Hence its also clear: The Will of a Natural man1 is the worst part about him. The worst thing he ⟨p. 328⟩hath, and the greatest Enemy he hath, is his own Heart and Will. It follows thus, It is that which maintains all the sinful distempers of his soul, it keeps the whole Army of Corruptions all in their Ranks, that Victuals them, and provides for them, that hinders a man from using the means, or from getting good by all the means of Grace: Its the corrupt will of a man that keeps him under the power of his sin, and keeps off the power of an Ordinance, that would procure his everlasting good. I speak it the rather to dash that dream of wicked men, when they do ill, and speak ill; yet (say they) my heart is good. Its true, I cannot speak so well, nor do so well, nor make such a show as others can, but my desires are good. No truly, If thy Life be naught, thy Heart is worse. Its the worst thing thou hast about thee. Matt. 12. 34, 35. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh: And an evil man out of the evil treasure of […] heart brings forth evil things. There is a treasury of evil in thy heart, variety and abundance of wickedness there: The Heart is the store-house, a mans carriage in his life is but the shop; men do not use to bring out all into their shop, but keep it in their store-house that is full still: So be it known unto you, you who in your speeches and carriages discover it, you are desperately proud, and worldly, and carnal, and profane; there's a thousand times more of that wickedness in your hearts; there's a treasury, a store-house of all abominations. Nay, the deceitfulness of the Heart is above all; the masterfulness of the Heart is beyond all that we can conceive: A man may discern a mans life, and perceive what is there suitable, or cross to the Will of God; but the heart is desperate deceitful, who can know it? Jer. 17. 9. The Will of Man is uncontrollable. That ⟨p. 329⟩which the Apostle James speaks of the tongue, That it is an unruly evil full of deadly poison, none can tame it, Jam. 3. 8. It is much more true of the heart, for whatever wickedness is vented by the tongue, its first in the heart; and its there much more: men may gag a mans mouth, and fetter his hands and feet, but Oh the corrupt will of man, who can restrain that? The truth is, it will stand out against all Reasons and Arguments, and nothing can move the will except God work upon it.
Hence its also cleer: The Will of a Natural man1 is the worst part about him. The worst thing he ⟨p. 328⟩hath, and the greatest Enemy he hath, is his own Heart and Will. It follows thus, It is that which maintains al the sinful distempers of his soul, it keeps the whole Army of Corruptions al in their Ranks, that Victuals them, and provides for them, that hinders a man from using the means, or from getting good by al the means of Grace: Its the corrupt wil of a man that keeps him under the power of his sinne, and keeps off the power of an Ordinance, that would procure his everlasting good. I speak it the rather to dash that dream of wickedmen, when they do ill, and speak ill; yet (say they) my heart is good. Its true, I cannot speak so wel, nor do so wel, nor make such a shew as others can, but my desires are good. No truly, If thy Life be naught, thy Heart is worse. Its the worst thing thou hast about thee. Matt. 12. 34, 35. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh: And an evil man out of the evil treasure of 〈…〉 heart brings forth evil things. There is a treasury of evil in thy heart, variety and abundance of wickedness there: The Heart is the store-house, a mans carriage in his life is but the shop; men do not use to bring out al into their shop, but keep it in their store-house that is ful stil: So be it known unto you, you who in your speeches and carriages discover it, you are desperately proud, and wordly, and carnal, and prophane; there's a thousand times more of that wickedness in your hearts; there's a treasury, a store-house of al abominations. Nay, the deceitfulness of the Heart is above al; the masterfulness of the Heart is beyond al that we can conceive: A man may discern a mans life, and perceive what is there sutable, or cross to the Will of God; but the heart is desperate decentful, who can know it? Jer. 17. 9. The Will of Man is uncontroulable. That ⟨p. 329⟩which the Apostle James speaks of the tongue, That it is an unruly evil ful of deadly poyson, none can tame it, Jam. 3. 8. It is much more true of the heart, for whatever wickednes is vēted by the tongue, its first in the heart; and its there much more: men may gag a mans mouth, and fetter his hands and feet, but Oh the corrupt will of man, who can restrain that? The truth is, it wil stand out against al Reasons and Arguments, and nothing can move the wil except God work upon it.
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