Directions and persuasions to a sound conversion for prevention of that deceit and damnation…Directions and perswasions to a sound conversion for prevention of that deceit and damnation…

If ever then you would be assured that your are Christians, look to the Habitual bent of your hearts, and see that you do not only talk of Scripture, and slightly believe it, and speak well of Christ, with some good wishes, and meanings, and purposes; but, as you love your Souls, see that Christ be Received as your dearest Saviour, with Thankfulness, and greatest Love; and as your Sovereign Lord, with true subjection; and that he have your Superlative estimation and Affections, and all things in the world be put under him in your Souls. This must be so, if you will have the portion of Believers. No Faith that is short of this, will prove you Christ's Disciples indeed, or Heirs of the Promises made to Believers. The voice of Christ that calls to you in the Gospel, is, My son give me thy heart, Prov. 23. 26. Do, what thou wilt in ways of duty, and think as highly as thou wilt of thy self, thou art no true Believer in ⟨p. 280⟩Christ's account, till thou hast given him thy heart. If he have thy tongue, if he have thy good opinion; nay if thy body were burnt in his Cause, if he had not thy Love, thy Heart, it were as nothing, 1 Cor. 13. 3. For thy works, and sufferings, are so far acceptable (through Christ) as they are testimonies of this, that Christ hath thy heart. If he have not thy heart, he takes it as if he had nothing: And if he have this, he takes it as if he had all. For this is not only preferred by him before all; but also he knows that this commandeth all. If Christ have thy Heart, the Devil will not have thy tongue, and life; the Ale-house, or a Harlot will not have thy body; nor the world will not have the principal part of thy life. If Christ have thy Heart, it will be heard much in thy conference; it will be seen in thy labours: For that which hath a mans Heart will hardly be hid, unless he purposely hide it, which a Christian neither can, nor ought to do. It would make a man wonder to hear some wretches, that will run from God as fast as they can, and yet face you down, that God hath their hearts: that have no mind, so much as ⟨p. 281⟩to meditate, or talk of Christ, or his precious Blood, or mysterious Redemption, or the glorious Kingdom purchased by him; that will be at neither, cost nor labour in his Service, and yet profess that Christ hath their hearts: