The reasons of the Christian religion the first part, of godliness, proving by natural…

Man knoweth not the Hearts of those whom he governeth: And therefore he can take no cognisance of heart-sins or duties, unless as they appear in words or deeds: And therefore he maketh no Law for the government of hearts. But the Heart is the Man: and a bad heart is the fountain of bad words or acts, and is it self polluted, before it endeavoureth the injury of others. He that thinks all indifferent that is within him, is himself so bad, that it is the less wonder if being so indifferent, yea so vitiated within, he think nothing evil which he hath a mind to do. He that thinketh that the heart is as good and innocent which hateth his God, his King, his Friend, his Parents, as that which loveth them, and that it is no duty to have any good thought or affection, ⟨p. 46⟩but only for the outward actions sake; nor any sin to be malicious, covetous, proud, deceitful, lustful, impious, and unjust, in his cogitations, contrivances, and desires, unless as they appear in the acts, doth show that he hath himself a heart, which is too suitable to such a Doctrine. But Nature hath taught all the World, to judge of men by their Hearts, as far as they can know them, and not to take the Will, which is the first seat of Moral Good or Evil, to be capable of neither Good nor Evil. Therefore seeing Hearts must be under Government, it must not be man, but the heart-searching God, that must be their Governor.

Man knoweth not the Hearts of those whom he governeth: And therefore he can take no cognisance of heart-sins or duties, unless as they appear in words or deeds: And therefore he maketh no Law for the government of hearts. But the Heart is the Man: and a bad heart is the fountain of bad words or acts, and is it self polluted, before it endeavoureth the injury of others. He that thinks all indifferent that is within him, is himself so bad, that it is the less wonder if being so indifferent, yea so vitiated within, he think nothing evil which he hath a minde to do. He that thinketh that the heart is as good and innocent which hateth his God, his King, his Friend, his Parents, as that which loveth them, and that it is no duty to have any good thought or affection, ⟨p. 46⟩but only for the outward actions sake; nor any sin to be malicious, covetous, proud, deceitfull, lustfull, impious, and unjust, in his cogitations, contrivances, and desires, unless as they appear in the acts, doth shew that he hath himself a heart, which is too suitable to such a Doctrine. But Nature hath taught all the World, to judge of men by their Hearts, as far as they can know them, and not to take the Will, which is the first seat of Moral Good or Evil, to be capable of neither Good nor Evil. Therefore seeing Hearts must be under Government, it must not be man, but the heart-searching God, that must be their Governour.