God the onely searcher of the secrets of the Heart. [ 1681]
ARam King of Syria by the advice of his Councell, secretly layeth an am∣buscado for the hoast of Israel, but God revealed the whole plot to Elisha the Prophet,* 1.1 and he to the King of Israel whereby they all escaped, there being not a word spoken in their Enemies bed-chamber, not a thought or intimation of a thought but God discloseth it for their good: And thus though the Heart of Man be seated in a darksome Closet,* 1.2 wall'd round about with flesh, swadled up and covered with the richest hangings of Natures wardrobe, so charily at∣tended, so shrowded with vails, that though he bear it in his bosome, feed it with his own goods, study to delight and please it, though it be his own, yet if he would give a world for the sight of it, he could not have it; yet neither is the Heart so close imprisoned,* 1.3 but God beholds it, nor a thought so privily conceived but he descries it,* 1.4 nor a spark of Lust so softly blown and kindled, but he discerns it,* 1.5 nor the smallest seed of Ungodlinesse so warily covered, but he reveals it.* 1.6