y/. 8. A sign we are pardoned, if, after many storms, we have a sweet calm and peace within, Rom. v. 1., " Being justified we h.ive ])eace." After many a hitter tear shed, and heart-hreaking, the mind hath been more sedate, and a sweet serenitv or Btill music hath followed ; this brings tid- ings, God is appeased ; whereas before con- science did accuse, now it doth secretly whisper comfort, — this is a blessed evidence a man's sins are pardoned. If the bailitfs do not trouble and arrest the debtor, it is a sign his debt is compounded or forgiven : so if conscience do not vex or accuse, but .upon good grounds whisper consolation, this is a sign the debt is discharged, the sin is forgiven.
A. 9. A sign sin is forgiven, when we liave hearts without guile, Ps. xxxii. ], 2., " Blessed is he whose transgression is for- given, unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniqnitv, and in whose spirit there is no guile."'
QuF.ST. What is this to be sine fuco willi- out ffuik ?
1.^^ He who is without guile, hath plain- ness of heart; he is without collusion, he liath not cor duplex, — a double heart, — his lieart is right with God. A man may do a right action, but not with a right heart : 2 C'hron. xxv. 2., Amaziah *' did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, but not with a perfect heart." To have the heart right with God, is to serve God from a right principle, — love; by a right rule, — the word; to a right end, — the glory of God.
2d. An heart without guile dares not al- low itself in the least sin ; he avoids secret sins. He dares not hide any sin, as Pachcl did her father's images, imder her, Gen. xxxi, 34. He knows God sees him, which is more than if men and anccls did behold liim. He avoids complexion-sins, Ps. xviii. 23., " I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from my iniquity." As in the hive theie is a master -bee, so in the heart
there is a master-sin. An heart witliout guile takes the sacrificing knife of mortifica- tion, and runs it through his beloved sin.
2d. An heart without guile desires to know the whole mind and will of (lod. Aw unsound heart is afraid of the light, lucifitgOy he is not willing to know his duty. A sin- cere soul saith, as Job xxxiv. 32., " ' AVhat I know not, teach thou me :' Lord shew nie what is my duty, and wherein I offeiul : let me not sin for want of light : what I know not, teach thou me."
AtJi. An heart without guile is uniform in religion: he hath an equal eye to all God's commands. 1. He makes conscience of private duties • he worships God in his closet as well as in the temjde. Jacob, when he was alone, wrestled with the an- gel. Gen. xxxii. 24, 25.: so a Christian, when he is alone, wrestles with God in prayer, and will not let him go till he hath blessed him. 2. He performs difiicult du- ties, wherein the heart and spirit of religion lie, and which do cross flesh and blood ; he is much in self-humbling and self-cxamin-- ing. Utifur specidis magis quam ])crs})icdli% Sen. He rather useth the looking glass of the word to look into his own heart, than the broad spectacles of censure to spy the faults of others.
bill. An heart without guile is true to (iods interest. I. He grieves to see it go ill with the church. Neheraiah, though the king's cup-bearer, and wine so near, yet was sad when Zion's glory was eclipsed, Neb. ii. 3. Like the tree I have read of, if any of the leaves are cut, the rest of the leaves begin to shrink up themselves, and for a time to hang down the head ; so a sin- cere soul, when God's church suffers, feels himself as it were touched in his own per- son. 2. He rejoiceth to see the cause of (Jod get ground ; to see truth triumph, ])i('ty lifts up her head, and the flowers of C lirist's crown flourish. This is an heart without guile, it is loyal and true to God's interest.
Gth. An heart without guile is just in his dealings; as he is u])right in his words, so he is upright in his weights. He makes conscience of the second table as well as the first; he is for equity as well as jtiety 1 Thess. iv. 0., " That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter." A
OF THE FIFTH PETITION IN THE LORD'S PRAYER.
sincere lioart tliinks lie may as well rob as defratul : lii.s rule is to do to others wliat he would have them do to him, Mat. vii. 12.
7//t. An heart without guile is true in his promises ; Ids word is as good as his bond. If he hath made a promise, though it be to his prejudice, and doth entrench npon his profit, he will not go back. The hypocrite plays fast and loose, flees from his word ; there is no more binding him with oaths and promises, than Samson could be bound with green withes, Judges xvi. 7. A sin- cere soul saith as Jephtha, Judges xi. 35., " I have opened my mouth to the Lord, and I cannot go back."