yet Lord,' the heart of such a one cries, as Austin confessed of himself. Sin is as truly tlie offspring of the soul, as cliildren are of our bodies, and it finds as much favour in our eyes, yea, more; for the sinner can slay a son to save a sin alive, Micah vi. 7 ; and of all sins, none are more cherished than these heart-sins.
First, Because tliey are the first-born of the sinful heart, and the chiefest strength of the soul is laid ovit upon them.
Secondly, Because the heart hath more scope in them than in outward acts. The proud man is staked down oft to a short state, and cannot mffie it in the world, and appear to others in that pomp he would ; but within his own bosom he can set up a stage, and in his own foolish heart present himself as great a prince as he pleaseth. The malicious can kill in his desires as many in a few minutes, as the angel smote in a night of Sennacherib's host. Nero thus could slay all Rome on the block at once.
Thirdly, These sins stay with the soul when the others leave it ; when the sinner hatli crippled his body with drunkenness and filthiness, and proves tniles emeritus, cannot follow the devil's camp any longer in those ways, then these cursed lusts will entertain the sinner with stories of his old pranks and pleasures. In a word, these inward lusts of the heart have nothing but the conscience of a Deity to quell them. Other sins put the sinner to shame before men ; and as some that believed on Christ, durst not confess him openly, because they loved the praise of men, so there are sinners who are kept from vouching their lust openly, for the same tenderness to their reputation ; but hei-e is no fear of that, if they can but forget that heaven sees them, or persuade themselves there is no danger from thence ; the coast then is clear, they may be as wicked as they please. These make inward sins so hugged and embraced. If thou therefore canst find thy heart set against these, I may venture to call thee a real Chris- tian, and for thy help against them,
First, Be earnest with God in prayer to move and order thy heart in its thoughts and desires. If the tongue be such an unruly thing that few can tame, O what is the heart, where such a multitude of thoughts are flying forth as thick as bees from the hive, and sparks from the furnace ! It is not in man, not in the holiest on earth, to do this without Divine assistance. Therefore we find David so often ci-ying out in this respect to order his steps in his word, to unite his heart to his fear, to incline his heart to his testimonies. As a servant, when the child he tends is troublesome, and will not be ruled by him, calls out to the father to come to him, who no sooner speaks but all is silence with him : no doubt holy David found his heart beyond his skill or power, that makes him so oft do its errand to God. Indeed God hath promised thus much to his children, to order their steps for them, Psalm xxxvii. 22 ; only he looks they should bring their hearts to him for that end. ' Commit thy work to the Loi'd, and thy thoughts shall be established,' Prov. xvi. .3, or ordered. Art thou set- ting thy face towards an ordinance, where thou art sure to meet Satan, who will be disturbing thee with worldly thoughts, and may be worse ? let God know from thy mouth whither thou art going, and what thy fears are ; never doth the soul march in so goodly order, as when it puts itself under the conduct of God.
Secondly, Set a strong guard about thy outward senses : these are Satan's landing places, especially the eye and the ear. Take heed what thou importest at these ; vain discourse seldom passeth without leaving some tincture upon the heart : as unwholesome air inclines to putrefaction things sweet in themselves, so unsavoury discourse to corrupt the mind that is pure ; look thou breathest therefore in a clear air. And for thy eye, let it not wander ; wanton objects cause wanton thoughts. Job knew his eye and his thoughts were like to go together, and therefore to secure one, he covenants with the other, Jobxxxi. 1.
Thirdly, Often reflect upon thyself in a day, and observe what company is with thy heart. A careful master will ever and anon be looking into his work- house, and see what his servants .are doing, and a wise Christian should do the same. We may know by the noise in the school, the master is not there : much of the misrule in our bosoms ariseth from the neglect of visiting our hearts. Now when thou art parleying with thy soul, make this threefold inquiry :
First, Whether that which thy heart is thinking on be good or evil. If evil and wicked, such as are proud, unclean, distrusti'ul thouglits, show thy abhor-
K 2
Y^L^ AGAINST SPIRITUAL WICKEDNESS. «,