17 When as in receiving of meat, the meat that nourisheth, is changed into us, it is far1 otherwise in the chirurgery of our souls▪ For in receiving of the word & of the Sacraments which feed the soul, they are not changed into the qualities of us, but we are changed into them. It is the folly of the world now adays, and the evil that troubles, not only the base people, but the great also and the wise, that they think they must give sap & juice to nourish the word, rather than that they should suffer their wisdom to be maintained by the sap of the word, and they will set the Lord to learn of them. Well, in applying there is a great reason we apply to the heart▪ It is the principal place for God to work on, it is the usual place that Satan most inveigleth, and therefore it must needs have a plaster▪ And here we inquire not only Esau's heart, who said in his heart, the days of mourning for my Father will come shortly, then I will slay my brother Jacob▪ Genes. 27. 42. but Sarahs heart too, who hearing she should conceive in her old age, laughed in her heart, &c. So that they must come to this cure, Esau's mourning heart, and Sarahs unbelieving heart▪ •ea and with them, all hearts. Apply the plaster to any place save to the heart, and it will do no good. If the disease come from the heart, as all sickness of sin doth, lay to the hand the plaster, or to the foot, or to the face, though it heal in one place, it will break forth in another, because unless the heart be well purged and cured, it will still minister new matter of corruption into every part of the body. We are not then to be healed at the ear as we think we may, and yet many will not so much as be ear-wise: we must not be healed in the brain, for many will go so far in hearing, that they may be brain-wise: but we must be cured at the heart, for it is required we should be heart-wise. Well, many will come so far too, as they will conceive and judge well of things, so that they grow tongue-wise, and can discourse and talk well of things, but yet for that the heart is not truly touched, they are as vain in sin, and as much subject to pinching sorrows for sin as any other. Great cause then the fountains be stayed, and the principal parts plastered:
17 When as in receiuing of meate, the meate that nourisheth, is changed into vs, it is far1 otherwise in the chirurgerie of our soules▪ For in receiuing of the word & of the Sacramēts which feed the soule, they are not changed into the qualities of vs, but we are chāged into them. It is the folly of the world now adaies, and the euill that troubles, not onely the base people, but the great also and the wise, that they thinke they must giue sap & iuice to nourish the word, rather thā that they should suffer their wisdome to be maintained by the sap of the word, and they will set the Lord to learne of them. Wel, in applying there is a great reason we applie to the heart▪ It is the principall place for God to worke on, it is the vsuall place that Sathan most inue•gleth, and therefore it must needes haue a plaster▪ And here wee inquire not onely Esaus heart, who saide in his heart, the dayes of mourning for my Father will come shortly, then I will slay my brother Iacob▪ Genes. 27. 42. but Sarahs heart too, who hearing she should conceiue in her olde age, laughed in her heart, &c. So that they must come to this cure, Esaus mourning heart, and Sarahs vnbeleeuing heart▪ •ea and with them, all hearts. Applie the plaster to any place saue to the heart, and it will doe no good. If the disease come from the heart, as all sicknesse of sinne doth, lay to the hand the plaster, or to the foote, or to the face, though it heale in one place, it will breake foorth in another, because vnlesse the heart be well purged and cured, it will still minister new matter of corruption into euery part of the body. We are not then to be healed at the eare as wee thinke wee may, and yet many will not so much as be eare-wise: wee must not bee healed in the braine, for many will goe so farre in hearing, that they may bee braine-wise: but wee must be cured at the heart, for it is required wee should be heart-wise. Well, many will come so far too, as they will conceiue and iudge well of things, so that they growe tongue-wise, and can discourse and talke well of things, but yet for that the heart is not truely touched, they are as vaine in sinne, and as much subiect to pinching sorrowes for sinne as any other. Great cause then the fountaines bee staied, and the principall parts plastered:
- 1If we apply▪ we must apply to the heart.If we applie▪ we must applie to the heart.
