation of the after ſuperſtructure of Pious Actings: now doth the Lord bring the Heart to his own bent, and cauſe it to move towards himſelf, as the Center thereof; the Lord hath made the Heart a Treaſure, or Ware-houſe, from whence good things Mat. 12. 35.are brought forth.