A learned and very useful commentary on the whole epistle to the Hebrews wherein every word and particle in the original is explained ... : being the substance of thirty years Wednesdayes lectures at Black-fryers, London / by that holy and learned divine Wiliam Gouge ... : before which is prefixed a narrative of his life and death : whereunto is added two alphabeticall tables ...

§. 64. Of a true Heart.* 1.1

TO the heart before mentioned the Apostle here addeth this epithite true: and that to meete with the deceipt of Hypocrites, who pretend that in heart they draw neare, when in truth their heart is fast set upon Pride, Covetousnesse, and other corruptions. Such are they who are stiled Hypocrites in heart, Io•…•…. 36. 13.

These are said to have a heart and a heart. We translate it a double heart, Psal. 12. •…•…. One is the pretence of a good heart: The other is a plaine evill heart: It is therefore said of those who did pretend no more then what he did intend, that they were not of a 1.2 double heart; David thereforefore setteth forth a true heart under this phrase b 1.3 the whole heart. Such a heart must be presented to God, as is evident by sundry other epithites tending to the same purpose and attributed to the heart: as a pure heart, Psal. 24. 4. A clean heart, Psal. 73. 1. A sound heart, Prov. 14. 30. A faithfull heart, Neh. 9. 8. An honest good heart, Luke 8. 15. Upright in heart, Psal. 7. 10. A perfect heart, Isai. 38. 3. Yea like epithites in the abstract are atributed to the heart, as uprightnesse in heart, 1 King. 3. 6. Singlenesse of heart, Acts 2. 46.

God is a searcher of the heart, Acts 1. 24. Ier. 179. Great reason therefore that we draw neare unto him with atrue heart. See more hereof Chap. 3. v. 12. §. 26.

This manifesteth the folly of hypocrites, whose intents are different, according to their different disposition.

• 1. Some aime at the praises of men, Matth. 6. 2. These are vaine glorious Hy∣pocrites.
• 2. Others aime at profit, Matth. 23. 14. These are covetous Hypocrites.
• 3. Others at mischiefe, Ier. 41. 6. These are malicious Hypocrites.

Their sin is the greater in these and other like respects.

• 1. They prefer man to God: for if they did beare such respect to God as they do •…•…o man, they would labour to approve themselves to God, which cannot be without a true heart, Psal. 51. 6.
• 2. They delude and deceive men. They make them judge amisse. Man cannot brook to be mocked: if therefore they knew the hypocrisie, they would detest the Hypocrite.
• 3. They carry about them an accuser, a witnesse and a Judge. This is their conscienc, which oft proves very terrible.

Thus are they adversares to God, to men, and to their owne souls. When hypo∣crites and profane persons shall meet together in hell, (for hell is their portion, Matth. 24. 51.) profane persons will insult over them and say, where is the fruit of your drawing neere to God. Of keeping the Heart, See Chap. 3. v. 12. §. 126.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Of trying truth of heart, see the whole Armour of God, Treat. 2. Part. 3. Of truth, on Eph. 6. 14. § 6.
• a 1.2

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• b 1.3

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