fhall I do it before the Judge of all the World? If Fear and Shame from Men have fuch an Influence upon me, as to deterr me from the commiffion of Sin, how ought I to be mov'd with the apprehenfion of GOD's Infpection, who does not only know my Tranfgreffions, but will eternally punish me for them? May thefe Thoughts and Confiderations always take place in my Heart, and be accompanied with fuch happy Effects in my Conversation, that I may live with GOD upon Earth, and fo love and fear his Prefence in this World, that I may for ever enjoy his Glory in the Next.

Concerning my Thoughts.

B

Ut who am I, poor proud and finful Duft and Afhes, that I fhould expect ever to live fo Holy, fo Heavenly, as is here fuppos'd! Can Grapes be gather'd from Thorns, or Figs from Thiftles? Can the Fruit be fweet when the Root is bitter? Or the Streams healthful when the Fountain's poyfon'd? No, I must either get me a New and Better Heart, or elfe it will be impoffible for me ever to lead a New and Better Life. But how muft I come by this Pearl of inestimable Value, à New Heart? Can I purchase it with my own Riches? Or find it in my own Field? Can I raise it from Sin to Holinefs? From Earth to Heaven? Or from myself to GOD? Alas, I have endeavour'd it, but I find by woful Experience I cannot attain to it: I have been lifting and heaving again and again, to raise it out of the Mire and Clay of Sin and Corruption, but, alas, it will not ftir: I have rub'd and chaf'd it with one Threatning after another, and all to get Heat and Life into it, but ftill 'tis as cold and dead as ever. I have brought it to the Promises, and fet it un

der

N

der the droppings of the Sanctuary, I have fhewn it the beauty of Chrift, and the deformity of Sin, but yet 'tis a hard and finful, an earthly and fenfual Heart ftill. What therefore fhall I do with it? O my GOD, I bring it unto thee, Thou that mad ft it a Heart at first, canft only make it a new Heart now! O do Thou purify and refine it, and renew a right Spirit within me! Do Thou take it into thy Hands, and out of Thine infinite Goodnefs new mould it up, by Thine own Grace, into an exact conformity to Thine own Will Do Thou but give me a new Heart, and I fhall promife Thee, by thy Grace, to lead a New Life, and become a New Creature? Do Thou but clear the Fountain, and I fhall endeavour to look to the Streams that flow from it; which that I may be able to do with the better fuccefs

RESOL.

RESOL. I.

I am refolved, by the Grace of God, to watch as much over the inward Motions of my Heart, as the outward Actions of my Life.

Or

For my Heart, I perceive, is the Womb

3

in which all Sin is firft conceiv'd, and from which my Saviour tells me, "proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, forni cations, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickednefs, deceit, lafcivioufness, an evil eye, blafphemy, pride, foolishness, Mar. 7.21,22. So that ever I would prevent the commiflion of these Sins in my Life, I must endeavour to hinder their conception in my Heart, following the Wife Man's Counsel, to keep my heart with all diligence, because out of it are the issues of life, Prov. 4. 23. Neither is this the only reafon why I fhould fet fo strict a watch over my Heart, because finful Thoughts lead to finful Acts, but because the Thoughts themselves are finful; yea, the very first-born of Iniquity: which tho' Men cannot pry into or discover, yet the All-feeing GOD knows and obferves, and remembers them, as well as the

1

greatest

greatest Actions of all my Life. And O! what wicked and prophane Thoughts have I formerly entertain'd not only againft GOD, but against Christ, by queftioning the Juftice of his Laws, and doubting of the Truth of his Revelation, fo as to make both his Life and Death of none effect to me: Which that they may never be laid to my Charge hereafter, I humbly befeech GOD to pardon and abfolve me from them, and to give me Grace for the Remainder of my Life, to be as careful of thinking, as of doing Well, and as fearful of offending Him in my Heart, as of tranfgrefling his Laws in my Life and Converfation. To this End

RESOL. II.

I am refolved, by the Grace of God, to ftop every Thought at its first entring into my Heart, and to examine it whence it comes and whither it tends.

So foon as ever any new Thought begins to bubble up in my Soul, I am refolved to examine what ftamp it is of, whether it fpring from the pure Foun