1. The extension of parts, with the Understanding, Will, and Affections. Some seek God with a piece of their hearts, to explain it, either in the work of Faith, or Love. In the work of Faith, as Act. 8. 37. If thou believest with all thine heart. There is a believing with a piece, and a believing with all the heart. There is an unactive knowledge, a naked assent, which may be real, yet it is not a true faith, the Devil may have this, Luk. 4. 34. the Devil makes an Orthodox confession there, Thou art Jesus the Son of the living God. This is only a conviction upon the understanding, without any bent upon the heart. It is not enough to own Christ to be the true Messiah, but we must embrace him, put our whole trust in him. There may be an assent joined with some sense and conscience, and some vanishing sweetness and taste by the reasonableness of Salvation by Christ, Heb. 6. 4. but this is not believing with all the heart; it is but a taste, a lighter work upon the affections, and therefore bringeth in little experience. There may be some assent, such as may engage to profession, and partial reformation, but the whole heart is not subdued to God. Then do we believe with the whole heart, when the heart is warmed with the things we know and assent to, when there is a full and free consent to take Christ upon Gods terms to all the uses and purposes for which God hath appointed him, 1 Chron. 28. 9. Know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart, and with a willing mind. When there is an effective, and an affective knowledge; when we cannot only discourse of God and Christ, and are inclined to believe; but when these truths soak into the heart to frame it to the obedience of his will. When the Lord had spoken of practical obedience, Was not this to know me, saith the Lord? Jer. 22. 16. And this is to believe. So for Love, Deut. 6. 5. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. Every faculty must express Love to God. Many will be content to give God a part; God hath their Consciences, but the world their affections. Their heart is divided, and the evidence of it is plainly this: In their troubles and extremities they will seek after God, but this is not their constant work and delight. We are welcome to God when we are compelled to come into his presence:
1. The extention of parts, with the Understanding, Will, and Affections. Some seek God with a piece of their hearts, to explain it, either in the work of Faith, or Love. In the work of Faith, as Act. 8. 37. If thou believest with all thine heart. There is a believing with a piece, and a believing with all the heart. There is an unactive knowledg, a naked assent, which may be real, yet it is not a true faith, the Devil may have this, Luk. 4. 34. the Devil makes an Orthodox confession there, Thou art Iesus the Son of the living God. This is only a conviction upon the understanding, without any bent upon the heart. It is not enough to own Christ to be the true Messiah, but we must embrace him, put our whole trust in him. There may be an assent join'd with some sense and conscience, and some vanishing sweetness and taste by the reasonableness of Salvation by Christ, Heb. 6. 4. but this is not believing with all the heart; it is but a taste, a lighter work upon the affections, and therefore bringeth in little experience. There may be some assent, such as may engage to profession, and partial reformation, but the whole heart is not subdued to God. Then do we believe with the whole heart, when the heart is warmed with the things we know and assent to, when there is a full and free consent to take Christ upon Gods terms to all the uses and purposes for which God hath appointed him, 1 Chron. 28. 9. Know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart, and with a willing mind. When there is an effective, and an affective knowledg; when we cannot only discourse of God and Christ, and are inclin'd to believe; but when these truths soak into the heart to frame it to the obedience of his will. When the Lord had spoken of practical obedience, Was not this to know me, saith the Lord? Jer. 22. 16. And this is to believe. So for Love, Deut. 6. 5. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. Every faculty must express Love to God. Many will be content to give God a part; God hath their Consciences, but the world their affections. Their heart is divided, and the evidence of it is plainly this: In their troubles and extremities they will seek after God, but this is not their constant work and delight. We are welcome to God when we are compelled to come into his presence:
