4011111=11.1.15111111. 5ox of precins Ointment : 7,- Own Heart-keeper. Keep thy heart with ail dligence ; fome underftand this of all kind of watchfalncfs. The Hebrew word is applyeid to feveral forts of keeping. As, 1. Firft, It is'applyed to thole that are the keepers of a pri- fon, where dangerous Fellons or Malefaaors are to be look- ed to, that they don't break away, I King. 20. 39. Keep this ; fo joieph was made the Keeper, of the prifon. The Hebrew word is the fame with that, in Prov. 4.23. NON, 0 low diligent 1 how vigilant are men in looking after their prifoners? even fo fhould we be in looking after our hearts, &c. Secondly, It fignifies to keep, as men would keep a be- leced Garrifon, or City, or Caftle, in time of war. So 'tis ufed in that, HA. 2.1. Now, whit ftrong guards, what watchful guards do men keep up at fuch a time ? A gracious heart is Chrift's Fort-royal. Now, againft this Fort Satan will imploy the utmoll of his fIrength,art & craft;and there- fore how highly does it concern every Chriflian to keep a thong guard, a conflant guard about his heart. But, 3. Thirdly, It fignifies to keep, as the Priefts and Levites kept the San6uary of God, the Temple of God, and all the holy things that were committed to their charge : So the word is often ufed by the Prophet, Etek. 44. 8, i 5, 16, &c. The Temple, and all the veifels of the Temple were to be kept pure, and clean, and fweet. Our hearts are the Tem- ples of God, the Temples 'of the holy Ghoft ; and therefore we fhould alwayes keep a flrong and diligent guard about them, that nothing may pafi in or out, that may be either difpleafing; provoking or grieving to them. But,- Fourthly, The word fio 22 nifies-to keep, as a man keeps.his life, lob IC% 12. Thy vifitation bath preferved (here is Shanear) my life. Now with what care, with what diligence, with what labour, with what watchfulnefs do men labour to preferve their natural lives ? 'what a -guard, what a watch do men daily fet Gen 3 9 2 2. 3 So j47 12
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=