A cabinet of choice jewels, or, A box of precious ointment being a plain…A cabinet of choice jevvels, or, A box of precious ointment being a plain…

he that desires to steal, he is a Thief in the account of God; and he that desires to commit adultery, he is an adulterer in the account of God; and he that desires to oppress, he is an oppressor in the account of God; and he that desires to deceive, he is a deceiver in the account of God; and he that desires to persecute, he is a persecutor in the account of God; and he that desires to profane the Sabbaths of God, he is a profaner of the Sabbaths of God in the account of God, &c. Look, as every wicked man is as bad in the account of God, as his desires are bad; so every godly man is as good in the account of God, as his desires ⟨p. 177⟩are good; he that sincerely desires to believe, he does believe in the account of God.¹ The desire (saith one) to believe in the want of faith, is faith; though as yet there want firm and lively grace, yet art thou not altogether void of grace; if thou canst desire it, thy desire is the seed, conception or bud of what thou wantest. Now is the Spring-time of the engrafted Word or immortal seed cast into the furrows of thy heart, wait but a while, using the means, and thou shalt see that leaves, blossoms and fruits will shortly follow, &c. Another saith,² Faith in the most holy is not perfect, nevertheless, whosoever feels in his heart an earnest desire to believe, and a striving against his doubts, he both may and must assure himself, that he is endued with true faith. And he that sincerely desires to repent,³ he does repent in the account of God. Holy Bradford writing to Mr. Jo. Careless, saith, Thy sins are undoubtedly pardoned, &c. for God hath given thee a penitent and believing heart; that is, a heart which desireth to repent and believe,⁴ for such a one is taken of him (he accepting the will for the deed) for a penitent and believing heart indeed. And he that sincerely desires to mortify sin, he does mortify sin in the account of God; and he that sincerely desires to walk with God, he does walk with God in the account of God; and he that sincerely desires to honour God, he does honour God in the account of God; and he that sincerely desires to deny himself, he does deny himself in the account of God; and he that sincerely desires to be weaned from the world, he is weaned from the world in the account of God; and he that sincerely desires to be conformable to God, he is conformable to God in the account of God;