He that makes it his business to watch, and weep, and sigh, and groan most over his own heart, he doubtless is in a gracious estate; he that makes it his work, his daily work, his greatest work,1 his work of works, to keep a continual guard upon his heart, he certainly is in a blessed estate; he that lamentingly cries out, O, that my soul did but prosper as my body! O, that my inward man were but in as good a frame as my outward man! O, that this proud heart were but more humble! O, that this hard heart were but more softened! O, that this carnal heart were but more spiritual! 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 slight heart were but more serious! O, that this blind heart were but more enlightened! O, that this dull heart were but more quickened! O, my heart, my heart! when wilt thou be better? O, my God, my God! when shall my heart be better? O, bring it into a gracious frame, and for ever keep it in a gracious frame! He that thus lamentingly cries out of his heart, he certainly has an honest heart, and will be happy for ever. O Lord, my memory is weak, and my utterance is bad, and my ⟨p. 215⟩understanding is dark, and my gifts are low, and my affections are flat, and my temptations are strong,2 and my corruptions are prevalent; but thou who art the great heart searcher, thou knowest that I would fain have my heart in a better temper; I had rather have my heart brought into a gracious frame, and kept in a gracious frame, than to have all the riches of the Indies, than to be an Emperor, yea than to be King over all the earth. If it be indeed thus with thee, thou art blest, and shalt be blest for ever, 2 Cor. 8.12. For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not (I know the Apostle speaks this in point of alms, but 'tis applicable to the case in hand, and to a hundred other cases.) God measures his people not by their works, but by their wills; if their wills be to be more holy, humble, heavenly, and to have their hearts always in a most gracious frame, then they are accepted of God; for every good man is as good in the eye of God, in the judgment of God, and in the account of God, as he would be. Not long before famous Mr.
He that makes it his business to watch, and weep, and sigh, and groan most over his own heart, he doubtless is in a gracious estate; he that makes it his work, his daily work, his greatest work,1 his work of works, to keep a continual guard upon his heart, he certainly is in a blessed estate; he that lamentingly cryes out, O, that my soul did but prosper as my body! O, that my inward man were but in as good a frame as my outward man! O, that this proud heart were but more humble! O, that this hard heart were but more softned! O, that this carnal heart were but more spiritual! 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 slight heart were but more sericus! O, that this blind heart were but more enlightned! O, that this dull heart were but more quickned! O, my heart, my heart! when wilt thou be better? O, my God, my God! when shall my heart be better? O, bring it into a gracious frame, and for ever keep it in a gracious frame! He that thus lamentingly cryes out of his heart, he certainly has an honest heart, and will be happy for ever. O Lord, my memory is weak, and my utterance is bad, and my ⟨p. 215⟩understanding is dark, and my gifts are low, and my affections are flat, and my temptations are strong,2 and my corruptions are prevalent; but thou who art the great heart searcher, thou knowest that I would fain have my heart in a better temper; I had rather have my heart brought into a gracious frame, and kept in a gracious frame, than to have all the riches of the Indies, than to be an Emperor, yea than to be King over all the earth. If it be indeed thus with thee, thou art blest, and shalt be blest for ever, 2 Cor. 8.12. For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not (I know the Apostle speaks this in point of alms, but 'tis applicable to the case in hand, and to a hundred other cases.) God measures his people not by their works, but by their wills; if their wills be to be more holy, humble, heavenly, and to have their hearts alwayes in a most gracious frame, then they are accepted of God; for every good man is as good in the eye of God, in the judgment of God, and in the account of God, as he would be. Not long before famous Mr.
- 13 John 2.
- 2Psa. 39 22, 23, 24
