A29686:427
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…
A cabinet of choice jewels, or, A box of precious ointment being a plain discovery of, or, what men are worth for eternity, and how 'tis like to go with them in another world ... / by Thomas Brooks ...A cabinet of choice jevvels, or, A box of precious ointment being a plain discovery of, or, what men are worth for eternity, and how 'tis like to go with them in another world ... / by Thomas Brooks ...
London : Printed and are to be sold by John Hancock ..., 1669
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Lastly, That man that makes it his principle care, his §20main business, his work of works, to look to his heart, to watch his heart, and to reform his heart, that man doubtless has a saving work of God upon his heart. There are two things which a gracious soul most looks at; his God and his heart. Though a gracious man looks to the cleansing of his hands, yet his principle care is the reformation of his heart, the cleansing of his heart, according to that of the Apostle James; Cleanse your hands ye sinners, and purify your hearts ye double minded. And that of the Prophet Jeremiah; 1O Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved. ⟨p. 206⟩Man must labour after a clean inside, as well as a clean outside; the conversation must not be only unspotted before the world, but the heart also must be unspotted before God; the heart is as capable of inward defilements as the body is of outward defilements.2 O Sirs! though heart-defilement is least taken notice of, yet heart-defilement is the worst defilement, and the most dangerous defilement in the world; heart-defilement is spiritual defilement,3 and spiritual defilement is the defilement of devils, which of all defilement is the most hateful, odious and pernicious defilement. The hypocrites only care is to keep his life from defilement, but the sincere Christians care is mainly to keep his heart from defilement; for he very well knows, that if he can but keep his heart clean, he shall with more ease keep his life clean; if the fountain be kept pure, the streams will run pure: The heart is the spring of all actions, and therefore every action is as the spring is from whence it flows; if the spring be good, the action is good that flows from it; if the spring be evil, the action is evil that flows from it.4 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart, bringeth forth good things; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart, bringeth forth evil things. Certainly, the great work of a Christian lieth with his heart; the reformation of the heart is the highest and choicest part of reformation,