The Christian's great interest. Or, A short treatise, divided into two parts. The first…

Answ.

It is to be regretted that mens heart doth not, with much bensail of desire and affection, embrace & welcome that blessed offer and portion: Yet for answer to the objection, remember; (1.) That those to whom the Lord giveth the new heart, forming Christ in them, the whole heart is not renewed, there is flesh and spirit, lusting against other, the one contrary unto the other; so as a man can neither do the good or evil he would do, with fall be•sail, Gal. 5.17. It is well if there be a good part of the heart going out after Christ, desiring to close with Him on his own terms. (2.) That there is often ⟨p. 218⟩rational love in the heart unto Christ Jesus, expressing it self by a respect to his Commandments, 1 Joh. 5.5. when there is not a sensible prevailing love which maketh the Soul sick, Cant. 2.5. Men must not always expect to find this. I say then, although somewhat in your heart draw back, yet if you can say, you are convinced of your broken state without Him, you want a Righteousness to cover your guilt, and you want strength to stand out against Sin, or to what is pleasing before God: you also see fullness in Him in both these respects; you dare say, somewhat within your heart, would be fain at him upon his own terms, and would have both Righteousness for justification, & Strength in order to sanctification: & what is within you contradicting this, is your burden, in some measure, & your bondage. If it be so, your heart is brought a tolerable length; go on to the business and determine the matter by Covenanting with God, and say with your mouth, that you have both righteousness and strength in God, as He hath sworn your shall do,