The Power of Godliness, Book 1 · Chapter 5
CHAP. V. The fourth Property of a godly life, viz. Integrity or Perfection; What is thereby signified. Thirteen Reasons to perswade thereunto. The effects or tokens of Integrity, with the meanes how it is to be attained, and preserved.
Q. VVHat is the fourth Property of a godly life?
foreign translated foreign 1 Reg. 8.6 15. & 11.4. & 1.3.14. 2 King. 20.3. 1 Chro. 28.9. 2 Chro. 18.17. foreign Isa. 38.3.11. Deut. 18.13. Gen. 17.1. Psal. 15.2. & 37.37. & 119.1. foreign 1 Reg. 8.61. Cant. 5.2. Jos. 24.14. Cant. 4.2. Sept. foreign Psal. 15.2. & 8.24.31.33. & 19.14.A. It must be intire or perfect. Let your heart be perfect with the Lord your God, to walke in his Statutes, and to keep his Commandments. Deut. 32.4. Est integritas respectu partium integralium, & respectu functionum & facultatum.
Q. Is any Christians life absolutely perfect?
Psal. 18.30. Mat. 5.48. Psal. 19.7. Eph. 4.13. Heb. 12.23. Heb. 5.11. & 6.1. Phil. 3 15. 1 Cor. 14.20. foreign vocantur Christiani quod omnium vera vertutum semina sint ipsis a spiritu infita; quamvis n… dum ad o leverunt Beza in, Ma…. Gen. 6.9. Job. 1.1. 2 King. 20.3. foreign 1 King. 15.14 foreign 2 Chro. …5.17. foreign 1 Chro. 29.9. & 16.9. & 19.9. & 25.20. Eccl. 7.22. Jam 3.2. 1 Joh. 1.8. foreign Prov. 11.20. Job. 9.20, 21, 22. & 8.20.25.18.1.3. & 2.21.22. Psal. 18.23.A. The word perfect signifies 1. That which is without spot, blemish or defect; and thus God and his Law are said to be perfect. 2. They are said to be perfect, who have profited more in the knowledge of Christ crucified, and the race of Piety, then others: And this is a comparative perfection, in respect of those Babes and young Christians, that are newly entered into the Schoole of Christ. 3. He is perfect in the phrase of Scripture, whose heart is intire and whole with God, though they be stained with some imperfections. Thus Noah, Joh, Hezekiah, Asa are perfect. But this is not meant of perfection in measure or degrees, as being without all sinne, but when men by the grace of God, keep themselves in the undefiled way, and sinne hath not dominion over them. Psal. 19.13. Then shall I be perfect, that is, without blot. The perfect man is opposed to the perverse, froward, and restlesse wicked, and to him that turneth hither and thither. Prov. 28.6. If I say I am perfect, mine own mouth shall prove me perverse. Psal. 18.23. I was also perfect before him, and I kept my self from mine iniquity. Jacob is said to be a perfect man, or innocent, plaine, simple, unfained, Gen. 25.27. without rebuke. foreign
Sin that hath been conveyed unto us, hath an integrity it. Psal. 19.89. Josh. 24.14. Deut. 18.…3. foreign 1 King. 8.61. 2 King. 20.3. foreign 2 Chro. 15.14. Psal. 119.30, 3. C ro. 12.33. 2 Cor. 13… 11. with 38. an intire is opposed to a double heart. oppouitur…lli quod mancum & mutila…um est sicnt de victimis ita usure patur…. Iam. 1.4. Jer. 3.10. 1 King. 2.4. Psal. 9.1. 2 King. 23.3.25. Deut. 26.16. & 10.12. & 30.1. 1 Sam. 12.24. Ioel 2 12. Ier. 29.13. Psal. 119.69. Psal. 26 1. & 7.8. Psal. 101.6. Psal. 119 1. Iob. 4.6. Ma…. 5.48. Partialis, ma…ca & mutila erat pharisaeorum dilectio, ergo Cogn…o…. Chem. har. 151. & 1 Tim. 3.2. Apoc. 14.5. Phil 1.4. 2 Cor. 16.11. Levit. in Job. c. 1. hom. 2. p. 2. 2 King. 10.31. 1 King. 15.3. foreign 2 Chro. 25.2. & 26.4. & 27.2. 1 King. 14.3 &. 15.3. 1 King. 11.4. 2 Sam. 15, 11. 1 Reg. 22, 34.Q What things are implied in this integrity or perfection?
A. 1. Integrity implies a throughout holinesse, an heart wholly and inseparably cleaving unto the Law of God in all things. 1 Thes. 5.23. When all the Powers of the soul are sanctified to every holy duty, and have a spirituall continuity amongst themselves, that they all incline and move to all duties of piety and justice, then is the heart perfect. The body is intire when all parts are so knit together, that each is preserved: the soul is intire, when all the parts of piety and righteousnesse are riveted together in it, and in the whole. Thus to serve God in integrity of heart, and with the whole heart is one and the same for substance. Secondly, It noteth intirenesse of conversation according to the Law of God, in every place, state and condition of life. Blessed are the perfect in the way, that is, who live intirely in this life, and in conversation are unblemished. And they that walke thus in their integrity, are said to be holy, harmelesse, unblameable, without fault, unblemished, perfect, well set in joynt. But on the contrary, the wicked double-minded, such as in rest externall work of Piety, or depart from the Commandement of God, are said not to cleave unto the Lord with perfect hearts, or all their hearts. As it is not of Abijan, that his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God; and of Amaziah, Ʋzziah, Jotham, they did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, but not with perfect hearts: yet, of Solomon, that when he was old, his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not perfect with the Lord, as was the heart of David his Father. 3. It notes ingenuity, singlenesse, or simplicity.
Q. What Reasons may perswade to integrity or perfection?Gen. 17.1. Animalia nascuntur foreign Att. 1. de hist. Ani. cap. 8. A woman may love many as friends, but one as an Husband. If God he wholly ours, we must be wholly his. And if we joyne ought with God, or take in ought with him, we do not, we cannot cleave to him alone when there are objects upon which the heart is set, divided. The intire shall dwell in the Lords Sanctuary. Psal. 15.1. Conjuga… amor natura sua ejusmodiest ut non nisi unius esse possit We cannot serve God, unlesse we serve him intirely. He cannot be our Master, if we have any other Master, Rom. 6.…0. Mat. 6.24. Rev. ….2.
A. It is required of us in the Covenant of grace; Walke before me, and be perfect. The most Holy God will never marry himselfe to a spirituall Adulteresse, that doth affect any other more or besides him. Men of divided hearts can have no fellowship or communion with God. 2. Integrity is the qualification of a subject capable of remission of sins and eternall blessednesse through grace. Blessed is the man whose iniquity is forgiven, and whose sin is covered: Blessed is the man to whom the Lord imputeth no sinne; and in whose spirit there is no guile. 3. God will passe by the imperfections which he espieth in the best service of his Children, when once he seeth their hearts to be intire and perfect towards him. Hypocrisie drowneth many excellent graces, and causeth God to take no notice of them: But sincerity is so well pleasing to his Majesty, that if it be not shaken, he will not see many other infirmities. This is the challenge against the Church of Sardis; I have not found thy works perfect before God. David had many imperfections, and through infirmity did often sin against the Law: but he is not accused to break the whole Law in any thing, save in the matter of Ʋriah. The Holy Ghost hath noted sundry defect in Asa: but addeth this of him by way of conclusion, yet his heart was perfect towards the Lord all his daies. Contrarily in Jehu, after a large description of many excellent things, it is observed; But Jehu regarded not to walke in the Law of the Lord with all his heart: And so his service in destroying Ahabs house, was reckoned murther. Hezekiah is bold to pray in behalfe of them that came unprepared to the Passover: 2 Chro. 30.15.19. The good Lord be mercifull to him that prepareth his whole heart to seek the Lord God, though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the Sanctuary. An Husband will beare with many aberrations in the behaviour of his Wife so long as he is perswaded of the intirenesse of her heart towards him: so dealeth the Lord with them that feare before him with all their hearts. 4. The perfect shall not be confounded: Let my heart be intire in thy Statutes, that I be not ashamed. For God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he take the wicked by the hand. He may seeme to neglect, he doth forget them that follow after holinesse; he is thought to favour, he doth abhorre the workers of wickednesse and sinne. 5. The eyes of the Lord runne to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himselfe strong in the behalfe of them, whose heart a perfect towards him. Howsoever they may be weake in themselves, in him they shall be victorious; his power shall be perfited in their weakenesse. For as it is in the Psalme, With the perfect, thou wilt shew thy selfe perfect: thou wilt not faile him in his need. This is the nature of God, that he frameth himselfe to the dispositions of men, good to the good, hard to the stubborne, intire to the perfect that waite upon him. The Lord knoweth the daies of the perfect, and their inheritance shall be forever: God heares them tha… pray with their whole heart. Jer. 29.1…, 13. Is found of them that seek him which their whole heart. 1 King. 15.5. Psal. 119.2. 1 King. 15.14. 2 King. 10.31. Hos. 1.4. 2 Chro. 30.15.19. A Christian can never be perfect in degree, if he be not perfect in parts or intire. What is defective in the parts, cannot be made up by any growth. Eph. 4.13. Job, 8.20. foreign Psal. 37.18, 19. 2 Chro. 16.9. Psal. 18.25. foreign Psal. 37.18 Prov. 28.18. He that walketh in his integrity is safe. Prov. 13.6. & 1….5, 6. Psal. 25.21. Let integrity and uprightness preserve me. He that walketh in his integrity walketh surely. Prov. 10.9, 29. Prov. 11.20. Psal 147.11. Psal. 5.12. Prov. 16.7. Deut. 33.11. Isa. 62.4. Prov. 28.6 & 19.1. See Ju…. & Trem. in Prov. 2.6. Cartw. ibid. Psal. 84.11.that is, he seeth to what evils they lie open, what helpe they need, and ordereth all events to their speciall good. 6. Righteousnesse keepeth him that is intire in the way, but wickedness overthroweth the sinner. Integrity and righteousness is a guard, that doth continually keep watch and ward: It doth not onelyonly leade men to a good way, and tell them what is their duty, and fit to be performed, but maketh the way passable for them, and them prosperous in it. 7. They that are of a froward heart, are abhomination to the Lord: but such as are intire in their way, are his delight. All that are resolute and wilfull in any sinfull course, though with never so great mirth and laughter, are abhorred of the Lord for the present, which he will make known by his judgements upon them in due time: but they that are intire in their heart and way, (as the other are froward in heart and behaviour) are greatly beloved of God now, and shall more fully see, and feele, and enjoy the comfort and happinesse of his favour, in time to come. 8. Integrity joyned with poverty, is to be preferred before riches separated from it. Better is the poore that walketh in his integrity, then he that is perverse in his waies, turning aside now on this side, now on that, though he be rich. 9. The Lord God will withold no good thing from them that walke in integrity: for he is both their Sunne and Shield, he will give grace and glory. As the Sunne doth illustrate, cherish and quicken all things with its heate and light: so doth the Lord visit the upright, and refresh them by his Spirit: yea, and as with a Shield, protect them from all evill. 10. Integrity addes to the glory of our good actions, even such as are but of the lower sort. There is not the meanest duty whatsoever, which integrity will not set a faire glosse upon, that in some respects it shall be matchable even to workes farre greater in their own nature. A poor labouring man that lives by his hands, having performed holy obedience to God therein with an intire heart, may have as much comfort on his death-bed, as the best Minister or Magistrate, whose service it selfe is farre more honourable; yea, if his integrity be greater, his comfort also shall be greater. For God regards not so much the matter, as the forme of obedience, not so much the thing done, as the affection wherewith we do it. Wise men regard more the minde of the giver, then the value of the gift. When we give our hearts wholly and intirely first to God, then is our service how small soever, very acceptable to his Majesty. It is not the greatnesse or multitude of those good workes which we have done, but the good disposition of an honest and intire heart in the doing of them, that doth bring comfort, as the internall qualification of that faith which makes a sound plea for mercy before the Throne of Grace. The Psalmist pronounceth them blessed, that walke in the undefiled way. He makes no choice of the way, he doth not say, Blessed are they that are upright in the way of the Ministery or the Magistracy, but speaking indifferently of any way allowable by the Word, be it never so simple or meane, he saith, Blessed are the undefiled in the way, whatsoever it be, be it to be the scourer of Channels, or drudge in a Kitchin. An halting heart dasheth the acceptance of the most glorious worke: an intire heart addeth weight to the basest service The Widowes Mite was little in worth, had not her good heart raised its price. In value it came farre short of the superfluities that the rich men cast into the Treasure: but her heart was better, and so her gift greater then theirs. When Hezekiah had received the sentence of death, what was his comfort? even this, the conscience of his integrity. O Lord, remember how I have walked before thee in truth, and with a perfect heart. This was his refuge. Though those good works he had done were in regard of his Calling of the highest note, the restoring of the true worship of God, the purging of the defiled Temple and Priest-hood: yet he doth not comfort himselfe in those so worthy works, but in the perfection of his heart; knowing well, that the worke it self, though never so glorious, is of no esteeme, if the heart be rotten, perverse, or halting. 11. An heart well compact and knit fast together in the Lord (as is the intire) is valiant and couragious in all dangers, trials, temptations.Prov. 10 29. It is not put out of countenance with slanderous tongues, nor shaken with feare of troubles. He that walketh in integrity, walketh boldly.Prov. 10.9. Though mine adversary should write a Book against me, would I not take it upon my shoulder, and binde it as a Crown unto me, saith Job? The hypocrite in peace and security may seeme strong and valourous; but let God by some afliction dragge him out as it were by the eares from his lurking hole, and convent him before his Tribunall, and thou shalt not see any thing more abject and heartlesse. Then is that of the Prophet verified, Esa. 33.14, 15. The sinners of Sion are afraid, a feare is come among the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? Who among us shall dwell with the everlasting burning? But the intire heart, even in this case, holds out confident and couragious. And no marvell: for every man that walketh in his integrity hath the priviledge of a treble guard, the guard of Gods protection, of the good Angels, and of a good Conscience, for his defence against all adversary power.Prov. 28.18. Psal. 7.8. Who so walketh intirely shall he saved; but he that is perverse in his waies, (that is, one thing in heart and thought, another in conversation, or that fashioneth himselfe to all occasions) shall fall at once, suddenly and before they be aware. Marke the perfect man, and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace, Psal. 37.37. For the Lord shall help and deliver him; he shall deliver him from the wicked, and save him because he trusteth in him, Psal 37.40. The Lord will defend the perfect, and he hath given his Angels charge over them, to beare them in their hands,Psal. 91.11 and keep them in their waies: in which respect they may say with the Prophet, How many soever rise up against us, they be more and stronger that be with us, then they that rise up against us. Moreover they are blessed of God with a good conscience, which is as a strong Castle, against which no batteries of the Enemy can prevaile; as a valiant Champion, who will not be daunted with any proud on-set of the adversary, which he knoweth to be weake and of no strength. As there is nothing more base, or sooner abashed then a corrupt conscience, destitute of integrity: so nothing more bold and hardy then a good and perfect conscience. David in the middest of all his reproaches had the face to professe the name Of God, before Kings and Princes,Psal. 119 23. whithout ever being blanked at their presence. And shall a man so guarded, regard the enmity of any: feare the threatenings of any, though never so mighty? be dismayed at any hard condition that he is fallen into for the present? No, he will not be afraid for any evill tidings, for his heart is fixed and trusteth in the Lord. 12. An intire heart is a Channell or Barke in which the graces of the spirit are contained, and faith doth swimme above all stormes and tempests. But a minde void of integrity, is full of slifters or chinckes, that if the most holy liquor of Piety be offered, it is powred in and out together, and at once. If the worke of grace be imperfect in parts, let it grow up never so fast, it can never be perfect or intire. If the Plant be imperfect, it will never be a perfect Tree. An heart unsanctified or that makes a major part against it selfe, cannot truly serve God. This is the nature of integrity, that by it the soul is intire in it selfe, and hath a spirituall continuity, which may be shadowed forth by the similitude of things corporall: and therefore so long as integrity is preserved, the heart is apt to continue and keepe safe the graces of the spirit; if it be cracked grace would be lost, should not God make up the breaches of it. A soul destitute of Piety is starke dead; an heart without integrity is next to death or destruction, as a Ship full of holes, or a body unloosed or dissolved. 13. The upright shall remaine in the land for ever, and leave their inheritance unto their Children. Prov. 2.21. Who so causeth the righteous to go astray in an evill way,Prov. 28.10. Prov. 20.…. he shall fall himselfe into his own pit: but the upright shall have good things in possession, and their Children after them are blessed.
Q. What are the effects or tokens of integrity?
A. 1. A setled, well-advised and deliberate desire, resolution, will and endeavour to be informed what is good and acceptable in the sight of God,Act. 11.23. and to direct his waies at all times, and in all places according to the rule of righteousnesse. The just man walketh in his integrity, Prov. 20.7. It is the commendation of David, that he did that which was right in the fight of God, and turned not aside from any thing that he commanded him all the daies of his life, 1 King 15.5. An intire heart is not divided, halting, or double, making a major part against it selfe: but is fully resolved upon mature deliberation, which produceth constant practice,2 Chro. 6.14. Psal. 119.34. to cleave unto the Lord, and walke as in his presence. The fruites of which resolution are these. First, There is no sinne though never so deare, precious, or profitable, which a perfect Christian will not willingly see and judge in himselfe. I will declare mine iniquity, I will be sorry for my sinne, Psal. 38.18. Secondly, It workes a dislike of sinne in all, even in those that are most neare and deare unto us.1 King. 15.13, 14. Thirdly, With this is joyned a continuall care to preserve himselfe innocent from all sinne, specially his particular, and formerly beloved transgressions. I was perfect before him, and I kept my selfe from mine iniquity. 2 Sam. 22.24.Fourthly, In all conditions he will looke to himselfe, that he be not carried away, with unbridled passions. They that are intire, are said to have fulfilled after the Lord, that is fully or intirely to have followed him In regard of severall estates men are subject to be transported with divers affections;Num. 14 24. & 32.11, 12. Deut. 1.36. Josh. 14.8, 9, 14. Prov. 21.29. as with pride, pleasure, security in prosperity; impatience, discontent in adversity. Wherefore the intire Christian doth ever look to his heart, that it be not distempered with these things. I will walke (saith David) in the undefiled way, Oh when wilt thou come unto me! Fiftly, If the heart be intire with God, it will admit his Word for direction in all things. Thy Testimonies are my delight, and my Counsellours, Psal. 119.…2. That is, they governe my minde and heart, of them I take advice.Gen. 20.5, 6. Psal. 8 2…. 2 Sam. 22.23. Prov. 19 1. Amos 5 10. Jam. 1.27. Luk. 1.6. Psal. 119.1, 3. An intire …eart is prepared and ready to serve God. 2 Ch…o. 29.34. Job 2.9, 10. 2 Joh. 8.2. 2 Chro. 28.9. Herein Abimelech failed, when he tooke Sarah from her Husband. The Psalmist saith of himselfe, All his Judgements were before me: and I did not put away his Statutes from me Sixthly, The perfect man putteth away froward and perverse speeches. The poor that walketh in his inregrity, is opposed to him that is perverse in his lips, that speaketh froward things. Seventhly, His care is to keep himself unspotted of the world, doing that which is honest, pure, praise-worthy in the sight of God and man. This note the Prophet David giveth; for having said, Blessed are the undefiled in the way, he teacheth us to discerne them by this effect, Surely they do no iniquity. Eighthly, He will receive evill at the hands of God thankefully, as well as good, and blesse his Name when he crosseth his desires, and taketh from him what he delights in, as he doth when he granteth the desire of his heart in outward blessings. There is nothing so deare, but he will part with it for Christ, nor so hard, but he can be content to suffer for his sake Mar. 10.21. Mat. 19.21. Tenthly, He presseth hard towards the marke he aimes at, an higher degree of holinesse, 2 Cor. 7.1. Phil. 3.13, 14, 15. Lastly, He that walketh in his integrity will deale conscionably at home and abroad, in all duties of his generall and particular Vocation towards all men. I will walke in the middest of mine house, in the integrity of my heart. I will set no evill thing before mine eyes.
Q. By what meanes is this integrity to be attained and preserved?
A. Integrity is the gift of God, infused into the heart by the Holy Ghost, but we may not in this respect neglect the meanes which he hath ordained for the attainment and preservation of it. God, and none but he, did place David in the Hill Sion, and gave Gideon victory over the Midianites, as they both well knew and firmely believed: but their belief hereof did not emasculate their mindes, or …i… their hands from using such strength and valour as they had. 1. Care must be had to furnish the minde with affectionate knowledge of God in Christ Jesus. And thou Solomon my Sonne, know thou the God of thy Fathers, 1 Chro. 28.9.and serve him with a perfect heart. The knowledge of God begets in us a similitude of God: When we come to understand what he is to us, we are made to him what he requireth. As sound knowledge entreth, it stampeth the Image of God upon the heart: for it assimilates the minde to the object seene and discerned. 2. All holy meanes must be used to incorporate the word into the heart, that it may season every affection, and beare mild universall sovereignty over us. For when the heart is transformed throughout into the nature of the Word, and every power of soul is brought into subjection by an unfained, sovereigne, wel-rooted faith, it is intire in parts, though imperfect in degrees. Herein all diligence and paines must be taken, by preparation, hearing, meditation, and observation of all unexpected occasions of griefe, sorrow, feare, joy or such like, to bring the Word into the affections, that it may sweeten their disposition, and governe their motion. 3. In all endeavours we must include Prayer to God in the Name of Christ as a chiefe associate: for God ordinarily lets in sanctifying grace at the same gate, at which honest hearty Prayers go out. 4. The fourth meanes is for a man alwaies to possesse his heart with the apprehension of Gods presence, and so to keep it in his feare continually, to walke with God as being in his eye, and seeing him that is invisible. This remembrance of Gods all-seeing presence will make men study to approve themselves before God in all their courses, and to sticke unto him with their whole hearts. Could the eye of a jealous Husband prie into every privy corner of his Wives heart, she would be afraid to hide any strange lover in her secret affection. If but a man, nay, if but a Childe could looke into our hearts, we durst not deale doubly and deceitfully? What? God sees us, and shall we durst to dally with him? shall I give him part of my heart, and reserve another part for the world, for pleasure, for sinne? How should not God finde this out? for he searcheth the heart and reines, and understandeth the secret cogitations of every soul. 5. The fifth meanes is diligently to review all workes of obedience, and our affections in the doing of them; and to observe what discomfort and trouble followes the maimed and defective performance of good duties. And withall, when we take our selves, in an holy indignation to take revenge of our selves, judgeing and condemning our selves before God. The very thinking of the after-reckonings we must come to, when we have done our worke, will make us take heed how we do it: The remembrance of the losse and punishment that he shall sustaine, whose workes are not perfect before the Lord, will stirre up respect to every Commandement. For who is there that useth for all his actions, at the daies end to call himself to a severe examination, as the hard Master doth his Servants, that must not needs, in the very middest of his actions reason thus with himself? Anon all this which now I do, must very narrowly be looked over, if the reason why I do it, my affections in doing, and the work it selfe be maimed, halt, or suffer defect in the parts thereof, I shall smart for it; O the wrings and secret pinches which mine own guilty heart will give me; yea, the sentence which by my own Covenant, I am tied to passe upon my selfe, in case my heart be partiall to the Lord, and my work deformed? If my work be not perfect, shall I not loose all my labour, and be rejected with it? Lastly, it is good to meditate seriously upon the joyes of Heaven, and the rich recompence of reward that is reserved for them, that cleave unto God with their whole heart. If the happinesse of the Saints hereafter do rightly affect, and be soundly believed, a man will be contented to part with all that he hath to purchase that Treasure. Whatsoever he hath laid next his heart, he will abandon it with detestation, rather then deprive himselfe of that eternall Inheritance, which God hath prepared.
Q. How should a Christian stirre up himself to strive after perfection more and more?
A. First, He must shame himselfe for his halting, and make it odious. Ah, the division of my heart, the maimednesse of my service is so apparent, that I cannot conceale from my conscience. I have lodged sinne, vanity, pleasure, the world in the closet of my heart, which should have been kept intirely for the Lord. My purposes for good are weak, my resolutions variable; oft-times by occurences and occasions I have been drawn aside. In the performance of good duties I have served mine own corrupt affection, and doing what is right, not done it with a perfect heart. Mine affection to good hath been partiall, base, deformed: In greatest matters I have been remisse, precise in lesser; zealous in one, carelesse in another; ready to runne according to inclination, not looking to the direction of thy truth. I have been forward to hear, not so carefull to meditate and make thy Word mine own; eager and fiery against grosse prophannesse, not so vigilant to bridle rash anger, and bosterous passions. My love to thy Children is neither pure nor universall; I am apt to admire some, disesteeme others, according as they carry themselves towards me, and fit me in my humour. If he be a cursed deceiver, that having a Male in his Flock, doth offer that which is halt and lame to the Lord: how justly might I be confunded who have wickedly departed from my God, and set mine affections upon things of naught? Will an Husband accept of divided love in his Wife? Will a Prince regard that which is lame, blind, or sicke for a Present from his Subjects? O Lord, I have dealt exceeding foolishly in tendering such spotted service unto thy Highness. Secondly, He must resolve to keep himself more intirely to the Commandements of God for the time to come. I have wickedly departed from my God, but now I will returne, Psal. 119.69.67. 1 King 8.48.and keep his Commandements with my whole heart. What can I tender unto his Majesty lesse then my self? How can I for shame intreate his favour, unlesse I cleave unto him with a perfect heart? Can I be so impudent as to desire God to love me, and give me leave to love sinne which he abhorreth? Can I looke to be married unto him in mercy, truth, and compassion, if my heart do not affect him above all, and other things in and through him alone? The Lord is a great King; his service must be without spot or blemish. His eye searcheth the heart, and perfectly understandeth the secret motions afarre off; and he will give to every one according to his waies, and as he knoweth his heart. Men of place look to have their pleasure,1 K…ng. 8.39. done in all things by such as attend upon them: and shall I presume to call my selfe a servant of the living Lord, when I do his pleasure in part onelyonly. My obedience cannot be perfect in degree so long as I live here, but through the grace of God it shall be universall, and I will strive towards perfection.Psal. 119.68. Lord, I have covenanted to sticke unto thy Testimonies, and by thy grace I will keep them all the daies of my life. Thirdly, He must fly unto the Lord by hearty Prayer. Psal. 51.10. Create in me, O God, a cleane heart, renew a right constant spirit within me. Psal.. 8.58. Establish me with thy grace, that I never fall from mine integrity Psal. 119.8. I will keep thy Satutes, O forsake me not utterly.