A Saint Indeed

For though grace hath in great measure rectified the Soul, and given it an habitual and heavenly temper; yet Sin often actually discomposes it again; so that even a gracious heart is like a musical Instrument, which though it be never so exactly tuned, a small matter brings it out of tune again; yea hang it aside but a little and it will need setting again, before you can play another Lesson on it: even so stands the case with gracious hearts; if they are in frame in one duty, yet how dull, dead and disordered, when they come to another: and therefore every duty needs a particular preparation of the heart, Job 11. 13. If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thy hands towards him: Well then, to keep the hear, is carefully to preserve it from sin which disorders it; and maintain that spiritual and gracious frame which fits it for a life of communion with God: and this includes these fix acts in it.

For though grace hath in great measure rectified the Soul, and given it an habitual and heavenly temper; yet Sin often actually discomposes it again; so that even a gracious heart is like a musical Instrument, which though it be never so exactly tuned, a small matter brings it out of tune again; yea hang it aside but a little and it will need setting again, before you can play another Lesson on it: even so stands the case with gracious hearts; if they are in frame in one duty, yet how dull, dead and disordered, when they come to another: and therefore every duty needs a particular preparation of the heart, Iob 11. 13. If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thy hands towards him: Well then, to keep the hear, is carefully to preserve it from sin which disorders it; and maintain that spiritual and gracious frame which fits it for a life of communion with God: and this includes these fix acts in it.

1. First, frequent observation of the frame of the heart, turning in and examining ⟨p. 10⟩how the case stands with it, this is one part of the work. Carnal and formal persons take no heed to this, they cannot be brought to confer with their own hearts; there are some men and women that have lived forty or fifty years in the world, and have scarce had one hours discourse with their own hearts all that while: 'tis an hard thing to bring a man and himself together upon such an account; but Saints know those Soliloquies and self-conferences to be of excellent use and advantage. The Heathen could say, anima sedendo & quiescendo fit sapiens, the Soul is made wise by fitting still in quietness; though Bankrupts care not to look into their Books of account, yet upright hearts will know whether they go backward or forward,