Thirdly, To turn to God with the whole heart, is to do it sincerely and uprightly. Oh this God hath complained of in the Israelites, that in their seeming conversions,³ their hearts were not upright, and unfeigned in them: they did but dissemble with their tongues, and as it is said of faith, may we not also say of uprightnesse, When the Son of man shall come, shall he find uprightnesse on the earth? He may find the Christian faith, he may find praying and hearing, but shall he find sincerity? Thus the whole heart is very often used in the Scripture for a sincere and upright heart, as on the contrary a false hypocritical heart is excellenty called an heart and an heart. Oh this is too ordinary to pray with an heart and an heart; to confesse sin with an heart, and an heart: An heart seemingly for God, and yet an heart for sin also: an heart apparently for Christ, and yet closely for the world also. This is commonly made the difference between the good Kings, and those that had a glorious shew of goodnesse, but wanted the power of it. The one is said to seek to God, or cleave to God with the whole heart; the other had an heart and an heart. As therefore the time was once when thou wert afraid of prophannesse, and grosse impieties: so now take as much heed of hypocrisie, and falshood of spirit.

Fourthly, To turn to God with the whole heart, is to have the heart all one in this⁴ work, not to be overcharged with distractions and divisions of thoughts about other things. Thus David prayeth, Unite my heart to fear thy name, Ps. 86. 11. and dividing cares and thoughts, as also distractions about many things are frequently forbidden. Oh this is admirable, and comfortable, when the whole soul is inclined but one way, and that to God. As the Scripture speaks of a city, or family, it is excellent where they are all of one mind: so it is well when a man within himself is all the same way; nothing dividing, distracting, or disturbing in his motions to God: to run well, and to have nothing hinder. Thus some expound that promise, I will give them one heart, Jer. 36. 32. that is an heart not divided, not distracted, but wholly bent upon one object. As a Kindgom divided against it self cannot stand, so neither an heart in this sense divided; some thoughts for God, and some against him; some affections pressing towards him and some pulling back from him, so that if thy heart be wholly turned to God, Oh what a sweet harmony will there be in that motion. No unequal walking, no harsh jarring: but this being the predominant object, will carry all along with it. Indeed it follows afterwards, Rent your hearts, but that is a renting off from sin, not a renting it between God and other things. Do thou then grow acquainted with thy own heart more, see what it is that doth hinder thee from the one necessary thing: Is this turning with thy whole heart to God, when it is divided into many objects? Oh let thy heart rather be as the Temple was, into which they might bring no unclean thing, neither might men of no businesse walk there up and down.

Fifthly, He turneth to God with his whole heart, who doth not entertain any thing,⁵ Supra, contra, aeque, or cum Deo, Above, or contrary, or equall, or with God: So that if all these particulars are necessary, we must conclude that conversion is a rare work. For first to turn with our whole heart, is to prefer nothing above God. This Christ makes a fundamental requisite in every convert. A man must hate Father, or Mother, and his own life for Christs sake. Oh the wonderful change then that this converting grace makes upon a man: now his right eye, or his right hand is not dear unto him in respect of God, and is it not good reason that he who is the most high, should have the most high affections, the most high desires? is it not reason to bid all things come lower, that God may have the highest room in our hearts. Oh but how many proclaim that there is a great gulf between them and conversion, for are not their base and filthy lusts preferred before God? is not the Divel obeyed in his lusts, rather then God in his Commandments? so that such instead of turning to God, with their whole heart, thy are turned to their sins, and to the world with all their heart: see then what that is which thy heart doth seek in the first place. The true Convert giveth the best and choicest of his thoughts and Affections to God: He now comes to Christ every day, and poureth out as it were a box of precious oyntment, the most excellent and quintessential vigour of his soul.

2. As an hearty Conversion makes a man prefer nothing above God, so neither any thing against him, he will much lesse love that which is hated and loathed by God. Oh then if thou art turned unto God, how comes it about that his enemies and adversaries do so often lodge in thy bosome? How is it that the prince of darknesse findes the Gates of thy soul open, when the prince of Glory should come in? No man can serve two contrarie masters: It was a plain argument that Dalilah was not heartie for Sampson, because all her projects were to advantage the Philistims, that were deadly enemies to Sampson; and so when all thy desires and purposes are to promote the waies of sin, to further the Kingdome of Satan, thou mayest quickly conclude thou art far from conversion. As Joab adjured David, Thou lovest thy enemies better then thy friends: so mayest thou expostulate with thy own soul, That it entertaineth her own damnable enemies, rather then her friends who would bring the greatest good to her.

3. Hearty conversion goeth further still, and loveth nothing equally with him; for where all the heart is, there all the heart cannot be any where else: God will have all or none. It was the false mother that was willing to have the child divided; the divel will take half, because in that he hath all.

Lastly, Still higher the true Convert goeth, for he entertaineth nothing with God: Minus to amat, qui tecum aliquid amat. So that God being the Center, and the ultimate repose of the soul, he entertaineth nothing with him in that relation. There are some things that do so challenge a primacy, that they admit nothing with them, as we say in our controversies with the Church of Rome: It is a contradiction to say, a primary head, and a secondary head; so a primary husband, and a secondary husband; and thus it is here: God is the head, the spouse of every faithfull soul, and so he will have no co-partner with him. And although we are allowed to love lawful comforts here below, yet because all are in subordination to him, and because of him, therefore still God is onely beloved. As we say, Such an house is such a mans, because though there be many servants, many attendants, yet because they are but servants, and one master onely, therefore it is his house only: so it is here; The heart of a Converted man is onely Gods, and for him, because though other things be received, yet as servants onely, and with reference meerly to God. Thus we are said to turn to him with all our heart. Oh then if all these things go to an hearty Conversion, In how narrow a compasse will this work be found? Who that heareth these things may not cry out, And who then can be saved? Who may not begin to make a stricter search into his heart?

In the next place, Consider the effect of this hearty Conversion unto God. And

First, It is inseparable for the future. He that hath turned from his sins to God with all his heart, will never go back again, as Hypocrites, and Apostates do, such⁶ backsliding argueth that they never were rooted, or built up upon this rock: see how confidently that eminent Convert Paul tryumphs, Who can separate us from the love of God in Christ? Rom. 8. And there he challengeth all things that can be named; so true is that, He which drinketh of this heavenly water, shall never thirst more, John 6. 35. He becomes even like God: He prayeth, heareth, believeth, and loveth God; and in these things he changeth not. Oh this inconstancy and unsetlednesse, is a plain enemy to hearty Conversion.

Secondly, Hearty conversion to God is insatiable: it hath never enough of God, still it would have more in him, as we see in David, how full of longing and panting⁷ expressions after God! It will never repent him that he did turn to God: He will never say, It was better with me when I enjoyed my pleasures, and my lusts, then since I took God for my portion. And now here is one thing more to Solomons four things that never say There is enough, and that is a Godly heart enjoying God.

Thirdly, This turning with the whole heart is invincible, nothing can conquer it: This fire will dry up all waters: A man that hath an half heart, or a weak and⁸ lazy heart, will quickly be beaten back. A Lion in the way, or tall Giants will soon discourage some men from Canaan: but where the whole heart is fixed, there it will break through stone walls: Christ became our Saviour with his whole heart; and because this Law was written in his heart, hear how readily he speaks, Rehold, I come to do thy will, O God, Psalm 40. 8. This made him conflict with Death, and all Agonies through his Fathers displeasure. No wonder then, till thy whole heart be in Conversion, if thou delayest, and findest out many excuses.

Lastly, This turning with the whole heart, is accompanied with much joy, delight⁹ and pleasant sweetnesse: What is done with all the heart, causeth a great deal of joy. Thus God saith, He would rejoyce over his people, and do them good with his whole heart, Jer. 32. 42. An admirable expression to shew what joy and delight God would take in doing good to them: so that to leave sin with some trouble, with many murmurings and repinings, argueth all thy heart is not in this work.

Use of Exhortation, to take up this Duty. God meeteth with many hypocrites, and in nothing more then in their turning to him: men would seem to do something, they would gladly be thought Converts, but (alas) these things are not done with their whole hearts. And know this, to turn with all the heart to God, is a work of great difficultie and rarity. As Christ said in another case, were there not ten cleansed, but where are the nine? There hath returned but one. So of those many that pray, and weep for sin, and say they will become new Converts, may we not say, There is but such a man, and such a woman, that turn with all their heart? Now be moved to this cordial hearty Conversion.

1. Because the work of the heart is more accounted of by God, then all thy outward worships, though never so diligently, and zealously performed: Rent your hearts and not your garments: God cared not for rent clothes, when mens hearts were too sound in sin: and so, a broken and contrite heart, thou wilt not despise; this is preferred before whole burnt-offerings.

2. Thou hast turned to sin with all thy heart, thou hast drudged in the world with all thy heart: Now which is the most large and ample object to fill thy heart: God or sin? God or the creature? Fecisti Domine cor nestrum, & irrequietum est donec ad to veniat. Oh be for ever ashamed that thou shouldst have thy whole heart for sin and the Divel, and not for God.

3. To turn imperfectly, and faintly, will be the greater confusion to a man; for thou hadst almost laid hold on God; thou wert very near closing with him; thou wert almost entering into the haven, and then some suddain blasts of sin or other, drive thee back again. Oh thou that beginnest to run in this race, What hinders thee that thou dost not get the prize?

Lastly, Thou wilt one day lament and mourn with all thy heart, that thou hast neglected the day of conversion; but then it will be too late. Would not the damned in hell with all their heart be delivered from eternal flames, and put into a day of grace again? Do they not with all their heart, and all their soul roar out for their undone estate to all eternitie? Oh that at last these Truths might prevail with you: Oh that it might be no more published in Gath, or Ashkelon, That our preaching is not converting.

Footnotes

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6. 1. Tho effects of hearty conversion to God.
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