Selected quad for the lemma: heart_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
heart_n	harden_v	pharaoh_n	plague_n	2,988	5	10.1557	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A94266	A vvarning-piece for the slumbring virgins. Or, An alarm to the friends of the bridegroom, in some awakening meditations upon Christ's own watch-word, Matth. 26.41. Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation, &c. / By Geo: Scortreth, preacher of the Gospel in Lincoln.	Scortreth, George, b. 1612 or 13.	1657 (1657)	Wing S937; Thomason E1638_3; ESTC R209055	57,932	207

themselves when left to themselves We have remarkable proofs of this in those precious servants of the Lord of old David Solomon Peter c they made themselves vile yea even as beasts before him when they were left to themselves And we have many lamentable instances in our dayes of such who looked like the sheep coming up from the washing clean escaped from the pollutions of the world yet have turned like the dogge to the vomit 2 Pet. 2.20 21 22. and as the sow that was washed to the wallowing in the mire Would it ever have entred into their own hearts that they should ever have so fowlie defiled their garments which seemed to have been washed so saire in the blood of the Lamb 2 King 8.13 would they not have said with Hazael Are we as dogs that we should do such things Oh yes when a people are delivered up to themselves they will be readie to say with those of whom the Lord complaines We are delivered up to do all these abominations Jer. 7.10 If we leave the Lord and his watch and work we tempt him to leave us in temptation to our own hearts and then that plague will be upon them xod 9.14 which fell upon the heart of Pharoah which was worse to him then all the plagues of Egypt and we shall even harden our selves against the Lord. 2. We tempt the Divell that tempter to tempt us when we give over watching and praying He watches our slumbrings and lyes at catch for us when he may take us napping when we have a mind to fall asleepe upon a bed of carnal securitie the Devil will make our bed for us and lie down softly by us too when we give over Gods work we are out of his way and lie sleeping in Satans walks and that as drie Tinder to his fierie darts And there come but a spark from Hell and fall upon our hearts it takes presently when we put out the light and fall to sleep we give him roome and time for his works of darknesse he drives his wicked trade most and best i' th dark Job 24.14 15. The eye of this Arch thiefe waiteth for the twilight when no eyes may see him he looks at us most with his envious eyes when our eyes are shut and the shadows of spiritual darknesse are upon us and how easily may he steale away our hearts and the heavenly treasure out of them at such a time as David did Sauls speare from his bolster 1 Sam. 26.12 when a deep sleep was upon him And indeed this thief in the night to allude still to that place in Job would rob us of all our Jewels when a dead sleep is upon us did not our faithfull keeper watch him and watch over us Oh what danger are we in every houre to become a prey to this roaring Lyon while we lie sleeping at his feet the fowles of the ayr have the greatest advantage against us that may be whilst we lie as silly doves heartlesse and spiritlesse before them And is not this a very foule businesse to set the Divel on work to do us mischief who will hurt us and hinder us all he can and that by neglecting our Masters businesse who has done us good and no evill all our dayes 3. We tempt our own lusts to tempt us when we lay aside our spiritual watch we entice them to entice and allure us And indeed here lies the great temptation within our own hearts Jam. 1.14 15. Every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and entised and sin when conceived bringeth forth death The privy sore in the heart the deadiy wound the womb that conceives lust sin death Here the Devil layes his train ef powder and were there no fire of lust there he could never blow us up temptations without could take no hold if there were no corruption within Satan set up on Jesus Christ with varietie of temptations Joh. 14.30 but could find nothing in him and so could do nothing against him The Prince of this world was ever warring against the Prince of peace but had no power against him because he had no party within him Nay the subtle Serpent with all his power and policie could not prevaile at all no not once against the weakest simplest Saint if sin did not take his part T is the partie within betrayes us T is the worst enemy that within it opens the door to our enemies without yea to the worst of them or they could not get within us Now when we are fallen into a dead sleep and have lost the life of prayer our lusts will swarme about us as flies about a dead carcase Sinnes not watched over will get head and heart whilst we indulge our selves saying Soul take thine ease we pamper our sins and make provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof Spiritual watching and prayer will starve our lusts ease out their very hearts but carnal slumbrings and sleepings feed them While prayer is kept up in power sin is kept down and overpowered if our sinnes do not stop our mouths nor straiten our hearts in prayer our prayers will cry them down and stob them at heart when our hearts are lift up powerfully in prayer our heart-sinnes as pride passion unbeliefe c will come down wonderfully as the Amalekites fell while Moses lift up his hands oh while we continue wrestling with God by fervent prayer we may wrestle with spirituall wickednesses in high places and that to victory our souls shall tread down strength to use Deborahs expression in her tryumphant Song Judg. 5.21 while they are lift up and poured out in prayer for the Help that is laid upon that One that is mighty Whereas if our hands be let down and our hearts fall our corruptions will get up and carry it against us with a strong hand if we be not watchful and prayerful sin will grow exceeding sinful Job 15. If we restrain prayer before God our mouths will utter iniquity as Eliphaz said to Job who seems to plead thus with him How comest thou to be so distempered in spirit so vain and distracted in speech if prayer were not restrained Fervent constant prayer would bring the heart into a good tune and temper and keep it so 4. When we neglect our Spiritual Watch we lie naked to temptations without as to corruptions within the creatures are full of snares and we shall be catched in them at every turn if a spirit of slumber be upon us The love of the world is connatural to us bred i' th bone most suitable to flesh and blood our hearts hang downward and move towards earth and earthly things as a stone to the Center and 't is impossible to keep them up without watching and prayer Indeed while we keep close to God by faith in prayer we keep him close to us and then the world may not interpose must not

borrowed from the practise of Shepherds watching over their Flocks as Jacob over Labans or from Souldiers upon the guard who keep strict watch both these must discharge their trust with great diligence and patience special care and constancie they must endure the heat by day and the cold by night Christs experienced Souldiers do find 't is hard duty this much must be done and suffered upon this account ther 's no giving over this watch what ever it costs us our life lies on 't This spirituall watch presupposes an awakened heart out of Naturall Stupiditie and Formall Security 1. Out of naturall Carnall stupiditie they cannot possibly watch who were never awakened the naturall man is spiritually dead and as uncapable of this spirituall duty as a man borne blind is to see the Sun or a dead man to heare the thunder he must first heare the voyce of the Son of God saying awake thou that sleepest c before he can watch with him or for him alas how can they watch who have eyes and see not like the idols in the psalm He must be a spirituall man that discernes spirituall things that is fit to be a spirituall watch-man and to wait in the spirit 2. Out of formal securitie A sleepie professor is ever crying a little sleep a little slumber c. he cannot keep his heart awake if he might have all the world nor his eyes open sluggish slumbring Christians are in no posture for watching they are as silly Doves without an heart they have no heart to this heartty duty and no heart in it they are not spirited for this work their spirituall senses are bound up they have let their watch fall and will never take it up againe without a sound awakening The watchmen must cry aloud in the eares and consciences of such or they 'l lie down to sleep againe and againe swooning Christians can never watch till the Lord rub them up to purpose they had need be living and lively men that are to watch as for life ' tmust be a raised sinner and rowsed Saint that 's set about this work Secondly more particularly Evangelical watching implyes these things following 1. Attention Isa 50. ● a spiritual watchman must have his eare awakened morning by morning as the prophets that he may heare what the Spirit saith Rev. 2. 3. this the Spirit calls for over and over Let him that hath an eare he are c he must have an hearing and harkening eare too that would here the still voyce the whisperings of the holy Spirit he must have an eare to heare from God that keepes his watch or he will have no eye to see him no mouth to speak from him or for him God has much to say to his awakened ones that are upon his watch they had need have their eares about them yea within them An heavie eare and a sleepie heart Jer. 6.10 go together to whom shall we speak and give warning sayes Jeremie sadly they have uncircumcised eares c and cannot heare alas the speakers may shut up their mouths there Mach. 13.15 where the people stop their eares they are no hearers indeed who have eares and heare not And may we not take up that heavie complaint at this day one of the saddest in all the Book of God they have made their hearts and eares heavie Isa 42.19 least they should heare with their eares c Who so deafe as many of Gods Servant to borrow that expression much preaching as great sounds hath made many deafe that what they would not heare they cannot And what are the wisest charmings to such deafe Adders well Christs watchmen must be swift to heare for his motions are quick hee 's somtimes but a word and away a knock and he has done 2. Intention a watchman must be very intent upon his duty corporall watching much more spiritual should take up our Spirits God must be much heeded and his whole work well-minded even with the whole heart especially this work of watching Hee 's no servant for Christ that would serve him by halves ther 's no being for him almost but altogether or not at all all our spirituall forces must be mustred up to keepe this watch we must stir up all our strength and all too little in the discharge of this duty 't will take up the whole man ther 's no halting here lest evil overtake us a lame Christian will never stand to it but must be sitting down ever and anon He had need be a man of another Spirit Caleb-like that would follow the Lord fully in this spirituall watch As naturall things act to the uttermost within their Sphear so in this supernatural work of evangelical watching we should act all we can for God Eccles 9.10 within the Sphear of our spirituall activitie what ever we find in our hands to do for him especially at so weightie and busie a work as this we should do it with all our might there must be an holy violence and fervencie accompanying Gospel vigilancie spirituall force will doe well here indeed we can never Watch well without it If it once come to a Spirit of indifferencie it will not be long ere we be surprized by a Spirit of securitie if we care not much Gallio-like we shall Watch but little a slothfull Spirit will be sleepie do what you can Oh what sad slumbrings amongst us since Christians have laid themselves down upon beds of ease a lazie creature is never likely to Watch with Christ or for him Hee 's nimble as a Roe quick in his turnes No you must stirre up your selves in Christs strength to quit your selves like men in his service 3. Inspection Christs Watchmen must be all Seers and have seeing eyes as well as hearing eares our spirituall Watch lies most within 't is an inward Watch especially our eyes must be in our hearts and upon them 'T is a very considerable Watch word that Prov. 42.3 Above all keping keep thy heart a strong and strict guard must be kept there and indeed if the Watch be not kept strictly there all our watching will be invain 'T wil be to little purpose to set a Watch before our mouths or make a covenant with our eyes if the plague of the heart be not watched over it will be ever breaking forth into putrified sores Had we an hundred eyes Jer. 17.9 they had need be all at watch here for our hearts are deceitfull above measure who can know them And he that is not faithfull in inward watching will never be good for ought either as to outward waiting on God or watching over others How many have been looking so much abroad that they are to seeke at home watching the haltings of others but not their own busibodys in other's mattters and neglecting the businesse of their own Spirits they are espying motes in the eyes of others and lay out their eyes at home or see not the

As iron sharpneth iron so doth the face of a man his friend Watchful servants will be calling off the slumbring ones from beds of security they will be whetting up the dull and lazie spirits of others who have a good edge upon their own Amongst sluggish Christians 't is a thousand to one you 'l grow sleepy too for company Sluggards will infect one another with the sleepy Evill they 'l lay a Cushion for you to sit dovvn by them and take your fill of this false rest There 's no spiritual noyse amongst them nor heavenly nevves no heart-awakening words All 's either finfull silence or smooth words hushing one another asleep with their soft language Livelesse Christians are like dying coals which deadden one another till there be never a coal to warm at Oh then if thou wouldst have a Watchfull spirit in this slumbring age look after communion in spirit with the most quick and lively-spirited Saints heavenly sparks that are ever flying upward as to their proper Region they will be warm avvakening enlivening company being well heated by the fire of the Spirit for luke-warm drowsie livelesse Christians 5. Be ever setting on work avvakening Graces by the assistance of the Spirit of Grace Stir up the Graces of Christ that are most stirring 2 Tim. 1.6 and they 'l stir up thee quicken thee and set thee on fire as sparks blown up c As 1. Lively Faith This is the new Creatures eye quicker then the Eagles excellent at Watching 'T is the spiritual mans Secr and the overseer of his watchings and workings If this active grace be at work it will keep the heart awake the Watch cannot fall down whilest Faith is up It 's a very busie grace which will keep us from sleeping if it sleep not Faith will be daily improving avvakening Providences quickening ordinances melting mercies searching tryals It will be ever taking in awakening considerations of the majestie of the Creatour the mutabilitie of the Creature of Mortalitie Eternitie c It will be presenting awakening manifestations of the unconceiveable love of God the incomparable lovelinesse of Christ the admirable beauty of holinesse the unspeakable blessednesse of Heaven It will be looking out at the eye to see the King in his beauty listning at care to heare that voyce which his companions heare waiting at heart to welcome his Spirit there Faith is all life full of Spirit a quick Spring which will set all on motion 'T will set the whole man on work and actuate every habit of grace Its operations are full of efficacie and varietie upward inward outward it has a large sphere of activitie Oh could we live the life of Faith at a higher rate how lively should we be how watchfull 2. Warme Love It 's all heart and heat there 's a flame in it which will enliven and awaken the most drowsie and heavie heart There 's much life in love much action in this affection it 's activitie will keepe thee from securitie Love is good at watching it will sit up long for the Beloved It cannot rest till he rest in his love upon it Zeph. 3.17 it would not sleepe with its good will till it may lie in his bosom Psa 127.2 and there it may rest safely and sweetly when he gives his Beloved sleep Love will wait and watch long endure much hard duty is easie to it as Jacob's service for Rachel Love lyes with eyes and heart open too as loath to shut out Christ at either It will wait long and longingly for a look of his eye a kisse from his mouth the breathings of his love An heart toucht with Christs love cannot rest as the needle touched with the Loadstone but when and where it should Love has a single eye and will watch well 't is clear and quick as the Doves it will spie out its Beloved Cant. 4.9 and pierce his heart Oh could we but love much we should watch much and wait to meet our Beloved at every turn Cant. 7.12 in his garden in his banqueting-house in his vineyards to give up our loves to him Earnest love will be early and late at work and watch for Jesus Christ 3. Holy Fear It will keep strict watch and strong guard for fear of surprisall It is a wary and watchful grace and cannot endure to be taken at unawares It 's ever attended with a godly jealousie which will marvellously prevent carnal security Indeed they that have not this fear of God before their eyes and upon their hearts they 'l cloze their eyes stop their ears harden their hearts and grow carelesse and secure as the men of Laish even till fearfulnesse and trembling come upon them and they of all others are in greatest danger of the fear and the snare who fear least the deepest fear-lesse security will bring on the heaviest fearful calamity Oh then let all the servants of the Lord watch over their own hearts lest they forsake the fear of the Almighty and he leave them to a common carelesse fearlesse spirit and they be insensibly overtaken with spiritual security Isa 8.12 13. Oh Sanctifie the Lord of hosts himself let him be your fear let him be your dread that you may neither fear their fear nor be afraid And indeed the more full thine heart is possessed with a filial reverential fear of that glorious and fearful Name The Lord thy God Deut. 28.58 the lesse wilt thou be disquieted with false heart-tormenting Feares and Cares Blessed is he that feareth alwayes he will be alwayes upon his Watch to the preventing of much sin and sorrow slumbring and wandring sensuality and security 4. Heavenly Joy 'T is very enlivening and heart-awakening Like that of the best wine Cant. 7.9 which goes down sweetly causing the lips of those that are asleep to speak Where the spirit can rejoyce comfortably in the Lord there his work will go on merrily his Watch will be kept chearfully such a soul can sing in the wayes of the Lord and upon his watch even at midnight as Paul and Silas Act. 16.25 Whereas an heavy heart drives heavily in all its watchings and workings Job's soon out of heart and cryes What a wearinesse and Why should I wait on the Lord any longer Every Command is grievous to one that is grieved in spirit and every word and work though easie seems a burthen to one that is a burthen to himself Now Spiritual Joy is like aqua coelestis it will recover a languishing swooning spirit This refined wine drunk out of the cup of salvation is full of quickening spirits and will make a Christian hearty spiritfull and watchful They that suck and are satisfied with the breasts of consolation as they are cast into a sweet and sound sleep in the arms of Christ so they will cast off sinful sluggish security 6. Let Watching and Prayer go hand in hand and they will lend an helping hand to one another they are