Selected quad for the lemma: heart_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
heart_n	depart_v	evil_a	unbelief_n	2,143	5	10.6595	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A57736	Heavenly-mindedness, and earthly-mindedness in two parts : with an appendix concerning laying hold on eternal life / by John Rowe.	Rowe, John, 1626-1677.	1672 (1672)	Wing R2064; ESTC R17610	104,542	266

more we study these things and meditate on them the more reason shall we see why we should prize such a life and labour to get up into it It remains onely now that I should shew you what the principal Impediments of Heavenly-mindedness are and so I shall put an end to this Doctrine There are several Impediments of Heavenly-mindedness 1. The first grand impediment of Heavenly-mindedness is Vnbelief Faith is the substance of things not seen the evidence of things hoped for Heb. 11.1 It is the property of faith to make absent things present to give things that are absent to sense a subsistence by faith in the soul Now if a man want that faith that should realize future things and give them a subsistence in his minde it is no wonder that his heart is not carried forth in desire after them The affections follow the apprehensions of the mind if a man do not apprehend future things to be real or certain it is no wonder if he do not affect them Now the greatest part of men look upon nothing as real or certain but what is obvious and present to sense they doubt and suspect the truth of all that which is spoken concerning a future life and a future state a man will never part with or forgo a certain good for an uncertain Riches honours pleasures the comforts of this life men look upon as present and certain but the joys of heaven the blessedness that is above the pleasures that are at Gods right hand they look upon as things at a distance and uncertain and therefore they will not quit their interest in present things for the hope of future things This evil heart of unbelief in men is that which causeth them to depart from the living God and this unbelief is too prevalent in the hearts of the godly themselves The holyest men and those that have most grace are most sensible of the buddings and puttings forth of unbelief within them although they do not question the truth of the future life and of the future state as other men do yet they complain that they do too often finde secret doubts arising in their hearts about these things and although there be a seed of faith yet it is not so actuated as it ought to be for if we had such a firm and deep belief about future things as we ought it is not possible that we should be so much captivated by present things as we are Certainly the deep rooted stedfast belief of eternal things would produce other effects and another kinde of change then what is found in the most of our hearts It were not possible we should live as we do had we a clear prospect by faith of eternal things Therefore as ever we desire to be heavenly-minded we must pray that this evil root of unbelief might be eradicated and taken out of us and we should pray 1. That God would clear up the eye of our faith that we may more clearly discern and apprehend the things contained in the promises 2. We should pray that we may give a more firm assent to the truth of the promises concerning future things and may not stagger at the promises through unbelief 3. We should pray that we may live much in the hope and expectation of the accomplishment of the things contained in the promises It is a proper Scripture to illustrate this Rom. 8.25 We are saved by hope The meaning of that Scripture I take to be The grace of hope doth gradually bring us into the possession of Salvation Therefore doth the Apostle say If we hope for that we see not then we do with patience wait for it It is as much as if it had been said By a patient expectation of the things God hath promised to us we are gradually brought into the possession of the things we hope for If our hope do not slack or fail but we are still kept up in the expectation of what God hath promised our hope shall at last be turned into fruition and possession 2. A second impediment of Heavenly-mindedness is want of more experience in divine and heavenly consolations He that hath tasted of the sweetness of Gods presence here on earth cannot but be meditating and longing after the full enjoyment of that presence hereafter It is reported of Austin in his life That his desire was not so much of any thing here on earth not of gold or silver or precious stones not of honours or dignities or of the pleasures of the flesh nay not so much of those things as were necessary to the present life but all his desire it was of the Lord himself whose name was a refreshment to him and the memory of whom was his consolation They are expressions that he himself useth Lord saith he since I have learned thee thou abidest in my memory there do I finde thee when I remember thee I am delighted in thee these are the delights which thou hast given me The sweetness which the Saints finde in God keeps their hearts fixt and intent in the thoughts of him and the more they taste of the sweetness of his presence here on earth the more sweet is it to them to think what God will be to them hereafter How great is thy goodness which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee Psal 31.19 The Saints taste a little here but they know there is much more laid up then ever yet they took in or can take in here on earth It is but a sip a taste they have here but the full draughts are reserved till hereafter Now want of more experience of the sweetness of God's love and presence here on earth is one cause why we are no more taken up in the meditation of what we shall injoy hereafter we think there are no higner delights then what are to be injoyed in sensible things but we ought to remember that his loving kindeness is better then life and one day in his house is better then a thousand It is an expression that Austin hath So great is the blessedness that is to be found in Gods presence that if we could abide no longer in it then one days space innumerable days in this life filled up with the confluence of all earthly goods were to be despised in comparison of it for saith he this was not spoken out of mistaken affection when that holy man said One day in thy house is better then a thousand Now we taste but little of this presence here on earth and therefore we desire and long no more and are looking no more into what we shall injoy hereafter The Apostle prayes for the Philippians that they might abound more and more in knowledge and in all judgement Phil. 1.9 In all judgement 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or in all sense or in all experience we ought to abound in spiritual sense and experience as well as in knowledge we content our selves with a notional knowledge of God