not endure them every carnal natural man carries his worst enemy in his own bosom and that is his own heart we may say of our hearts in the language of David 55. Ps 11. O who knows the abundance of wickedness that is in his own heart nay not only wickedness deceit and guile that 's that that ruines many Souls and we may go on with the Psalmist v. 12 13. our own hearts are such enemies that we cannot hide our selves from them they are our guides and if our very guides deceive us O how great must needs be our misery how many are there now in Hell that may thank their own hearts for bringing them thither 2. How little we ought to trust our own hearts alass if we once trust them they will deceive us O Brethren trust not your deceitful wretched hearts they will betray you into the hands of sin Do you not know there is a league between sin and your hearts 44. Is 20. a deceived heart hath turned him aside sin deceives the heart and the heart deceives us O let us not trust to it Learn Brethren to be most afraid of your own hearts they will do you the most mischief when we have prayed or heard a Sermon or kept a Sabbath our hearts will be telling us we have done well O believe them not when we have committed a sin our hearts will be apt to tell us there is no hurt in it we need never be troubled for it O believe them not O brethren this is a sad thing that a man must not believe his own heart you will say 't is a strange World when we can trust no body nay I tell you worse yet you cannot trust your own hearts oh how carefull how watchfull ought we to be Many a man will say I am tied altogether at home I dare not go abroad because I have no body at home but Servants Children none that I can trust Brethren every one of us had need be much at home much in looking to himself and looking to his duties and looking to his ways because he hath none that he can trust 3. Prov. 5. a man that trusts his own heart or his own understanding ruins himself But what shall we do then Answ 1. Cross thy heart in all its desires this was that which did almost ruin Solomon he did gratifye his heart too much whatever his heart desired presently he consented to it 2. Eccles 10. when Solomon gave his heart so much liberty he did not think what will come of it he little thought his heart would have cozened him so far as to have brought him to Idolatry 2. Labour to know your own hearts better look into them into the windings and turnings that are in your hearts and then perhaps you will believe what we say of your hearts saith Bernard nihil recte existimat qui seipsum ignorat he that knows not his own heart is a man of no judgment at all 'T is not all the learning of the World will make a man a wise man but the learning of his own heart you may read more there than in all the Books that ever were Printed and when you once come to know your own hearts better you will trust them less 3. Endeavour to get Christ into your hearts he will be a faithful steward a diligent overseer there he will not suffer your hearts to deceive you This is that which Paul prays for the Ephesians 3. Eph. 17. read the policy of Darius 6. Dan. 1 2. O Brethren set Christ over the affairs of your hearts and you shall be sure to receive no damage 3. How needful it is for us to have our hearts renewed 4. Prov. 23. expurga cor Jun. Tremel The Romans by the Law of the twelve Tables were bound to purge and keep clean all fountains of water O Brethren let us get our hearts cleansed they are fountains a poysoned fountain is very dangerous a deceitful heart is far more dangerous Motives 1. Because 't is thine own heart and here are 3 Motives 1. 'T is thy duty God commands every man to keep and to cleanse his own heart to this end God hath entrusted us with them At the day of Judgment God will call us to an account for our hearts as well as our lives 2. 'T is thy benefit when a man fies a pond or scoures a ditch he himself hath the benefit of it O Brethren 't will be your great profit to have clean hearts what do you think is it not more profitable to have a faithful than an unfaithful steward 16. Luk. 1. O so may we complain to many men of their hearts look to your hearts they will bring you to Hell. 3. 'T is a sign of sincerity he that is careful of his own heart will be the more careful of another man's heart he that regards his own Soul and Salvation will the better regard his Brothers Soul and Salvation but he that is regardless of himself certainly will less regard others 2. Out of it are the issues of life ex eo prodeunt actiones vitae As a man's heart is so is his life if his heart be for God his life will be to God's Glory if thou give thy heart to sin thou wilt give thy life to sin and as thou livest so shalt thou dye and as thou dyest so shall thy Estate be to all Eternity so that life that flows from the heart death follows life and Eternity follows all It is a matter then you see of great concernment to have your hearts renewed A good heart makes a good life and a good life ends in an happy death and an happy death brings the Soul to Eternal Happiness 3. The great danger that follows from the two former considerations sins subtlety and our own hearts deceitfulness This will appear more plainly in these following particulars wherein you shall see what cause every one of us have to look about our selves and the wisdom of the People of God in being so careful to keep themselves from their own Iniquities The men of the World they do not understand these things and therefore they think it a needless scrupulosity in the Saints in being so much afraid of sin they call it only an humour and a fancy and I know not what but learn but to know the danger of sin especially of your own sins and you shall find there is cause enough for it The danger lyes in these following particulars 1. Here is very great odds against us two against one sin without and our own hearts within us sin battering and our own hearts betraying of us Each of these singly is too hard for us but when both combine together against us in what a case are we sin that corrupts our hearts to betray us and our hearts they conspire with sin to destroy us O sirs look in what a dangerous condition we are in That Garrison is not like to hold out long when there
sickness 2. The Scripture doth no where tell us that such a sin again committed shall not be pardoned 1. God will forgive us as much as he commands us to forgive others we must till seventy seven times 2. No sin but the sin against the Holy Ghost unpardonable because we cannot repent of it 3. A Man may commit the same sin again and again and yet be in Christ and a state of grace as David Peter c. 4. A Man may commit the same sin often yet not be his own beloved sin 2. Some Cautions added 1. Take heed of this falling sickness relapse dangerous 2. Presume not on the examples of the saints of falling again 3. Take heed of relying too much on your own strength 4. Make use of the means to keep from relapsing 1. Keep a tender heart 2. Repent to the purpose 3. Our Saviours receipt 26. Mat. 41. 3. Scruple because they find not the influences of the ordinances Answer'd 2 ways 1. By concession This sin if it be still in us and we do countenance it will hinder the power and vertues of the Ordinances 2. By caution in 2 words 1. Take heed that this be not false that you say not you find no influence when you do to state the Question aright consider 2 things 1. What are the influences of the Ordinances they are 4. 1. Pricking wounding 2. Humbling 3. Strengthning 4 comforting 2. Examin your selves whether you have felt none of these perhaps some though not all 2. Take heed this be not true 't is a dangerous case the means to get influences 1. Go not to the Ordinances in your own strength 2. Look beyond all duties and ordinances they are but means eye the end 3. Be much in prayer to god for an influence on your Souls 4. Scruple because they see more sin in them now than before answered in 4 things 1. Consider the work of conversion 't is to open the eyes to see sin which we saw not before 2. After conversion there is a contrary principle of grace and sin and that fights and that makes us think sin stronger than before 3. The Devil will trouble us now more than before by laying sin to our charge 4. 'T is a sign of a state of grace for any Man to be in this condition 5. Scruple because they think their Repentance not good enough ans two ways 1. 'T is a good sign that person hath truly repented who is troubled he hath repented no better 2. By direction to know true Repentan two ways 1. By its root Humiliation the deeper the surer 2 fold 1. In respect of what is past 2. Fearful careful for the futu 2. By its fruits 2 sorts 1. Turning from sin loathing it as much as formerly loving it 2. Turning to God and godliness 6. Scruple because they are afraid to dye answ 4. ways 1. By concession in 2 particulars 1. That there is nothing in all the World so terrible as Death is 2. Sin as it is the only thing that brought in death so it makes it terrible 2. By distinction between a natural and a sinful fear of death 3. By consolation a true saint if he fear death 't is without a cause 4. By exhortation to seek after assurance that will expel all fears of death 2. Pleas of the wicked for themselves that this sin is out when 't is not these are 7. 1. Plea bec no body can charge them with sin ans 3. ways 1. 'T is the policy of this sin to lye so close that others cannot perceive it 2. Perhaps others may see it and yet not tell thee of it 3. If God condemn thee what advantage is it that the whole World acquit thee 2. Plea bec Conscience doth not check them answered in 4 things 1. Though Conscience doth not accuse you it doth not follow that it cannot 2. It doth not follow that therefore conscience will never accuse you 3. You say conscience doth not accuse you but doth conscience excuse you there 's the Question 4. Take heed of such bad quiet Consciences as never smite for sin 3. Plea because conscience doth smite them ans 3. ways 1. Trust not too much to troubles of Conscience 2. Rules to judge of troubles of conscience 1. when a Man is never the better for them 1. Look to the fountain of these troubles is it only for fear of punishment 2. Examine what sins thou art troubled for only open gross sins 3. Whether doth this trouble drive thee 4. Consider the effects is it reformation 2. When a Man is the better for them 1. When the soul is more troubled for the sin than for the punishment 2. When the soul takes more care to be washed from the filth than freed from the guilt 3. When the soul carefully avoids sin ever after 4. Plea bec they perform duties and frequent ordinances ans in 5 things 1. Even the very Hypocrites do the same 1. That they may have whereof to boast 2. By outward duties to cloak their inward lusts 3. That they may have whereon to rest and trust to 2. A Man may do all duties and yet live under the power of sin 3. Duties performed where the life is not reformed do the more harden the heart in sin 4. Get the power of godliness into your hearts and use these duties as helps to it 5. If many that do these duties shall go to Hell what will become of those that do nothing 5. Plea be they have left many sins answ in 2 particulars 1. 'T is a good beginning but 't is not enough 1. There is no sinner in the world but abstains from yea hates some sins 2. The Scripture character of a Saint is not the leaving of such or such particular sins but sin in the general 3. Unless we repent and turn from all sins there 's no mercy Partial 2. A particular reformation is not true examin it by 2 Quest 1. Quest what are the sins reformed 1. Are they not only small petty sins or 2. Sins that cross and hinder preferment or 3. Gross iniquities that all the Country cryes shame on or 4. Such sins as have first left you 2. Question what kind of reformation 1. Only an outward of life and not of heart 2. Only of passion and not of Reason and Judgment 3. Only a leaving of sin and not an hating 4. Only a turning from sin and not a turning to God. 6. Plea be they can't endure sin in others answered 3 ways 1. Censuring and judging others will not make a true Saint 2. 'T is the sign of an Hypocrite to hate sin in others and not in himself 3. Follow the Gospel rules in this case 1. In judging and censuring our work lyes only at home 2. In reproving and reforming we must first begin at home and then go abroad 7. Plea be they are not only professors their good works are to be seen answered 2 ways 1. Even Hypocrites may imitate the
Prov. 36. Death that is one of the evils and mischiefs that our own sins will bring upon us or rather it comprehends in it all the evils of sin 2. Gen. 17. and do you think that any man loves death no men love not a natural much less an Eternal Death and yet sin will draw them to it their own sins will make them in love with their own destructions 3. Because we are unwilling to take up any report against our own sins we will never believe what is told us of them 40. Jer. from the 12 th verse to the end of the Chapter and the 41. Chapter verse the second so is it here tell men of their own sins they will not believe us tell them their swearing or drinking or rioting or profaneness will bring damnation on them they will but scoff at us for our pains they hope they will say to be saved for all this and tell us there is not so much harm in this thing as men account 4. Because we are ready to be angry with those that reprove our own sins 4. Gal. 16. so many Persons think we love them not because we love not their sins and are enemies to them because we are enemies to their sins oh they hate us for reproving their sins 2 Cor. 12. 15. so Ahab he hated Micaiah I hate him saith he I cannot abide him and why so he never Prophesieth good concerning me but evil Micaiah shewed him the evil of his sin and therefore Ahab was so hot against him Thus lay these things together and you will see that 't is a very hard work for any man to be truly and rightly informed of the evil of his own sin 2. Yet secondly this must be done we must first see the evil of our sins before we can cast them off no wise man will cast off his old friend and acquaintance for no cause no man in his right mind will cut of his right Arm while 't is sound and well before he is sure 't is gangrened nay let me tell you we must see a great deal of evil in our own sins before we can keep our selves from them What an hard matter was it for Eli though a good man to cast of his Sons after he heard of all their wickedness at last he reproves them but faintly Oh when men come to see this then how willingly will they part with all their sins when they see that sin will bring them to Hell then away with it 16. Luk. 1 2. so shall we deal with our best beloved sins which have been like the stewards of our hearts when we once come to see the evil of them that they seek to ruin us O Brethren for your Souls sake do not shut your eyes against this be willing to hear all that you can hear of your own sins do not mince the matter the evil will else fall on your own heads and you will smart for it another day 2. Give this sin no entertainment and you shall quickly be rid of it As we say of the Gout it goes to rich men because it there fares best know this sin where it fares best there it will stay longest 'T is like a Beggar give him a bountiful Alms and you shall have him at your door again the sooner 1 Cor. 9. 27. I keep under my body i. e. my body of sin the best way to keep sin away is to keep it under for 't is of a ruling and domineering nature and therefore the Saints that have got the mastery of their sins they can thrust them away easily 3. Chuse another love whom you may set your affections and all your delight upon and that is Jesus Christ postquam nos Amaryllis habet Galatea reliquit love Christ and you shall not love any sin more you will see that in Christ that deserves all and more than all your love and affections 1 Thess 1 9. when they turned to God they turned from Idols so when we turn our affections to Christ we shall turn them from sin we shall never have list to sin more Old friends we say are like old cloaths we give them away when we have new ones so here though sin be thy old friend yet for Christ's sake thou wilt part with it 4 Eph. 22 24. the best way to cast off the old man is to put on the new man O sinners I know that your sins are dear unto you and you think them best but come and see Christ and you shall see that in him which will be far better to you than all your sins when you have once put on Christ or the new man you will for ever after cast off the old man. 4. You must not dispute the case at the bar of flesh and blood whether you shall part with your own sins or no. Flesh and sin are sworn Brothers like Herod and Pilate both agree against Christ flesh will plead for sin because flesh knows no other happiness but in sin hence is that of the Apostle 1 Cor. 15. 50. you must away with flesh when you would consult for the good of your Souls always flesh will hinder us in whatever is good I Gal. 15 16. had Paul consulted with flesh he had never been a Preacher flesh would have said to him as Peter to Christ Master save thy self 'T is a dangerous time now to renounce thy sin it will breed thee a great deal of trouble if thou turn from sin thou wilt have all the World about thy ears therefore dispute not the case with flesh 5. Deny self self denyal is as a deadly wound given to sin that it cannot lift up its head any more 16. Mat. 24. self-denyal I will tell you what it is it is the giving up the Keys and the sole command of the whole man unto Christ Then Christ is the Lord Lieutenant of thy heart and nothing can be done without leave from Christ now put Christ in office and Christ will quickly put sin out of office Oh! 't is this self that keeps in sin when grace like Joab goes out to fight against sin then self like David calls out deal kindly with the young man Absalom oh spare my sin my beloved sin my only sin O Brethren have a care of bringing self to Church with you all the Sermons you hear will do you no good self will hinder you in all your duties because it will not suffer your own Iniquities to be touched self 't is like Jehu down with Ahab and all his Family down with Baal and all his Priests but the Calves at Dan and Bethel must stand still zeal cast down the first but self made the other to stand self will suffer any sin but our own sin our own Iniquity to be killed 6. Look into the Scriptures and there you shall see that you shall be no losers but gainers by parting with your sins 2 Chron. 25. from the 6 th to the 10 th verse so many will say