Search out the Corruption and Deceitfulness in thy Heart: If thou wilt believe him that knows the Heart better than it knows it self, The Heart is deceitful above all things Jer. 17.9. full of windings and turnings; deceitful beyond its own power of reflection, which, when acted, knows the deceit in part, but cannot dive into the bottom of it. Commune with thine own Heart, O Christian; ask it seriously, Is there not much Corruption within? are there not relics of Unbelief, Earthiness, Sensualness, Pride, Hypocrisy, Apostasy found in thee? Consider what these are; these fight under the same Colours, and aim at the same end with the persecuting World; these would root grace out of thy Heart, as wicked men would root Good out of the ⟨p. 27⟩World. As it was with Israel, there went up with them out of Egypt a mixed multitude, which was ready to return again thither; so it is with good men, there are corrupt mixtures in them which would turn back to Egypt again: Be not deceived, thy whole entire self is not for suffering; the unregenerate part will hang back, and say to thee, as Satan in Peter did to our Saviour, Master, Spare thy self: When dangers approach, the Flesh will cry out, Oh, Spare thy Estate Spare thy Relations, Spare thy Life, why shouldest thou destroy thy self? Take notice therefore, that there is a Traitor in thine own bosom, which unless thou watch, will like the Idolaters deceived Heart, turn thee aside from God. Again, ask thy Heart, Doth it not Steal out of holy duties? When thou art a hearing the holy Word, will not thy Heart go out to worldly objects? When thou art joining with others in Prayer, do not thy thoughts rove up and down about Carnal things? If thy Heart be a little elevated towards Heaven, doth it not immediately fall down again? If it be a little inflamed towards God, doth it not instantly cool again? Think with thy self; that Heart, that steals away from Duties in which there is nothing grievous to the Body, will be ready to steal away from Sufferings which grate ⟨p. 28⟩upon the Flesh and Sense: Thou hadst need to get thy Heart fixed on God in Duties, that when thou comest to Suffering, thou myest not start away from him. Further yet, ask thy heart; Hath it not been false in Vows and Promises of better obedience, and those made at Sacraments or upon Sick-beds?
Search out the Corruption and Deceitfulness in thy Heart: If thou wilt believe him that knows the Heart better than it knows it self, The Heart is deceitful above all things Jer. 17.9. full of windings and turnings; deceitful beyond its own power of reflection, which, when acted, knows the deceit in part, but cannot dive into the bottom of it. Commune with thine own Heart, O Christian; ask it seriously, Is there not much Corruption within? are there not reliques of Unbelief, Earthiness, Sensualness, Pride, Hypocricy, Apostacy found in thee? Consider what these are; these fight under the same Colours, and aim at the same end with the persecuting World; these would root grace out of thy Heart, as wicked men would root Good out of the ⟨p. 27⟩World. As it was with Israel, there went up with them out of Egypt a mixed multitude, which was ready to return again thither; so it is with good men, there are corrupt mixtures in them which would turn back to Egypt again: Be not deceived, thy whole entire self is not for suffering; the unregenerate part will hang back, and say to thee, as Satan in Peter did to our Saviour, Master, Spare thy self: When dangers approach, the Flesh will cry out, Oh, Spare thy Estate Spare thy Relations, Spare thy Life, why shouldest thou destroy thy self? Take notice therefore, that there is a Traitor in thine own bosom, which unless thou watch, will like the Idolaters deceived Heart, turn thee aside from God. Again, ask thy Heart, Doth it not Steal out of holy duties? When thou art a hearing the holy Word, will not thy Heart go out to worldly objects? When thou art joyning with others in Prayer, do not thy thoughts rove up and down about Carnal things? If thy Heart be a little elevated towards Heaven, doth it not immediately fall down again? If it be a little inflamed towards God, doth it not instantly cool again? Think with thy self; that Heart, that steals away from Duties in which there is nothing grevious to the Body, will be ready to steal away from Sufferings which grate ⟨p. 28⟩upon the Flesh and Sense: Thou hadst need to get thy Heart fixed on God in Duties, that when thou comest to Suffering, thou myest not start away from him. Further yet, ask thy heart; Hath it not been false in Vows and Promises of better obedience, and those made at Sacraments or upon Sick-beds?
