HE that possesseth his heart,] who hath his mind rightly informed with knowledge and judgement, and orderly moderateth his desires and affections, loveth his own soul, hath a due care of himself, and useth direct means for his salvation, safety, comfort, and welfare. For to love ones soul in this place, is otherwise taken then in the Gospel by Saint John, chap. 12. 25. where it is said, that he which loveth his soul, shall lose it, and he that hateth his soul in this world, shall keep it unto eternal life. To love the soul, that is, to be desirous of retaining this natural life, as rather to deny the truth of God, and forsake the gospel of Christ, then to make profession thereof, and yield sincere obedience to it, with hazard and peril: and he shall lose his soul, that is, forfeit his salvation and happiness, as he that hateth his soul, which chooseth to forgo life, rather then the services of God, and a good conscience, shall keep it unto eternal life, be saved and glorified for ever. He keepeth understanding, not only heareth good instructions, but seriously attendeth to them, pondereth of them in his meditations, layeth them up in his memory, observeth them diligently in the course of his life, and retaineth them constantly till the time of his death, to find that which is good, that is the end which he proposeth to him self, & this is the success which he obtaineth, that Gods favour shall be confirmed unto him, both by the blessings of this present life, and by a blessed estate, in that which is to come hereafter.
HE that possesseth his heart,] who hath his minde rightlie informed with knowledge and iudgement, and orderlie moderateth his desires and affections, loueth his owne soule, hath a due care of himselfe, and vseth direct meanes for his saluation, safetie, comfort, and welfare. For to loue ones soule in this place, is otherwise taken then in the Gospell by Saint Iohn, chap. 12. 25. where it is saide, that hee which loueth his soule, shall lose it, and hee that hateth his soule in this world, shall keepe it vnto eternall life. To loue the soule, that is, to be desirous of reteining this naturall life, as rather to denie the truth of God, and forsake the gospell of Christ, then to make profession therof, and yeeld sincere obedience to it, with hazard and perill: and he shall lose his soule, that is, forfeit his saluation and happines, as hee that hateth his soule, which chuseth to forgoe life, rather then the seruices of God, and a good conscience, shall keepe it vnto eternall life, be saued and glorified for euer. Hee keepeth vnderstanding, not onely heareth good instructions, but seriouslie attendeth to them, pondereth of them in his meditations, laieth them vp in his memorie, obserueth them diligently in the course of his life, and retaineth them constantly till the time of his death, to find that which is good, that is the end which he proposeth to him self, & this is the successe which he obtaineth, that Gods fauour shalbe confirmed vnto him, both by the blessings of this presēt life, and by a blessed estate, in that which is to come hereafter.
