Exposition of Ezekiel 6-13, Commentary on Ezechiel · Chapter 11 · Verse 19 · Textual commentary 1
One heart.
The Septuagint is foreign, another heart: They miſtaking the H…brew foreign for foreign take the word foreign for foreign and ſo f…ll into that errour, which is not great; for one heart was another heart then that they had: The Hebrew is foreign one heart.
Heart: By it here we may underſtand,
1. The judgement or underſta…d ng; ſo its taken, Epheſ. 4.18. heart, and underſtanding are the ſame there.
2. For the will and aff…ctions; ſo Prov. 23.26. Matth. 22.37.
3. For the conſcience; ſo its taken, 1 John 3.20.
One. Is taken in the word, 1. For likeneſſe, 1 Sam. 6.4. One Plague was on them all. That is, a like plague.
2. For ſameneſſe, 2 Cor. 11.2. I have eſpouſed you, Rev. 21.21. Every Gate was of one pearle: that is, of the ſame pearle.to one huſband Heb, 10.14. By one Offring, he hath perfected for ever them that are Sanctified. One is put for the ſame in both places.
3. For that is united and makes one, Gen. 11.6. Behold the People is one. They were united t…gether as one man, in the Building of Babel. We may underſtand all here, that God would unite them together as one man, give them likeneſſe, and ſameneſſe of heart.
Some thinke, by one heart is meant, the mutuall conſent to haſten to Jeruſalem to build the Temple. As they were one people of one language and Spirit in building Babel: ſo theſe ſhould be one People, of one minde, and language, in rebuilding Jeruſalem. But if it ſhould, be confind to this ſenſe, it were no ſpirituall mercy, and here God is promiſing ſpirituall mercies. Th…s ſenſe may be included, but there is ſomething beyond it: We will enquire what heart was antecedently in this People, which will give us light, for the better underſtanding of this oneneſſe of heart.
1. They had a backſliding, apoſtatiz…ng heart in them, 1 K 18.37. Elijah prayes that their hearts may be turned back againe. Jer. 5.23. This People hath a revolting and Rebellious heart, Ezek. 2.3. They are cald A rebellious Nation, and Ezek. 6.9 God ſaith he was Broken with their whoriſh heart, which departed from him: They went out from God to Idols, and to falſe wayes of worſhip: They walked after the imaginations of their hearts, after other Gods, to ſerrve and worſhip them. Jer 13.10.
2. They had a ſlippery unfaithfull heart, Pſal. 78.8. Their ſpirit was not ſtedfaſt with God, they were off, and on, no certainty in them, but full of changes. Hence they are ſayd to gad much about, to change their way. Jer. 2.36. and in Iſa. 24.5. To change the Ordinances, and in, Ezek. 5.6. To change Gods judgements into wickedneſſe, more then the Nations.
3. They had a deceitfull, hypocriticall heart. Iſa. 44.20. A deceived heart hath turned him aſide; and Chapter, 10.6. God calls them an hypocriticall Nation, they pretended love and obedience to God, but Jer. 3.10. Judah ſerv'd God fainedly, in falſehood is the Hebrew: their hearts were deceitfull, falſe:
4. They had, a divided, froward, bitter heart Hoſ. 10.2. Their heart is divided. God had a peice of it, and the World a peice, Ezek 33.31. and their Idols a peice, Ezek. 14.3. And it was contentious and froward, Iſa. 57.17. He went on frowardly, in the way of his heart. They had divided hearts, divided tongues, and divided wayes: Manaſſeh was againſt Ephraim, Ephraim againſt Manaſſeh, and both againſt Judah.
Now this one heart here mentioned, is oppoſite to all theſe.
1. God would give them one heart, and that is, an heart ſhould be for himſelf, and not for Idols; an heart ſhould not withdraw or turne back to any falſe wayes, but cleave to himſelfe onelyonly: After they came out of Babylon, they never could indure Idols more, God had ſeparated their hearts from them, and therefore upon their returne, God promiſed they ſhould take away all deteſtable things, verſ. 18.
2. An heart faithfull and ſtedfaſt, that ſhould hold faſt the things of God, and not be given to change. Hence Jer 32.39. God ſaith, I will give them one heart, and one way, that they, may feare me for ever: Their heart ſhall beſetled, fixed in my way and never looke out and wander after other wayes.
3. An honeſt ſyncere heart, free from hypocricy, guile, and lying, Zech. 8.3. Jeruſalem ſhall be called a City of truth. The inſide and outſide ſhould be the ſame; intentions, words, and actions, ſhould be correſpondent.
4. An united, loving, peacable heart, as they ſhall have one God, be firme to his way, and ſyncere in that way: ſo they ſhall have ſweet communion together; ſtrife, bitterneſſe,Iſa. 11.9. They ſhall not hurt nor deſtroy in all my holy mountaine. diviſion, ſhall not be found amongſt them, Iſa. 60.18. Violence ſhall no more be heard in the Land. There ſhould be much unitie, much love, and mutuall agreement betweene them, they ſh…uld have but one heart.
Ʋnum eſt ens indiviſum in ſe: Ʋnius quidditas, Scaliger, Exercit. 65. Num. 2. Suarez in Metaph.eſt eſſendi indiviſibilitas, O…hers ſay, that is one which is, Indiviſum a ſe, And diviſum ab omni alio. Such an heart they ſhould have, an heart undivided in it ſelfe, and divided from all things heterogeneall, and of a dividing nature; as God he is one ſimply, abſolutely, individed in himſelfe, and moſtly divided from every thing differing from himſelfe. Gal. 3.20. God is one, and one is oppos'd to many; ſo that they ſhal have one heart not many hearts.
This oneneſſe of heart may be conſidered.
1. As reſpecting themſelves: and ſo fi…ſt, as it includes the judgment and affections, they ſhall not diſſent and croſſe one the other, but when truth is in the underſtanding, the affections ſhall cloſe with it; oft time there is much truth in the heads of men, but no love to truth in their hearts, 2 Theſ. 2.10. They received not the love of the truth; the truth was revealed, made love to their ſoules, appeared very lovely and beautifully, but they had no love to it, John 3.19. Light is come into the World, and men loved darkneſſe rather then light: their affections cloſed with their own luſts and errors: but it ſhould be otherwiſe here, they ſhould have a heart towards truth, not divided from truth.
2. As it comprehends the will and conſcience, they ſhall not be one againſt another; ſometimes conſcience dictates and tels men they muſt doe or not doe ſuch things; and their wills carry them a wrong way, Rom. 1.32. their hearts told them that they did ſuch things as are there mentioned, were worthy of death, yet their wills carryed them to doe thoſe things, and to delight in them: So in the 18 Verſ. they held the truth in unrighteouſneſſe, their conſciences told them it was truth, and to be obeyed, but their wills were againſt obeying that truth; ſo that here was not one heart in them. Here the promiſe is Will and Conſcience ſhall be one.
3. As it looks at the intention and practice; many men have one heart within, and another without, faire pretences, but foule intentions; their actions and hearts layd together, would confute one another: Herod pretends to worſhip Chriſt, but intends to murther him; but theſe ſhould have one heart within and without, the ſame they ſhould be inwardly and outwardly, as Nathanael, no guile was in his ſpirit, in his lipps, in his actions, but the ſame heart was in all. Col. 3.23. Whatſoever yee doe, doe it heartily.
2. As reſpecting God: They ſhould look at God, as the onelyonly and adequate object of their heart, they ſhould be content with him alone; they ſhould not aske counſell, confide in, fetch comfort from, or worſhip any other, he onelyonly had made Covenant with that people,Cor integrum in veritate ſolide adunatum Deo… & toti corpori Eccleſiae. and they ſhould owne him onelyonly for their God. Moſes told them long before, that the Lord their God was one Lord, Deut. 6.4. And Samuel told them they muſt ſerve him onelyonly, 1 Sam. 7.3. And this could not be, unleſſe their heart was one: David who was an one-hearted man, ſayd, Pſal. 62.5. My ſoule wait thou onelyonly upon the Lord.
2. One heart in regard of his worſhip, that ſhould be pure, immixt, and one, Zach. 14.9. In that day ſhall there be one Lord, and his name one: by Name, Interpreters underſtand Worſhip, and that ſhall be one, and anſwerable ſhall be their hearts, Jer. 32.39.
3. In reſpect of others: Firſt the judgement ſhall be one, they ſhall agree together in fundamentals, and ſubſtantiall points of faith, though there be differences in circumſtantials, inferences, conſequences, and points of inferiour alloy, Phil. 4.2. they ſhould foreign, think the ſame things, be of the ſame mind.
2. Their affections towards one another, Acts 4.32. The multitude of them beleeved, were of one heart and of one ſoule: By theſe words, One heart and one ſoule, Beza underſtands, Summa tum in doctrina tum in voluntatibus conſenſio; and he …ells us, that in an old Copy he had, there were theſe words more added, foreign, there was no d…ff…rence, or controverſie amongſt them, they were united in judgement and affections, they had common faith, and common aff…ctions; they beleeved the Goſpell, and loved Chriſts truth, and one another dearly.
3. In their converſe and practice together, they ſhould be one hearted, Acts 2.46. they continued dayly wi…h one accord in the Temple, and breaking bread from houſe to houſe,In rebus omnibus agendis. Ferus. did eate their meat with gladneſſe, and ſingleneſſe of heart, foreign, Budaeus interprets of men, ſine livore, their hearts were without envy, or other evills; they were ſingle. In this ſenſe chiefly, I conceive this one heartedneſſe is to be taken, the union and harmony of their judgements, affections, and practiſes in ſpirituall things.
Queſt. When was this performed?
Anſ. Some thinke at their returne from Babylon, they were one-hearted, and united in their judgments, affections, and practiſes, and ſome phraſes in Scripture import it. Ezra. 1.5. Then roſe up the cheife of the Fathers of Judah and Benjamin, and the Prieſts, and the Levites, with all them whoſe ſpirit God had rayſed to goe up, to build the Houſe of the LORD, in Jeruſalem. They had the ſame minde and affection to that good worke, to build the Houſe of the Lord, and Chap. 2.2 They came every one to his City. Chap 3.11. All the people ſhouted with a great ſhout when they prayſed the Lord, becauſe the Foundation of the Houſe of the Lord was layd. And Ch. 6.16. The children of Iſrael, the Preiſts and the Levites and the reſt of the children of the Captivity kept the Dedication of the Houſe of God with joy: Theſe and ſuch like paſſage…, give occaſion to thinke that there was a fullfilling of this truth at that time: Others conclude it made good in the Apoſtles dayes, when the Beleivers were ſo united as you read of Acts. 2.42.44.46. Chap. 4.32. The Beleivers, yea the multitude of them, were of one heart and one Soule: Some are of judgement that its not yet accompliſhed, becauſe there were great diviſions, and contentions, among the Churches, in the Apoſtles times,The Stick of Joſeph, and the Stick of Judah are not yet united, they were never yet ſince the diviſion, made one Kingdom, Verſ. 17, 18, 19, 21. and therefore refer it to the calling of the Jewes, when the two propheticall Myſticall ſticks mentioned, Ezek. 37.19.21.22.23. are united and made one Nation, and have David their King, ruling over them; then ſhall there be this one heartedneſſe amongſt them. If we ſhould put it upon the times wherein thoſe great and glorious things ſpoken of, Iſa. 60. ſhall be given into the Church, we ſhall not much miſtake: there God ſaith, I will make thine Officers peace, and thine exactors righteouſneſſe, violence ſhall no more be heard in thy Land, the Lord ſhall be unto them an everlaſting light, and thy God, thy glory; thy people alſo ſhall be all righteous: Which time I ſuppoſe may fall in with the New Jeruſalem, Deut. 21. in which ſhould be no leanneſſe, death, ſorrow, crying, or paine; all things in it ſhould be new, having the glory of God, Verſ. 4, 5.
Queſt. 2. Whether this union, this one heartedneſſe, be attaineable in this life? Some judge it impoſſible, that there ſhould be one heartedneſſe in judgement, affections, and practice, becauſe of the difference of conſtitutions, naturall abilities, corruptions, and temptations of men, and unequall diſpenſations of grace; and therefore referre it to our condition after this life?
Anſ. We muſt diſtinguiſh this one heartednes, its either incompleat, and inchoative, which is to be had in this life, or compleat and conſummative, which is a piece of our happineſſe in Heaven; the Angels and Saints above injoy the ſame perfectly; we who are here beneath, have it onelyonly in part. Though there be differences in the leſſer things of Religion, yet we agree in the weighty things thereof, and are one hearted in them, and were there no poſſibility of being ſo, and being more and more ſo, the Lord would not here have promiſed it, nor the Apoſtle exhorted to it, 1 Pet. 3.8. Be you all of one minde, foreign, idem ſentientes & conſentientes: foreign, are they qui, foreign, which thinke the ſame things, yea, foreign, comprehends as Gerard obſerves upon the place, Conſenſionem in fidei veritate & vitae ſanctitate: Paul, 1 Cor. 1.10. prayes, foreign, and to be perfectly joyned together in the ſame mind, and in the ſame judgement, let there be no deficiency, no redundancy, but a ſweet coherency, as in the members of the body: So Phil. 2.2. Be yee like minded, having the ſame love, being of one accord, of one mind: He would not onelyonly have them, foreign, but foreign, not onelyonly foreign, but foreign, in ſundry other places the Apoſtle exhorts unto it, 2 Cor. 13.11. Rom. 12.16. Chap, 15.5. And the Text ſaith Acts 4.32. That the Beleevers were of one heart and one ſoule; they were ſo united, that the Heathens were affected with their union, and ſaid ordinarily of the Chriſtians,Tertul. in Apol. Vide ut ſe diligant, ut alter pro altero mori ſunt parati: There were many bodies, not many ſoules, nor many hearts amongſt them.
There have been great differences and contentions amongſt the Worthies of God, Paul with Peter, and Barnabas; Baſil, with Euſebius; Chryſoſtome, with Epiphanius; and Jerome with Ruffinus: But their differences have been rather in judgement, then affection;Incolumi amicitia. and differences there may be without breach of friendſhip: Paul differed in judgement from the Jewes, and other men, yet he became all things, to all, he was wonderfull loving to all; or if the difference came to their wills, and affections; yet it provoked to love, rather then abated love, foreign, pro ſalute animarum, Heb. 10, 24. Neither did they differ in the great things of Religion; and had they, yet there might have been harmony in their affections and practice. The Thomiſts and Scotiſts, the Dominicans, and Jeſuites, have their controverſies, and differences; ſo the Churches of Spaine, and Italie, have a great Controverſie with thoſe of France, about the infallible judgement in matters of Faith: The Italians and Spaniards affirme the Pope is that judge; the French deny it, and look upon him as lyable to errour, with other men; and ſubject to Schiſme, Hereſie, and Depoſure, by a generall Councell, and yet they hold together, in brotherly love and communion.
Obſer. 1 Mens hearts of themſelves are divided, multiplyed, not one: phyſically, men have but one heart, morally, they have many, according to the mumber of their luſts in the number of their hearts; men have proud hearts, froward hearts, uncleane hearts, covetous hearts, malicious hearts, bloody hearts, &c. Pliny ſaith,L. 11.37. the Partridges of Paphlagonia have d…uble hearts; and men have double, and treble hearts, Pſal. 12.2. With a double heart doe they ſpeake: Hebrew it, with an heart and an heart, they had diverſity of hearts: When the heart is ſeparated from God, it falls upon the Creatures, and multiplies according to the objects it affects; ſo that no man in his naturall condition, taken in a morall conſideration, can have one heart, but many hearts, his heart is divided, and as he hath no agreement with God, ſo no…e with man, or himſelfe.
2. Oneneſſe of heart is a great bleſſing, its the fruit of the Covenant of grace, its the firſt bleſſing here mentioned, its joyned with other great bleſſings: I will ſhew you the good of it in ſome particulars.
1. One heartedneſſe in Chriſtians rej…yceth the ſpirit of Chriſt, which is a ſpirit of love, peace, union, and is grieved with what is oppoſite to them, therefore Epheſ. 4.30, 31. ſaith the Apoſtle, Grieve not the ſpirit of God: And how ſhould that be p…evented? Let all bitterneſſe and wrath, and anger, clamour, and evill ſpeaking, be put away from you, with all malice: Where theſe be, there are diviſions, and the ſpirit is grieved; where theſe are not, there is one heartedneſſe, and that rejoyceth the ſpirit: Spiritus res delicata, where tender hearts are, little breaches offend them, Iſa. 63.18. They rebelled, and vexed his holy ſpirit.
2. It greatly ſweetens and contents the heart of man, when the will, affections, judgement, and conſcience, are friendly and united the right way,When anothers heart …s as his owne, Jonathan David, had one ſoule. its heaven in the ſoule, Rom. 14.17. The Kingdome of Heaven is righteouſnes, peace, and joy: And Luke 17.21. The Kingdome of God is within you: When the heart is divided, then appear ſtormes and troubles in the ſoule. When Chriſtians are at variance, divided and not united in their judgements, affections, and practice, they have not that heavenly ſweetneſſe in them which otherwiſe they would have, James 3, 16. Where envy and ſtrife is, there is confuſion, foreign, unquietneſſe, unheavenlineſſe.
3. It makes the Communion one w…th another delightfull, acceptable, Pſal. 133.1. Behold how good and how pleaſant it is for Brethren to dwell together in unity: Where there is union of hearts, there is ſweet communion; when the union is ſtrongeſt, the communion is ſweeteſt, as in the ſacred Trinity: Acts 4.32. The Beleevers were of one heart, and of one ſoule: And Chap. 2.42. They continued ſtedfaſtly in the Apoſtles Doctrine, and fellowſhip, and breaking of bread, and prayers. Communion of thoſe are one hearted, is a Box of precious and ſweet oyntment without Flyes.
4. It prevents all the evill comes by diviſions, and contentions, which are great and many; I will name ſome few.
1. Much time is loſt, where contentions are, in janglings, brawlings and bitter expreſſions; we have wofull experience of it, in theſe dayes, both in mens preaching, printing, reading, converſing, and diſputings. Time is pretious, and the Apoſtle bids us redeeme the time, Epheſ. 5.16. Where one heartedneſſe is, there is prevention of this great loſſe, Acts 2.46.47. The Chriſtians there Continued dayly with one accord in the Temple prayſing God.
2. Where diviſions are, there is ſeeking the diſgrace, damage, if not the ruine of one another; there is plotting and practiſing to root out each other. Scribes, Phariſes, high Preiſts, did not onelyonly diſgrace Chriſt, and damage him ſeverall wayes, but were reſtleſſe till they had his blood. Gal. 5.15. Where ſtrife is there is biteing, and devouring one another. But one-heartedneſſe prevents all theſe things, it never diſgraceth, damnifieth or deſtroyeth any, 1 Cor. 13. Its full of love, and is kind, not envying, it doth not unſeemly, it thinketh no evill, but beareth all things.
3. They weaken much, and hinder the doeing of much good; therefore its the pollicie of Satan and his inſtruments, to make diviſions in Kingdomes, Armies, Councells, Citties, families, that ſo the good intended may not be accompliſhed. When hearts and heads are divided, hands are weakned, and the good can never be done in a contentious way, which may be done in a peaceable and loving way. When men are divided, their counſells, their motions, are oft deſtructive one to another. When a great River is divided into many Channels, her waters cannot carry ſuch great veſſels as before, nor be ſo ſerviceable. Where union is, there is ſtrength; this made Antiſthenes ſay, Fratrum inter ſe concordiam quovis mur… firmius eſſe munimentum. Ageſilaus being asked why Lacedemon had no walls, anſwered, pointing at the Ctizens who were unanimous and one hearted, Hi ſunt Spartae maenia, intimating, that the agreement of Citizens is the greateſt ſtrength to a City. AndIn Apoptheg. regum. Vulg. Prov. 18.19. Reads it thus, Frater qui ad juvatur a fraire quaſi civitas firma. Plut: tells of old Scylurus who had 80 Sonnes, and he on his death bed gave them a bundle of Arrowes, and bad them break them &c. If you agree you will be invincible, and doe great things: if not, you will be weake and doe nothing; Therefore Solomon Ecleſ. 4.9. ſaith, Two are better then one, there is more ſtrength; and twentie are better then two, when they agree: Gen 11.6. The People is one, and nothing will be reſtrained from them, which they have imagined to doe; being united, they were ſo ſtrong to carry on that great worke of building Babel, that none could hinder them, but God himſelfe.
4. Diviſions greive the weake, and harden the wicked, as you may obſerve, Rom. 14. But where one-heartedneſſe is, there is no greiving of the one, nor hardening of the other, that were a ſtrange ſpirit, which ſhould be offended at union, peace, and love of brethren. Pſal. 133.2. The unity of Brethren, is like pretious Ointment, which is pleaſing to the weake, and ſoftening to the hard heart, hence, Prov. 25.15. A ſoft tongue breaketh the bones.
5. One heartedneſſe, invites others unto that way where it is found, Its a pleaſant and comely thing, to ſee Brethren dwell in unity. Men are affected with it, there is much beauty and mirth, in the harmony of hearts. The ſweet peace and union was amongſt the Chriſtians in the primitive times, allured many to them; love unites and drawes ſtrongly. An Indian paſſing by the houſe of a Chriſtian, where they were brawling and contending, ſaid Habbomach dwells there, that was Satan, and wou…d not turne in: but where love, union, and peace is, there God dwells, 1 John 4.16. God is love, and dwells where love is. And that ſociety which hath God in it hath the ſtrongeſt argument to draw others to it, Zach. 8.23. Tenne ſhall take hold of the skirt of a Jew ſaying, we will goe with you, for we have heard that God is with you.
6. It improves grace, and makes Chriſtians thrive much, whereas jarrs, diviſions, vaine diſputes, and wranglings, prejudice the luſtre and growth of grace, if not the life; its obſerved by ſome, that the power of godlineſſe is greatly abated in many places,They give heed rather to queſtions, then godly difying, 1 Tim. 1.4. and among many Chriſtians in theſe divided times we live in; theſe waters of Marah have imbittered their ſpirits, and quenched the graces of the ſpirit; ſo that the wholeſome words of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and the Doctrine which is according to godlineſſe, are not ſo minded as formerly. In Winter the Trees put not forth, neither doe the fruits of the Earth grow in ſtormy weather: In times of Warre things are greatly defaced, but when Winter's gone, Sunne ſhines, then do all things flouriſh, and in dayes of peace things proſper. Where one heartedneſſe is, this unity we ſpeake of, there doth grace thrive among Chriſtians. Where envyings, grudges, jealouſies, ſtrifes, oppoſitions, and ryſing, of ſpirits are among Chriſtians, they are as Northerne and Eaſterne winds to the Corne and fruits, they cauſe them to dwindle away, or to prove little and lanke: 1 Cor. 8.1. If love edifieth, and builds up Chriſtians, diviſions pull down: when men are divided they ſeldome ſpeak the truth in love, and then it doth little good;Acts 9.31. when its ſpoken in love, then Chriſtians grow, and grow up into Chriſt, in all things, Epheſ. 4.15.
7. It furthers their Prayers; when men are all of one heart, there is much ſweetneſſe and ſtrength in their prayers, Acts 4.24. They lift up their voice to God with one accord: all their hearts were as one heart, and Verſ. 31. When they had prayed, the place was ſhaken, and they were all filled with the holy ſpirit: Here was a ſweet and efficacious prayer, all their hearts were in the prayer, and all were fill'd with the holy ſpirit, Mat. 5.23, 24. If thou bring thy gift to the Altar, and there remembreſt that thy brother hath ought againſt thee: leave thy gift, goe, and fi…ſt be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. Whileſt diviſions are amongſt brethren, a prohibition lyes againſt our ſacrificing, but when there is peace and unity, then Heaven is open for acceptance of our prayers, 1 Cor. 7.5. Paul knew what an enemy Contention was to Divine duties; and therefore would not have marryed parties refraine the uſe of the marriage bed, without conſent of each other; if it were upon will and humour, it would not further, but hinder their prayers: So in 1 Pet. 3.7. Husbands muſt dwell as men of knowledge with their Wives, honour them, though the weaker Veſſels, look at them as coheires of the grace of life; and why? that their prayers be not hindred; if there be diſſentions, their prayers will ſuffer; but if there be love, oneneſſe of heart, their prayers will be more ſpirituall, fervent, and prevalent.
8. Its an honour to the Lord Chriſt, that Chriſtians doe agree; they are members of his body, and its a diſparagement to the head to have the members fall out, rend and teare one another; this makes Strangers ſpeak, and thinke evill of the way of Chriſt; hereby he is diſhonoured, but when there is one heart among his Diſciples, when they love one another, and are peaceable, its a glory to Chriſt, John 13.35. By this ſhall all men know that yee are my Diſciples, if yee love one another. Chriſt would be knowne in the World, and have his Diſciples knowne from all others; and How? By love. Chryſoſtome obſerves, he ſaith not by Miracles and Wonders, men ſhall know you to be my Diſciples; no, they are layd by, but by love: That is a glorious grace, it ſhewes forth Chriſt, and who are his; it is not greatneſſe of power, but greatneſſe of love, which declares who are the Diſciples of Chriſt, and which honour Chriſt, 1 John 3.10.
9. Sympathie with each other; if there be one heartedn…ſſe among men, what is the burden & comfort of the one, is the burden & comfort of the reſt, as in marriage, the ſorrows, are divided, and joys doubled which fal out to perſons in that condition, and the reaſon is, becauſe they are one fleſh, & have quaſi animā vnā; So where there is onenes of heart, there is a choyce ſimpathy, the blows, wounds, loſſes, greifes, infirmities of one, are the blows &c. of all the reſt, when Peter, and John, had been impriſoned, brought before the councell, threatned, they went to their one company and told them how they had been uſed, and they were affected with their ſufferings, and fell to prayer with them, Acts. 4.23, 24. How ſenſible were the rich Chriſtians of the poorers burdens, pittying and releiving them, verſ. 32. And when Peter was in Priſon, the Church ſympathized, Acts 12: But where this is wanting, I meane ſameneſſe or likeneſſe of ſpi…it, there will be a rejoycing at their ſufferings, wrongs, and mournings or envying at their good: they are divided from others, too oft glorie in the infirmities of others, and if Gods hand be upon them or theirs, they ſay, its a juſt judgement of God upon them for their judgments, opinions, and ſo add affliction, to the afflicted.
10. What evidence of being in the covenant of grace, if their be not union of the heart within it ſelfe, union of it to God, and others? what ſatisfaction can a man have of his being in Covenant with God. Here this one heartedneſſe is prefixt as the firſt thing we ſhould look at; and ſo in Jerem. 32.39. I will give them one heart and one way. Men that want this one heartedneſſe, cannot but ſuſpect themſelves, be jealous of their condi…ion; if it be not in ſome meaſure in us, inchoatively and te…ding to increaſe, we are not the Lords, 1 John 3.18, 19.
11. Makes willing to doe one for another; how forward was Jonathan to ſpeak and do, &c. Am…ntibus facile fit omne difficile; and the ground of it is, Cor eſt ubi amat non ubi animat.