R c T. X. Ofthe Stay Heart, aidHeart of_rßi. 5sß Hisheart was like the (tones theyhoned Stephen with, and although hehoned not Stephenwith his ownhands,yet he was contenting to it, andkept theirgar- ments, infomuch that e/felfin faith, Omnilme /apldantiuwmanibres lapidavit, he honed himwith thehandsofa!l themthat threwhonesat him. He that compel- led thedifciplcs toblafpheme, and was mad againft them, feehow in a moment hishomy heart is takcn away, Lord, What Wilt then have meta do? Oh tender heart, now heis willing tòdo and fuller any thing I Thus God whcrefoeverhe Touchfafeth this converting grace, ofan obdurate, averfe hollyheart, hemakes tender and pliable. Toopen this, let usconfider irft, tPkitie implysdinthie heart offieJh; for that comprehends feveral gracious qualities : And Fitt, d tender melting heart is principally intended. Theheart of hone will neither yeeld to thrcatnings,or be foftenedby mercies ; but the ticthy heart,that is tender under both. Thus Hof :ab iscommended for his tender, melting heart, whilethe threatningsof the law were read, 2Chron, ;4, a7, and certainly thou- lands ofpeople difcover, this promife was never effeetual to them ; forhow ob- durate and wilful! are they againft the word of God ! they rage and roar like bears and tigers with vexation, rather then tenderly be foftened about the mat- ters of religion. Oh then confider, how tender thy fpirit is about Gods com- mands, loth it prefently thaw ? is it imrnediatly foftened whenGods word comes to thee? this is a good fign. I know the peopleof God do much com- plaintheir hearts arenot fo tender and foftened as they deflect They complain theyarc very hocks and hones fometimes; as the Church, Whyhaft thou harden. edour hearts from thy fear, Ifa,63.! 7.But yetbeanie they feel this ftoninefs,and theycan tenderly bewail this, therefore it's a plain argument the work of grace is in Their fouls, though it be imperfeth, and fo it is not tobeexpeeted that all ffonineff fhouldberemovedoutnftheheartinthislife. Contravitiapugnamue nos litpenitou vincamue, fed se vincamar, Seneca. Secondly, From this tender loftneffe of heart floweth a'f gaickfen/ibleneA and a lively apprehenfionof any lliiritual thingthat concerneth it, The tender skin doth prefently feel theleaft offence, whereas that which is brawny and rugged is not foferfble. Thus it is sh thetrue convert, he isvery fenuble, he is quick in understanding, as the Scriptureexpreffeth it. And this fcnlibleneffeisdifcerned in feveral particulars ; as firfi, he ca,, difcernbetween things that differ, Heb.6. He hashfenfesomerifid,todifcernbetrr'een goodandevil. Hein compared to an Eagle, his eyewill quickly difcern afaroff.Hc is the fpiritual man that judgeth all things; fo thatthe true convert isnot eafily feduced by errors and falfedofenines, for he bath a tender f nfible heart : he is not calmly inticed bySatan to finfull lofts, for he is prefently fen(ìble- So fecondly, his tendcrneffe appears, in that the leaft fins, the very motions, the very inclinations arc an heavy burden unto him: Thus Hetehiahhumbled himfelf for the pride of his heart, 2 Chron, 32 26, David when henumoeer d the people, though the act it felfwere lawful!, yetbecaufe he did not krtpGodsorder, he did ir out 'of vainglory, and Gods anger broke out becaufe of it : See how tenderly be is affected, Ler thy anger be spoilme andmy, fathershole, whathave theft (hoop done? When hecut off the lap of Sault gar- ment, hit heartfh,ote him, Paul, how fadly and mifcrably dash hecry ont of the inwardleftsof tin within, him ! Thus. theflafhy hears is fo tender, that ìt feels thevery weight of a m re, as wellascf abeam. Thirdly, The fecfiblerieflt of iris&fcovered,inthat When he repents ofin, he isarwhaffeûe..í ArateS of the unkindnefe that isinfin againft God, Again,'ít thee, :hoconly have lfouned,Pfafgt. Thefc lfraelitee (hassid loath and abhorre them- felveswhen God unspecified toward, them, 8aei. 16.63. This flefby heart is fo fenlblaofthe ill requital!that is inall fin, for God his favour and love to them, thatthis aftesthconabundantly,. botat 1p, This &thy hunt implies.Tratfáblemftanâdorildi efo itatbemtder- Fi uu 3 handing, What is impli- ed inHeart of fefb. Jr
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