That weighty charge of Solomon (Right worshipful) to every son of wisdom, for thea keeping of his heart above all watch and ward, may well persuade us, that some matters of great importance depend thereon: Among many (because my gates may not be great before so small a city) I will touch one. There is a strange desire, not of earthly but of spiritual powers: after the possession of mans heart: ⟨image 3⟩God saith,b, my son give me thy heart; and to him indeed the right belongs: Yet thorough mans transgression Satan hath got such hold thereof, that unless it be by divine power he will not be kept out; & though we hear not Satan's voice, yet hisc dealing bewrays his meaning, that above all things in man he desires the heart. Once he strove about a dead mans body, dbut doubtless his purpose therein was to have set up an Idol for himself in the hearts of the living. But what is mans heart that it should be so desired? Surely in substance little, but for employment almost infinite: It is a Treasure ewhereout man bringeth all his actions good, or evil: It is a temple wherein is ⟨image 3⟩either the Ark of God, 6or Dagon for the Devil: Yea, it is af palace wherein dwelleth, and a throne whereon sitteth either Christ, or Satan, theg king of glory, or theh prince of darkness: andi he that keeps possession will there exercise dominion. Neither may we think that one heart will suffer both these;k no man can serve two masters; God will have all or none;l if any part be shared from him, in high displeasure he leaves the rest, and so the whole falls to the devil. Now sith the case standeth thus with mans heart, doth it not nearly concern every one to know his own estate in this behalf: to wit; what kind of treasury, whose Temple; whose palace and throne his heart is, that if all be well he may rejoice, & ⟨image 4⟩so keep it for the Lord; if otherwise, then seek redress betime.
THat waightie charge of Salomon (Right worshipfull) to euery sonn of wisdome, for thea keeping of his heart aboue all watch and ward, may well perswade vs, that some matters of great importance depend thereon: Among many (because my gates may not be great before so small a citie) I will touch one. There is a strange desire, not of earthly but of spirituall powers: after the possession of mans heart: ⟨image 3⟩God saith,b, my sonne giue me thy heart; and to him indeed the right belongs: Yet thorough mans transgressiō Satan hath got such hold therof, that vnlesse it be by diuine power hee will not be kept out; & though we heare not Satans voice, yet hisc dealing bewraies his meaning, that aboue all things in man he desires the heart. Once hee stroue about a dead mans body, dbut doubtles his purpose therein was to haue set vp an Idoll for himselfe in the hearts of the liuing. But what is mans heart that it should be so desired? Surely in substance little, but for imployment almost infinite: It is a Treasure ewhereout man bringeth all his actions good, or evill: It is a temple wherin is ⟨image 3⟩either the Arke of God, 6or Dagon for the Deuill: Yea, it is af pallace wherein dwelleth, and a throne whereon sitteth either Christ, or Satan, theg king of glory, or theh prince of darknes: andi he that keeps possession will there excercise dominion. Neither may we thinke that one heart wilsuffer both these;k
- aPro. 4. 23.
- bPro. 23. 26.
- cSee Acts. 5. •. Luk. 22 3.
- dMoses body, Jude 9.Moses body, Iude 9.
- eMat. 12. 35.
- 6Hinc fons boni, & peccandi origo. Hieron. ad demetriad.
- fAugust. in p•. 148.
- gPsal. 24. 7.
- hEphes. 6. 2▪
- iQui, posse di• ipse imperabit ibid. Aug.
- kMat. 6. 24.
- lQuia •it ibi p•rs aliqua Diabolo discedit Dens iratus; & possidet to•u• diabolus. August in Joh.Quia •it ibi prs aliqua Diabolo discedit Dens iratus; & possidet tou diabolus. August in Ioh.
