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And this is that pure heart which is necessary to a godly life, as being a chiefe piller that supporteth it, and a liuely fountaine, from which all good and vertuous actions doe spring and flow. For if the heart be pure,
it will purifie all our words and actions: but if it be defiled, we can expect no pure streames from a polluted fountaine; according to that of our Sa∣uiour, Those things which proceed out of the mouth, come foorth of the heart, and they defile the man: for out of the heart proceed euill thoughts, murthers, adulteries, &c. And therefore as it is in vaine to purge the streames when the fountaine is defiled, because it will soone againe pollute them, whereas if the spring be cleere, it will soone clense the streames, though much de∣filed, that issue from it; so is it with the fountaine of the heart, and the words and actions, which from it, as streames doe spring and flow. The heart is the roote and tree, and the words and workes are the fruits it bea∣reth, which discouer what it is; for a good tree bringeth foorth good fruits, and a corrupt tree bringeth foorth euill fruits; neither can a good tree bring foorth euill fruit, nor a corrupt tree bring foorth good fruit, as our Sauiour hath taught vs. It is the treasurie of all our thoughts, speeches and acti∣ons. And a good man, out of the good treasure of his heart, bringeth foorth that which is good; and an euill man, out of the euill treasure of his heart, brin∣geth foorth that which is euill, for of the abundance of the heart, the mouth spea∣keth. It is the King and Monarch in the little world of man, which giueth lawes to all the other members, raigning and ruling ouer them as it see∣meth good vnto it. It is the primum mobile, and first moouer, which giueth motion to all other parts as inferiour spheares; and as it were the first wheele of the clocke, whose motion all the rest follow, standing still when it standeth, and going as it goeth. So that if the heart bee an inditer of a good matter, the tongue will be the pen of a ready writer; if the heart bee prepared, so also will be the tongue to sing and giue praise; if it nourish euill thoughts like vnto discords, there can be no good musike: but if it be well tuned, we shall, in singing Hymnes, Psalmes, and spirituall Songs, sing with grace, and make sweete melody in Gods eares. And therefore Dauid desiring to make good speed in the way of godlinesse, desireth first to haue his heart in larged with the loue of it; I will runne (saith he) the way of thy Commandements, when thou shalt inlarge my heart.
Mat. 15. 19.
Mat. 7. 17, 18.
Luk. 6. 45.
Psa. 45. 1. & 57. 7. & 108. 1.
Col. 3. 16.
Psal. 119. 32.