TO binde all the Lessons togeather , which yee haue learned since I came , this Setence did come to my mind , My sonne , geue me thy heart , which is the summe of all that ye haue heard , Iob , 22 , 22. Luk. 2 , 19 Psal. 17 . 3● Dan , 7 , 38 and shews in what chest you shoulde lay vp these treasures in your heart , & then geue that heart vnto God , and hee wil keep all safe .

A supplication is come as it were from God to man , that man woulde sende God his hearte , Pro. 9 , 1. penned by Salomon , vnder the name of Wisedome , & directed to her sons , wisdome entreateth her sons that they would giue her their harts , this wisdome is god , Rom , 8.15 Gal , 4 , 24. Iohn 4.14 . we by adoption are his sons , & our hart is that which christ cals spirit & trueth , without hypocrisie : Geue me that heart , saith God . Hee which geues any thing to another , considers before what he loues , & giues that which he thinks wil be accepted , that he may be loued for his gift : therfore Dauid , as though he were at a stand , & sorrowed that hee could not doe inough for God , breaks forth to himself , What shall I giue vnto the Lord for al that he hath giuen me ? The Lorde hearing as it were , these sighes of his seruaunts , which care & study what they may doe to please him , comes in their suspence , & like a friend which desires nothing but good wil answers from heauen , My son , giue me thy hart . Vnder which suite he taxeth them beside which are suiters alwaies to him , and looke still to receiue like the Publicanes , but neuer caste in their minds what they should giue , threfore their tribute is set downe by equall measure vnder the kings seale , euery man must homage his hart . He which alwaies gaue , now craues : and hee which craued alwaies , now geues : Christ standes at the doore like a poore man , & asks not bread , nor clothes , nor lodging , which we should geue to his members , but our heart : that is , euen the continent of all , and gouerner of mans house , which sittes on the bench like the Iudge , to geue the charge , and teach the tongue to speake , the hande to worke , the foote to walke , the eare to attend , the eye to obserue , the minde to chuse , and the flesh to obey . Leu , 1 , 9. & 13 That wee must present to GOD like a burnt sacrifice , wherein all is offered together , a wise tongue , a diligente hande , a warie foote , a watchefull eye , an attentiue eare , an humble minde , an obediente fleshe , put all together , and it is but the heart . My sonne ( saith God ) geue me this heart . Here thou arte the geuer , God the petitioner , thy heart the gifte , which he claymeth by the name of a sonne . Shoulde GOD bee a suppliaunt vnto thee and mee , but that our vnthankefulnesse condemnes vs , that for all the thinges which hee hath geuen vs , we neuer considered as yet what wee should giue vnto him before hee asketh : hee is faine to put in his petition like a suter , and saie , giue me thy heart : Marke what God hath chosen for himselfe , not that which any other shall loose by , like the demaundes of them which care for none but themselues , but that , which being geuen to God , mooues vs to geue vnto euery man his due , Luk. 19 , 8. as Zacheus when hee gaue his hearte to Christ , parted his goods to the poore , & restored to al , that which hee had got by wrong . Once God required offeringes and sacrifices , Mal , 1.13 , and , 3 , 18. which men were vnwilling to geue , because it was a deer seruice of God , but now he saith , that the hearte is more then all burnte offerings and sacrifices , Mar. 12 , . Gen. 23. Iacob loued Ioseph more then al his bretheren , so God loueth the heart more then all her followes , this myte God will haue for all his benefits which we may best affoorde him , thy almes to the poor , thy counsel to the simple , thine inheritance to thy children ; thy tribute to Caesar , Iohn , 4 , 24. but thy hearte to God : hee which is a spirite ; requires the spirite , and delightes , to dwel in the heartes of men . Here God plantes himselfe as in a castle , which is alwaies besieged with the worlde , the flesh , and the deuil If the enemie get a thought , or a word , or a worke , yet he hath but rased the walles , but if hee take the hart , then the fortresse is lost . From that time , al our thoghts , & words and works , are captiue vnto him , he bids them goe , & they goe , doe , and they doe it . That man is like Esau , gen , 25 , 33 which had an inheritaunce , which had a hart ; but now he hath not possession of his owne , therefore geue God thy heart , that he may keep it , not a peece of thy heart , not a rowme in thy heart , but thy heart . The heart deuided , dieth : God is not like the mother which would haue the child deuided , but like the naturall Mother , 1 , Kings 3 , 26 which said rather then it should be deuided , Let her take all . Let the deuill haue all , if he which gaue it , be not worthie of it , God hath no copesmate , therefore he wil haue no parting offtakes , but all , or none : and therefore he which askes here thy heart , in the 6. of Deut. & the 5. asks all thy hearte , all thy soule , all thy strength : thrice hee requireth all , least wee shoulde keepe a thought behinde : yet it is thy heart , that is , a vaine heart , a barren heart , Esai 47 , 1● Eccle. ● , 9 a sinfull heart , vntill thou geue it vnto GOD , and then it is the spouse of Christ , 1. Cor , ● , ●6 11 Cor , 6 , 19 the Temple of the Holie Ghost , and the image of God , so changed , and formed , and refined , that God cals it a newe heart , Ezek. 36.26 . Some haue a double hearte , Eze , 36 , 26 as it is in the 12. Psalme : but God acknowledgeth but one heart , saying , Psal , 12 , 2 geue me thy heart , not geue mee thy hearts : declaring that a single heart is pleasing vnto him , and that they which haue a double hearte , a heart & a heart , haue neuer a good heart . God doeth not require the heart , as though hee required no more then the heart , like the Pope , which saith , geue me thy hart , & it sufficeth . To maintaine his Papistes pendant and crouchant , which liue amongst Christians , hee requireth nothing of such but their hearte , they may worship god with theire lippes , and dissemble their religion , and forsweare their opinions , and come to sermons , and subscribe to other lawes , and seem protestants , as the deuill licenceth witches to seeme christians , so they geue him their heart , he dispenseth with them to dissemble , & giue the rest as they list , but God requireth the heart because we should not dissemble , for in the 12. to the Rom. hee commaunds the body too , Rom , 12 , i , Offer vp your bodies a liuely sacrifice . Which we cannot doe , vnles we giue heart , & hand , & tongue , & eies , & eares , and all , for the body is all : but the heart is chiefe in request , because if there be any goodnes , it lies in the hearte , & because he which giues the hart geues al , Luc , 6.45 , for out of the aboundance of the hart the mouth speaketh , the hand worketh , the eye looketh , the eare listneth , the foote walketh to good or euill : therefore , there is such strife for the hearte , as there was for Moses bodie : Iud , 9 , geue it me saith the Lord , geue it me saith the tempter , geue it me saith the Pope , geue it me saith riches , geue it mee saith pleasure , as though thou muste needes geue it : nowe here is thy choice , whether thou wilt geue it to God or the deuill , Gods hearte or the deuils heart whose wilt thou be ? Man hangs in a ballance like a young virgin which hath many suters : some she fauoures for parentage , some for personage , some for friends , some for wealth , some for wit , some for vertue : and after all , chuseth the worst of all : so the heart hath so many suiters besides God , that sometime shee marrieth with one , sometimes with another , the world keepes her , the flesh keepes her , the deuill keepes her , Mat , 14 , ● which haue no more interest in her , than Herod to his sister , but seeke her spoile , like them which marry , for riches , are glad when one dies , that another may come . These suters are like Absolom , ● , Sam , 5. which did not seek the harts of the people like Dauid , but steale them with slatterie and lies , but god woulde haue thee giue thy heart . As a man considers what he doeth when he geues , so god licenceth vs to consider of that which we doe for him , whether he deserueth it , whether wee owe it , whether he can require it , least it shoulde come againste our wil : therfore geue me saith God , as though he would not straine vpon vs , or take from vs , but if thou wilt giue him thy heart , then he accepts it , it muste come freely like a gifte , as his blessings come to vs , & then his demaund is graunted . Here is no respect of time , how long thou mayest stay it , or how long he will keepe it , but geue it , is the present time , as though hee would haue it out of hand , while hee askes before ye goe out of the church : for what can we aske of him , while we denie him but one thinge which hee askes of vs : therfore consider who is a suiter to you , Now I am a collector for God , to gather hearts , either you must graunt him , or denie him , thinke who shall lose by it , if thou wilt not pay thy landlord his rent . How many subiectes would reioyce , if they had any thing to geue to the Prince , and pray her to accept it , that they might but say ; I haue giuen a present to the Queene ? Mar , 14 , 3 So Mary reioiced that she had a litle oyle to sprinkle vppon Christe , that shee would take no mony for it : 1 , King , 17 , 13 yea the widdow of Zarephath was so ioyfull that shee had a little foode for the Prophet , that shee spared it from her children , and her selfe , to serue him first , so they which loue the Lord like his Disciples , which left al to follow him , ●uc , 5 11 , had rather that he shuld haue their riches , their honours , their heartes , & their liues , then they themselues . Why is Dauid called a manne after gods own hart , Sam , 13 , 14 but because when god said , geue me thy hart , his spirite answered like to an Eccho , I geue thee my heart ? is God so desirous of my heart ? what good can my heart do to God ? It is not worthy to come vnder his roofe : I would I had a better gift to send vnto my Lorde : goe my hearte to thy maker , the Bridegroome hath sent for thee , put on thy Wedding garment , for the Kinge him selfe will marrie thee . Who is not sorry now , that he did not geue his heart before ? Is hee not worthie to die , that will take his hearte from him that made it , from him which redeemed it , from him which preserues it , from him which wil glorifie it : to geue it vnto him which wil infect it , torment it , condemne it ? Will a seruant reach the cup to a stranger , when his maister cals for it ? Or will a man sell his coat if he haue no mo ? What hast thou reserued for God when thou hast giuen Sathan thy heart ? Christ hath promised to come and dwel with thee , where shal hee stay , Reue , 3 , 2● where shal hee dine , if the chamber bee taken vp , and thy heart let foorth to another ? Thou art but a tenaunt , and yet thou takest his house ouer his head , and placest in it whom thou wilt , as if thou were Land-lord . Canst thou possesse another mans goodes , but hee wil molest thee , and trouble thee vntil hee haue his owne ? And doost thou thinke to keepe that which is Gods , and hold it in peace ? No , hee wil neuer suffer thee to rest , 1 , Sam , 38 Exod. 8 , 13 and 9 : 28 Actes 16 , 14 Exo , 8 & 9 & 10 but crie vppon thee day and night as Moses vexed Pharaoh vntil hee let the people goe , so thou shalt be distracted with feares and thoughts , as one plague followed an other vntill thou let thy heart goe , that it may serue God , as if a man shoulde pull out thy heart , and take it from thee , so grieuous it is vnto God to keepe thy heart from him . Therefore , let all suiters haue their aunswere that thy heart is married alreadie , as Isaac answered Esau , Iacob haue I blessed , Gen , 27 and he shal be blessed : So thou mayst say , God hath my heart , and he shall haue it , and them that craue it hereafter , sende them to Christ for it , for it is not thine to geue , if thou haue geuen it to God alreadie . But take heede thy hearte doe not lie to thy selfe , and saie it is Gods , when it is the worldes , 1 , King , 24 , 6 like Ieroboams wife , which would not seeme Ieroboams wife . By this thou shalt knowe whether thou haste geuen it to him or no , If thy hearte bee gone , all will followe , as the Sunne riseth firste , and then the Beastes arise from their dennes , the Fowles from their neastes , and men from their Beddes : so when the heart settes forward to God , all the members will marche after it , the tongue wil praise him , the foote wil follow him , the eare will attend him , the eye wil watch him , the hande wil serue him , nothing will stay after the heart , Psal , 123 , 2 Mat , 23.26 but euerie one goes like handemaydes after their mistresse : this Christ verifieth , saying , Make cleane within , and all wil be cleane : that is , the eye , and the eare , and the tongue , and the hande , and all : as the Father gaue vs all , Rom , 8 , 32 when hee gaue his Sonne , so wee geue him all , when we geue our hearts . This is the melodie which Paul speaketh of , Ephe. 5.19 . Make melodie to the Lorde in your hearts , shewing that there is a consort of all the members , when the heart is in tune , that it soundes like a melodie in the eares of God , and makes vs reioice while wee serue him , we haue example hereof in Christ , which said that it was meate and drinke vnto him to doo his Fathers wil : and Dauid which danced to see the Arke , Iohn 4 , 34 2 , Sam , 6 , 14 1 , Chro , 29 9 and the Israelites of whome it is saide that they reioised , when they offered from their heart vnto the Lord . Therfore Salomon pricking out the heart for God , speaks as though he wold set vs the pleasantest , and fairest , and easiest way to serue him without any grudging , or toyle , or wearines : touch but the first linke and al the rest wil follow ; so set the heart a going , and it is like the poize of a clock , which turnes al the wheeles one way ; such an oile is about the heart , which makes all nimble and currant about it : therefore it is almost as easie to speake well and do well , Psalme 45 , 1 as to thinke well . If the heart indite a good matter , no maruell though the tongue be the penne of a ready writer , but if the heart bee dull , al is like a left hand , so vnapt and vntoward that it cannot turne itselfe to any good . Therefore Gods suites haue so hard passage in our counsailes , iudgements , and parliamentes , because men doo not giue him their hearts , which should be the first offering of all : if they did giue him their heartes before they sit downe to heare his cause , they coulde not denie him any thinge that is for his honor , though it wer against their profite , but as Christ saith , not my will , but thy will , Mar , 26 , 39 so they would say , it is not our kingdom but thy kingdom , it is not our Church but thy church , therefore not our will but thy wil , not our law but thy law , not our disciplin but thy disciplin raigne in it : & all that giue their heartes subscribe to this , the rest say , not thy wil but our wil , not thy law but our lawe , not thy disciplin but our discipline , because as the Apostle saith , they seek their own glory , and not Christs , Phil. 2.21 . ●at , 2 , 3 This hath bin the rubbe euer since reformation began , Herod cannot see how he shoulde bee King , Acts 19 , 23 if Christ should raigne : therfore as the imagemakers cried & stormed when images should goe down , alledging that they liued by this crafte : so , if ye mark what kind of men they be which preach , and write , and labor so hotly against the discipline , it is they that are like to lose some of their dignities , or their commodities by it , ●●h , 11 , 48 ●ar , 23 , 7 ●ar , 10 , 21. if the gouernment should change : the Scribes & Pharisies resisted Christ more then the people , because he denounced wo to them , and misliked that they shoulde bee called Rabbi : how hard it is to follow Christ , when he saith , leaue all ; nay if hee bid vs to leaue any thing for him , though wee should leaue our very selues . Mat. 16.24 . The tongue will not praise , because the heart doeth not loue ; the eare will not heare , because the heart doeth not mind , the hand wil not geue , because the heart doeth not pitie , the foot wil not goe , because the heart doeth not stir : al stay vpon the hart , like the Captaine that should giue the onset .

Secondly , God requiring the hart , sheweth that all the thinges of this worlde are not worthie of it , nor a peece of it , nor a thought , Eccle , 1.13 & 14 vnlesse it be to contemne them , as Salomon thought of vanitie .

Thirdly , that all should consent so with the heart , that we shoulde speak as if the heart did speak , pray as if our heart did pray , heare as if our heart did heare , giue as if our heart did giue , Psal , 44 , Iob , 22 , 22 remit as if our heart did remit , & counsell as if our heart did counsell , as the Apostle saith , Doe all thinges heartily : Coloss. 3.23 . which if we would keepe , nothing that we doe should trouble vs , because nothing is troublesome , but that which goeth against the heart .

Fourthlie , that we shoulde serue god for himselfe and not for our selues , as he which giues his heart , dooth all for loue : This christ requires when hee castes off that disciple , Mat , 28 , 19 which offered to follow him for aduantage , The birds haue nests , & the foxes haue holes , ( saith christ ) but the sonne of man hath not a place to hide his head : shewing this disciple , if he will followe him , he must not looke for a place to hide his head : we must leaue all to follow christ , Mat , 4 , 20 ●ohn 9 , 26 as Peter did , and not seeke al by following him , as they that went after him for bread .

Fiftly , that we should not serue god by fits , as we vse to pray when the night comes , to hear when the Saboth comes , to fast when Lent comes ; to repent when death comes , but the seruice of the heart is continuall seruice , 1 , Thess , 5 , 16 like in that 1. Thes. 5 Reioyce euermore , praye continuallie in all thinges geue thankes . Who is this which reioiceth , and praieth . & thanketh continually ? The tongue praieth but sometime , the eare attendeth but sometime , the hand giueth but sometime , but the heart prayeth , and praiseth , and worshippeth alwaies : a man may serue God alwaies with his heart , and neuer be wearie , because the heart cannot serue him vnlesse it reioyce in his seruice : and therefore they praised God with musicke , which did not delight god , but shewed that they delighted in his seruice , as they did in musicke , 1. Chron. 15 , 16 1. Chr. 15.16 . but if the tongue , or the hande , or the eare , thinke to serue God without the heart , it is the yrksomst occupation in the world , the houre of tediousnesse , like a long sicknesse , hee is tired before hee beginne , and thinketh himselfe in the stockes , till the sermon be ended , till his praier be doone , that hee may bee at libertie , and turne to his byas agayne .

Lastly , this shewes how God mislikes our coldnesse in hearing or praying , if wee cannot say with the Virgin , Luke 1.46 My hearte doth magnifye the Lord . Al that comes short of this , is hipocrisye , and pleaseth GOD like the offering of Cayne Genesis 4.5 . As Ioseph charged his brethren , Genesis 42.15 . that they shoulde not come to him for corne , vnlesse they brought Beniamim vnto him whome they lefte at home : Mat , 15.8 so GOD will not haue vs speake to him , nor come vnto him for any thing , vnlesse wee bring our hearte vnto him , which wee leaue behinde . The tongue without the hearte is a flattering tongue , the eye without the hearte is a wicked eye , the eare without the hearte is a vaine eare , the hande without the heart is a false hand . Doest thou thinke that God wil accept a flattering tongue , a wicked eye , a vain eare , a false hand , which reiecteth a sacrifice if it be but lean , or brused ? No , saith Paul , Leuit , 22 , 21 , 22 , 42 If I geue all that I haue , & haue not loue ; that is , geue not my heart , it auailes me nothing , he saith not , that they which geue not their heartes geue nothing , but that they shall haue nothing for such offerings : mar , 12 , 42 hee which brings but a mite , & bringes his hart , brings more then he which offers a talent , mat , 19 , 20 Gal. 6 , 7 & he shall goe away more iustified , then he which saide , All these haue I kept from my youth vpward , for God is not mocked , Act , 5.3 but knowes how much is behind , thogh Ananias seem to bring al. He marks how I speak , and how you heare , & how we pray in this place , & if it come not from the heart , hee repels it as fast as it growes vp , like the smoake which chmes towardes heauen , but neuer comes there , man thinkes when he hath the gift that he hath the heart to , but god when he hath the gift cals for the hart stil the Pharisees praier , the harlots vow , the traitors kisse , the sacrifice of Caine , the fast of Iezabelle , the teares of Esau , the oblation of Ananias are nothing to him , but still he cries , Psalme 73 , 1 bring thy heart or bring no thing : like a iealous husband when he hath a wife , yet he is iealous whether he hath her hurt , so wharsoeuer thou do , yet god is iealous still , & respects not what thou dost , but whether thou do it from thy hart , Mat , 27 , 24 of mere loue toward him . If Pilat had washed his hart when he washed his handes , 2. Kin , 5 , 14 Ge , 34 , 22 he had bin cleaner than Naaman when he came out of Iordan if the Sichemites had circumcised their harts , when they circumcised their flesh , they had saued their soules , when they lost their liues , if 〈◊〉 4 , 2 Cain had offered his heart when he offered of the fruites , his offering had bin as acceptable as Abels : but as swíns flesh was like shépes flesh , Leuiticus 10 , 7 yet was not accepted because it came from an vncleane beast : so Caines offering , Pilats washing , the Sichemits circumcision , the pharisces praier , and fasts , & alms , wer as fair as the apostles , yet they had no reward , but wo to you hypocrits , Mat , 23 because they wanted the heart , 1 , Kin , 18 , 24 which is like the fire that kindleth the sacrifice . but wil he requit our praiers , & fasts , & almes , as he did theirs ? yea ( saith Christ ) except your righteousnes exceed the pharisees , that is , Mat , 5.20 except we giue our harts besides our lips , & our eares , & our almes , which they gaue more than we , we shal not enter into the kingdom of heauen , because our righteousnes doth not exceed the righteousnes of the pharisees , but their righteousnes exceedeth our . Christ doth not bid them wo , because they were Pharisees as we are not , but bicause they were hypocrites as we are . God delights him self in giuing , & therfore loueth a cheerfull giuer : Mica , 7 , 18 1. Cor , 9 , 7 but he cannot giue cheerfully which giues not his heart . Therefore Iudas thought the oyle spent which was powred vpon Christ & wisht the price of it in his purse : so they grudge and greeue when theie should doe good , and think , shall I giue it ? Can I spare it ? what will it bring ? So the good worke dieth in birth , like a Bride which drowpeth in the hand , whiles the head considers whether he shall let her goe , or holde her still : as easie to wring Hercules club out of his fists as to wring a penitent teare from their eies , or a faithfull praier from their lips , or a good thought from their hart , which cannot affoord the hart it selfe : euery thinge is too much which they do , and they think God more beholding to them for blurting out a Pater nosler , or staying a sermon , or fasting a fridaie , than they to him for al his benefits : Mat , 23 and when they haue doone what is their reward ? wo be vnto you Scribes and pharisies , hipocrites , because you gaue not your hartes : therefore we doe but vexe our selues , Mat , 15 , 8 and loose our labour , thinking to make God beleeue that we praie , when indeed our lippes doo but praie : wherby it comes to passe , as we serue him , so he serueth vs ; our peace is not in deede , but in worde , our ioy is not in heart , but in countenaunce , a false comfort , like our false worship ; for he which geueth God his lips in stead of his heart , teacheth god to geue him stones in steade of bread : that is , a shadow of comfort , for comfort it selfe .

Now when we haue giuen god faire words and long prayers , and solemne fastes , and mourning countenances , hee puts in but a worde more to fill vp the sacrifice , Geue me thy heart , and it suffiseth . It is like the laste suite of Abraham , when hee saide to God , I will speake but this once ; so if thou wilt heare him in this , hee wil aske no more ; therefore nowe conclude , whether God shal haue thy heart , or nothing : If thou consider what right he hath to aske it , and what cause thou hast to giue it , thou canst not keepe it til I ende my sermon . Of all the suters which come vnto you , it seemes there is none , which hath any tytle to claime the heart , but God ; which challengeth it , Mal. 1 , 6 by the name of a sonne : as if hee should say , thou shalt giue it to thy father , which gaue it to thee : art thou my son ? my sons giue me their hearts , and by this they knowe that I am their father , if I dwel in their heartes : for the heart is the Temple of God ; 1 , Cor , 1 , 16 therefore if thou be his son , thou wilt giue him thy hearte , because thy father desires it , thy maker desires it , thy redeemer desires it , thy Sauiour desires it , Rom. 8 . 3● thy Lorde and thy King and thy Master desires it ; which hath geuen his Sonne for a ransome , his spirit for a pledge , his worde for a guide , the worlde for a walke , and reserues a kingdome for thine inheritance . Canst thou denie him any thing , which hath geuen the heire for the seruant , his beloued for his enemie , the best for the worst ? Canst thou denie him any thing , whose goodnesse created vs , whose fauour elected vs , whose mercie redeemed vs , whose wisedome conuerteth vs , whose grace preserueth vs , whose glorie shall glorifie vs ? Canst thou denie him anie thing ? O if thou knewe , ( as Christ sayde to the Woman of Samaria , Iohn 4 . 1● when shee huckte to geue him water ) if thou knewe who it is which saith vnto thee , Geue mee thy hearte ; thou wouldest saye vnto him as Peter did , when Christe woulde washe his feet ; Lorde , not my feete onely , Iohn . 13.9 . but my hands and my head , not my heart onely , but all my bodie , and my thoughtes , and my words , and my woorkes , and my goods , and my life , take all that thou haste geuen . For why should not we geue him our heartes , as well as our lippes , Gen. 13 89. vnlesse wee meane to deceiue him with woordes for deedes ? If Abram gaue Lot leaue to choose what parte hee did like , shall not wee geue God leaue to choose that which hee loueth ? I hee did not loue thee , hee wou'de not require thy hearte ; for they which loue , require the heart . The master requires labour , the lande lorde requires seruice , the captain requires fight ; but hee that requires the heart , requires it for loue , for the heart is loue . Wee will geue him little , if wee wil not geue him that , which hee askes for loue towardes our selues : though hee say ; giue it , yet indeede hee hath bought it , and that dearely , Psal. 31.5 1. Pet. 1 . 18.1● with the deerest bloud that euer was shedde . Hee gaue thee his heart , before hee desired thy heart ; but heart for heart , a liuing heart for a hart which died : thou doest not lose thy life as he did for thee , but thou bestowest thy life to glorifie him , thou doest not part from thy heart when thou giuest it , but hee doth keepe it for thee , least the serpent should steal it from thee , Gen. 3.8 as he stole paradice from Adam when it was in his own custodie : he can keep it better than we , and he wil keepe it if we commit it to him , and lay it in a bed of peace , and lap it vith ioy , Psal. 31.5 Iohn . 10 . 2● and none shal take it out of his handes . Therefore , if ye aske mee , why you should giue your heartes to god ? I doo not answere like the Disciples which went for the asse and the colte , Mat. 28. ● The Lorde hath neede but wee haue neede . For vnlesse wee geue our soules , how can hee haue them ? And vnlesse hee haue them , howe can hee saue them ? Therefore wee haue neede , if euer the saying were true , ( It is more blessed to geue than take : ) more blessed are they which geue their heartes to GOD , than they which take possession of the world . Acts 20.45 1. Sam. 25.42 Abigail did not gaine so much by her gifte to Dauid , as we for our gifte to God ; for shee was married vnto Dauid , but we are married vnto Christ ; Cant 5 of whom the Church doth sing in the 5. of Canticles , that no wel beloued is like her beloved ; what hart would not be loued of him , though it doe not loue him ? Who can assoyle this riddle ? we woulde haue Christ our bridegrome , and yet we wil not be his spouse ; I would haue him take my heart & yet I wil not geue it . How should he keep it , or saue it or glorifi , it if I hide it away like the seruant that buried his talent in the earth ? Mat. 26.24 So much as I keep from God , so much I keepe from heauen , and will not suffer him to glorifie it , as I did wishe one part to be saued , and another damned . He which would haue his hart sanctified , and comforted , and enlightened , and wil not geue it to God , is like a woman which would haue her dough leauened , and layeth her dough in one placee , & the leauen in another , where one cannot touche the other : then commeth the tempter , and takes them asunder , and seaseth vpon the heart , because he findes her alone . This is his seede time , now hee enters into it , and filles it with his poyson , till the temple of God be the sinke of sin , and the hearr which shoulde bee the seate of holinesse , grace , and wisedome , a heart of pride , a hearte of enuie , a hearte of luste more like a bellie than a hearte ; how many things lodge in the hart when God is not there ? It is a worlde to think , how the diuine soule , which descended from heauen to bring forth fruit , is become afit soyle for euery weed , wherby we may see what hearts we haue before wee geue them to GOD Therefore now aske your heartes whose they are , and how they are mooued with these wordes ? howe many here will geue to this collection ? whose heart is gone vp vnto him , since I beeganne to speake ? Here one , and there one runs vp the ladder , Gen. 28.12 . like the angels that Iacob sawe in his dreame , and sing with Dauid , Psal. 47 47 My heart is prepared , my heart is prepared ; and why not thou as well as hee ? Doeth not he sende for all alike ? wilt thou be the thorne , or the stone , or the high way , Mat. 13 where the seede doeth lose his fruite ? why , hadst thou rather be compelled then inuited , since thou art called to a banquet ? Mat. 22 Howe manie heartes moe might we draw to God , if all that be heere woulde goe to him this day ? But thus it standes , Mat. ●● , 33 God hath sent vnto vs for our heartes , and wee answere him as the husbandes of the vineyard , when he sent for fruites , or as Nabal aunswered Dauid , 1 , Sam , 25 when hee sent for foode , who is Dauid ? or , who is the Lord ? That I shoulde take my heart from pleasure and sinne , and giue it vnto him ? Thus we demurre vpon the cause , when we should giue , whether we should giue or no , and aske the fleshe , and our lusts , and our pleasures , and if the deuill will not giue his assent : them we return to an excuse , it is not mine to giue : or if thou canst get the diuels good will , I will not stand , or let sinne and pleasure haue it for a while , and when they haue done with it , then God shal haue it . Thus euery thing which should be throwen out , hath a place in our heart ; and hee which shoulde bee receiued in , can haue no roome there , though hee would open the dores of heauen , if wee would open the doores of our hearts , that the king of glorie might come in . Psal. 24.7 What shal become of those hearers , when he which craues them now , shal iudge them hereafter ? Then they shal stande like Esau , Gen. 27.36 and see them blessed like Iacob , which gaue their heartes ; and crie themselues , as hee did to his father Isaac , haste thou not reserued a blessing for vs ? What a heauie heart will it bee then , when it may not ioye any longer heere , and the ioyes of heauen are shutte against it ? and he which desired it , wil not haue it , because it comes like the foolish virgines , Mat. 25.11 when the dores of mercie are shut . Thus ye haue heard what God requires for al that hee hath geuen you , and how all your seruices are lost vntill you bring it . What shal I wish you now before my departure ? I wish you would geue al your heartes to God , while I speake , that yee might haue a kingdome for them ; sende for your hearts where they are wandering , one from the banke , another from the Tauerne , another from the Shoppe , an other from the Theaters : Call them home , Luke 15.22 and geue them all vnto God : and see how he wil welcome them , as the father embraceth his Sonne . If your hearts were with God , durst the deuill fetche them ? durste these sinnes come at them ? Euen as Dina was defloured when shee strayed from home : Gen. 34.1 so is the hearte when it strayeth from GOD : Therefore call the members togeather , and let them faste like a Queste of 12. men , vntill they consent vpon law , before any moe termes passe to geue God his right , and let him take the heart , which he woeth , which hee would marrie , which hee would endow with all his goods , and make it the heire of the crowne . When you pray , let your heart pray , when you heare , let your heart heare , when yee giue , let your heart giue , whatsoeuer yee doe , set the heart to doe it : and if it be not so perfect as it should be , Pro , 3 , 1 Dan , 10 , 12 yet it shal be accepted for the friend that giues it .