Therefore let all Suitors have their answer, that thy heart is married already. As Isaac answered Esau,1 Jacob have I blessed, and he shall be blessed: so thou mayest say, God hath my heart, and he shall have it; and them that crave it hereafter, send them to Christ for it, for it is not thine to give, if thou have given it to God already. But take heed thy heart do not lye to thy self, and say it is Gods when it is the worlds,2 like Jeroboam's Wife, which would not seem to be Jeroboam's Wife. By this thou shalt know whether thou hast given it to him or no; if the Heart be gone, all will follow. As the Sun riseth first, and then the beasts arise from their dens, the Fowls from their nests, and men from their beds: so when the Heart sets forward to God, all the members will follow after it, the tongue will praise him, the foot will follow him, the ear will attend him, the eye will watch him, the hand will ⟨p. 272⟩serve him, nothing will stay after the heart, but every one goes like handmaids after their mistress:3 this Christ verifieth, saying: make clean within,4 and all will be clean: therefore the Publican did beat upon his hart, as though he were angry with it, because it did not waken all the rest: showing that as the Father gave us all, when he gave his son, so we give him all when we give our hearts.5 This is the melody which Paul speaketh of, Ephes. 5. 19. Make melody in the Lord in your hearts: showing that there is a consort of all the members, when the heart is in tune, and that it sounds like a melody in the ears of God, and makes us rejoice while we serve him. We have example hereof in Christ, which said it was meat and drink unto him to do his fathers will:6 and in David, which danced to see the Ark;7 and in the Israelites, of whom it is said,8 that they rejoiced, when they offered from their heart unto the Lord.
Therefore let all Sutors haue their answere, that thy heart is married alreadie. As Isaac answered Esau,1 Iacob haue I blessed, and he shalbe blessed: so thou maist say, God hath my heart, and he shall haue it; and them that craue it hereafter, send them to Christ for it, for it is not thine to giue, if thou haue giuen it to God alreadie. But take heede thy heart do not lye to thy selfe, and say it is Gods when it is the worldes,2 like Ieroboams Wife, which woulde not seeme to bee Ieroboams Wife. By this thou shalt knowe whether thou hast giuen it to him or no; if the Heart be gone, all will followe. As the Sunne riseth first, and then the beastes arise from their dennes, the Fowles from their neastes, and men from their beddes: so when the Heart sets forwarde to God, all the members will follow after it, the tongue will praise him, the foote will follow him, the eare will attend him, the eye will watch him, the hand will ⟨p. 272⟩serue him, nothing will staie after the heart, but euerie one goes like handmaydes after their mistresse:3 this Christ verifieth, saying: make cleane within,4 and all will bee cleane: therefore the Publican did beat vpon his hart, as though hee were angrie with it, because it did not waken all the rest: shewing that as the Father gaue vs all, when hee gaue his son, so we giue him all when wee giue our heartes.5 This is the melodie which Paul speaketh of, Ephes. 5. 19. Make melodie in the Lord in your hearts: shewing that there is a consort of all the members, when the heart is in tune, and that it soundes like a melodie in the eares of God, and makes vs reioyce while wee serue him. Wee haue example heereof in Christ, which said it was meate and drinke vnto him to doo his fathers will:6 and in Dauid, which daunced to see the Arke;7 and in the Israelites, of whom it is saide,8
- 1Gen. 27.
- 21. Reg. 24. 6.
- 3Psal. 123. 2
- 4Mat. 13. 26
- 5Rom. 8. 32.
- 6John 4. 34.Iohn 4. 34.
- 72. Sa. 6. 14.
- 81. Chro. 29. 9
