A Saint Indeed

But then, they take no heed to their hearts, they are not in secret, what they appear to be in public: and before this trial no hypocrite can stand; tis confessed, they may in a fit, under a pang upon a death-bed, cry out of the wickedness of their hearts; but alas! there is no heed to be taken to these extorted complaints▪ in our law no credit is to be given to the testimony of one upon the rack, because it may be supposed, that the extremity of the torture may make him say any thing to be eased, but if self jealousy, care, and watchfulness be the daily workings and frames of thy heart, it strongly argues the sincerity of it: for what but the sense of a divine eye, what but the real hatred of sin as sin, could put thee upon those secret duties, which lye out of the observation of all creatures.

But then, they take no heed to their hearts, they are not in secret, what they appear to be in publick: and before this tryal no hypocrit can stand; tis confest, they may in a fit, under a pang upon a death-bed, cry out of the wickedness of their hearts; but alas! there is no heed to be taken to these extorted complaints▪ in our law no credit is to be given to the testimony of one upon the rack, because it may be supposed, that the extremity of the torture may make him say any thing to be eased, but if self jealousie, care, and watchfulness be the daily workings and frames of thy heart, it strongly argues the sincerity of it: for what but the sence of a divine eye, what but the real hatred of sin as sin, could put thee upon those secret duties, which lye out of the observation of all creatures.

If then it be a desirable thing in thine eyes to have a fair testimony of thine integrity, and to know of a truth that ⟨p. 196⟩thou •earest God: then study thine heart, watch thy heart, keep thy heart.

If then it be a desirable thing in thine eyes to have a fair testimony of thine integity, and to know of a truth that