The parable of the prodigal. Containing, The riotous prodigal, or The sinners aversion from…

4. Hypocrisy and guile of heart: Where the heart is false, ¹there the performance is faint; if the work be not done in the heart, it will never be done in the life; the work is best done in the life, which is first done in the heart. They in Jeremiah had rotten hearts, they did not cordially intend to leave their own ways, and therefore when they were put to it indeed, they would not yield to walk in the ways which God prescribed. Where an holy way is not throughly approved, and where an evil way is not throughly hated, there may be many flashes, but there will never be solid performances or courses: Yet a little sleep, yet a little slumber, yet a little folding of the hands, said the Sluggard, who loved sleep and idleness, Prov. 6. 10. So where our affections are hankering about a sin, there is ever, at the least, a slowness to leave that sin: Modo, modo, said S. Austin, when motions came into him to forsake his unclean Lusts, they answered, Shortly, shortly; Hereafter, hereafter; and this modo, modo, was sine modo; this putting off from day to day, would have continued so all the days of his life. Therefore if you would execute your penitential resolutions, take heed of corrupt affections; if they again prevail upon you, they vvill assuredly entangle and hinder you, they mar the judgment, and close with temptations, and hinder actions. Oh how suddenly vvill they quench your spirits, alter your judgments, put aside your duties, extenuate your purposes, bring you into further bondage, confirm your unwillingness, excite your fears, raise up discouragements, and all to frustrate the present executions ⟨p. 152⟩of your former resolutions. Corrupt affections are the very gates of sin, the Bane of holiness, the Quenchers of resolutions, and the Impediments of all good performances.

4. Hypocrisie and guile of heart: Where the heart is false, ¹there the performance is faint; if the work be not done in the heart, it will never be done in the life; the work is best done in the life, which is first done in the heart. They in Jeremiah had rotten hearts, they did not cordially intend to leave their own wayes, and therefore when they were put to it indeed, they would not yield to walk in the wayes which God prescribed. Where an holy way is not throughly approved, and where an evil way is not throughly hated, there may be many flashes, but there will never be solid performances or courses: Yet a little sleep, yet a little slumber, yet a little folding of the hands, said the Sluggard, who loved sleep and idleness,