Instructions about Heart-Work

Chapter 1

2. Every man hath others to keep besides himself. Not only

Magistrates, who are to keep their People; or Ministers, who are to keep their Flocks; or Parents, who are to keep their Children; but every man is to look to his Brethren. It was the Question of a wicked one, and it was

Chapter 2

3. In special, every man is his own Keeper; Deut. 4:9. Keep thine own

soul diligently. And so in the Text, Keep thy heart with all diligence. Reason 1. If thou wilt not keep thyself, all the World is not able to keep thee. Ministers will but preach to thee in vain, instruct thee in vain, w

Chapter 3

2. If thou wilt not keep thyself, the Devil will be thy keeper. He will

keep thee to thy wickedness, if thou wilt not keep thyself from it. This is every man's especial charge, to keep himself out of the hands of the Devil. The Devil will have thee, man, if thou look not to thyself; nay the

Chapter 4

3. If thou wilt not keep thyself, then thou wilt never keep those

others that are committed to thy keeping. What a Parent, what a Neighbor art thou like to be, who art careless of thyself? How are thy poor Children like to be looked too? How is thy Family like to be governed by thee, i

Chapter 5

2. Then every man must give an account of himself. Whoever hath a

trust committed to him must be brought to a reckoning, how he hath discharged his trust. Rom. 14:12. Every one of us must give an account of himself to God. God that now says, keep thine heart, look to thyself, will then

Chapter 6

1. The unruly evil must be ruled. The Tongue is an unruly evil, James

3:8. It is one of the hardest works that some Christians have to rule their Tongues: but yet it must be done. Object. It is said it cannot be done, the tongue can no man tame. What, doth Religion put us upon impossibilit

Chapter 7

2. That which cannot be ruled, must be put away. Put away your

froward mouth, put away perverse lips. Put away frowardness and perverseness from thee; frowardness cannot be ruled, perverseness cannot be kept in order. When we have done all we can, frowardness will be froward, perver

Chapter 8

1. What frowardness is. I need not say much to answer that; most

men know it too well in their own experiences of the froward ones they dwell, or have to deal withal. There are few men but know what frowardness is, unless it be those that are froward; the eye that sees others, yet can

Chapter 9

1. He is froward that is hard to be pleased, apt to be provoked, that is

ever finding fault, who is like Tinder, apt to catch on fire by every spark, and that fire is quickly kindled, but hardly quenched; no arguments, no patience, no forbearance will do; but there it burns and will not be qu

Chapter 10

2. The necessity of putting it away. 1. The Lord commands us to put

away froward mouths. What if thy Friend or thy Neighbor cannot pacify or silence thee, shall not God pacify thee neither? If thou wilt not hear Man pleading for peace and quiet, wilt thou not hear the Lord God neither? G

Chapter 11

3. The unbridleness of their tongues, is an evidence that their

Religion is in vain. When is Religion in vain? Why, when it cannot reach its end, when it cannot save the soul; and sure that Religion which cannot bridle the tongue cannot save the soul. Man, in what a case art thou? Th

Chapter 12

3. Frowardness hinders all that little Religion that such men have in

the exercise of it; it puts them besides Prayer, or Reading, or Meditation, or spending one serious thought upon Eternity, all Religion is thrust behind the doors when the froward fit is up. Friends, pray do not make lig

Chapter 13

2. By their Adjuncts or Qualities. The good way is general, the way of

Holiness; in particular, the way of Humility, Meekness, Temperance, Patience, &c. the way of Faith, and Love, and Prayer. The evil way is the way of Sin in general; and in particular, it is either the way of Lying, or th

Chapter 14

1. A consideration of the ways that we have hitherto gone on in. A

bethinking ourselves, a reviewing our course; this is that which the Psalmist did, Psal. 119:59. I thought on my ways that I had hitherto been walking in. I thought and repented of what I had done, I thought and turned.

Chapter 15

1. The matters that we have done, the particular actions of our lives.

Carnal men never observe, or mark what they do; they never review or reflect upon their actions. How many words do men speak, how many works are men engaged in, that they never observe, or mark, or bestow one thought upo

Chapter 16

2. The Quality of our ways, whether they are good or evil, whether

they are holy or sinful. Thy way hath been the way of Lying, the way of Covetousness, the way of Pride, a carnal, careless, fleshly way; think with thyself, Is this a good way, or an evil way, do these my ways please God

Chapter 17

3. The end of our ways, or whither they tend, and to what issue they

will come at last. Is this my way to God? Is this the way of the everlasting Kingdom? Is this the path of life? Have I been all this while in the straight and narrow way that leads to life, or have I not hitherto been tr

Chapter 18

2. Considering the ways that are before us, that we should for the

future go on in. God hath given sinners their choice whether to continue as they are in the same way, or to take up a new and a better way of life. Think what you have done and how you have lived, and -- 20 of 330 -- t

Chapter 19

1. There is a way of some men that is not so much as right in their

own eyes, who, as little as they do consider it, do see their way to be the way of death, and not of life; the way of the openly Profane, the way of the Drunkard, and Adulterer, the way of the Swearer, and Blasphemer. Pr

Chapter 20

1. The ways of moral unbelievers. These are they that are sober and

temperate, and harmless, and just in their dealings with men, and courteous and good natured, this is their way and this way seems right unto them, in this way they hope to come to heaven, though whatsoever they have of

Chapter 21

2. The way of hypocritical professors. Some hypocrites know

themselves hypocrites, and the way seems not right to them; others are hypocrites, and yet take themselves to be sincere and the deceit of their hearts may be so deep that there is need of deep consideration to discover

Chapter 22

2. Consider and be humbled, and be ashamed, that after all the time

you have had, and all the helps and means you have had, and all the tenders and offers the Lord hath made to supply all your lacks; be humbled and be ashamed, that yet there is so much lacking, and all this for want of a

Chapter 23

3. Consider, and make up what is lacking. Get those poor weak souls

to be strengthened; pray the Apostles Prayer, Eph. 3:16. That the Lord would grant unto you according to the riches of his glory to be strengthened with might in the inner man, and your hearts may be filled with all the

Chapter 24

1. What is meant by Heart. This is sometimes taken for the principal

part of the body of man, sometimes for the soul of man; so Jer. 17:9. The heart is deceitful and wicked: that is, the soul is deceitful. Sometimes for the will and affections of the soul, so, 1 Chron. 28:9, here it is ta

Chapter 25

1. There is somewhat that is supposed to the keeping of our souls,

and that is, the recovering them out of their lost state. The Devil hath the keeping of Sinners souls, whilst they are sinners, and the first work they are to do in order to the keeping their souls, is to get them back o

Chapter 26

1. The souls of all men naturally are lost souls. It may be said of every

sinner, as the father of the prodigal said of him, Luke. 15:32. This my son was lost, Fathers, you may say of every child you have, whilst they are in their natural state, this my son is lost, this my child is a lost chi

Chapter 27

2. Men's souls are not so lost here, but that they are recoverable. In a

little time, if they look not to it, they will be past recovery forever. Yet a little while and the Gospel will be a sealed Book to you, never again to be opened, yet a little while, and the door of mercy and grace will

Chapter 28

1. There's great hazard at present that thou mayest not be recovered.

Do not make light of the hazard that is, do not make sure, say not such a word, I doubt not but by the grace of God I shall have mercy, and be saved, Ther's great hazard that that soul of thine which is a lost soul this

Chapter 29

1. Your souls are yet every one of them, within the reach of the blood

of Christ. You are come to that blood of sprinkling, Heb. 12:24. -- 31 of 330 -- Which speaks better things then the blood of Abel. There is not one Sinner among you, but at present the blood of Christ speaks for you;

Chapter 30

2. There is hope from this, that sinners are yet under the ministry of

reconciliation: as the Apostle, 2 Cor. 5:19. To us is committed the word of reconciliation, So we may say to sinners, to you it is given to hear the word of reconciliation; it is for your sakes that this word of reconcil

Chapter 31

3. The great care that lies upon every sinner in the world, should be

that he get to be recovered out of his lost state, 2 Tim. 2:25:26. Instructing those that oppose themselves, if God peradventure will give them repentance that they may recover themselves, out of the snare of the devil,

Chapter 32

2. That lost sinners oppose themselves against their own recovery.

[Instructing those that oppose themselves] that is, that resist the word of grace, that Deafen their ears and harden their hearts against it. Acts 7:51. Ye have always resisted the holy ghost. The word of God comes, and

Chapter 33

3. The end of preaching the gospel to sinners, is to recover their lost

souls; Instructing them &c. that they may recover themselves out of the snares of the Devil. To open the blind eyes, to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, Acts. 26:18. We are sent as

Chapter 34

4. Sinners recovery begins in their repentance. If God give them

repentance that they may recover. They are only the penitent, that are recovered souls, As long as thou art an impenitent sinner thou, art a lost soul. Acts. 28:27. Lest they should be converted and be healed; a converte

Chapter 35

5. It is God that recovers lost souls. If peradventure God may give

them repentance that they may be recovered. It is the Devil that takes sinners captives, but it is God that rescues the prey from his teeth. It is the Devil that leads men to sin and holds them under sin, but it is God t

Chapter 36

1. In their coming to themselves, and recovering their senses and

understanding. The first step of the prodigal's recovery that we read of, Luke 15:17. Was this, that he came to himself, when he came to himself, he said &c. He was besides himself before. Sinners are besides themselves,

Chapter 37

2. The next step to this recovery is coming to God; the first is coming

to yourselves, and the use and exercise of your reason and understanding. And who among poor sinners shall these words preach into your right senses? You have been foolish, senseless souls, is there any of you that are y

Chapter 38

1. Men can pray for their recovery. Even carnal men may pray, and

though there be no full promise that God will hear, yet God hath both required them to pray, and hath appointed this as a means of their recovery. Acts. 8:22. The Apostle bids Simon Magus pray that the thoughts of his he

Chapter 39

2. Men can hear the Word. This is another means of mans recovery.

Is. 55:3. Incline your ear and come unto me, hear, and your soul shall live. And this means also they can use. The same feet that will carry them to an Alehouse, can as well carry them to Church; The same ear that can he

Chapter 40

3. Men can give heed to what they hear. They can mark and observe

what the Word speaks, Luke. 8:18. Take heed how ye hear; Give heed to what you hear, and do not sleep under the sound of the Word, or fit heedlessly or carelessly, without minding what the Lord speaks. And herein is the

Chapter 41

4. Men can think. What is easier than thoughts; we use to say good

words are cheap, but good thoughts are cheaper than good words: the exercising of men's thoughts is noted to be the first step to repentance. 1 Kings. 8:47. If they shall bethink themselves, and repent, and so, Ps. 119:5

Chapter 42

5. Men can stop, and make a stand in their evil ways, from going on

further in them, from making their condition worse than it is and their recovery more difficult. Canst thou not lay thine Hand upon thy mouth, when thou art about to lie, or to swear or to scoff, and bite in those evil w

Chapter 43

1. Those whose understandings are not recovered, their souls are not

recovered. Those whose understandings are still lost, their souls are lost. Those that are not come to themselves, are not come to Christ. Every ignorant soul is a lost soul. 2. Cor. 4:3,4. If our Gospel be hid it is hid

Chapter 44

2. These whose consciences are lost. Who though they may be

recovered to be men of understanding, yet are not recovered to be men of conscience. We trust we have a good conscience willing to live honestly in all things. Heb. 13:18. Thus it is with recovered souls, they are men of

Chapter 45

3. Those who make light of their disease and their misery. Men are

never recovered till they are first made sensible of their disease. Sin is thy disease, and thy death, and thou art never recovered from that -- 48 of 330 -- death, till thou art brought to a sense of thy disease. Wher

Chapter 46

4. Those that make light of Christ their recoverer. Christ that is sent

down as the Physician of souls, to seek and to save them that are lost, hath ordinarily the same entertainment as the King in the Parable -- 49 of 330 -- had amongst the Guests that he invited to his Feast, Mat. 22:5,

Chapter 47

1. There are some sinners that do make light of Christ. Jesus Christ is

worthy of all acceptation. What is Jesus Christ? He is the Son of God, full of grace and truth, Joh. 1. God equal with the Father, the brightness of his Fathers glory, the express image of his person, and upholdeth all t

Chapter 48

2. Those that make light of Christ are not recovered by him. This is so

evident from what hath been said, that I shall add no more concerning it but this, if Christ be the only recoverer of lost souls, then those that refuse him are not recovered. He is our Redeemer, and there is no other sa

Chapter 49

1. The man whose eyes are opened: that is, who hath recovered his

understanding, and the saving knowledge of God. The first step towards the conversion of a sinner, is the recovery of his sight, Acts 26:18. To open blind eyes &c. And it is not every little opening the eyes, and the get

Chapter 50

2. That whilst he looks on the things of God as foolishness, as such

contemptible and unworthy things, he doth not know them, nor can he know them whilst he continues to be such a foolish soul. Thou takest upon thee to censure those that fear God as fools, and to charge Religion, with fol

Chapter 51

1. An opening of the heart to the Lord, so as to receive and embrace

him when offered. The hearts of natural men are shut against the Lord, they are not only void of grace, and without Christ, but bolted and barred up against Christ and his grace, they are unwilling of conversion, unwilli

Chapter 52

2. An opening the heart to godliness or Christianity. The former

opening notes a readiness of the heart to receive Christ in, and his Grace in. This opening of the heart notes the souls letting itself out after Christ and his holy ways, a letting its self out in holy desires. in love

Chapter 53

21. O Death is come up into our windows, and is entered into our

palaces; our houses are houses of the dead. It is not only with us as with Egypt, when their first-born were slain, when there was not an house in the Land wherein was not one dead; there are but few houses in our Land w

Chapter 54

1. Because there are such multitudes of them. Come where you will,

into what Country, into what Family, into what Congregation you will, and you may see almost as many dead men as you may see men. It is but here and there one living soul is to be found; such a great slaughter as sin hat

Chapter 55

2. Because they are in such a pitiful and lamentable case. What is it

to be a dead and lost soul? Where shall we have them a little while hence? Those that are under the power of death, are under the power of the Devil, and those that are under the power of the Devil, you may look to find

Chapter 56

3. Because they will not mourn for themselves. They are not sensible

of their own misery, nor will lay it to heart. These lost souls are men besides themselves, distracted ones, out of their wits ut supra. The prodigal was out of his wits whilst he was running his wild course, he was not

Chapter 57

2. Let us take up a rejoicing over the recovered souls. Our great joy

should be every man over the recovery of his own soul. With what joy should this word be spoken, this [my] soul was dead, and is alive: and we should rejoice over any other recovered souls; It is matter of rejoicing when

Chapter 58

3. Let us again take up a lamentation over the imperfection of our

recovery. Rejoice in the Lord, but rejoice with trembling, Psal. 2:11. Rejoice that the work is begun, that thou art come to the morning of the day of redemption; that the day is dawned, that the Sun is risen upon thee,

Chapter 59

2. Are sinners yet recoverable? Oh lose not the present season but

seek your recovery. as Is. 55:6. Seek the Lord whilst he may be found, So seek your souls whilst they may be found, seek recovery while it may be had. But what shall I do to recover? 1. Get you to be heart- sick of the m

Chapter 60

1. Christ redeemeth by price. 1. Cor. 6:20. Ye are bought with a price.

Christ himself was that price, and he laid down his life, as a price for us. In this respect he is called our ransom. Mat. 20:28. He gave his life a ransom for many, And his redeemed ones are called his ransomed ones. Is

Chapter 61

2. Christ redeemeth by power. Sinners were prisoners to divine

justice, and captives to the Devil, 2 Tim. 2:26. By price he redeems them from the revenging justice of God, and by power he redeems them from the Devil. In the former sense he redeemed us as a purchaser, he bought our l

Chapter 62

1. To accept of Christ as your ransom; to give off all other hopes of

recovery, and to take him as our only Redeemer. Some sinners reject Christ, and will none of him; they care not for a ransom, nor will mind any such thing as their recovery, but are content to be slaves to Sin and the De

Chapter 63

2. To accept of Christ as your Captain: To list yourself under him as

his Soldier, to give up yourself to be commanded, and ordered and governed by him; to follow your great Leader, when he hath broken the bars, and opened the Prison doors and knocked the Goaler in the head, and commands y

Chapter 64

1. A willingness to be healed by Christ. Some sinners, though they

will say, I accept of Christ for my Physician, yet they are not willing -- 70 of 330 -- to be healed by him: they love their disease, and do not love their health. Sin is their disease, and holiness is the health of th

Chapter 65

1. Christ will never save men from wrath, who will not be healed of

their sins. Unless he wash thee, he will not bless thee, Joh. 13:8. If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. Whilest thou art a Sinner thou art a Swine thou art a Viper, thou art a Leper; thy very nature is swinish

Chapter 66

2. Christ will heal none but those that are willing to be healed. His

first question to those he comes to cure, is the same as that which was put to the impotent man, Joh. 5:6. Wilt thou be made whole? This question Christ is daily putting to you, You that are blind, will you that I should

Chapter 67

2. Take Christ's medicines. To what purpose is it that the physician

comes to a sick man, and prescribes to him, and adviseth him to -- 73 of 330 -- what will recover him, if he will not take what he prescribeth. Christ hath medicines to recover sick souls, but his medicines must be tak

Chapter 68

1. His blood. His blood is purging and cleansing blood. Heb. 9:14, 1

Joh. 1:7. Therefore he is said to wash us in his blood. By the blood of Christ is meant the same with the death of Christ. There is virtue in the death of Christ to destroy the life of sin. Our old man is crucified with

Chapter 69

1. Christ himself must be taken. Christ offers himself to you to be

yours, and you must accept of him for your own. Your hearts must by faith consent unto Christ, to put yourselves into his hands, to put your life into his hands, expecting and depending upon him, trusting yourselves with

Chapter 70

2. You must have frequent recourse to the blood of Christ, by

renewed acts of faith. Look up to this crucified Jesus, Cast thy polluted soul into the fountain of his blood. Zach. 13:1. He is a fountain opened for sin and for uncleanness. His blood is the fountain, cast thy soul int

Chapter 71

1. It is an awakening word to sleepy souls. On these it thunders; that

it may awaken them. Ministers must be as Barnabas, sons of consolation, so also as Boanerges sons of thunder; And all their thunder bolts they are to have out of the word of God. O how many trumpets have been sounded in

Chapter 72

4. It is for the changing the tempers and inward dispositions of

sinners. It is a transforming word, we are changed into the same image. 2. Cor. 3:18, a sanctifying word. Joh. 17:17. Sanctify them by thy truth, thy word is truth. This is one of Christ's medicines, and this medicine is

Chapter 73

4. Get the temper of your hearts to be changed. Let the Word work to

the mollifying you, and to the changing of you; to the renewing you after the image of God in righteousness and holiness. And whatever awakenings there have been of your sleepy consciences, whatever light or understandin

Chapter 74

3. His Rod. Sinners are fools, and the Rod is Physic for Fools. The

rod is for the Fools back, Prov. 26:3. Psal. 119:67. Before I was afflicted I went astray, but the Rod reduced me, now have I kept thy word. Sinner, thou hearest the awakening word, but it doth not awaken thee, thou slee

Chapter 75

1. Submit to afflictions when God lays them on. Be patient and

contented that the Lord should afflict thee. Do not fret nor murmur at the afflicting hand of God. Some froward patients, if their Physician be forced to give any harder physic it will not down, but they fret and fume ag

Chapter 76

2. Consider thine afflictions. Eccl. 7:14. In the day of adversity

consider. Affliction is a considering time. Sinners, you will not consider now, but you may have time enough to consider it afterwards. You will neither consider what you do. Ecles. 5:1. They consider not they do evil, N

Chapter 77

3. Take your physicians counsel and follow his rules. Physicians

besides their medicines do usually give rules to their Patients for their well ordering themselves, and these rules they must observe, or they are never like to recover and there are these three rules, which ordinarily P

Chapter 78

1. Keep a good diet. Abstain from all such things as will nourish and

feed your diseases. What is it that hath brought thee to this wretched pass? That hath made thee this sick and miserable soul. Thou hast been with the prodigal, Luk. 15. Feeding upon husks. Thou hast been with Israel, Is

Chapter 79

1. Exercise yourselves to prayer. The prayer of the faithful shall save

the sick. Jam. 5:15. The sick soul as well as the sick body. Prayer is a stirring exercise, that (if performed as it ought) sets all the powers of the soul on work; it is a striving with God, it is a wrestling with God,

Chapter 80

2. Exercise yourselves to repentance. Repentance signifies a change,

a change of the mind originally; so those two words by which it is expressed in Scripture, signify post factum sapere, after we have plaid the fools by sin, to come to be wise, so wise as to see our folly, so to see our

Chapter 81

1. Keep your minds working, to maintain that change that is begun.

Have you seen the folly of sin, and the misery of sin, and how much better it is to turn and come about from it to holiness? Are you come to be of this judgment, that you were mad to follow the Devil, and your lusts; tha

Chapter 82

2. Exercise your affections: Your sorrow for sin, your fear of sin, your

indignation or anger against sin your desire after power and victory over it. Keep these penitent affections working, maintain that godly sorrow, and fear, and indignation: Keep your sorrow alive, keep your fears working

Chapter 83

3. Exercise your care and consideration how you may complete and

confirm your recovery. The word it may be, is but yet begun with you; You do but begin to be wise, begin to be sober and serious; there is many a good and hopeful beginning goes back, and comes to nothing; live in a dail

Chapter 84

3. Have all your former ways done anything to the recovering of your

lost souls? Have not they left you sons of perdition, nay, are you not become seven times more the children of Hell by these practices than you were by nature? Thou wert naturally a child of wrath, Ephes. 2:3, and you ha

Chapter 85

3. Exercise yourselves to the keeping a good conscience. Acts 24:26.

Herein do I exercise myself. This is a hard exercise and will hold us in continual work. There are many things required to the keeping a good conscience, all which must be well looked to. Amongst others,

Chapter 86

1. Guilt, there is guilt upon the conscience, every sin leaves guilt

behind it, The whole world is become guilty before God. Rom. 3:15. Because the whole world are sinners, or subject to the Judgment of God. But then there is guilt upon the man, and guilt upon the conscience. There are so

Chapter 87

2. Guile, or falsehood, or treachery of conscience. Conscience will

juggle and deal deceitfully, it will dispense with, or give allowance of sin, it will connive and wink at iniquity. Some sins which can be better spared, it resists, others, such as interest or inclination lead more stro

Chapter 88

2. Keep conscience working? Though method would require that I

speak to this, of keeping conscience under the next general, the keeping of the heart yet I choose rather to speak to it here. Keep conscience working. A lazy sleeping conscience is good for nothing, it is a stirring wor

Chapter 89

1. An eye. And the eye of conscience must be kept open. The eye of

conscience is even as the eye of God, it may be said of conscience in its measure, as of God, Psal. 139:2,3. Thou knowest my down sitting and uprising, thou understandest my thoughts, and art acquainted with all my ways.

Chapter 90

2. A Book. A Register or book of records, where it writes down what

it sees. Jer. 17:1. The sin of Judah is written — It is graven upon the tables of the hearts, the meaning there is, it hath entered into their hearts, it hath corrupted and eaten into their hearts, there are the scars an

Chapter 91

3. A Tongue. Conscience is called by a Proverb, the Preacher in the

bosom: How shall this Preacher preach if he hath not a tongue to speak? God be merciful to those Congregations which have dumb Priests, and to those sinners that have dumb Consciences. How long may poor Congregations sit

Chapter 92

4. A Scepter. Conscience is to be the Governor in the soul; God hath

said to Conscience as he said to Christ, Psal. 110:2. Be thou ruler in the midst of thine enemies. Thou livest in the midst of enemies; all within, the carnal mind, the carnal will, the carnal affections, every lust of t

Chapter 93

1. An Iron Scepter, and he hath said to it concerning Sinners,

obstinate sinners, as he said concerning his enemies, Rev. 2:27. Thou shalt rule them with a rod of iron. This iron Scepter put into the hand of Conscience, hath teeth in it; hence do sinners, who will not hear the comma

Chapter 94

2. A Golden Scepter. Conscience doth not only enforce its authority,

and our submission to it, by the terrors of its iron Scepter, but encourages submission, by the comfort of holding to us its Golden Scepter. King Ahasuerus his holding out the golden Scepter to Esther, was in token of hi

Chapter 95

3. Beware of taking cold. That's a special rule Physicians use to give

to the recovering Patient; when Persons are upon recovery of their bodily diseases, how ordinary is it, that upon a little cold, they relapse, and sometimes die of their disease. Is thy Soul upon recovery? Take heed of C

Chapter 96

1. The necessity of keeping the Heart under Government; that will

appear by considering what an Heart it is; and because the Heart is recovered in part, and there is much of its Old and Original pravity remaining in it, which will be apt to boil up, and break forth again, I shall a lit

Chapter 97

1. It is a wicked mischievous heart, Jer. 17:9. Desperately wicked,

Psalm 5:9. Very wickedness, Rom. 8:7. Enmity against God. It is the Fountain, whence all the filthy streams, that pollute and defile our lives, do flow and are cast forth. It is the Furnace, whence all the stinking fumes

Chapter 98

1. Our evil Hearts will hinder us from doing good to our Selves, or of

receiving or laying up good for our Selves, Rom. 7:19. The good that I would, I do not; why what hinders? See Vers. 21. I find a Law, the Law of Sin in the Heart, When I would do good, evil is present with me, Gal. 5:17.

Chapter 99

2. It tempts and turns us aside after that which is Evil. As our hearts

hinder us in that which is good, so they betray us, and entice and -- 116 of 330 -- tempt us to that which is naught. Jam. 1:14. Every man when he is tempted, is drawn aside by his own lust, (his hearts lust) and entic

Chapter 100

2. It is an unruly heart. It's said concerning the Tongue, Jam. 3:8. It

is an unruly evil; but whence is the unruliness of the Tongue, but from the unruliness of the heart? 'It is the heart that is the Lord of misrule, Prov. 16:32. He that ruleth his own Spirit is better than he that taketh

Chapter 101

1. In the Thoughts of the heart. Who can rule his own Thoughts?

Who is there that hath such command of his Thoughts, that can think of nothing but what he should think of? What roving's, and straggling's, and wanderings are there of the Thoughts? Prov. 17:24. The eyes of fools, or hi

Chapter 102

2. In the Passions of our Hearts; we have unruly Thoughts and

unruly passions; there is an unruliness in all our Affections; who can love, and fear, and desire, and grieve for nothing but what he should, what he should fear and desire. What we should not fear, we fear, and what we

Chapter 103

1. These are instruments by which men work out their own Salvation

or Damnation. Holy Thoughts, holy Affections, set us a working out our Salvation; the exercising of our Thoughts upon God, upon Eternity, upon the Blessedness to come, and upon the Wrath to come; the exercising of our Af

Chapter 104

2. These are the Evidences of what we are, in respect to our Eternal

State. Men may judge themselves, and come to know themselves, by the Thoughts and Affections, Rom. 8:7. To be carnally minded is Death, but to be Spiritually minded is Life and Peace. Those that are after the Flesh do mi

Chapter 105

3. There are Idols set up in the Heart, after which, if it be not well

looked to, it's apt to go a Whoring. It is true, more or less of all men, what is said of the Elders of Israel, Ezek. 14:3. These men have set up their Idols in their Heart. Whatsoever the Heart loves more than God, what

Chapter 106

1. Self-conceit. The magnifying our own Opinions, the Idolizing our

own apprehensions, the growing wise in our own eyes, and the resigning up ourselves to the conduct and government of our own carnal Reasons or Understandings. This Solomon intimates, is an encroaching upon God, yea denyi

Chapter 107

2. Self-will. That Brand which is put upon false Teachers and their

followers, 2 Pet. 2:10, is upon the Heart of every Sinner, they are Self-willed; and this brand is more or less remaining upon the Heart of every Saint: There's too much of Self-willedness in the best Hearts. Here I shal

Chapter 108

1. The great controversy betwixt God and Self is, whose Will shall

stand: God will have his Will, Isa. 45:23. I have Sworn by my Self, the Word is gone forth of my Mouth, and shall not return, that unto me every knee shall bow; In one way or other, first or last, I will make them all to

Chapter 109

1. Wickedness. The things willed, and the willing of them, are either

materially or circumstantially wicked, and eventually they are pernicious and mischievous. What is it Sinner that thou wouldst have? Why, I would have mine Ease, I would have my Pleasure, I would have my Liberty, I would

Chapter 110

2. Stiffness or stubbornness; that's counted a self-willed man, that's

stiff and stubborn, and will not be persuaded out of his own way; his heart is set in him to do evil, Eccles. 8:11. His will is set upon evil, and he is set upon his own will. You say 'tis naught to live in ease and idle

Chapter 111

2. In the conversion of a Sinner, the power of self-will is broken, the

Controversy betwixt God and the Sinner is determined. The Controversy is, whose will shall stand, the will of God, or the will of the Flesh; in Conversion, the Sinner yields that God's will shall be thenceforth his Law.

Chapter 112

1. He is heartily willing to resign up to God, to his Will and

Government; he that before said, Not God's will, but mine own, can now say, Not my will, but the will of the Lord be done. He that before said, I will not that this Man, that Christ should Reign over me, now says, I will

Chapter 113

2. He doth actually submit to, and obey the will of God.

A Convert doth not only say, I will submit, I will obey, but he doth submit, he doth obey. The old Will, will be contending still for the Government, but the Heart now answers, as the Men of Sodom to Lot, Gen. 19:9. Stan

Chapter 114

3. Yet the will is not so broken, but that this Self and Flesh hath a

Root remaining in it; and this Root will be Springing and growing up again; like that Root of Bitterness mentioned by the Apostle, Heb. 12:15. That Root of Malice, that Root bearing Gall and Wormwood; the Apostle warns t

Chapter 115

4. Therefore there is a necessity, that the Heart be kept under

Government. The Government of the Heart, is to the same end and of the same necessity, as the Government of a Kingdom. The Government of a Kingdom, is to be for the encouraging of the good, and for the terror and suppres

Chapter 116

1. There is a Self-love which is our Duty; there is an innate Principle

of Love, planted by God himself in the Nature of Man, in his State of Innocency. God hath made all Men living lovers of themselves, and he would have them so. That word, Thou shalt love thy Neighbor as thy Self, evidence

Chapter 117

1. Self-preservation, the securing ourselves from Mischief, the saving

ourselves from danger, Acts 2:40. Save yourselves this generation. He that said, Save yourselves from this evil generation, hath therein said much more; save yourselves from Condemnation: To save ourselves from sin, to s

Chapter 118

2. Self-blessing, Isa. 65:16. There is a Self-blessing, that is our Duty;

Let him that Blesseth himself in the Earth, bless himself in the God of Truth: He that loveth himself will bless himself. There's a double Self-blessing. 1. A seeking our own blessedness. Self-love will prompt us to seek

Chapter 119

2. An enjoying and rejoicing in your own Blessedness: Loving

ourselves aright, is part of the fruition and enjoying ourselves, as loving God is of the fruition of God. No man that loves himself, but he would enjoy himself, and bless himself in the reflection on his own Happiness.

Chapter 120

12. Soul take thine ease, thou mayest enjoy thy Self, for thou hast

goods laid up for many Years; but let him take up the Psalmist 's -- 142 of 330 -- Song, Psal. 116:7. Return unto thy rest O my Soul; herein thou mayest bless thy Self, herein thou mayest comfort thy Self, the Lord hat

Chapter 121

10. He that is ashamed of me, of him will I be ashamed before my

Father that is in Heaven; the intent and meaning of all this is, if you love your Selves, come to me; if you love your Souls, keep my Commandments; if ever you would, that those Souls of yours should be happy Souls, if y

Chapter 122

1. It is a Love of mistaken Self; of Carnal-self, a love of the Flesh, and

its Affections and Lusts; a love of that Flesh which Christ would have us to hate and deny, Mat. 16:24. [Himself] that is his Flesh, or Carnal-self; Men are mistaken in themselves, and count that their Self which is not

Chapter 123

2. An inordinate love of our Selves Natural; when we love that which

is our Selves, more or otherwise than we ought to love it. Our Natural Selves, our Bodies and our Souls are to be loved, ut supra. We ought to love ourselves, not our Souls only, but our Bodies also, and so to love them

Chapter 124

1. When we love ourselves more than God: When we love ourselves

to the neglect of God; as Christ said, Mat. 10:37. He that loveth Father or Mother more than me, he that loveth Son or Daughter more than me, so may it be said, he that loveth himself, his own flesh, his own life, more t

Chapter 125

2. When we love Self as separated from God, or otherwise than in

subordination to God, when our love determines in Self, and rises no -- 148 of 330 -- higher; every man should love himself, but it must be for the sake of God, whose servant he is, and whose Image he bears.

Chapter 126

3. When we love ourselves to the prejudice of the love of our

Neighbor: The word is, Thou shalt love thy Neighbor as thyself; thou shalt love thyself, but so, as it may not hinder thee from loving thy Neighbor. When self Monopolizes our love, when our Love which should be a Common,

Chapter 127

1. It is the great Heart-Idolatry. Whatever we love more than God, we

make it a God; yea, when we love anything equal with God, or in separation from God, and not in subordination to God. If we love our Selves only for our Selves, we therein deny the God which is above: As he that loves Ri

Chapter 128

2. It's the root of all Rebellion and Disobedience. Self-love, 2 Tim.

3:2, is put in the Head of a black-troop of Lusts and Wickedness's; Men shall be lovers of themselves; there's the ring-leader, and what follows? Behold a troop cometh; covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient

Chapter 129

1. It is the Rot of all Religion; that is, where it is predominant, and

carries the main stroke in our Religion. It is the rottenness of the Heart, under all its most specious Religious pretenses or performances. All sincere Religion is animated by the love of God; the love of God is the Sou

Chapter 130

1. Limit our Religion. 'Twill limit it by self-Interest; no more, nor, no

other Religion will it allow, than will serve our Carnal turns; no farther may we go in it than will consist with this love of ourselves; whatever part or exercise of Religion will pinch upon the Flesh, the self-denying

Chapter 131

2. It will corrupt our Religion, and turn it into Hypocrisy. Selfish

Professors are Hypocrites, and all their Religion is Hypocrisy, and Hypocrisy is the rottenness of the Heart. You that are Professors, see to it, that ye be not self-loving Professors; if ye be, whatever there be in your

Chapter 132

2. It is the Root of all Unrighteousness and Unmercifulness to Men.

Self-love will never learn that Lesson, to do to others as it would be done by; it will catch all it can; and keep all it has; Self must be advanced, Self must be enriched, whoever be ruined by it; all manner of Frauds a

Chapter 133

3. It is the Root of all Brawls and Quarrels, and Contentions in the

World. Whence are there such Multitudes of troublesome Law-Suits? What are they, but the contending's of Self with Self; one says 'tis mine own, and I will have it, whatever it cost me; another says, 'tis not thine, but

Chapter 134

4. It's the Root of Self-seeking. Holy Self-love is the Root of Holy

Self-seeking; as the love of God is the Root of seeking God, so sinful Self-love, is the Root of all sinful self-seeking; and sinful self-seeking, is contrary to the seeking of God. The love of God is the Root of our see

Chapter 135

3. Sinful Self-love hath a root remaining in the best Hearts, even of

the regenerate; though in Conversion Self hath lost the Dominion, and be cast down from the Throne, yet is there a secret Tabernacle, a corner in the Heart, where it fortifies it Self, and is still aspiring to recover th

Chapter 136

1. There is a loving or seeking ourselves, in conjunction with God,

and in subordination to him. This is a loving or seeking Self spiritually, a loving or seeking of Self as Christians, as the Servants of God and Members of Christ, as clothed with the Image, and devoted to the service, a

Chapter 137

2. There is a Loving and Seeking ourselves in separation from God.

This is our loving and seeking Self natural, the good of our Persons, our Bodies and Souls, without considering them as bearing a respect to God. Our seeking our well-being as mere men; our bodily well- being, our Health

Chapter 138

3. There is a loving or seeking of ourselves, in opposition to God; a

seeking Self-carnal. 'It is true, seeking ourselves in Separation, is seeking ourselves in Opposition to God, but this seeking Self-carnal is in a higher and more direct Opposition to God. Self-carnal is an Enemy to God,

Chapter 139

1. Do we seek ourselves and our own Interests, only in conjunction

with Christ, and in subordination to Christ? Do we count nothing our own things, but what are the things of Christ? Have we heartily espoused the Interest of Christ, as our own Interest? Do we seek nothing in this World

Chapter 140

2. Do we not rather Seek these things in separation from God? Seek

them for themselves, for the love we have to them, for the sake of Self, to whose service we devote them? Do we not seek these things, with the neglect of Christ? Is not Christ sought the less, and the more grieved for t

Chapter 141

2. Are you angry with those that offend God, as you are with those

that offend your Selves? The Psalmist could say, Psal. 139:21,22. Do not I hate them that hate thee? Am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? Yea I hate them with a perfect hatred; I count them mine Enemies

Chapter 142

4. There is a necessity of keeping the Heart under Government. Is

Self such an Idol in the Heart? Is Self-love Idolatry, and the Root of so much wickedness? The Rot of Religion? The Root of Unrighteousness, Unmercifulness? Yea and of such Murderous desires and wishes? And is there some

Chapter 143

1. In subjecting the lower Faculties, the Affections, Appetite and

Senses, to Reason and Conscience. Reason must be Dictator in the Heart, and must not be controlled or over-born by the inferior Faculties. Conscience is invested with the Authority of God: Subjection to Reason and Consci

Chapter 144

2. In keeping the Thoughts exercised upon profitable and pertinent

Objects. I told you before, that the unruliness of the Heart lies much in the unruliness of the Thoughts; and how much of the Heart government stands in the Government of the Thoughts; the best way to keep the Thoughts w

Chapter 145

3. In holding our Affections and Passions to their proper Objects,

and within their due Bounds; so as that we love only what we should love, and as much and no more than we should love it; to fear what we should fear, and as much and no more than we should fear it; to desire what we sho

Chapter 146

1. For our Love; this is then well Ordered, when we love only what we

should love, and as much and no more than we should love it. The Object of Love is good, and only good; nothing can be loved but that which is good, or apprehended so to be; and nothing ought to be loved, but that which

Chapter 147

3. I wish that thou mayest prosper and be in Health, even as thy Soul

prospereth. The Creatures are good; our Bread, and our Clothes, and our Houses, which are for the comfort of our Bodies; every Creature of God is good, being sanctified by the Word and Prayer, 1 Tim. 4:4. The Prosperity

Chapter 148

1. Consider, Order in the Heart is as necessary as Order in a

Kingdom, &c. What is a Kingdom, if there be no Order in it? What is an Army, what is a Family, where there is no order in it? What is there but Confusion and Ruin? All runs into confusion, all runs to -- 174 of 330 --

Chapter 149

2. Order in our Love is necessary to the keeping our whole Hearts in

Order: upon the right Order and Measure of our Love, will follow the right Ordering of all our Affections; there's no one of all our Affections but will be in good Order, if our Love be in Order; if we love what we shoul

Chapter 150

2. For our Desires, in this as in the former, we must desire what we

should desire, and as much as, and no more than we should desire it; the Object of our desires is the same with the Object of our Love; that which is Good. Now of all the Good which may or ought to be desired, -- 178 of

Chapter 151

3. Other good things are to be desired in subordination and with

submission. And thus the higher Degrees of Grace, the best and most advantageous Means of Grace, Gifts, the gift of Prayer, gifts for Edification, &c. these all are to be desired with submission to the will of God; the f

Chapter 152

1. With submission; We may and ought to desire our Bodily Health,

our Life, and our Prospering in the World, but this must be put in (if it be the will of God, and for the honor of God;) And if it be the will of God to deny us, therein we must submit.

Chapter 153

2. With Moderation; We should not desire great things for ourselves,

nor anything too earnestly; we may seek outward good things, but -- 179 of 330 -- with a great indifferency; we must not be greedy seekers. Greediness notes, 1. A desire after much, 'tis not a little that will satisfy

Chapter 154

1. Desire to have as much as you can. Desire as much of God, as

much Grace as possible; seek great things for yourselves here; the more of God you can get, the more blessed are you; and the more Grace you have, the more of God you have. Desire to abound and excel in the Grace of God;

Chapter 155

2. Desire God and his Grace with as much earnestness and intention

of Soul as possible. Let your desires be large desires, and let them be ardent desires; let your Hearts burn in Love, and burn in Holy desires after God; let this be the one thing you desire, Psal. 27:4. One thing have I

Chapter 156

1. Desire not over much of them. The best Food, the best Physic, if we

take too much of it, becomes hurtful and pernicious; when the Stomach is overcharged, and so when the Heart is overcharged, it surfeits, and suffereth prejudice by what it hath received. That Prayer of Agur, Prov. 30:8,

Chapter 157

2. Desire them not over earnestly; be not over hungry and greedy

Souls; desire but a competency, and desire it but moderately; that you may not over-desire these Earthly good things, do not over-prize them. Carry it towards the good things below, as Sinners carry it towards Christ, an

Chapter 158

3. Crush your desires after the evil and hurtful things below, so as

not to desire them at all. The Pleasures of Sin, and the Pomps and Pride of this Life, and the Gains of Unrighteousness, desire them not at all. These can never be good for you, and therefore are not to be desired. It ca

Chapter 159

1. The Object of Joy, is the same with the Object of Love and Desire.

He that Loves, whatever it be, if he hath it not, he desireth it, if he hath it he rejoiceth; he that loves God, if he can hear such a Word from God, I am Thine, that's a joyful Word, then he can rejoice in God; he that

Chapter 160

1. Originally from its Object, or the Thing loved. It is God that is the

Fountain of Divine Joy; thence it springs and comes in; therefore the Apostle prays, Rom. 15:13. The God of Hope fill you with all Joy. There are Three ways by which our Joy in God is raised. 1. By Contemplation: by Cont

Chapter 161

2. In the satisfaction of our Hearts with this Possession; when we are

pleased, and delighted, and satisfied with his goodness. A full satisfaction of the Heart will not be, till hereafter, Psal. 17:15. When I awake I shall be satisfied; and therefore our fullness of Joy is reserved till th

Chapter 162

2. This Joy arises, as from the Object, so immediately from the very

Act of Loving. Joy ariseth from love, 1. By way of immediate resultancy; there is a great Pleasure in Love; as there is bitterness in grief and sorrow, so there is sweetness in Love; this very Blossom of Love casteth for

Chapter 163

2. By way of Reflection; when a Christian upon his review of this his

love to Christ, perceives that he loves him in sincerity, this is to him a Token of Christ's love to him. Dost thou see, dost thou feel that thou lovest Christ? This thy love to Christ is a Token that he hath sent thee i

Chapter 164

1. Rejoice in the Lord, and let your joy in the Lord, 1. Bear some

Proportion, as much as those narrow Hearts can reach to, to that fullness, and those Everlasting Treasures of infinite Love and Goodness which are in God for you. I could tell you something of that satisfaction and rest

Chapter 165

2. Let your Joy in God be raised, 1. From the Evidence of your

Interest in God at present, from your sincerity in the grace of God, and your Union with Christ. You must be in Christ 'ere ever you can rejoice in Christ Jesus; what will it be to Joy in God, if God be none of yours? Sa

Chapter 166

2. From your Hope of the Glory of God. Rejoice in Hope of the Glory

of God, Rom. 5:2. Thou that art a real Christian, it may be thou hast -- 193 of 330 -- little sense of the sweetness of Religion; thou goest heavily under thy Burthens, the Burthen of thy Corruption and Infirmities; th

Chapter 167

3. From your Increases in the Grace of God. They are ordinarily the

Stronger and more grown Christians, who can sincerely rejoice in God. Younger Christians are often Mourners, and do but go on lamenting after God. It's true, there are some Young Converts, or that seem to be such, whose

Chapter 168

2. Rejoice not in Iniquity. Charity doth not, and therefore Christians

must not rejoice in Iniquity, 1 Cor. 13:6. Let not your sin make you Merry; if it does, that which now makes you merry, will shortly make you mad, with anguish and indignation at your own folly. Merry Sinners are all Foo

Chapter 169

3. Rejoice not over much in any of the good things below; we may

rejoice in our outward good things, James 1:9. Let the Brother of low degree, rejoice in that he is exalted; that is, let the Poor rejoice, when he is made Rich; Poverty is an Affliction, and Riches are a Mercy, and such

Chapter 170

1. Joy not in any of these good things as if they were your happiness;

they may be Means to our happiness, but must not be made the Matter of our happiness; to make our Estates our happiness, is to make them our God, and the way to make us miserable; he is a miserable Rich Man, who maketh h

Chapter 171

2. Joy not so much in them, as to rejoice ever the less in God. You

have so much need of God, in the greatest Plenty and Prosperity, as you have when you have nothing; and you should so much thirst after the Joy of God in your greatest Worldly Joy, as in your Sorrow. Take not your Worldl

Chapter 172

3. Rejoice with Trembling. That's the Psalmist 's Counsel, Psal. 2:11.

Serve the Lord with Fear, and rejoice with Trembling; in allusion to that, let me say, Seek the World with Fear, and rejoice in the World with Trembling; let fear be a Bridle to prevent the excess of your Worldly Joy. Fe

Chapter 173

1. So as not to forget your Sins. 1. Rejoice not so [in the Lord,] as to

forget your Sins against God: Your Joy must arise from this, that God hath forgotten them; but though God hath forgotten, you must remember them; they must still stand written in your own Book, though God hath blotted th

Chapter 174

1. Forget not in your Joy the Sins that you are guilty of, that so you

may rejoice with Mourning; we are apt in our rejoicing to forget our sins; if we do not remember our sins when we are lifted up in Joy, we are too apt to be puffed up with Pride; Godly sorrow will be of the same use to u

Chapter 175

2. Not so as to forget the sins that have been Conquered by us, that

we may rejoice in Triumph; the Victories that we have gotten over sin, will be both an advance to our Joy in God, and the Evidence of -- 204 of 330 -- the sincerity of that Joy. Those that are still in the Chains and F

Chapter 176

3. Not so as to forget the Sins that we are in danger of, but to rejoice

with trembling; we are still in our Warfare, and how far forth soever we have Prospered in it, we have Enemies still before us, that we are in perpetual danger of; therefore as it is said, let not him boast, so let not h

Chapter 177

2. Much less not so to rejoice in the good things of [the Earth,] as to

forget our Sins. Thou art a Rich Man, thou hast a Confluence of all the kindnesses that this Earth can do thee; the Sun shineth on thy Tabernacle, 'tis all fair Weather with thee; thou Prosperest in the World, and herein

Chapter 178

2. Not so to rejoice, as to forget our Brethren's Afflictions and

Miseries. It's well with thee, but how is it with thy poor Neighbors and Friends? How many are there that are in Penury, whilst thou art in Plenty? How many are clothed in Rags, whilst thou shinest in thy -- 208 of 330

Chapter 179

4. For our Fear; this is well governed, when we fear nothing but what

we should fear; and this we fear, as much, and no more than we should. For the Regulating our fears, First, We are to keep our Hearts in a due fear of what we should fear.

Chapter 180

1. God is to be feared. The Glory of his Excellent Majesty, of his

Holiness, of his Righteousness, of his Omnipotence, and all his Glorious Attributes. The Attributes are his Glorious and Fearful Name, Deut. 28:58. That thou mayest Fear that Glorious and Fearful -- 211 of 330 -- Name,

Chapter 181

2. Sin is to be Feared, 2 Sam. 1:14. How wast thou not afraid, to

stretch forth thine Hand and destroy the Lord's Anointed? It was thy Wickedness, thy great Sin to do that Act; How is it that thou wert not afraid to do it? Sin is the most formidable of Evils; if Men knew what it were t

Chapter 182

3. Temptations to sin are to be feared. Therefore we are to pray, Lead

us not into Temptation. It is our fear that must bring us on our Knees, to make this Hearty Prayer. If sin be to be feared, then whatever enticeth or leadeth to sin is to be feared. Some of our Temptations are to be fear

Chapter 183

4. The punishments of sin are to be feared. The wrath and the curse

of God, that Everlasting death which is the wages of sin, as I told you before, fear him who is able to destroy both body and soul in Hell. He is able and he will do it, if thou continue in thy sin. This fear is planted

Chapter 184

1. The Yoke of Christ; the difficulties and severities of Religion; some

men continue to be sinners, because they are afraid to be Saints; they continue under the power of the Devil, because they are afraid of Christ. They look on Christ as a hard Master, his service as hard service, his Yoke

Chapter 185

2. Death for Christ's sake, Luke 12:4. Fear not them that kill the

body. Fear not the worst that men can do; You may not only be persecuted by evil men, imprisoned, spoiled of your Goods, but you may be slain, put to death by them; yet fear them not; and as a violent death, a being put

Chapter 186

1. Keep your hearts in fear, and particularly 1. keep you in the fear of

God, keep up the Aw and Reverence of God in your hearts, get you trembling hearts before the Lord; behold the severe and jealous eye that is upon you, live under such a deep sense of the Greatness, Glory and Majesty of t

Chapter 187

2. Keep you in fear of sinning against God. Psal. 4:4. Tremble and sin

not. Art thou a professor of faith in God, and dost thou not yet fear to sin against God? Dost thou believe that God is the observer of all ungodliness? That thine iniquities are all marked before him? Dost thou believe

Chapter 188

1. When you have your pleasant dishes before you, and varieties of

them; when you have your pleasant cups before you, fear your being tempted to excess; feed not yourselves without fear, especially feast not without fear; put a knife to thy throat if thou be given to appetite, when thou

Chapter 189

2. Fear your fine Clothes; your Fashions and Ornaments that you

delight in; hast thou not pride in thine heart, and is not thy pride even as tinder, that will catch fire of every spark; dost thou love to be fine and gallant, dost thou love thy fine Fashions and Ornaments? Let thy lov

Chapter 190

3. Fear that Money that thou lovest, and thy Lands and thy Fields

and the increase of thy Substance; when riches increase set not your hearts upon them, Psal. 62:10. Do you prosper, do you grow rich in this world, do ye feel the world coming in, and your substance increasing upon you?

Chapter 191

4. Fear your vain Company, your Societies, and correspondences

with your carnal Friends and acquaintance. Dost thou love vain company? I do not speak of vile company, of Drunkards, and Rioters, -- 216 of 330 -- of Swearers, and Scoffers at Godliness, those Sons of Debauchery that

Chapter 192

1. Sin; This is the great and special object of Sorrow, and sorrow for

Sin is the best and most necessary of sorrows. Sin is a grievous evil, and it most calls for grief of heart. He loves neither God nor himself, that grieves not for sin; Sin is the abuse of God, and the wrong of our own S

Chapter 193

1. This sorrow must be so great, as to answer the ends, and bring

forth the proper fruits of it. The end of this sorrow, and the fruits it must bring forth, the Apostle tells us 2 Cor. 7:9, is Repentance. I rejoiced that ye sorrowed unto Repentance. And ver. 11. This self- same thing,

Chapter 194

2. This sorrow must not be so great, as to hinder the exercise of any

other Grace or Duty: 'tis seldom there is an error in the excess; we don't use to sorrow over much, no, no, we are apt to err in the defect; we do not usually come up to sufficient sorrow; our hearts have but a light hur

Chapter 195

1. That we sorrow not so little, but that we have a due and a deep

sense of the hand of the Lord upon us. Otherwise we despise the chastening of the Lord, which the Apostle forbids, Heb. 12:5. Despise not thou the chastening of the Lord. By afflictions I mean here, the sufferings of thi

Chapter 196

2. That we sorrow not so much as to sink under our sorrows. That we

be not swallowed up of overmuch sorrow. As we may not slight or despise the chastening's of the Lord, so we may not faint when we are chastened. The Apostle tells us, 2 Cor. 7:10. That worldly sorrow, the sorrows of worl

Chapter 197

3. Not as men without hope. We must sorrow for all our afflictions,

but as the Apostle would have Christians sorrow for the dead. 1 Thess. 4:13. Sorrow not, says he, as others, which have no hope. The -- 224 of 330 -- Righteous hath hope in his Heart, and his hope must moderate his sor

Chapter 198

4. Always as men that have worse matters to sorrow for. The least sin

is a worse evil then the greatest affliction, and calls for more of our sorrow. Christians must take heed that they do not lose the sense of sin, in their excessive sorrowing for affliction. When affliction lies too heav

Chapter 199

5. Let your sorrow for Affliction never be so great, as to hinder your

sorrow for sin. Sorrow more for Iniquity, and that will limit and moderate your sorrow for your affliction. Why dost thou take on so for losses in thine Estate, for thy lost Friends and Relations? Thou hast greater matte

Chapter 200

6. For our anger. The Government of our anger is, that which

especially is meant, by ruling our Spirits, in those two Scriptures, Prov. 16:32. He that is slow to anger, is better than the mighty, and he that ruleth his Spirit, then he that taketh a City. Prov. 25:28. He that hath

Chapter 201

1. Be never angry with God. Some persons are so fretful, that none

can please them, are apt to be angry with everyone that hath to deal with them. There's no scaping their anger, but by shunning their Company, and having nothing to do with them. Men cannot please them, and God cannot pl

Chapter 202

2. Be not soon angry with men. He that is slow to anger, is better

than the mighty, Prov. 16:32. Some persons are so touchy, that 'tis hard to keep them quiet, like tinder or Gunpowder, that will catch fire of every spark; a wry word or look, nay their own jealous thoughts will set them

Chapter 203

3. Be not angry without a cause. Mat. 5:22. He that is angry with his

brother without a cause, shall be in danger of the Judgment. The only just cause of Anger is sin. Eph. 4:26. Be angry and sin not; and that you may do so, be only angry against sin. We may be angry against wrongs, or abu

Chapter 204

4. Be not long angry. Eph. 4:26. Let not the Sun go down upon your

wrath. Eccl. 7:9. Anger resteth in the bosom of fools. Of the several sorts of tempers that are among men, some are soon angry and soon pacified. This, though it be an evil, yet its a more tolerable evil; let it not just

Chapter 205

3. Distances and Estrangements. Keeping aloof, refusing society with

those we are angry with; I will do him no hurt, but I will never have to do with him more, there's an angry resolve. Never talk you are not angry, whilst this fruit of it, distance and estrangement continues.

Chapter 206

4. Revenge. When the grudge lies burning within, and watching to do

him an ill turn, or to be even with him, as they usually express it. Revenge is the intending, endeavoring or doing hurt, to such as offend us, to satisfy our malice and wrath. We may right ourselves upon those that abus

Chapter 207

1. This will find you other work to do, then to mind every little

offense that comes athwart you. The wrath of God is as the roaring of a Lion. Whilst you are in fear of that, or caring how to escape it, you will not mind the barking of a Dog, or the hissing of a Goose. What hast thou

Chapter 208

2. Your breaking peace with men is your breaking peace with God.

Art thou sinfully angry with thy brother, or with thy husband or thy Wife? Take heed, God is angry with thee: Psal. 18:26. With the froward thou wilt show thyself froward. You that are given to frowardness, study that Sc

Chapter 209

2. Totally espouse the interest of God, and renounce the interest of

this Self and Flesh. It is this self, that is the make-bate, and the rise of all our quarrels. If you would know no other interest but the interest of God, you would never be angry, but where you should be angry, you wou

Chapter 210

3. Know that a pettish angry disposition (whilst it remains

unconquered) will make thee a briar and a thorn, to whatever company thou art in. Yea and 'twill make everyone else, seem to be a briar and thorn to thee. What wouldst thou have people say, there -- 231 of 330 -- dwell

Chapter 211

4. Know that implacable anger marks thee out, for one whom God

hath excluded from pardon. If there be any one person in the world, that hath so angered thee, that thou wilt not be pacified, that anger of thine, will certainly carry thee to hell. If you will not forgive you shall nev

Chapter 212

5. Know that whilst the effects of anger remain; the passion of anger

will sinfully remain. Whilst there are the fruits still continuing, there the root is not cut up. Nay if there be but some of the fruit remaining; If thou forbear thy sour looks, and put off an angry countenance, yet if

Chapter 213

6. Spend more of your anger against yourselves, for your own sins,

and then you will have the less to waste upon others. That Counsel of Christ, Mat. 7:5, is of use here; thou hypocrite first cast out the beam out of thine own eye. Cast thy first stone at thyself; yea it may be thou may

Chapter 214

4. In suppressing all manner of evil, and exciting and maintaining

the good that is in your hearts. There are in the heart, as there are in a Kingdom, two parties; the evil party and the good party: The evil -- 237 of 330 -- party are the Rebellious Lusts of our hearts, the good party

Chapter 215

1. Never make your Flesh your Favorite. If a Prince take a Rebel for a

Friend, and take him into his Bosom, not only his Government, but his Life is in danger. How was it with Samson, when he took in Delilah into his Bosom? She betrayed his strength from him, She betrayed him into the hands

Chapter 216

2. Never make the Flesh your Counselor. Gal. 1:16. When it pleased

the Father, to reveal his Son in me immediately I conferred not, that is, consulted not with flesh and blood. Let Flesh and Blood be none of your Favorites, nor none of your Counselors. What Government is there like to b

Chapter 217

3. Never look for any Government or safety, till you have gotten this

Flesh under Foot. It will be in the Throne if it can; while it lives, it will be aspiring to the Government. Deal with your Flesh as Herod and Pilate did with Christ, when they feared he would take away the Kingdom: Let

Chapter 218

5. In strengthening the sinews of Government, Rewards and

Punishments. What are laws? What Government can there be if there were no Rewards and Punishments? Who would obey, if there were no reward to obedience? Who would fear to rebel, if men should suffer nothing for their reb

Chapter 219

1. That there is an eternal World. After we have made an end in this

World, there is another where we must have a being. Man dieth not -- 243 of 330 -- as a beast dieth, as a Dog or a Swine; as a Wiseman dieth not as a Fool dieth, so neither do Wise men or Fools, die as a Beast dieth; t

Chapter 220

2. There is an eternal Judgment. So the Apostle tells us. Heb. 6:2, of

the Doctrine of eternal Judgment. It is called an Eternal Judgment, not as if the day of Judgment should last forever; in how long or how short a time, that judgment shall be dispatched, no man certainly knows; the glori

Chapter 221

3. In the Judgment to come, the secrets of the heart shall be opened

and judged: Men shall be judged for their words, men shall be judged for their deeds, but not for these only, but for the secrets of their hearts. Eccl. 12:14. God shall bring every work to Judgment, with every secret th

Chapter 222

1. He seeth the good that is in secret, the love and fear of his Name,

our inward desires and thirsting's and breathings after him; every holy thought, every holy purpose, the inward mourning's of the heart, under sin and temptation, the inward strivings & wrestling's of the heart, against

Chapter 223

2. He seeth the evil that is in secret; the proud heart, the false and

guileful heart are open before him. Beware of playing the Hypocrite, -- 245 of 330 -- of satisfying yourselves with Hypocritical Duties, hypocritical Praying, hypocritical Hearing, or Professing, God sees what that hea

Chapter 224

2. The secrets of the heart shall be opened and judged in that

Judgment of God. 1 Cor. 4:5. Judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and make manifest the Counsels of the heart, and then shall every man have prai

Chapter 225

2. In the day of Judgment, these things of darkness shall be all

brought to light; the secrets shall be all made manifest. What a sight will there be in that day, when the hearts of all the World, shall be seen as it were at one view; What a blessed sight will there be, when all the B

Chapter 226

4. There are eternal Rewards and Punishments, that in this

Judgment of God, shall be awarded to every soul. Whatever the state of your Souls shall then be found to be, they shall receive a due recompense of reward, and eternal recompense. Therefore this Judgment, as I told you b

Chapter 227

1. A believing these things. That there is such an Eternal Judgment,

and Eternal Reward. These things are certain, Psal. 58:11. Verity there is a reward for the righteous, verily he is a God that Judgeth in the earth. And as verily as there is a reward for the righteous, so verily there i

Chapter 228

2. An understanding what these rewards shall be. What great and

wonderful Rewards they are. Things to come must be known ere they will affect. Heady sinners, However they say, they believe, yet they little know what 'tis to believe. They know not what 'tis to be saved, they know not

Chapter 229

3. A feeling of these things. I mean now, a feeling beforehand; a

feeling that's gotten by your fore-knowledge. What we believe and understand if they be great things, will make impressions upon our senses. By the knowledge of God, and of the blessedness of Heaven, the Saints get some

Chapter 230

2. This sense of the eternal things is the sinews of Government.

There can be no Government without Rewards and Punishments, -- 250 of 330 -- and if these Rewards and Punishments be not believed, known and perceived, its all one as to Government, as if there were none at all. 'It is

Chapter 231

1. An alluring encouraging and obliging sense: A sense of the

Magnificence, of the Kindness and Mercies of the Lord will encourage to Subjection and obedience to him. It will draw forth our love, and stir up all our Powers, to active Obedience. O how would the lively sense of God a

Chapter 232

2. The sense of the punishments to come will be an awing sense. The

severities of the Lord, and his dreadful wrath and vengeance would awe the heart into subjection to him. O what an influence would this have upon the Governing our fears, and our griefs and our anger? Whom should we then

Chapter 233

3. How to get and maintain upon our hearts, this sense of the eternal

things. There are two things, I have told you, are supposed to this sense, a believing, and an understanding these great things; and to the improving of what we believe, and understand of them, there's a third thing nece

Chapter 234

1. Think this thought, In this eternal world I must shortly be, one of

these two Rewards must be my Reward; one of these two States, Eternal Blessedness or Eternal Misery, must be my State. That Heaven which I now hear Preached of, that Hell which I now am warned of, I shall be [in] one of

Chapter 235

2. Think much this thought, Which of these two states in Eternity

must be my state, is determining every day. It is thy present life, -- 253 of 330 -- thine every days course here, that must determine the Case, whither thou must, when thou goest hence, Rom. 2:7,8. Thy reward must be

Chapter 236

3. Think this thought, The state and the way of mine [heart] is the

great thing that must determine what mine eternal state must be. My works must determine what my reward must be, and the state of mine heart will determine what my works will be. -- 254 of 330 -- Well now, exercise you

Chapter 237

2. Keep the Heart under Guard. Keep it, and all the good that's in it

in safety, that it be not lost. Christians must keep their Hearts, as Worldlings keep their Money, and their Jewels, and their writings, by which they hold their Estates. If they have any stronger or safer place than oth

Chapter 238

1. Why Christians must especially guard their hearts. They must set a

guard upon their tongues, they must watch their words, and all their carriages, but above all keeping, they must keep their hearts. So the word in the Text is rendered, and interpreted by some, keep the heart with dilige

Chapter 239

1. Because the heart is the fountain of Life. It is the reason urged in

the Text, for out of it are the issues of Life. The issues, that is, the streams, or rivulets of life. The heart is the fountain from whence all our living streams do flow. Christ is our life, and the seat or habitation

Chapter 240

2. It is the spring of all our vital actions and operations. This is

included in the former; the heart is the fountain of life, and life is the fountain of action. A dead man cannot see, nor hear, nor speak, nor move, he must live before he can speak or move. And what can the spiritually

Chapter 241

3. It is the record of all the transactions, which have been betwixt

Christ and your Souls. If ye be Christ's, there have been great dealings betwixt Christ and your Souls; Christ hath been dealing with you; dealing with you by his word, dealing with you by his Spirit; instructing and enl

Chapter 242

1. In point of Covenant. Behold, you that are Christians, you are in

Covenant with the Lord; by reason whereof, I may say concerning -- 263 of 330 -- you, as Moses concerning Israel, Deut. 26:17, 18. Thou hast avouched the Lord to be thy God, to walk in his ways and keep his statutes. A

Chapter 243

2. He hath made void your Covenant with Death, and disannulled

your Agreement with Hell. He hath given you a heart to break and make void that wicked Covenant; to break with the Devil, to break with Sin and the World, and to come out from among them.

Chapter 244

3. He hath effectually persuaded you into this Covenant of God. He

hath brought you into the bond of the Covenant. Ezek. 20:37. He hath sprinkled you with the Blood of the Covenant, and hath gained your hearty acceptance of all this. You have opened your Mouth to the Lord, you have vowe

Chapter 245

2. In point of Communion. There have been great dealings between

Christ and you, in a way of Friendly Communion. What Correspondences have there been held betwixt Christ and you? What friendly interviews have there been between you? Christ hath been often looking down upon you, and re

Chapter 246

1. Christ and his Graces are jewels. Christ is a precious Jewel, he is

the pearl of great Price, which the wise Merchant, Mat. 13:46, traded for; and is there said to be a Pearl of great price; of so great a price, that this one Pearl bought the whole World. Its intimated Mat. 16:26, that o

Chapter 247

2. These Jewels, Christ and his Graces, are all kept in the heart. As

the Heart is the Seat of Grace, Faith dwells in the heart, and Love dwells in the heart, and Hope dwells in the heart, so is it also the seat of Christ; Christ dwells in the heart by Faith, intimated in that Prayer of th

Chapter 248

5. It is the Ark of your strength. Some men's strength lies in their

heads, in their Wisdom and Counsel, and Policy; a wise man is a strong man. Other men's strength lies in their hands, a Princes strength lies in his Armies, in his Forts and Castles and strong Towers; but a Christians st

Chapter 249

1. Of Strength for their Work, there are great things they have to do;

they have much work, hard service; the life of a Christian is not a toying but a toiling life. You shall never get to Heaven by play, or by Idleness, you have much business lying upon you, and great business. The working

Chapter 250

2. Christians have need of strength for their burdens, Christians have

hard work, and heavy burdens lying upon them. Besides the Care that is upon them for their Souls, which is a great and weighty burden, and their fear of miscarrying in the matters of their Souls, -- 270 of 330 -- which

Chapter 251

3. They have need of Strength against their Enemies. Christians live

in the midst of Enemies; Enemies without, the Devil and his Instruments; Enemies within, their own Lusts and Corruptions; and they must be in continual fight against these Enemies; and their Enemies being so many, and so

Chapter 252

6. In your hearts are preserved all your evidences for heaven. This

follows from the former. What are our Evidences for Heaven but the being of Christ, and the Graces of Christ in us? Your sincerity in the Covenant, your having your Conversations in all good Conscience, prove that Christ

Chapter 253

1. It is the heart that is a Sacrifice for God, therefore Prov. 23:26.

Give me thine heart. It is the Sacrifices, all the Sacrifices of God is the -- 274 of 330 -- Sacrifice of the heart. There are other Sacrifices, but whatever they be, 'tis the heart that makes them such. Prayer is a Sa

Chapter 254

2. What kind of heart it is, that is a Sacrifice to God. A broken or a

wounded heart. The broken heart is the only sound heart. The wounding of the heart is as the lancing of the Impostume, it lets out the corruption, and leaves it a sound heart. The hard heart is a Sacrifice for the Devil;

Chapter 255

1. Legal, and so that only is a perfect heart, that fully answers the

Righteousness of the Law, or first Covenant; that only, in this sense, is a perfect heart, which hath nothing of Evil or Hypocrisy; no spot or blemish at all in it, that the strictest Justice could be offended at; thus t

Chapter 256

2. Evangelical, Such a perfection, which the new Covenant accepts,

uprightness; a sincere heart is in a Gospel Sense, a perfect heart. A heart that hath been broken by the Word of Christ, and been purged by the blood of Christ; a heart that is a purging and cleansing daily, that hath it

Chapter 257

1. The law of God is in his Temple. The law was read in the Temple,

and kept in the Temple; and as in that Temple made with hands, so in that living Temple, made without hands, the Law of God is placed and preserved. Christians have the Law of God within them, their Bibles in their heart

Chapter 258

3. That Law of the Spirit of life, which is in Christ Jesus, the new

Law, or Covenant of Grace, by which we are freed from the Law of sin and death, Rom. 8:2, the Tenor and the Terms of the Covenant, the Promises and the Conditions of the Covenant; the great Charter of the Saints, which g

Chapter 259

4. That inward living Law, the holy bent, inclinations, dispositions

begotten in the heart, by the Word, and Spirit of the Lord; that renewed Conscience, inwardly obliging and holding the heart, to the Obedience of the Word. A Christian hath not only something without him, but something w

Chapter 260

2. The name of God is in his Temple. Jer. 7:10, 12. 'tis said often, he

places his name there. And of these living Temples, the hearts of Saints, 'tis said, Rev. 3:12. I will write the name of my God, and the name of the City of my God upon them. And Chap. 2:17, in this heart, there is a pre

Chapter 261

3. The Worship of God is in his Temple. Mine house shall be called a

house of Prayer. Mat. 21:13. In this inward Temple, the heart, is the inward and spiritual Worship of God. The people of God, are said to be the People that worship God in spirit, Phil. 3:3. There are great thoughts of h

Chapter 262

4. God himself is in his Temple; 2 Cor. 6:16. Ye are the Temple of the

living God. God hath said, I will dwell in them and walk in them. The hearts of the Saints are the house of God, and the house of God is his Habitation. The holy God will have none but a holy habitation. Will you let sin

Chapter 263

1. Against Thieves. The great Thief is the World, and all that is of the

World; and all that in the World, which is purloining from the heart. Its profits or worldly gains, its Pleasures and carnal Mirth, its Favor and Friendship and Fawning's. These all lie in wait for entrance into the hear

Chapter 264

2. Against blots, that is, against willful allowed sins: Every willful sin,

will be a blot upon your hearts. Our sins are blots and blemishes upon our lives, but every blot upon the life is also a blot upon the heart. Blots will; Darken and Obscure. Defile.

Chapter 265

1. Blots will darken and obscure the Heart. I told you, that in the

heart is kept, all our evidences for heaven; our sins that we give way to, will be blots upon our evidences; will so obscure and blur them, that they will not be legible. Our sins will do the direct contrary to what the

Chapter 266

2. Blots will defile. They are stains upon all our Glory. The coming in

of Sin upon the heart, is as the breaking in of the Heathen upon God's inheritance. Psal. 79:1. O God the heathen are come into thine inheritance, thine holy temple have they defiled. The heart of a Christian, is (as is

Chapter 267

3. Against Distempers. A good temper of heart, will be an advantage

to us, in anything we have to do. A heart out of temper is like a bone out of joint, or like a Tempestuous Sea, there's no good sailing in it. We cannot keep our way, but shall be driven about, this way and that way, wit

Chapter 268

1. Slightness and vanity of Spirit. A well-tempered heart is a serious

heart. Seriousness of heart, is as ballast to a Ship, we shall go steadily whilst our hearts are serious. 1 Pet. 1:13. Gird up the loins of your minds, and be sober. Soberness here, is the same with seriousness. Christia

Chapter 269

2. Never such as to be a hindrance to seriousness afterward, though I

must sometimes unbend, yet I would never unhinge my Soul, or disjoint or discompose it, for its return to its work. We must not be of those, whose lives be in jest, and only now and then a fit of seriousness; 'tis thy li

Chapter 270

2. Such as is opposite to strictness; that is the same with

licentiousness, and that is it, which I am now to speak to. A Licentious heart is a distempered heart. The contrary to this Distemper, is the compliance or closing of the heart with the Rule, and keeping to it. The new h

Chapter 271

3. Listlessness. A dull untoward, sluggish, unactive, lifeless temper,

where the Edge of our Spirits is blunted, insomuch that whatever opportunities we have, or whatever calls we have to be doing for God, or our Souls, we have no list to them, but through the waywardness and untowardness o

Chapter 272

1. It proceeds from an evil cause, From the carnality of our hearts,

and our unsuitableness to the work of God. It is ungrateful and unpleasing work to us; our hearts are so contrary to it, we had rather be anywhere then with God, we had rather be about any work, then the work of our Soul

Chapter 273

2. It is an ill sign. What ill sign is it? 'It is a sign of want of Grace;

either that we have no Grace at all, or at least are but very low in the Grace of God; that our day is yet but a day of small things. Where is our Faith in Christ, when we are so backward in the work of Faith; As Christ

Chapter 274

1. Set a constant Watch upon it. That's a word, that is given to every

Christian; Mark. 13:37. What I say unto you, I say unto all, Watch. And of all things we have to watch, the heart is it, that must chiefly be watched. Our eyes must be chiefly there; whether ever else we -- 303 of 330 -

Chapter 275

18. The eye of the Lord is a searching eye; there is no secret of the

heart, but he espieth and searcheth it out; and 'tis a jealous eye, that will not wink at, nor allow, nor indulge to the least heart evils. The sense of that jealous eye, would awe us into more watchfulness over ourselve

Chapter 276

2. Though it cannot be perfectly known, yet there may be much of it

known; the heart of man is a great deep, 'tis true, and though thou canst not easily see to the bottom of it, yet if thou wilt but look down into the deep, thou must see a great way.

Chapter 277

3. If thou canst not see thorough thine heart with thine own Eyes, yet

with God's eyes thou mayest. Take the help of the Eyes of the Lord, and thou mayest understand, even all that is in thine heart. God that sees the Heart, reveals the heart; and he hath given thee such discoveries of thy

Chapter 278

2. Keep all your powers up in arms. Our Enemies will fight for our

Hearts. Sin, the World and the Devil are like Absalom, 2 Sam. 15:6, at first he used fair and flattering Speeches, and complemented, and kissed them that came nigh him, saying, O that I were made Judge in the Land, his m

Chapter 279

1. The Shield of Faith. v. 16, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all

the fiery Darts of the Devil. The Devil is shooting his Darts at us, and every Dart is levelled at the heart; The Devils Darts are fiery Darts, burn when they hit, that will burn up all the good in the Soul. Darts will s

Chapter 280

17. Rom. 8:24. Ye are saved by hope. Hope will strengthen the heart,

and hold up the head. Christians should withstand Temptations and assaults, as men of hope; whatever your Temptations are, whatever buffetings of Satan you may be encountered with, how furiously -- 310 of 330 -- soever

Chapter 281

3. The girdle of Truth, ver. 14. Having your loins girt about with

truth. Look especially to this, that you be armed with truth and uprightness of heart. Whatever other Armor you seem to have, whatever faith you have, whatever hope you have, whatever word you have to support you, whatev

Chapter 282

4. The breastplate of Righteousness. Put them both together, Truth

and Uprightness of heart, and righteousness of Life, will be a mighty security against the Devil and all his whole Party. The Psalmist would trust to no other Armor, without that; Psal. 25:21, and that he will trust to.

Chapter 283

5. The Sword of the Spirit. Ver. 17, which is the word of God. This

was the weapon, by which Christ conquered the Devil, when he fought him hand to hand, Mat. 4:3. It is written, man shall not live by bread only—. It is written, thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. It is written, thou

Chapter 284

6. The spirit of prayer. Ver. 18. Praying always with all prayer and

supplication in the Spirit: Meet every Temptation with the Sword in your mouth, and with a Prayer in your heart. Believe and Pray; Hope and Pray; be True, be Upright and pray; the Lord rebuke thee, The -- 312 of 330 --

Chapter 285

1. Keep by the side of Christ. You know what a stream there once ran

down from that precious side; a stream of Blood and Water; this stream (as to the virtue and influence of it) is running down daily; and it is for the healing of diseased, and for the washing of spotted Souls. There's no

Chapter 286

2. It is the firmest union. I will betroth thee forever. It is written

concerning Christ and his Saints, as concerning Husband and Wife; whom God hath joined together let no man, no nor Devil neither put asunder. Now when there is such a nearness of Relation, and such a dearness of Affectio

Chapter 287

2. Keep under Christ's Banner. Keep to your Colors. The Banner of

Christ, hath engraven upon it, or his Colors bears upon it, as his Coat of Arms, the Covenant, the Cross, and the Crown; with this Motto, Pugnanti victoria, vincenti Corona. Victory to him that fights, the Crown to the C

Chapter 288

1. For the strength of our hearts; it notes our listing ourselves under

Christ as his Servants, and Christ's undertaking the conduct of us. When we understand what we are engaged in, what hard service we have bound ourselves to, what a painful active life as Christians, we must count upon; o

Chapter 289

2. This Covenant will be the guide of your hearts. What is it that I

have to do? How is it that I must live? Why look into your Covenant; what is it that you have engaged to do? How is it that you have covenanted to live? You have covenanted Holiness and Righteousness; you have covenanted

Chapter 290

2. Take up your Cross upon your back. This is your Lord's word, Mat.

16:24. Whosoever will come after me, let him take up his Cross. This will be the proof of what there is of Christ or Christianity in your -- 320 of 330 -- hearts; a sound heart will make a strong back. He that loves mu

Chapter 291

3. Keep the Crown in your eye, and let that word be ever in your ear.

Rev. 3:11. Hold fast what thou hast, that no man take thy Crown. Run from your Colors and you lose the Crown. He that hath heaven in his eyes, will not fear to have holiness in his life. The hope of the victory will enco

Chapter 292

4. Carry up your hearts thither, where your enemies cannot come.

Carry them up to heaven; whatever treasure you lay up there, neither moth nor rust can corrupt, nor thieves break thorough and steal. There's no safety below, the Thief will be everywhere upon you; whilst you are convers

Chapter 293

1. To give them to the Lord. God will keep nothing, but what is his

own. Wilt thou give thine heart to the Devil, and then commit it to God to keep it for him? Give your hearts to the Lord, give them to him for his Servants, and then commit them to his Custody.

Chapter 294

2. To trust him with the keeping of them, Psal. 143:9. Deliver me O

God from mine enemies, for I flee unto thee to hide me. I have many enemies, that lie in wait for my Soul, I dare not trust to myself for -- 327 of 330 -- security. God is my trust and my refuge; I flee unto thee to hi