Before wee heare, our hearts mull be qualified with, I Softnei'fe. 2 . Humilitie. J.am.4. d. lfo·~7.1J<~ . 3 H0ncfi'ie. The SaintJjure fit toentertaine the Word of life, and falvarion; let thy heart be feafoned with , firfr, Softneife; fecondly, Humilitie; thirdly, Honeftie; fourth· Iy, F~ith; fifthly, Teachab]eneffe. 1 Fuft, if thou doe not preferve thy I1eart tender, foft, and :flexible , the power of the Word. will · not make any fuch print or deepe impreffion upon it ; all holy admonitions,reproofes,and infiru6l:i– ons, will be unto thee as Arrowes !hot againfi: a , Scone wall. Secondly, wee mull: bring with us an humble heart, to the hearing of the Word; for, the Lord reftftsthe proud,and.gives grace to the humble. Them that be meeke, will he guide in judgemenp, and teach the humble hif way. The proud heart is fo [welled with the winde of vanitie and vaine-glory, of felfe-Iovc,and over-wfening conceit, that there is left no roome in it for the precious Treafure of f~tving grace. If it eyther be puffed up with a conceit of knowledge,or a perfwaiion ofholineffe enough, or a boifierous peremptorineife againft the power of theWord ; the Water of Life wiH be unto it, bur as Water poured upon a drowned man; or as a Seale thrufi upon Water,whichwill r,eceive no imprelijon. A lowly heart, broken .and bruifed with Confcience of finne, is a fit Seat for themightie Lord and his faving graces,_ lfa·57.I5. . ' Thirdly~ weemufi:comewithagood and ha~ : nefi heart; whichhatcthall corruptions, both in it fe.lfe,and bthers; which bath no delight in any : finfull pleafures)or wicked vani,ties; which hath -~ no.~
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