312 of the hearts EflabliJhment by`Grace. S s c r.VII. grace, ehablífhing the Soul, from the former, becaufe here the foul Both for a while cleave toGod, but then lofeth its hold again: The Ifraelites are a per_ tualinfanceherein,who humbled themfelves,. and turned unto theLord, but their hearts were not hedfahwithin them, and their righteoufnefs was like a morning dew, which made Motes fay, upon their good promifes they made, O that there werefuck an heart within them ; thus alto the temporaryBeliever in the parable, who received with joy the word of God, and believedfor a while, Maths3. prefently revolted : The reafon why men have a fluxand a reflux of their faith and repentance, is becaufe (as they fay of themotions of thefèa) they follow the moon that is fubjed to change ; they are carried out to good things, not from an induringprinciple, nor bath grace takendeep root in their fouls ; Therefore Modo aient, modosegant; fometimes they affirm, and fome- times they deny. This inconllancy, is a fruit of the former uncertainty , and want of fixation upon God ; as he Apoftle games thewall, A double minded man is inconflant in all his ways; therefore compared to thewaves of thefea, that fometimes are mounted up to heaven, and then prefently vanifh down . again towards the earth. Stedfadlnefs and confiant evennefs in the ways of God, breeds much joy,, and is many times accompanied with comfortable af- furance, ,whereas an heart fometimes up, and then down, in the waysof grace and duty, is alto inconftant in his comforts, fo that hereby be doubts of him- felf, andknoweth notwhat will become of him., If thy righteoufnefsbebut a morning dew, fo is alto thy conlolation, it will quicklyvanilh: Oh then how comfortable is it for grace fo to fettle thy heart, that thou art not fubjelto fach changes and variations as others are ! 4. 4. Gracedothiuthis refpefleflablifbthe heart, becaufe irmakes the heartfincere 13y makingthe and upright, inall itsendeavors and addrelfes to God. The hypocrite who is and moved toduties from falleand carnal grounds, he is up and down, and turneth andupright. g R as thewind of his own intereft driveth him. Thofe that make gaingodlinefs, theymull windeand turnas gain moveth them: 7udat nothaving a fincere heart, betrayeth Chrift and his foul, for worldly advantages : Oh then how much .better were it, while thou art thinking of this, and difputing of that, to labor for integrity, uprightnefs, to fee thy foul be carried out to godlinefs for godli- nefs fake. Hypocrifie will make thee a Carnelian, turd into the likenefs of eve ry objeéi thou cornett nigh : And as Ariflotle faith, it is fear that makes it fob. jet} to loch changes; fo in an hypocrite fear of the lofs of Come worldly com- forts and contents, makes him become any thing toevery body ; fo that this is theheft hudyand conference;this is the befiqueftion, how I mayget an unfain- ed heart, anheart without guil or falle and felf -feeking ends. If thou }radii the tongueand partsof menand Angels , it would not afford thee fomuch comfort as a plain,fimpleand tingle heart towards God ; tobeable when thou dyefl to fay with Hezeki.ah,Remember how !have walkedbefore thee in a trae andfaithful heart, 2 King. 20.3. is of more confequencethen thofe who laid , Remember we have prophefied in thy name, andwrought miracles in thy mame: It is good then, when theProfefforsof the Gofpel meet together, and confider, Howmay we be true ifraelites in whom there is no guil ? we have much a do withour hearts, they are fo apt todeceive, to fupplant, to makefalfe Syllogifms, as the Apoftle faith, that we can never be wary enough : Aclear confcience full offincerity, is dulces nutricela feneíiutie; a Tweet nude in old age, like yong Abifbag put into old David tokeep healthand life in him. 5, Grace clotheflablifb the heart, in that it united) all thepowers andfaculties toge- In spiting all'. Cher in the fervice of God : That as it makes the heart chufe one objed onely, the powers and $ j faculties. conjoyneth it o all the hren th of thefoul one way, to cleave to it: Thus love is with all the heart, all the foul, all the minde, and all the ftrength, and David prayeth earneftly for this, V site my heart to fear thy name, Pfal.86.rt. All diftradions and divifions, weaken not onely in a Kingdom, and in the Church, but
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