A29686:428
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.
if that be very naught, all is very naught; if that be stark naught, all is stark naught; but if that be reformed, all is reformed. A gracious man's watch is mainly about his heart; Create in me a clean heart, 1O God, and renew a right spirit within me; Unite my heart to fear thy name. Incline my heart unto thy testimonies. Let my heart be sound in thy statutes, that I be not ashamed. When thou saidest, seek my face, my heart answered, Thy face Lord will I seek. Psal. 119.10. With my whole heart have I sought thee. Ver. 11. Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee. Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not unto ⟨p. 207⟩covetousness. 2The heart of man is the fountain of life or death, and therefore sin in the heart, in some respects, is worse and more dangerous than sin in the life; and hence 'tis that the sincere Christian doubles his guard about his heart. Luther hit it, when he said, I more fear what is within me, than what comes from without; the storms and winds without do never move the earth, 'tis only vapours within that causeth earth-quakes, as Philosophers observe.3 Hypocrites (as our Saviour testifies) are all for the outside, they wash the platters and the cups, and beautify the tombs like an adulteress, whose care is to paint and set a fair face upon a foul matter; but now a sincere Christian,4 though he has a special respect to the well-ordering of his life, yet his main business and work is about his heart; O, that this ignorant heart were but more enlightened! O, that this proud heart were but more humble! O that this profane heart were but more holy! O, that this earthly heart were but more heavenly! O, that this unbelieving heart were but more believing! O, that this passionate heart were but more meek! O, that this carnal heart were but more spiritual! O that this lukewarm heart were but more zealous for God, and Christ, and the Gospel, and the great concernments of eternity! O, that this slight heart were but more serious! O, that this dull heart were but more quickened! O, that this dead heart were but more enlivened! &c. The highest and hardest work of a Christian lieth with his heart.