choice Bed of Spices. heart, according to the particulars we have now hinted ; that man without a peradventure is a gracious man, and one that has the root of the matter in him, and (hall be happy to all eternity. Look, as no man can, hear as he would and fhould, nor pray as he would and fhould, nor believe as he would and fhould, nor repent as he would and thould, nor walk as he would and fhould ; fo no man can keep his heart as he would and Mould ; but if a man makes it his great bufinefs and work to keep his heart,to watch his heart,to reform his heart, to better his heart, he is accepted of God, and shall be blef- fed for ever. 'Tis one of the greateft and cleereft evidences of grace, for a man to make it his greateft bufinefs, work and concernment in this world, to keep his heart al wayes in a gracious frame, to keep his heart alwayes in a wakeful frame, in a watchful frame, in a tender frame, in a believing frame, in a repenting frame, in an humble frame, in a pati- ent frame, in a ferious frame, in a heavenly frame, and in a jealous frame ; for the more gracious the heart is, the more fufpicious it will be. Satan has a ftrong party, a numerous party,In old party, a fubtil party in all our hearts;and there- fore it highly concerns us to watch our hearts with a holy jealoufie. 0 Sirs ! God hath never faid, Above all keepings keep your Shops, or above all keepings keep your Mates, or above all keepings keep your Flocks, or above all keeping; keep your Bags, or above all keepings keep your Friends, or above all keepings keep your Bodies ) or above all keep- ings keep your Names, or above all keepings keep your Converfations ; but he hath faid, above all keepings keep your hearts. Look, as the heart is the fountain of natural life, and if it fail life fails ; and therefore it is ftrongly fe cured with ribs about it, it is guarded' in a caftle of &Ili and bones ; fo is the foal the fountain of fpiritual life, and runs invifibly through all the body.Fountains were to be kept pure by the Roman Laws of the twelve Tables ; and the heart that is thefpring and fountain of all a6tions, is to be kept pure by the Laws of the great God. Men keep the heart principally from hurt, becaufe every wound there is mortal. 0, that men were as wife for their fouls ! God's eye is main- 1 Cant. 5'. Kinos 22. T. , , Z L ron. 3%,20, James S. II. Eccief. 5. 1, 2. Col. 3. 1,2. scui.7. Fro. lib. Zi li Cur.,. T. I Thef, 5 23. &c.
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