We will give him little, if we will not give him that which he asks for love toward our selves:1 though he say,2 Give it, yet indeed he hath bought it, and that dearly, with the deerest blood that ever was shed. He gave thee his heart before he desired thy heart, but a heart for a heart, a living heart for a heart which died: thou doest not lose thy life, as he did for thee, but thou bestowest thy life to glorify him: thou dost not part from thy hart when thou givest it, but he doth keep it for thee, lest the Serpent should steal it from thee,3 as he stole Paradise from Adam when it was in his own custody. He can keep it better than we,4 and he will keep it if we commit it to him,5 and lay it in a bed of peace, and lap it with joy, and none shall take it out of his hands. Therefore, if ye ask me, why you should give your hearts to God? I do not answer like the disciples which went for the Ass and the Colt,6 The Lord hath need: but we have need: for unless we give our souls, how can he have them? and unless he have them, how can he save them? Therefore we have need. If ever the saying were true,7 (It is more blessed to give than take:) more blessed are they which do give their hearts to God,8 than they which take possession of the world. Abigail did not gain so ⟨p. 284⟩much by her gift to David, as we for our gift to God: for she was married unto David, but we are married unto Christ, of whom the Church doth sing in the fifth of Canticles, that no well beloved is like her beloved: what heart would not be loved of him, though it do not love him? Who can assoil this riddle? We would have Christ our bridegroom, and yet we will not be his spouse; I would have him take my heart, and yet I will not give it. How should he keep it, or save it, or glorify it, if I hide it away, like the servant that buried his talent in the earth?9 So much as I keep from God, so much I keep from heaven, and will not suffer him to glorify it, as if I did wish one part to be saved, and another damned. He which would have his heart sanctified, and comforted, and enlightened, and will not give it to God which should do it, is like a woman which would have her dough leavened, and layeth her dough in one place, and the leaven in another, where one cannot touch the other: then cometh the tempter, and takes them asunder, and seizeth upon the heart, because he finds her alone.
We will giue him litle, if we will not giue him that which he askes for loue toward our selues:1 though he say,2 Giue it, yet indeed he hath bought it, and that deerely, with the deerest blood that euer was shed. He gaue thee his heart before he desired thy heart, but a heart for a heart, a liuing heart for a heart which died: thou doest not lose thy life, as he did for thee, but thou bestowest thy life to glorifie him: thou dost not part from thy hart when thou giuest it, but he doth keepe it for thee, lest the Serpent should steale it from thee,3 as he stole Paradise from Adam when it was in his owne custodie. He can keepe it better than we,4 and he will keepe it if wee commit it to him,5 and lay it in a bed of peace, and lap it with ioy, and none shall take it out of his hands. Therefore, if ye aske me, why you should giue your hearts to God? I doe not answer like the disciples which went for the Asse and the Colt,6 The Lord hath neede: but we haue neede: for vnlesse we giue our soules, how can he haue them? and vnlesse he haue them, how can he saue them? Therefore we haue neede. If euer the saying were true,7 (It is more blessed to giue than take:) more blessed are they which doe giue their hearts to God,8 than they which take possession of the world. Abigail did not gaine so ⟨p. 284⟩much by her gift to Dauid, as we for our gift to God: for she was married vnto Dauid, but wee are married vnto Christ, of whom the Church dooth sing in the fift of Canticles, that no welbeloued is like her beloued: what heart would not bee loued of him, though it do not loue him? VVho can assoyle this riddle? VVe would haue Christ our bridegroome, and yet we will not be his spouse; I would haue him take my heart, and yet I will not giue it. How should he keepe it, or saue it, or glorifie it, if I hide it away, like the seruant that buried his talent in the earth?9
- 1Psal. 31. 5.
- 21. Pet. 1. 18 19.
- 3Gen. 3. 1.
- 4Psal. 31. 5.
- 5John 10. 26Iohn 10. 26
- 6Mat. 21. 3.
- 7Act. 20. 35.
- 81. Sa. 25▪ 42
- 9Mat. 26. 24
