S s e T. IX. of Converfion, or zurningunto God. 48 heart, andan heart : Anheart feemingly for God, andyetan heart for finalto: an heartapparently for Chrift, and yet clofely for the world alto. This is commonly snade thedifference between the good Kings, and thofe that had a glorious thewof goodneffe,but wanted thepower of it. The one isfaid to feek to God, or cleave to God with thewhole heart; theother had an heart and anheart. As therefore the timewasonce when thou wereafraid ofprophanneffe,and grotte impieties:Co now takeas much heedofhypocrifie, and falfhoodof fpirit. Fourthly, To tarn ro God with the whole heart , ie to have the heart allone in thre wort, not tohe overcharged with diflrafiioas and divifions of thenöhts about other things;Thus Davidprayeth,Vnite my heart tofear thy name,PCS. t r.anddividing caresand thoughts, as altodiftra Lions about many thingsare frequently forbidden. Oh this is admirable, and comfortable, when the whole foul is inclined but one way, and that ro God. As the Scripture fpeaks of a city, or family, it is excellent where theyare all ofone mind : fo it is well when a man withinhimfelf is all the fame way ; nothing dividing, diflra@ing, or difturbinginhis motions to God : to runwill, and tohave nothinghinder. Thus Tome expound that promife,r will give them oneheart, Jet. ;6. 32. that is an heart not divided , not diflraeled, but whollybentupononeobje&. As a Kingdom divided againfl'it felfcannot fland,fo neither anheart in this fence divided; force thoughts for God, and tome againfl himi force affe&ions prefTing towards him and tome pullingback from him , fo that if thy heart be whollyturned to God,Ohwhat a tweet harmony will therehe in that motion. Nounequal walking, noharfh jarring : but this being the predominant object,will carry all alongwith it, Indeed it follows afeerwards,Rentlour hearts, but that isa rentingoff fromPita, not a rentingit between God and other things. Do thou thengrowacquainted with thy ownheartmore, feewhat it is that doth hinderthee from the onenetefliry thing : Is this turningwith thy whole heart co God, when it isdivided intomany objects ? Ohlet thyheart rather beas the Tem- ple was, into which they might bring nounclean thing, neither might men of no bufineffe walk there up and down. Fifthly, He tnrneth togodwith hhi, whole heart; who doth not entertain any, thing, Supra,contra, ague, or tuns Deo, Above,or contrary, er egesall, or with God : So that if all theft particulars areneeetlary, we mull conclude that converfion is a rare work. For firti to turn with our whole hears, is to prefer nothing above God. This Chrill makes a fundamental requifite ineveryconvert. A man mutt trate Fa- ther, or Mother, and hisown lifefor 'Chrifls fake. Oh the wonderful change then that this convertinggrace makes upon a man : now his right eye, or his right hand isnot dear untohim in refpe&of God, and is it not good reafon that he who is the molt high,fhouldhave themolt high afle&ions, themolt high delires ? is it not rea- fog to bidall things come lower,that God mayhave the higheftroom inoar hearts. Oh buthowmany proclaim that there is agreat gulf between them and conver[ion, for arenot their bate and filthy lasts preferred beforeGod? i s not the Divel obeyed in his lofts, rather thenGod in hisCommandments? fothat fuch infleadof turning toGod, with their whole heart, thy are turned totheir fins, and to the world with all their heart : fee then what that is which thy heart Both leek in the fìrtt place. The true Convert giveth thebell and choieert of his thoughts and Affe&ions to God : He now comes toChrist every day, andpoureth out as it were a boxofpre- cious oyntment, the mots excellent andquinteffential vigour of his foul. 2. As anhearty Converfion makesa man prefer nothing above God, fo neither any thingagainfl him, be will much leffe love that which ishated and loathed by God.Oh then if thou artturned untoGod,how comes it about that his enemies and adverfaries do fooften lodge in thy bofome? How is it that the prince of darkneffe ñndestheGates of thy foul open, when theprince ofGlory Ihould come in ? No man can ferve twocontrariemallets: It was a plain argument that Dalilah was notbeanie for Sampfon, becaufeall her projc&s were toadvantage the Philiflims, that weredeadly enemies toSaropfon; and fowhen all thy defines and purpofes Q9 9 are 4:
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