First,1 let us lay up in our hearts the weapon of God, even the sword of the spirit, whereby our hearts may be wounded, as often as need requireth: for unregenerate persons wanting that weapon, will rather defend, then smite themselves when they have offended, and every child of God hath somewhat of old Adam in him, in ⟨p. 6⟩which regard he must be more careful to use the sword of the spirit, for the piercing of his heart when any sin is committed by him:2 withal praying for the spirit of grace which will convince the conscience when it is guilty, so that it shall have nothing to say in defence of it self, but very much for the condemnation of it self: as is evident Ezec. 36. 27.3 whereby we may observe, that when God hath given his spirit unto his elect, and (as it is in Jeremiah. 31. 33.)4 withal written his laws in their hearts, then they shall remember their own wicked ways, and their deeds that were not good, and shall judge themselves worthy to have been destroyed for their iniquities, & for their abominations. What is the reason they should pass such a heavy sentence upon themselves? one would think they should rather rejoice now, & allow of themselves and of their works? so they do rejoice at, and approve of themselves and their works, so far as they are spiritual: but they proclaim war against themselves and their works so far as either they are or have been carnal and sinful, and that because the word of God, and the spirit of God do bear sway in their hearts: they are at utter defiance with their pride and hypocrisy, and all wretched lusts that fight against their souls: being never so much tormented with those sins, as when they have attained to a great measure of humility, and of sincerity. He that is most lowly is ever most vexed with his pride, and he that is most upright and true hearted, is most of all troubled with the guilefulness and deceitfulness of his own heart, because the word and the spirit working together do cause him both more clearly to see, and more throughly to hate those corruptions, than ever he did before he had attained to that measure of grace.
First,1 let vs lay vp in our hearts the weapon of God, euen the sword of the spirit, whereby our hearts may be wounded, as often as need requireth: for vnregenerate persons wanting that weapon, will rather defend, then smite themselues when they haue offended, and euery childe of God hath somewhat of old Adam in him, in ⟨p. 6⟩which regard he must be more carefull to vse the sword of the spirit, for the piercing of his heart when any sinne is committed by him:2 withall praying for the spirit of grace which will conuince the conscience when it is guiltie, so that it shall haue nothing to say in defense of it selfe, but very much for the condemnation of it selfe: as is euident Ezec. 36. 27.3 whereby we may obserue, that when God hath giuen his spirit vnto his elect, and (as it is in Ieremy. 31. 33.)4 withall written his lawes in their hearts, then they shall remember their owne wicked waies, and their deedes that were not good, and shall iudge themselues worthy to haue beene destroyed for their iniquities, & for their abhominations. What is the reason they should passe such a heauie sentence vpon themselues? one would thinke they should rather reioyce now, & allow of themselues and of their workes? so they doe reioyce at, and approue of themselues and their workes, so farre as they are spirituall: but they proclaime war against themselues and their workes so far as either they are or haue beene carnall and sinfull, and that because the word of God, and the spirit of God doe beare sway in their hearts: they are at vtter defiance with their pride and hypocrisie, and all wretched lusts that fight against their soules: being neuer so much tormented with those sinnes, as when they haue attained to a great measure of humilitie, and of sinceritie. He that is most lowly is euer most vexed with his pride, and he that is most vpright and true hearted, is most of all troubled with the guilefulnes and deceitfulnes of his owne heart, because the word and the spirit working together doe cause him both more clerely to see, and more throughly to hate those corruptions, than euer hee did before he had attained to that measure of grace.
- 1Means to get tenderness of heart.Meanes to get tendernes of heart.
- 2John. 16. 8.Iohn. 16. 8.
- 3Ezeck. 36.
- 4Jer. 31.Ier. 31.
