Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n
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A67750
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An experimental index of the heart in which (as in a looking-glass) both profane and civil men may see enough, to make them in love with religion, being a most happie and providential conference between two friends (after the ones heart was changed) the which may both provoke and incourage all sorts of sinners to read the same, that (in the least) love themselves : drawn up and published for the good of all / by R. Younge ... ; add this as a second part to those three fundamental principles of Christian religion, intituled, A short and sure way to grace and salvation.
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Younge, Richard.
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1658
(1658)
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Wing Y154; ESTC R7768
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18,705
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18
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AN Experimental INDEX Of The HEART In which as in a Looking-glass both Profane and Civil men may see enough to make them in love with Religion Being a most happie and providential Conference between two Friends after the ones heart was changed the which may both provoke and incourage all sorts of Sinners to read the same that in the least love themselves Drawn up and published for the good of all By R. YOUNGE of Roxwell in Essex Florilegus Add this as a Second Part to those Three Fundamental Principles of Christian Religion Intituled A short and sure way to Grace and Salvation Sect. XXVII ALoose Libertine meeting with his Friend that had lately been a Formal Christian he greets him as followeth SIR me thinks I have observed in you a strange alteration since our last meeting at Middleburrough nor onely in your behaviour company and converse but even in your countenance What is the matter if I may bee so bold Convert Truly Sir you are not at all mistaken nor am I unwilling to acquaint you with the cause if you can affoard to hear it Soon after my return into England I was carried by a friend to hear a Sermon where the Minister so represented the very thoughts secrets and deceitfulnesse of my heart unto my conscience that I could not but say of him as the Woman of Samaria once spake of our Saviour He hath told me all things that ever I did Which made me conclude with that Unbeliever 1 Cor. 14. 24 25. That God was in him of a truth nor could he ever have so done if he were not of God As the Young-man in the Gospel reasoned with the Pharisees touching Jesus when he had opened his eies that had been blinde from his birth Joh. 9. 32 33. Whereupon I could have no peace nor rest untill I had further commâ—â—ed with him about my estate for I found my self in a lost condition touching Eternity It faring with me as it did with those Jews Acts 2. when Peter by his searching Sermon had convinced them that Christ whom tâ—ey had by wicked hands crucified and slain was the onely Son of God and Lord of glory ver. 36. 37. And having had the happinesse to enjoy the benefit of his â—â—ge advice as I stood in need thereof God having given him the tongue of the learnâ—d to administer a word in season to them that are weaâ—y Isâ— 50. 4. I blesse God his word and Spirit hath wrought in me such a change and strange alteration â—hat it hath opened mine eies that were 〈◊〉 before inclined my will to obedience which before was rebelliâ—us softned my heart sanctified and quite changed my â—ffections so that I now love that good which before I hated and hate that evil which before I loved and 〈◊〉 deliâ—â—ted with â—hose holy exercises which heretofore did most displease me and am displeased wiâ—h â—hose vain plâ—asâ—â—es and filtâ—â—e sins which in times pâ—st did most delight me Which is such a mercie that no tongue â—s able to expresse For till that hour I went on in the broad way and worlds road to destruction without any mist ust whereas now God hath been pleased to take me into his Kingdom of grace here and wâ—l never leave me untill he hath brought mee to his Kingdome of glory hereafter Loose Libertine What you speak makes me wonder for I ever heâ—d you the compleatest man of my acquaintance just in all your dealings temperate and civil in your depoâ—tment yea I have never seen you exceed in the least nor heard you swear an Oath â—xcâ—pt faith and troth and that veâ—y rarely Besides you have been a good Protestant and gone to Church all your daies Convert What you speak none that know me can contradict nor could they ever accuse me of any scandalous crime or unjust act Yea I had the same thoughts of my self and should any one have told me formerly that I was such a great sinner such a Devil incarnate as I was I should have replied as Hazael did to the Prophet telling him of the abominable wickedness he would e're long commit What am I a Dâ— c. 2 Kings 8. 12 13. And no wonder for as every man in his natural condition is stark blind to spiritual objects 1 Cor. 2. 14. so the heart of man is deceitful above all things even so deceitful that none but God alone can know it as the Prophet shews Jer. 17. 10. But because this is a truth that transcends your belief and because it may be of singular use to you also to know the same I will give you a short character of my former condition the which done I doubt not but you will assent unto what I have â—itherto said or shall further relate Sect. XXVIII First touching my knowledge I mean saving knowledge without which the soul cannot be good as wise Solomon witnesseth Prov. 19. 2. it was such though I thought my self wiser then to make scruple of or perplex my self about matters of Religion as do the religious even as the King of Tyrus thought himself wiser then Daniel Ezek. 28. 3. that spiritual things were mostly represented to my understanding false and clean contrary to what they are indeed Like corporal things in a Looking-glass wherein those that are on the right hand seem to be on the left and those that are on the left hand seem to be on the right As it fared with Saint Paul while he was in his natural condition Acts 26. 9. which made me think and call evil good and good evil bitter sweet and sweet bitter to justifie the wicked condemn the just as the Prophet complains Isa. 5. 20 23. As for instance I most sottishly thought that I both loved and served God as I ought yea I should have taken it in four scorn if any one had questioned the same when indeed I was a Traitor to God and took up arms against all that worshipped him in Spirit and in truth I was so far from loving and serving him that I hated those that did it and that for their so doing I could also hear him blasphemed reproached and dishonored without being once stirred or moved at it I loved him dearly but I could never affoard to speak a word for him and likewise his Children intirely but instead of justifying them or speaking in their defence when I heard them scoft scorned abused by wicked ungodly men all my delight was to jeer at flight and slander them where ever I came I more feared the Magistrate then I feared God and more regarded the blasts of men's breath then the fire of God's wrath I chose rather to disobey God then to displease great ones and feared more the worlds scorns then his anger And the like of Christ that died for me a strong argument that I loved Christ when I hated all that resembled him in holiness Yea I so hated holiness that I most bitterly hated men for being holy insomuch that my