Our heart is a wandering thing, it is like the mill, that is ever grinding, still setting us a work with more commandments, than ever God gave us. If we follow Gods1 way, there is some end, but if we follow our own way there is an endless maze Jerem. 4. the heart must be circumcised. It is a little member, it will not serve a kite for a meal, and2 yet all the world will not serve it, there is so much superfluous matter in it, it had need be circumcised, Cast down thine heart, saith Isaiah. It must be plucked down, and kept in some work. A good way, the way of the heart is not, but how it lieth, it is to be considered. The first entrance is the thought, either by occasion or by his own motion. The Scripture divideth them into two sorts, injected and ascending, both naught. Injected be3 those, which the devil casteth in, as he did into the heart of Judas: ascending be such, as rise out of the heart, which do breath out. Of these our Saviour Christ speaketh to his4 Disciples, why do thoughts arise in your hearts? The second thing that makes thee walk easy, is when we are well affected to it, and will entertain it, and stay to talk with it. Then there is a lingering delay to stay in it, and a mans conscience telleth him, it is evil, and he leaveth it, and cometh straight to it again. Further when a man conceiveth a pleasure in these imaginations, so that the very sent of them delighteth him; for they carry5 the smell of them in themselves; and even as the ravens will not go far from the6 dead carcass, though a man be with it, they will be sure to be within sent of it. After comes a desire of taking fruit of it, by wishing, I would I might, as also a consent of the will, and that is with God a full action, as Christ saith to Judas, what thou dost do quickly ⟨p. 705⟩when as yet as he did act nothing outwardly. Next followeth the endeavour and devising7 by all means possible to bring it to pass, as Jezebel did to bring Naboth to his death: Then ensueth the act it self, that is the sin of the hands or of the feet, & then perhaps we do it twice & often. Then cometh a benumbed conscience, he forgets to be sorrowful for it, it pricks him not. Lastly followeth, I will stand to it, then men will call light darkness, and darkness light. We may add boasting in sin, say what you can, they will not do8 it, they will do it to spite you.
Our heart is a wandering thing, it is like the mill, that is euer grinding, still setting vs a worke with more commaundements, than euer God gaue vs. If we follow Gods1 way, there is some end, but if we follow our owne way there is an endlesse maze Ierem. 4. the heart must be circumcised. It is a little member, it will not serue a kyte for a meale, and2 yet all the world will not serue it, there is so much superfluous matter in it, it had neede be circumcifed, Cast downe thine heart, saith Esay. It must be plucked downe, and kept in some worke. A good way, the way of the heart is not, but how it lieth, it is to be considered. The first entrance is the thought, either by occasion or by his owne motion. The Scripture deuideth them into two sorts, iniected and ascending, both naught. Iniected be3 those, which the diuell casteth in, as he did into the heart of Iudas: ascending be such, as rise out of the heart, which doe breath out. Of these our Sauiour Christ speaketh to his4 Disciples, why do thoughts arise in your hearts? The second thing that makes thee walke easie, is when we are well affected to it, and will entertaine it, and stay to talke with it. Then there is a lingring delay to stay in it, and a mans conscience telleth him, it is euil, and he leaueth it, and commeth straight to it againe. Further when a man conceiueth a pleasure in these imaginations, so that the very sent of them delighteth him; for they carrie5 the smell of them in themselues; and euen as the rauens will not goe farre from the6 dead carcasse, though a man be with it, they will be sure to be within sent of it. After comes a desire of taking fruit of it, by wishing, I would I might, as also a consent of the will, and that is with God a full action, as Christ saith to Iudas, what thou dost doe quickely ⟨p. 705⟩when as yet as he did act nothing outwardly. Next followeth the endeuour and deuising7 by al meanes possible to bring it to passe, as Iezabel did to bring Naboth to his death: Thē ensueth the act it selfe, that is the sinne of the hands or of the feete, & then perhaps we do it twice & often. Then commeth a benummed conscience, he forgets to be sorrowfull for it, it prickes him not. Lastly followeth, I will stand to it, then men will call light darknesse, and darkenesse light. We may adde boasting in sinne, say what you can, they will not doe
- 1Simile.
- 2Note.
- 3Immissae & ascendentes.
- 4Two kinds of thoughts. John. 13.Two kinds of thoughts. Iohn. 13.
- 5Simile.
- 6The ravens will not go far from a dead carcass.The rauens will not goe farre from a dead carcasse.
- 7But delight still to be in the sent of it, even so do we with sin.But delight still to be in the sent of it, euen so doe we with sin.
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