T5 m^/' .}, fi' N -'> ;ti ife.*'- ^ ^ r: K^'^ ,-j['Vl»' ■'T^ ■ 1 imM^ <^t>. '• ': r' 1 ffUf^Nl ^*[ m iV'-5 V -;** ii ■M ' : -i;^ PRINCETON, N. J. Collection of Puritan Literature. sc c Division y^ f*N ry I Section \. / ^^.C-^ I Number ^m »:r'»v^^/ '>:.'■;" .*. •*."■ , '^ ■» « I I I' ' SclCt^^ 3,::^, ^ r ' ' T H E ANATOMY r Secret Sws ^ 1 PrefuwpfHOfis Sinf , 0/*>> Sins in Ddwiriion ^ ^^Z^prightnefs. WHEREIN Divers weighty Caies are refolved in Re- 1 lation to all chofe Particulars ; Delivered in dU vers Sermon s preached at Mildreds in BrcM'jlrect Londor,^ on P S A L M ic). ii^i^. TOGETHER With the Remlffiblenefs of All Sin^and tbelrremiffi, blenefs of the S I N againft the H O L Y GHOST Preached before an Honourable AUDITORY. By that Reverend and Faithfull Minister of theGolpel^ M^- Ohadiah Sedgmc\, B. D. Perfe61:ed by Himfelf , and publiflicd by thoie whom he intrufted with his NOTES. / LONDONy Printed by T. R. for Adoniram EyfeiU at the fign of the three Bi^/rs in (^ffrfi'Hiil near Popf^-hfad Alley ; A^k'? i66o. — II W " . ^r*»t- J^ TO THE CHRISTIAN READER, HE Nawe of the Ke^veretid Ju- thcr ef this Worh^ will cotftmend it to the Accepance of them att^ vpho xvcre ehher acquainted with hk Minijiry^ or ha've attentive-- ly fern fed his Treatijes formerly phblifhed^ He was a JVork^mart who needed not to be a- fhawed: Js the matter of his Difconrfes wasfo- lid and prof table^ fo his language was pregnant and dellghtfuU , both which took much upon his graciom and ingenuous Auditors* This is to be ach^on^hdgeda great abatement i}f the Churches loff by his death ^ that though he be dead ^ he yet fpeahtbfrom the Prefs by the ufefull Treatifes Az left To the Reader. left written by his OTvn ha^d , which through Gods Mercy ^way prove rich blejfwgs untopojle- rityy by edifying Chriflians in Grace djid Com - fort. As the reafonable immortal foul is tlje more noble part of vtan^ fo fnpernatnral Grace doth truly ennoble it by tntrodncing the lih^nefs and life of God. This Grace which is The ( p) Phil. 1.6. good^work ^ The good and perfed gift {©^Jam.i. of Goa ° may be promoted bah in its habit and exercife^by fnch helps as this , which Divine Providence putteth into thy ha fid. And therefore fince f^^^ifyit^g Grac€ ( ivhichis the firength^ beauty ^ riches of thefonly and the beji thing on this [tdeChriji himfelf From vvhdTe (o^johni.i^. falx)cfs,we all do receive Grace for Grace /^) 'id wrought^ preferved^ enlarged^ andqiiickned by thefe weans^ iheyjhotild be gladly welcomed^ and diligently improved by all ferions fncere Chrijiians, And whereas Humility and Sinceri^ ty are Graces eminently excellent-^ and ufeful ihroHghoHt the whole courfe of Chriftiainty ren^ dring every other grace ^and every duty the more lovely and accept able * Helps in both thefe ihoptr mayeji expeSi from this enfning Treatife. The Text here handled doth hold forth at the jlrfi vietp T Toihe Reader. ->-• JO fZfien^^b'ow SinfHlheff a^idlXpriohtnefs of Gods ferQiYipa(fionate towards Bleedings Repenting (h)Tit.i.2,i.finners\ viewing the number and heinoufnef of our own Irregularities ^confdering how much rojRom 7. i8 y^Q Qj^. fehes do ftdl lie under Sins Dominion^ (c;Mar.i6.7j wjth the gujlt of fome prefumptuoHS Iniquities". Good Reader , thoufjali not only be thus e- djfed in fUuniilicy ( his FroduSi offinsdif co'very) but in Sincerity alfohy that which followeth in the Anatomy of Uprightnefs. "Unexprejfibk are the Comforts which come into the fid by clearing up its Sincerity from ScripfHre evidence, if there be a Mcflcn- s b gcr ■^ -*■ T -IS — To the Reader. I — gicr 211 Interpreter, one of a thbu/and to fhew unto man hiV Uprlghthc^^ thenheis^^^J^^^^^ £jraciousunrohim^ znd faith y Dehver hihi from going down to the pit j 1 have found a Ranlom , his flefli fliall be freflier then a Child ; Jtjd for the Enjoyment of fatis^ faSiionoHt of Gods All-rofficicncy is aflured m the Covenant of Grace unto upright walking with his Majefty ^. Herein confifis ^^^^'''''^''' Gods image in man "^ which is his faireji beau- Cd)ncci7..^S' iy^ and his greatcji Glory. The imperfect performances of the Sincere^ do not onlyfnd Acceptance *^, but Dehg^t in the Lord "^ j unto (^)^ chrcjo. them he will not deny either Grace or Glory, ra; Pro.i^.s* or any thing may be truly Good Pj and notmth- ^P-^^'^*^'^'*-' ' flanding the faddejl dtfpenfations imaginable , GodwtUbe conjiantly and fuperlatiz^ely good unto them *" : How bad feeder they be in their (cjvc^Lt^. i. own eyes^ yet they are pcrfe£i: in Gods Account ^iand they may alwayes rcjoycQ with ^"^^ Pr.j7.j7. Thankfgiving before the Lord^ and with gUdfome Boldnefs^': /^^^Pale death z> J^//' w ^^jpftLj?. i. the face when it doth approach ' . But we (tjaCoM.i* will not enlarge our fel'ves in thefe matters^con* tenting onr jel ledge of himfelfy^o it ' fecmcth that that word, which Davfd did fo much commend, be Itbe Parts of the Text. 5 he did commend it from an experimental efficacy ; he had found it to be a righteous, and holy, and pure, and difcovering word, laying open, not onlyvifible and g"ofs cranfgrcrfions , but alfo like the li^hrot the Sunne; Tbofe othervvife inob* ferved and iecret atomes of fenfes flying within the houfe, I mean in the fecrct Chambersof the foul. Now in this there are two things which the Pfalmifi lets The parti o{ down. ^ _ '^^Tcxt. 1. A fad comflairtt of b'ls IgmrancC'^ [who coin underjland his ^ ^^^ errors ?] As Tanlm his cafe fpake, the Larv is holy^andjnji-^ plaincof bis and goo^y and ff 'ritual', but J ^m fold nnder Jj?2yKom.j, 12 ji^, ignorance, fo Vavid here, the Law of the Lord is pure, and righteous, and perfci^, but I am very finful , many (ins I fee in my fclf, and more there are which I cannot efpy , I cannot find them out, nay, I think faith he, every mans fins do arife beyond his ac- counts, he cannot give a full and entire lift of them , who c^n undcrfland his errors. 2. An earns ft re^neft-i and that for three things. An carneft One is to he cle^-mfed fror/i. fecret fins , which words fome 'ci"«ft. expound that hcdciires to be pardoned, not only his known, JlY^^^^ but alfo his unknown fin; Yet others conjeaure that his de- g^nnej°^ "^^^" fire rcachcth to fan^lification, which might prevaile not only againft open , but the private and cloier methods of fin- 2i Another is to be ktpt from pref^mptuofu ftnsjV.i^.Sctint ^ u ?. Anftln and others read it , a fuperhlis contlne fervnm tuum , ^^^^ prefum- keep back thy fervant from prides. I think their reafon is pruous fins. * becau/e, i. Pride is a bold and prefuming finne. 3. And it is that which is the maine ingredient of a prcfumptuous kindc of finning : even good men have the root of high tranfgreiTi-. ons within them, into which they may fall. If corruption might have its fwinge ; and if they do not fall into them, k is not becaufe they are able alone to keep them- f^clves, butbecaufeGoddothbyhis fpirit of grace keep them I^Ackj ^ .A third is,f^^ ordering of his words and thoughts^ which he The ordering dcfires mieht be fo compofed,that thej might he always accept a- °^^'" words hie in the fight of God , V.14. as if he had faid, O Lord,I do not *"^ ^boogbw. B 2 only Dawds Complaints only deflre to be kept from the viler wayes of fin, but from all whatfoever, 1 would not only not be witrked, but I pray thee that I may be good: As I would not do evil, fo I would nor fpeak.eyil, nay as I would not fpeak , fo I would not thinkc e- vil> I deiire to be foe, as that I may be acceptable before thee; i dclire to do,as that I may be acceptabk with thee; I de/ire to fpeakefo, as that I may be accepted ; yea and I de/xre to thinke fo , that I may be acceptable in thy fight. In my poore Conjecture you have in David here a lively copy of an upright heart, which is truly plain all over, and pitchcth upon this, that it may be acceptable with God , and that it may be fo, it would be wrinfed of all fins , not only no- torious and vifible, but invifible and fecret , and it would have not only an outward decency of religion in pious a6tions , but alfo an inward conformity even of the very thoughts and Meditations of the heart. I fhall not fpeak of Davids complaint, v,i 3. nho cm mdcr- fi.md hu> errors ? only a word and a way. What is meant By errarsy he meanes his unwitting, and inconsiderate mi- byer^on. flakes: There are fins, (ome which are committed when the „ • Sun fliines ( i, ) with light and knoAledge, and then as it i? with colours when the Sunneflunes 5 youmayfee them, fo thcfe a m.an can fee and know? and confcfs them particularly to be tranfgreffions : there are other fins, which are com- mitted either in the times of ignorance , or d{Q ( if there be knowledge ) yet with inobfervance : either of thefemay be fo heaped up in the, particular number of them, that as a man did (when he did Commit them)takc no notice of them,fo noTV af- ter thcf:ommiiTion, if hefhouldtake the brighteft candle to fearch all the records of his foul, yet many of them would, e.fcapc his notice. And indeed this is a great part of our mi- fery that we cannot underftand all our debts : we can eafily fee. too many, yet many more lie as it were dead , and out of fight ;To im k one great mifery,and then to forget our fins is a mifery too : If in repentance we could fet the battel in array^. point to every individual fin , in the true and particular times of ading and re-a6ling, D how would our hearts be more bro* tenwith-fliajncaind foriow-, and how- would we adore the rich- Davids Complainu 5 richncifcof the crcafurc of merc7 which muft have a multi- tude in it, to" pardon the multitude ©f our infinite errors and finnes. But this is the comfort, though we cannot underfland eve- ry particular fin, or time of finning, yet if we be not idle to fearch and caft over the books; and if we be heartily grieved for thofe fins which we have found out , and can by true re- pentance , turn from them unto God, and by faith , unto the blood of Jefus Chrift , I fay, that God, who knowes our (ms better then we know, them; and who underfUnds the true intentions and difpofitions of the heart, that if it did fee the unknown fins, it would be anfwerably carried againll rhem i He will for his own mercy fake forgive them ; and he too ivlll not remember them. Neverthekfs , though X)^z//i/ faith, who can underfland his errors ? as the Prophet Jeremiah fpakc alfo, The heart of man is defferately jvickjdy who can kpow it ? yet muft wc beilir our felvcs at heaven to get more and more hea- venly light to finde out more and more of our finnings : So -th* Lord can fearch the heart: And though we fliall never ,be able to finde out all our fins which we have committed, yet ^ it is pofTible , and beneficial for us to finde out yet more fins then yet we do know : And you fhall find thefe in your own experience, that as foon as ever grace entred your hearts y you faw fin in another way then ever you faw it before , yea , and the more grace hath traverfed and increafed in the foul,thc more full difcoveries hath it made offinnes: It hath fiiewn new fins as it were, new fins, not for their being, not as if they were not in the heart and life beforc,but for their cvidence,and our apprehenfion and feeling : wc do now fee fuch wafes ,and fuch inclinations to be finful which we did not think to be fo before: As phyfick brings thofe humours which had their Sitnilc, refidence before, now more to the fcnfe of the Patient : or as the Sun makes open the motes of duft which were in the roome before, fo doth the light of the word difcover more corruption. But I paffe by chat point of the impoflfibility of a full apprehenfion of all finnes committed ignorantly , and in- confidcrately. ^ B 5 I ^ T^he Anatomy offecret fms. Chap . t . VAvUi requeft j now proceed from Davids complaint to Davids reqneB , and here I fLall fpeak of his firft Requeft, vi2j, Cleanfe thou mz fromfecrets , or fecret fins. Saint iAnftin upon the words. Ah occtiltismels nmnda me domine ^ exprefeth it thus, A cupl- ditdtibusin me latent ibus munda me \ (i.^ fromthofe concu^ pifcences which lie fo hid, and fo clofe, and fo private within me: O Lord cleanfe thou me ^ And in his fecond expofition of this P[alm(ioi he expounded the P/^/;?/ twife) Tolleexcorde mdiamcG^itationemy( i)0 Lord take out o£ my very heart even the iinful thoughts. I will name the Propofxtion , and then we may perhaps o- pen things more fully. CHAP. L T>oSi f^^^^^ "^ ^^ ^^' dejire of an holy f erf on to he cleanfed^ not on» It is thc*d€/ire ffliJl^ ^l f^^^^ pMick^y but alfo from frlyate and fecret ofa holy per- ^Cjl^ /z;?;?^/, Rom. 7.24. O wretched man /faith Paul) fon robe clean* f^iirl% who jhall deliver f?^e'> Why, OblelTsid Apoftle ! fed from fecrec what is it that holds thee ? what is it that molcfts thee ? thy ^ life, thou fayeft, was unblamable before thy convcrnon , and fince thy converiion , Phil ^, Thov. hafl excrcifed thy felf to have a confcicjice void of ojfence^toward God and toward men y A6ls 24.16. And yet thou cricft out, O wretched man ^ and yet thou complained, ^/^e?//-^// deliver wbuc (^x. this time) fin within, it was not /^^^j finning with man, tut Pauls finning within Panl , O that Lave of his members , warring (fecretly within him ) againft the Law of his mlnde^ This, this made that holy man fo tocry out,fo to compLiine: As ^^^^/^^^ was weary of her life, not as we read for any for- rainedifquietments,but becaufe of domeftique troubles , the daughters of Heth within the houfe , made her weary of her life : fo the private and fecret bi rth of corruption within Pauly the workings of thatjthat was the caufe of his trouble , that was 1 Chap. I. Ibe Anatomy offecretjins. was the ground of his exclamation and defires, wh [hall deliver me} I remember that the fame P^;// advifeth the E^bsftAm as to pfit of the former C^ri'^erfation^ fo to fm on the renewed Jl-irlt of the minde -, Ephcf.4.22533. intimatmg that there are linncs which are lurking within, as well as fins walking wirh- out ; and that true Chriiiians mull not only fweepthe doore, but walli the Chamber, my meaning is not onely come off from fms which lie open in the Converfation, but alfo labour to be cleanfed from fmnes and finning, which remaine fe- cret, and hidden in the Spirit and inward difpofi- tion. Now for the beneficial difcovery of this aflcrcion , let us, enquire four things. * 1 . In what refpe6ls fins arc called fecret ? 2. what it is to be cleanfed? 3. Why we are to defirc a cleanfingfrom them? 4. What of all this to us? ^ SECT. I. I. TN vfhat refpeB fmnes are called fecret} for the refo- In what r«* 1 lution of this know > that finne hath a double re- ^P^,^,^?* "* ference. ^ called fecrcr. Either r^ G"*?^, and fo really no fin, nor manner of finning j^q^ jq ^^^^ is fecret , Can any hide himfe If in fecret places^ that 1 fhalL not fee k 'm? fai|h the Lord, do not I fill heaven and earth , faith the Lord, J^r. 23.24. it is true, that wicked men with an AtheiRicai fo'.ly imaiiine to hide themfclves, and their fin- ful wayes from Cod, they feek^deep to hide their Coined from the Lordy and their workj are in the dark- avd they fay-, who feeth m-i and who kj'0;veth my lfa.29. 1 5. But really it is not fo, though the cloud may fomewhat edipfe the li.^ht of the Sun ^ and though the dark night may fhut it forth a together, yet there Hands no cloud, nor curtain , nor moment of darkneffc or fecrccy 'tv\ixt the eyes of God and the wayes of man ; The wayes of a man are hfore the eyes of the LorJ^ and he •ponderctb 8 ^' 'the Anatomy offecret fins. Chap, i . fandereth all his goings^ Prev*^, 21 . Hc fpeakes principally there of che wayes of the adulterer which ufually are plotted with the moft cunning fecrecy, yet God feeth all thole nvayes, To He^, 4. ' 13. Ther^ is not any C'r^^-^rs ^hat is not manlfeji: in his fghtyhut all things are naked^ and opened {^natomiz,ed) susn to the eyes of him TV Ith whom wc have to doe . Not a creature , not a thine-:, not any thing of any creature , but ii is naked , it is without all figgc leaves , It is uncafed of his colours and pretences, ye it is opened as ic were unbowelled^ cut inro*di(Un6lpieces5thevery iniideof it turned out to ihe eyes of Cod. But to man. q^ ^^ ^^^^^ ^y^ J.[-^^2 indeed conies in the divinon of Hn into , : I. open: ^pAi.fecret : Now in this refpecl fin may be Termed fecret divevfly. I. Jnrefpecl oftheperfon frtin'.ng : when his very linnins is Inrefrcaof /formaily conddcred ) hidden from himfcjfe (/.) he doth a t^cpeaan ^^^^--^i^^^^g which is really iinful ,but to him ic is not Apprehenfively fo.v\hacoutra^s did Pcml breach out a^ainri the Church m time^ of his I^ncrace which he did nor know to be d6Vs of fin, but thought to be morions of a warrantable ^eai;In this fenfe all the obliquities which maybe fal'nedjat leaft , upon Invincible JgnorAnce,may be ftifed fecret iinners. In rcfpcd of 2. In reflect ofthf manner of finings and thus (ins may be Ter- the manner of ^^^^ fecret. -4 ' ' *'^^^"»' Eirhwr, i . when tiny are coloured and dlf gulfed^ though they WheiYco'cured doe Bye abroad , get not under that name , but apparelled with and dHgu.ud, fomc femblances of vertues : ^'pr/W; complaines of fuch tricks in his fecond Epillle which is to Donmus, When kept oiF o. fVloen they are ke<>t ojf from the Hr age of ^he world -^ they JIf ^ ^^ M^^^ ^^^ like fire in the Chim.ney , thou.^h you do not fee it , yet ic ' burnfis : io many a perfon, nke thole m Ez,ekjel^ C ommit as^o- mlnatlons In fecret : (I) fo as the Publicke eye is not upon them.: He is finful, and a6ls it with the greateil vilenefs, All the dif- ference twixt another finner and him, is this; that he is , and the otherfaith,heisafinner ; jufl: as twixt a book fhut^and a booke opened ; that which is fhut, hath the fame lines and words > but the other being opened , every man may fee and read them. 3. \Whtn they are kept -^mt onlyfromapibllcks ^J^ y ^^^ from Chap, u The Jnatomy of jeer et fins. from Any mort4llEyez (/J The carnall Eye of him who Com- Whcnkcpt mits the finnes fees them not ,Hc doth indeed fee them vviLh f'^rm ihccye of the eye of Confcience but not with an eye of natural! fcnfc: c- ^''!" that com- ven thoic perfons with whom hedorli converfc, and who high- °^"* '^ ly commend the frame of his wayes , cannot yet fee the fecret difcourfings and ablings of fin in his minde and heart : for B e- thren ,alltheailings offinarenocwithoutjthey are not vifi- ble , but there are fome , yea the moft dangerous adin^s within the foule : where corruption lies as a fountaine and root. The Heart of man is A fcheme of wickednefs,nay^ a man faith that in his heart 5VYhich he dares not fpeak with his tongue, and his thought will do that which his hands dare not co exe- cute, vvell then fin may be called fecrer,when ic h fin, and a<5led as fin , even there , where none but God and Confcience can fee; me thinks fin is like a Candle in a Lanterne where the Alining i^ firtt within, and then burning out at the windows : or like Boyls and uLerous Humors which arc fcabbcs and fcurvy rtuff^, firtt within the skin, and afterwards they breake out to the veiw on the outlidc,fo it is with (in,it is a malignant Humor, and a fretting leprofie , diffufing it fclfe into feveral fecret aviils and workings wichin .the minde , and then it breaks abroad and dires adventure the praf^iie of it felfe to the eye of the world ; and be it, that it may never fee the ligh'-, that it may be like a C hild bo. n and buried in the vYombc,yet as that Chil(d is a man, a true man there clo'fetted in that hidden frame oFnaturc , fo (in istrucly fm; though it never it gets out beyond the wombc which did conceive and enliven it. Now whether David doth fpeak of fecret fins in onpofition to the eyes of men, or to hts own fenfible eye//. )fnch as cur- rupt Nature did comnic wichin his own heart; or whether he intends it of both? it may be much aifputed: for my part I con- jecture that it may be underflood both of fiu h wKich he miehn commit in private, & fo .the words refpcil the dilngs sf fin \n]c» rr^f ,&alfo which his own heart &thou'^,hts might commit wich- in themfelvcs,and fo the words refpc6t the j^^r^r atiiyigs of fm^ though Principally they may be moil fitly Expounded in this latter fcnfe. But what Wfrc thofc {tent fm$ from which D av Id de fired to he eUnrfcd. C Nay 1 o Ihe Jnatomy affimtfins. Chap. i. Nay that is a fccret; he doih not Inftancc in any one becaufc his defirc is to be freed from Every one : he fpcaks Indefinicly, He found many fecret inclinations (without all doubt in feverai kindes of finne , now in one , now in another , from all of which (not fomc oncly) he defires to be Cleanfed.y SECT. IL Ut what is that toheCleanfed, ' There be two Expofitions of it» Wine it is to I . One is that he deftres to he juBified^ to be pardoned tbofe be cleanfed. fins and fo the Hebrew word nj53 doth import in the fccond Tnh • A'c J conjugation immfifiem aliqmmfacere aCnba vel apos^a, .^oDcjuftificd. /^ndindeed thcblood of Chrift whichjuaifiesis a Cleanfing thing, it wipes off the guilt. >. Now if this be it, Then thus much is evident, that fccret thoughts and inclinations may be fxnf ul and are damnabIe,or clfe they were not pardonable. To be more' 2. Another is that he defires more to befanBlfled , and that his fanftified. Nature might be more changecf, not only that outward /Innings might be abandoned, but even inward actings or motions mi^ht befubdued. And obferve 5 he doth deflre to be C^da?ifed^ he doth not dc- fire to be dipped only into the water, or fprinkled, he doth not 3., Things Im- defire only to be a little rinfed , but he defires to be waifhed fo pjycdintbis Iqjjo untill he be cleanfed , untill his foule be made cleane and * • pure , and free from thofc fecret (infulncfles. Where obferve by the way three thing?. _- I. I, f, Vi^^y he Tvho hath received True Grace needs more ^race I owl recdvedwor ^^^^^ °^^^ ^^ ^^ ^^^^ reformed,and our hearts ftil to be cleanfed, grace needs the foul is fuch a veffel as continually is gathering in and fending aiote grace, out what is corrupt and evilLItis 'like.a fountains which you need ftill be laving of it out, f c le nfi^*^^ 2 . Againe the p-ogrejfe and prfeUion of cleanfing the fonle ap' the foule be- f^rtaines to God as well as the beginnings The phyfician muft goe longs to God as through with his cure, or clfc the patient will relapfe , the wcU as the difcafe will prcvailc , no nof the created Grace in the beginning, foule T Chap. I . T'he Jnatomy offecretfins. 1 1 foulc is hard enough to keep down finnc , much lefs to put ic out, unlefs a divine & new affirtance comes to the foul,Therc- fore David , though an Holy man , prayes to God t9 cleanfe him, 3, Lz(\{yy perfo»s TrnJy Holy ^ and fenfihle dejtre yet further Perfoiw trul> meafures^ of HoUnefs: David was cleanfed before, and yet he *Joiy>dc^fc dcfirestobecleanfed: why ,becaufe though he had a radicall "*'" **°^^'^«"** purity 5 yet he had not the gradual 1 purity, The whole man was cleanfed, but it was not cleanfed wholly : fome grace he hadjbucmore he did want,fome fins he was prety well rid off, but others he felt yet ftirring and working : Though no man faw them, yer he felt them : Noe combat, ferves the Chriftian but thit which Lookes to vi6lory, and he thinks the day is not yet won , if he hath not yet the conqueft of every fin , as well as any one. SECT. III. 3 . rj ^C ^^y ff'^fit^ "^e dejire to be cleanfed fromfecret ftnnes ; --« IJ Either from fecret aaing or fecret motions. Hi? u^ I Will give you diverfe reafons of it. cleanfed from I. B^c^\i^c fecret fins will become fublike finsy if they be not fecret fim. cleanfed. It is with- the foule, as it is with the body wherein Secret /Im wiH difcafcs are firft bred , and then manifefted; and if you fupprefs ^^"^^ ^MiV^ them not in their root, you fhall fhortly fee them to break out ci^fcd°' in the fruit : or as it is with fire catching the infide of the houfc firtt , and there if you doe not furprife it , it will make way for its felfe to get to the outfide. Lufi when it hath conceived it bringeth forth fin y]iin. I. 15. Beloved, remember this, that though the firft ground of (in be within the heart ,yet the pro- pcnfion of fin is to come forth into publicke: the Child in the wombe hath not ftronger throwes to get out of its private lodg- ing , then fin fccretly wrought to fly into open and manifcft z^iom Ammon isfictimth the finful Conceptions of inceftuous luf^,and what ado was there till he had committed that villany: let a man fet up any fin in delightful Contemplation and medi- tations that fame inward afting of his fifl, Either doth aftually Ci <:a& I z 'the Jnatowy offecretjins. Chap, i . Caft bim upon the outward adventure?, or invites them. This is the icall that it doih , it doth (trangly rip^n his natural! iudi- nation ; and behdes that it doth prepare him for a tempracion that fuits thu way : Satan iliall nor need to tempt him much who harh already tempted himfclf : and he who wi I work fin in^ his heart,a weak occafion will draw it out into his life, thirty fieces of filver willprevai e with a c^z'^i^w JW^ , \^hohadal'- ready fold his Malkrin his heart. Ohjeth, But wh^tof that , will you fay, fuppofe th:c fecrct fins uncleanied do become publickc. 1 fay therefore, fhould v\e the rather labour to cleanfe them: for as much as the more publick fin becomes,' he worfe it is you know,that if the word orletterof the minde be wrirrcn inpaper,. now it becomes a copy for others to write after, whilft fecrct fins are confined the houie('.)to the foule only, and break not out into vifible a6^,though they be very damnable, yet they are but of pcrfonal and proper danger, they indani^er him only who maintaines them,as poyfon doth him who takes the poyfon^But when they come to publick and viiible a6tin^s,rhen they are a copy,they are exemplary fnas,&: like the Plague infecting other perion*;, othersare capable to imitate them,and foe more fouls ^ f. are tainted,and G od now receives a com mon diilionour . am tf^Vccci vc' ^* ^^^"^^'fi'^^ ^^'^ ^'P ^^'^^f ^^^^ ^^ m&fi^^ therefore cleanfe there; lu moft. ^^^^^ ^s ^ deceitfulnelie in all finnings whatloever , the fouJc is coiifenedby (In whenfoeverit dothhn ; but now fccret fins- deceive us moft, they are mcli apt toprevaile with usrpartly, I.. B^caufe nve l.ave not that firt^t afid [fmtuaU. jtidge^tem of thejnwar'sof fiKy as of the otim^rds : many times we conceive of them as no fin? at all, oelcas flight and venial! , to draw a fword,^nd run a man thorow the heart;0 this is a fearful murder, to daw a falfe word, and flandercufly to pierce tho ow his good name , we likewife ima. ine that this may be bad,but to HW a man with malicious thoughts^ wirh revengeful plots and dcfircs,nay,rhis is fcarce thou,,ht as a matter culpable, or at leaft . very excufable. Beloved, iris the inLenium of fin to come off cafly. In the foule without fiir and c'cbatc , and no fin? come off lo e^fily, a^ th'^fe with we fcarce imagine to be fins.Now'we ^e apt to think that fccret finncs are fcarce finncs. a And Chap. I , The Anatomy offecret finJL i 3 2. And bccaufc Mo^ men decline fmne ttfn oHtjpard re''tecif^ which doc not reach the actings of fccrec fm-; , fhamc and fear^ and obiervance arc great, and the only reftramts to ma- ny. They doe not iive in, and vifibJy commie fuch fins becaufc they li^e not (hamc , and are afraid of punifhment , but v\hac are thole to fscrct finningsjwherc no Law ot mm can reach, and no cy of man can icarch.Ic is true,thacGod hath fet fome one or och^ir to watch the {inner al over,as his law tor invvard,&out.vard adings;^;J" ctnfclence principally for the invvard,and i)[{^eyes and ntoHt^S) and ha»(^s of m^n for the outward : but now for fecrec (innin'-', , it bein.; invif.b'.c, it doth therefore cfcape all the out- ward reltraints by the ieeing,and rpeakin;^,and judging of men; and it hath mainly to attend what conlcicncc wilfay,which per- haps is Ignorant or droury,&:ir it doth fpeak yet it is not rcgard- edtNow mark of ail fins eye chcm moil,which do mol^ eahly de^ ccive you^thcfe a m^n commits molV, a{fe6ls moR , and con^ dnues in longeR> ^v^c^ therefoe lecret fins come under that form,, is it not neccfTary to labour to be tleanfcd from, them. :?. i:h€ Brerath ofJJn Is /WW,thereforeIabDur to be clean- -j., * itd from fecret ims ; if a m.^n huh a fever, fo that his tongue oH^n sTifvwri doth even fry in his mouth, and his fleili is even roRcd with burmn« heat > y-t rheft^engrh of that fever is in hi> fpirits and inward parts,which arc fet onii''c by fome humorous ditfempcr; fo is it with (inne thou.h tho outward a^lia^s be bad enough, yet the ttron^ holds are within the foule ; The ttreiij^th of a &]) 1. Liesinics r ear rjejfe to the fount alne^ixom whence it can take a quick, immt:diate, .ind continual fupyly , and fo c+o^ our fecret (in5,rhey are as nearc to OHg'n^ll fm , as the firft drop- pings a re to the fjninge head : ihcy are indeed Or^ginalil [ia. immeciiatiy n^ing it L^lfc , which ftn is a full fin , a feeding (m^ a Imning fin, and never weary. 2. \ilJ\t^i*t thf ^c&c^cancc of th affetiions: love and I'k'ng - fcrfin I'pon its throne : They are the Armes loy.il^ of a finne.; now of the t\> o, men arc more apt to Hkc and love fecret then* op6nKnn it cannot comply with any known fin : you can never reconcile them in the atfe6lion : they may have an unvvilling confiftcnce in the perfon , but you can never make them to agree in the affecti- on. ' Beloved, there is a marvellous difference twixt things which are at difference by a refpCiSlive and accidentall repugnancy , and by a naturall and pure contrariety, in the former there may be an accord ,but in the latter none ; an Hypocritical! heart may fall out with its fin for the confequencc of it,for the fhamc it brings,for the ftingint< guilt which it caufeth in the confciencc , yet his heart hath (in abfolute termcs) an inward Cohefion and league with that fin : but now true holi- ncfs & fin are oppofite with a natural contrariety,thcrcfore you can never reconcile them in the hearf.but the oppofition is in- ward as well as outward, to fin whcrefocver it is. ^^^^ fanaify- 2. That fan^itficattort ts fiot perfeB in this life , he who hath cation is Im- mofl grace 5 hath yetfome fin : Elfe why doth David (an ho- peifcft in this ly pcrlon)defirc to be clcanfed , he who needs to pray,that he H^^- may be cleanfed,cannot yet totally fay,^; heart is Cleane, There is a perfeBion of Integrity which an holy heart hath /land- ing in oppofition to Hypocriiie and effentiall defedHvenefTe >buc there is not a Perf ^ion ofeminency which confifls in an oppofiti- on to all want : Grace whiles in your hearts living on the earth, is ashcaithrifinginafickbody,or like heat getting into the water > or like light fpreading it felfc more and more to chafe away darknefie, there is yet more of fin to be conquered, andwc havclcflc grace then we (hould have , and where any pare 1 6 ithe Anatomy offecret fins. Chap, u part or decree of fin h yet as an enemy, being and rifing , there gracethough it may be found and favin^ , yec is it not abfolutc and perfect. ' Thatfccrct 5« Here you may underftandche grounds and reafons of the corruptlonj many troubles and heavy complaints of ^hrlftians: It is true, that, trcthc Chrifti- they may fail^ many times in their words and lpeechcs{^and he ^ an J trouble. -^ ^ ^^j.^ p^j-fedl man who doth not trefpaffe therein) and they may be overtaken with explicit finnings , no holy perlbn will profefle himfelfe to be an Angell , but he hath many out- ward fins tobewaile, as he hath many inv\ard graces to blefs (jodfor; yet the load of his foule is within hisibule; eommitrions doe juftly humble him ; but the fecrct in- clination? of finne they doe even burft his hearr afunder* - Why looke ye fo fad, fay we oftentimes to good people , and why are yea fo caftdown.^ what is it which troubles you? you have a cood God , and a good Chrift , and a good Gofpel , yea,I have, out withall, I have yet a bad heart in defpite of all my confli(5^in|^s,i^ri and (lrivino^,3nd praying<;;I am yet fo mo- lefted with f nfui imaginacionswich finful inclinations : If 1 do, - notperformc duty with any life, I am troubled for my dulnefs: if I doe it with any life, I am troubled with pride : U Ido not • P^^y> ^ cannot bear the guilt of a willing o million ; if I doc pray , I am even torne from my felf ; and the crowd oi other thoughts do juHle out the apprehenfion andaffiidlionof my praying.Anocher Chriftian he complaincs bitterly offecret blaf- phemies; AtheiRical rifings, Another with private m.urmurings, difcontents , unbeleivini^s ; though you hear no fuch words , and fee no fuch carriages; O wrethed man that I am^fald Paul: and verily fo great are the Infolencesof fecrat'corruptions, that the Christian is oftimcs weary of his life. Beloved the maine battle of a Chriftian is not in the open field, his quarrels are moft withinjSnd his enemic*; ^re in his own breaft,\^ hen he hath ^ reformed an ill life , yet it fhall coft him infinitely much more I to reform an ill heart; he may receive fo much power from grace at the beginning , as in a fhort time, to draw off from moft of the former grolle afts of finningSjbiit it will be a work of allliisdayesto get a through conquej^i of fccrec Corrup- tions. 4. Then 1 Chap. I. ihe Jnatomy iffficretfins. «7 4. Then all the veorkj of 4 Chrifttan Is not but alfo thac my skin be white ( /, ) my inward parts be as ac- ceptable to God, as my outward frame is plaufible with man ; yea, let me tell you one thing, thac he is an hvpocrlte , who takes care to wafh the outfide only , forafmuch as the grcac- ert folicitude for the life, may be without any reformation of the heart; not that the lifcmuft noc be fquarcd, buc if thac be varnifhed, and the heart negle£led, the perfoa hath noc on- ly the fame natural and lively frame of finfulnefs , but he de- ceives himfelf, or at leaft another with a meere pretence and (liadow^ therefore brethren let us have eyes to look inward, as well as outward, God hath given us a reflexive faculty; and befides thac, know 1, That Prima fars J tht fir fi fart of our work^is to fet upon the imvard part y how vain is it to waQi the brackifh ftreames which are yet fecf by a foure founraine : and verily the cofi- verfation will be ever and and anon unequal and unlike ic fclf ; if the heart remaines unpurged and unchanged, corrup* tion which hath often entertained your fecret thoughts , will at length prefenc cbefe births to your very eye. 2, lihix. Maxima pairs y the greater part of your work^i^ with* in: It is true, an ill congue, a luftful eye , a ftealing hand , they may challenge much prayer, care and obfcrvance,watch- fulneffe to reforme them, but a beam of light is fmall to the vaft body of light in the Sun, and the dribling rivers are with D more ofaChriftian is noc abf oad» g ^Jhe Jmtmy offieretjins. Ghap; i> more cafe, turned and dried up v then the deep ocean,, fin within) is fin in the fountain , and fin in the vifible pares , is finintheftreames, yea, and as every thing is ftriongeft in its caufe f and therefore fin is higbeft in the hcart)for the ftren ^th and vigour of temptations is at the inward part of man ; Sa- tan doth not ftir a naked eye, but a filthy heart to look through that finful window, he doth not come to the hand, and fay fteale^ butfirftto the heart, which will quickly command the hahd: he doth not fay immediately to the tongue, fvYear and blafpheme,but the heart, which can eafily command that Hel'- iilTi language into the tongue. If thou fhouldeil pluck out thine eyes, and never fee any obje6l to excite thy uncleane heart , yet mayert thou be as filthy a perfon , thine own cor- rupt heart , and Satan would alone incline thee- ; and though thou hadelVnever afoottbgo, nor hand to fiir, yet mighteft thou be as very a thief as 'judas; thy heart might rob every pa{fenger,and fl:eak from every houfe thou comefi in: obje6ls are but accidental things to man,they have no neccfiary im- prefflve influences ; they do but deliver thcmfekes in th^t na- ture wheremth God hath cloathed them ; but that which in- venoms them> and makes them towork fo wickedly, is mans wicked heart; you have many perfons who complain much againft dbje6ts,0 they can fee none, ordeal with nonCs but wickedneffe is ftirring. Why, beloved, the objedls are inno-' cent, but our hearts are unclean and finful : if thou couldeft get another heart, thou wouldeft look with another eye : the onely way to make temptations lofe their force, is to' decline occafions, and to clean fe the inward parts, y S E C T. V. Ufei.Tryal. We fiiould try A Nother life which I would make of this is,to try okr [elves y our felfcs , be- t\ what care we have of fecret fins : I will give unto you ^'*^^* , fomc Reafbns why I would have you to try your felvcs bo many wal- • ^r- ♦ ' ' ■' fini. l.Bectwje there be many ferjwS) rfho waUow in fecret finues. The ■mh* ■ Chap. I . T'he Jnatomy ofjecretfins. The Apoftlc complained of fuch in his time, Efhef, 5. 12. It PS a fhame toff eak^of thofe things which are done to them In fe- crety he fpeaks of fuch as lived infecrec fornications and un- cleannefs ; Brethren, how many are there, who do apparel themfelves even with a form of godiineffe , who yet not on- ly allow themfelves in the fecret thoughts of abhoired vvic- kedneffes, but even in the fecret aftings of the fame , as if there were no God to look on them , nor confciencc to efpy them > nor judgement day to arraigne them : O how infi- . nitely odious mull thou be in the eyes of that.holy God, who dares to Court him in the publick , and yet dares to provoke tiim to his face thus in private ; like a whorilli ftrumpe^ who cillembles marveilous affe6lions to her husband abroad , and yet at home fhe will violate the Covenant of her God, be- fore her husbands eyes ; So thou to pretend fo much for God before company , and yet in private thou wile prefume to fin before his face : for he fecth thee, and that thy confciencc . knovs righc well. There be at the leaft three horrible fins which now thou doeft commit at once. Firll, that vrryfin which thon wouldeJi fo conceak : And per- haps ix. may be a hn of the deepeft dye. Yea, mark this> tb^t ufuAlly the mort damnable fins are fuch which are committed in fecret, as Sodomes adulteries, and fuch fearful kinds of pol- lutions, and murders, and treafons,6cc. Secondly, Hypocri/ie^ which is a fcreen to thy finne, an ho- ly cover for an'unholy heart and praftice , which makes the (inner by how much the more vile in Gods eyes, by how much the more that he doth not only fin againft God, but (j wrefts (asitwere) fomething from God to cover and palliate his rebellion againB him. A third is Atheifme : if there be not formal Atheifme , jet there is a virtual Atheifm,^s iTGod were no God in fecret, but only in publick , that he could fee in the light and not in the darknefs; that his eye is.as-the cyeofa manonly : whereas he ^5 Pflnnplc is an univcrfal eye , and is a light without all darknefs. kctlt^znd *^ 2. The princifle of fmmng is fecret micomrmn to evf' common to c- ry man. ii iO :; ^ very man. D % The 20 ^he Jnatomyoffecretpns. Chap.i. The motions of finning are not like the motions of a bowle which nmsonly by thevertueof an iinprinted ftrengch , they are not violent motions vvhofe caufe is only cxtrinfecal , buc they are natural motions, whofe principle is wichin the fub- jc6^ : oHt of the heart (idiuhChrkl) proceed evil thoughts yadnl- teries -y form cat to'/is •^mtir der s ^t hsf t s^ cove toHf?iejfey malice^ deceit y lafclvioiifncffe^ an evil eye^ blaffihemy , pride , fooil[huejfe , all thefe evil things come from within and defile the mafi ^ Mark 7, 21)22,23. the nature which tempts thee, that nature is in thee, it is the womb of many and infinite finful corruptions, and imaginations : it cafts out vvickednefs as the fountain cafts forth water; fo the Prophet, J^r. 5,7. it is very true, that outward occafions, and Satan by his fu:!geftionsmayaflrift and quicken original corruption, as the bellows may enflame the fire , yet the fire hath heat, and an aptnefs naturally to burne. So original corruption , though it may grow monftroufly a- ftiveby temptations from abroad, yet it can and doth, incline us,aad can beget private a6lings of horrible fmnes, from its own native rtrcngth , it can fend ontfeveral forms of fmning, and incline us to contemplate upon them , yea to contrive the fingular methods of tranfgrelTion, yea, it can fe^d the foul with wonderful delights in them, fo that in theeycofGodi the Winnings are formed, and fa(}iioned,and ripened with moft of odious perfe6^ions. There U a There Is an high depth of hypocrljie^ In the fhe CohIs of men^ .?. .° ^''°' ^hofe proper work^ Is to have a fccret way cr^ttrary to an open erne m every j^^^^jjj^^ . ^^ ^ player who rakes on him to a£^ the part of a King, yet in his private andabiolute way, he may beaperfon Divines diftin- of moft ignoble birth, andimwoithy qualities: fo it is with guifh of three the hypocrite. Ions of hypo- j^ qj^^ J5 naturaUnd hath footing in every iman : even the '^V / mofl upright heart hath in it fome hypocrifie , and he doth fometimes fecm to be that , which he is not : lie may be fome- times more full in his profeflibn, then he is indeed in his a- ftions. 2. Another is f, and not for an unclean heart ; am I perplexed for a lie by my tongue, and not far ani evii axti falfc heart: verily then my eye is not/ on God^'bur iti^n^, it is not upon fecret finncs, but only; upon jogeni and manir' feftfinnes. - ^o v r :; - 4. irhen Tve camH abide thr (firitHol efficacy and irnvard ^^^jJ.^J^ f*^"* fearc kings of the word v BelOvcd, r/'tr Word of god is . cjmck^ fpiritual cffica* and powerful y afv^O'eigedfvoM.^ -ir u&irides^ htw.een the f ^//?f J/ cy of iheword, and the jjiarrow^it is 'a difcsrmrvfthertMabts and intents of the heart , Hcb. 4. 12; you findeirtO'bcfo,^ that it comes' in- to yourclofer,itfindes youout inyourniofl: fecret wayes of finning, it follows you into th(^ moll dark corners, it picr- ccth into the imagihatidns and plots.' which you never yet brought out to^thcSun-ne, ittclbyouofyour vdry defires and affe- 24 T^he Anatomy of fecm fins. Chap.i* afFe(Elions 5 what you like moil: , crave moft, do m oft. Now what do your hearcs fay, how do they beftir thcmfelves, when they finde the word to haunt and purfue them , when they obferve the word to come and clofe with the fecret windings and turnings : do you not ilrive lo keep out the light? do you nochold it off ^as they do the enemy in ahegein'^he cut-works, that he might not break inro the heart of the C ity, vvould you not be fpared^unfearched : nay, you cannot endure the word which comes to your private finfui gains;and to your ^y- private nnful jleafures, you will not endure to be ordered wchTnfion^'f how to think, and how to defire ; if it be fo, where is then in Gods eye trou- you the property of an holy D^W^ , who c!o:h not deiire to bleitheman, guard and defend, but to be cleanfed from fecret fins. he wifheth Pofitive Trials. there were no -pj^^ Pqfitiz/e okervationshy which you may know that you hinjec^h^s °'^ defire in truth to be cleanfed from fecret fins, may bethcfc. inning. ^ • Confider sfnsifhat acceptance are[ccret temptations ; there Pofuive Try- are open and, broad temptations which carry fome expreffe prc- als Confider judice unto our names , and there are implicit^ and chfe tern- Of what acce- p^^ig„j yvhich carry a real prejudice to Gods elory, of this lat- ptance are fc- ^ - ' , • i • j .' ^ •" . , irct tcmptati- ^^^ fort, there are agam two kmdes : iome temptations there ons. are which the ingenuity of a refined nature may perhaps ftarc at as too infinitely grofs, to yeeld unto them ; as fome kinds of blafphemyyand mockings, and revilings of God, or Chrift, or theGofpe!, and thofe hidious excitations to felf-murder , or any unnatural villany : other temptations there arc which may finde a principle within the foul more intimate and ape to rake and receive the impreffions, if not oppofed by the ad- vertency and purity of a fpiritual heart : now aflliredly the heart doth defire to be cleanfed from fecret fins which ftirres up it felf with all its might againft thofe fecret temptations, which deal for fin within the foul , which lighten and quicken natural corruption by reprefcntation, or by excitation , or by both : O it is the heavy day of the foul, when it is fo inwardly alfaulted and buffeted ; the heart is fo far from yeelding, that it isrefiftingwith tears , with prayers ; yea, and obferve one thing which is this, that the temptation to the finning is not only refifl:ed, but it is made an occafion co the holy foul > the more Chap. I. T'hejmicmyoffecretjins. 25 more to labour againft the corruption, unto \\h[ch the tempta- tion would fecretlycncline ; as if Satan fhould tempt to fe- cret pride ; not only not to admic the temptation , but now to go to God and pray more carncttly a ainif a proud ima- gination, and a proud fpirit^ycajto be vehement for an heart more lowly and humble ; or it Satan doth tempt to contem- plative uncleannefs , or lecret a6tings , not only to refift and abhor them , but to pray more earnelHy for a Chaft and pure heart, and for chalt and fpiritual imaginations and thoughts. 2. Confider hoi;v far forth thou defireft to approve thy felfe How far forth to Ged, Cod is the CiOd of our fpirirs as we 1 as of our bodies, J^*^" approve, accept, then thow wouideli be better fatif- fied. There is a twofold approving of our fclves , one in the confcionable exatinejfe of duty afpcrranmg to our cail'ipgs ; hen je the h'^o'^.^'il, Co'^,6,7,^ giving no offence'inany tWing that the ^.Mlnt fir y be not blamed \ Verf. 4. Bnt in all things approving our f elves as the ij^tlnlfters of God in much patience , in^.ff,icii' on/yin neceffitiesy indifireffes. Another in r/7f internal disfo/it ion of the fou/ 'j\yhich is whtn the private frame of the fpirit is fo endeavoured to be rc6^ifi-. ed, fquared, beautified, and ordered, that the <^,reat and holy God may take delight , and prochime his gracious teftimony of the fame : hear thst of the Apoftle , 2 Cor, 10. 18. N^t he that commnde'h h'mfelf is approve \ bntrv horn the Lord com- menaeth -y in thefcmcr rcfpc,^ is thit phrafe oF Paul^ Rom. X6.18. approvd of men , in the latter rcfpe^ is that phrafe of *?<««/, Rom. 1 6. 10. approved inChrifl', and of Pet'r^A^S2, 22. v^ man approved of God. No.vveily, no man c^^n ''in- ccrcly defirc to approve himfeltunto God (i,) to puchim- E felf 2 9 ^ '-^^ Jnatowy offecretjins. Chap, i , felfovc- unto Cods fentencc oftryalanddcci/ion fo, that be mighc find an acceptance from his eyes , but he doth indeed defi e tobecleani'edfromfccret finnes ; why? becaufe Gods fentencc is righteous and according to truth , he doth not - wei.h 10 much, the aflions as the fpirics of men, not fo much the outward expreffions as the inward difpofitionsjnot fo much what they do,as what they would do; not fo much that they do Botjasthis that they would do no iniquity. I remember that Da- vid is upon this very toine,in PfaLi^^.i-^, Search me O Lord, And k^ovp my heartland know my thoughti ^v, 2^, And fo if there be anyvptckedwayinmei Here he puts himJelf intirely upon God, to try him , to fearch him, to fee v\hether his heart be fuch as he ftiould like and approve. Panl is in the fame firaine, i C^r.-t^."^, with me Iti^j ^verj fmdl th'wg that I fhould be judged of yon i (/.) whether you approve of me or not ac- cept of me , or condemn me, I tell you, this is not the main thing tbat I look on, v, 4. Bnt he that jndgeth me is the Lord, ( J.) there is another Judge, a greater Judge , a better Judge, one whocancanvafe the fecret and inward parts, as well, aseyethe meere vifible ails and motions, to him do 1 look, to him do I defireto approve my {iif. Where doft ^ Obferve, where doeft thou lay the jharfeflr edge of the axe : thou lay the ^^^ ^^^i ^^^^ Matthew in another cafe, i^ now laid to the root of ^itpt^tdgaoi the tree : (inne is like a tree, ichath root and branches, that tl^ Axe. which we fee of the tree, is the bulk and branches , that which is the life of the tree we fee not , it is the root which is moored in the bowels of the eath. Now as a man may deal with a tree, fo he may deal with his (inncs ; the axe may be ^ employed only to lop off the branches , vvhich yetalllive in the root , and he may apply his axe to the very root , to the cutting of it up , and fo he brings an univerfal death to the tree : So it is pofTiblc for a mm to bertow ^11 his pains to lop off/inne onely in the vifible branches in the outvard limbes of it, and it is aifo pofflblc for a man to be crucifying the fecret luft, the very corrupt narure and root of finfulnefs. Now this I fay, he vvho befto vs his ftudy, his prayers, his tears , his cares, h!s Aatchinv;s,h's (Irength to mo'tifle corruption in the toot, in the nature, iu the caufe , how unquei^ionable is it that ^tmmm Chap. i# The Jrtatomy offecretfns. 27 that he doth dcfirc to be clctnfcd from fecret fins. Suppofe a man hath an ulcerous part (undifcovercd) in his breaft: if he applieth fuch phyftck which will carry away the fpring of that ulcer, it is a palpable figne he doth de fire to be cleared from the fccrec ulcer it felf: fo it is in this cafe. Beloved, wc diftinguifh 'twixtthefe two things, t//^ 1 . The retraining of Jin, 2. The weakening of fin, A man whofe finncs may crawle in him, like the worms in a dead body, which may feed upon his moft exquifite contem- plations, and dcareft affections , with fulicft and fweeteft con- tentment, may yet curb and rcftraine the habits, or finfull propenfions from breaking out into a6l ; The vigor of a na- tural and enlighcned confcienre, andt^heingenuity of amore nobly bred difpofition; and the force of particular aimes and ends , may be able to rein up and bridle in th^z, AUh4 Impera- tos ^as the School-men fpcak) the notable or vifiblc deliveries or a6lin|^s offing But that which weakens fin is grace; that which purgeth out the fin is alwayes contrary to it. Agam, vvcobferve a difference *twixt thcfc two,z'/;?:,.to have finne and the heart afunder : and to h^vtfnne and the jhams or the himrnejfe afunder : this latter a Phara9h^tn A hah may defirc ; but the former , only that man who is truly holy, ana would be ckanfed from fecret fins. 4. And this now leais me to a fourth difcovcry of a perfon Doeft cfeoa who defires to be cleanfed from fecret fmsyviz..he who ftrongly ftrongly dcfire dejires to have another nature^ another heart, Knoih^l nature or ^° l^*^* *"°*°* heart is a heart replenifhed with moft holy qualities, which fland "^^*'^* in a prefent oppofition to that of fin , and which in time will get the vi6lory over it : Suppofe a man be apt to much unbe- lief, fecret miftrufts and difirufts , how know I that he would be cleanfed from them ? not only by this that he complaincs, but alfo that he is day and night with God for the grace o£ faith, and the ftrength of his Spirit to believe : And indeed it is the contrary grace which doth cleanfc from finne ; fecret grace which cleanfeth from fecret finnes: for- afmuch as the inward clcnfing, is not by outward medicines, but by a compleatcd principle, both in nature and operation , E 2 ftriving 28 The Jtfatomyoffecretpns. Ghap.i, ftiiving againft the nature and operations of Hn, as theApo- itk eliganciy lliadows it, in GW. ^. Pf'^-l. %i. Create in me-n new Lean , laid Duvi'^^ ; the new heart is a new frame and temper to til theioul >\iih oiher inclinaiions and thoughcs,and the life with other vvayes and adtions. SEC T. VI., « ^* V«,,« T Now proceed to a third life which Hiall be for Comfort Jbchas have • ^^ ^"^^^ perlons vpho e c:e res ar'teMly carried to be cleans fuchde/ircs. fed fro-m J crnf'/^is^ as Wvli as publii^k and vitiblc, they may comrort themfclves in many things. For, Their pralfe I . Th^f their r,r^i^e U of '^oi^ and he dorh commend them, isotGod. fee the Apo L,/^(?./; 2.28. Heps not a jew which is onJ out- wardly , net h r is hat crcHmcifign which is outward m the f.?'^ , verie 2^. But be is k jew which is one inward/fy^ a^d cirr- CHmcJfio/7 is ti'-ai of he he^rt , inthe fj>irn^ not in the letter ^whofe praifeisnot jfmen^hftt of God : Now what a comfort is this thu thou arc a psrfon whom the Lord will take notice of, yea, whom the Lo:d himfelf will praife and commend : to fay of thee as of David, I have found a man after mine own heart ; and that thy heart is per fed with the Lord, ^ r *f f, i. T^^at confcietce in a day of dijireffe will acquit and clear will acquit thm. Beloved, there are two forts of people, them in a day Some dawhlng^ anddijfe^ihling , and [huffing jwho^Q carc it oiiiftrefs. is not, not to finne, but to be cunning in fin ; thefe fliall find that in the day of their didrelfe, confcience {hall rip wp be- fore their eyes their molt private vileneflcs, and that God will fct their fecrct finncs beto'c the light of his coimtcnance ; yea, and the more induftrious and witty that they have been that way, the mere fliall conicience aggravate the hypocri& of their fouls. Others confli&ing and ^.goniz^inji with fecret motions , out- ward occafions , ftrong tempt^itions : thefe pcrfons in a day of diftrcffc fliall finde fingular teltimony from confcience; for though ijpvvj whiles their judgement is oppreflcd with variety Chap. I . Tihe Anatomy offecretpni. of arguments, and the minde is overkdcn with the heap of temptations , they are not able clearly to judge and d^cido, their condition , yet when confciencc ("which is the great um- pire in man ) Hiall arife to examine fore-paft anions and cn^ dcavours , it will there give fcatence for thee, cxcufing thee,, approving thee, That In all fi ^/plichy^ at^d Jincerlty thon hadfl thy comjerfat ion , both towards m 'n and tswards Go^ , and that it was the defire of thy foul, to fear the Lord, to do no iniqui- ty , but to walk belorc him in all well-pleafing : conlci^ ence doth cleare , as the word clears , and whom the word doth clear, 3. They may whhconfidenccmake their prayers to Gad y a;!d ^key may vikh jhallbehtanL The hypocrite hath yW<9^^/ carfe^ that hs jhall con^dtncc frayyhtitnot frevaile y Efay id. 1 2. for hiih Davldy If I regard P"^'y ^^^ ^^^^ in'iqmty In my he Art , the Lord -wMl not heare myprayery Pfaime "^*f"* 66, 18. But faith Eliphaz,^ Job 22. 25. If thou returne to the Almighty ytcc, tnndjhalt fat aivay im^uity fro/n thy Taberna-' clesy ver. 27. 7hoH ft alt m^.ks thy prayer nnt^him^ an i hejhhll hear thee rO how acceptable unto God are the Tacrifices of a fpirit truly and uprightly tempered. 4, The Lord mil mere and more cleanfe them : he will by de- God will more grees put more beautiful ornaments on the inward man , and »"«! more change their burdens ; liVaul be troubled with himfclf, Chrlft cl«*"fe thtm*.; will deliver him from himfelf $ he hath this comfort, tbat/^r the prefent God oblerves his inward conflifts , and accepts his fecret uprighrneffe , and for the future , that he fhall have the vi(^ory over his rebellions by Jefus Chrift. There be two things, of which the foul, which deales with inAard con- ^ virions four of a pure refpe^Sl) may be confident , vlz^ One is grace to combate , Another is fire^gth to over* come, Ob* 1 . but can a man be truly holy who hath fuch vile in- clination^, abhorred thoughts and motions, fuch wonder- full eruptions of finful abominations working yet with- in him? SoUa, a word for this ; you muft kno v this, that an holy man u a man^ and a man ; he is cooi-ounded of a nature, and z nature ; flefh and fpirit, grace and fin. E3, * Second-;- 36 the Anatomy offecret fins. Chap, i • Secondly, you muft dlfii/^gm^h '*twlxt the fecret mot tuns of ftn^ and the Jecret affrohations thereof ; as grace doth not Utterly root out all the exiltence of natural corruption, fo neither is it able abiolately to fupprcls ( though to hinder ) the operations or workings of hnful corruption. Thirdly, ^e diftin^mfh offecret workjngs of pme , there is a double fecrecy. I. One is ^^^///r^Aand itbefalsany man : for finne naturally carries iLame with it, and therefore hath a defire of fe- crecy. 2, Another is artificial , which is a cunning deviling o£ fin : this kinde of fecrecy isnotfo incident to holy perfons : they do not frame methods of tranlgrcffing, no ways ofdifhonour- mg God,yet I will put forth a diftin6lion, I thinkit good,therc Is a twofold artificial fecrecy, I. Onz antecedem and delightful^ contrived on purpofc to enlarge the way of the vile heart out of a deep love of the finne , and to compaffe the contiuall fruition there- of. ^ - . Another is a confeqnent and trouhlefomey and a kinde of in- forced artificialneffe, as was that of David , which did arife from a fin fecretly commited by him , in the haft of a tempta- tion ; Now I think that even an holy foul may po/Tibly touch upon an artificial fecrecy ^ hy confequencehavrng been violent- ly and prcpofteroufly carried unto fome precedent fin, which that it may be hid from the eye of man , it doth therefore fpin out (ome other methods of finning ; however this is a very fearful courfe , there is no comfort at all b it , but a deeper aggravation of the for- mer <:nning, for as much as adding finne to finne is no remedie , but to repent of former finnings is the onely and bcft way of help. SECT. ■^"'^■^■■■i^"'— ^*"^^ •pa^.. Chap. I . The Jnatomy offecret ^m. 3 1 SECT. VII. A Fourth Ufc of this afli:rtion,fliall be/or Exhortation to -, take heed of^andUhour agulnli [ecret Jins : its fr/^,that alt » J* ^'. -~ fin is to be declincd.-But I therefore ftir you up to beware of fe- take heed of ^* cret finncs, bccaufe we are more apt to thole then to the o- fccrctfim, pen; we fink our felvesfooner withthefe then with any o- *her finnings. There are three things which I will handle herc,and fo cob-^ dude this point, '://'?:. fi. Motives to enforce our care. ^2, Aggravations offecret fms. ^ 3 . Means which may prcfent help againft fccrct fin. 1. Ths Motives. ii • ' There be many arguments which may juftly ftir us up to ukc **°^'^**' hee4 of> and to cieanfe from fecret fins. I. The Lord k^oweth oht f cret Jinnin^s as exA&ij 4^ our vi" '^^^ ^ord ftblefimmgs , Pfal. 44. 11. He kjtsweth thefecrets of our hearts, ^"*^'T? ^"'^ ^*i Vh\.li,g,z. He kjjoweh onr down fittifjgaiid onruprififtgy a»i ^^ ft] ^^^^ underfiands oHrthotights afar of ^VQT, 11, If 1 fay fur ely the darkjieffe f^all cover me ; even the night fnall be light aboitt me , VCrf.i2. yeathe darkneffe hldeth not from thee i, but the night fhlneth as the day^ the darknejfe and the light are both alike un- to thee , Ezek.S.d. Sonne of man -^ fee^ thou ifhat they do ; even the great abominations that the houfe of Ifrael conmltteth her^. Like one on an high mountain pointing at the thiefc robbing a man in a thicket, fee you yonder thief plucking of him down,&c.fo here the great an i lofty ( od , whofcfeat is on high , beholds all the wayes and motions of che child-en of men, even thorow the thicke(lcloiid<, and nothing can barrc out his obie vance , whofe eye fills heaven md earth : whit is tile curtcun to him, or the night, or the lock, or the chMnbcri or the whifpering^orthe thinking, or the i;"naginition otthac thinking; he needs not to have his underftandin^ to be in- - formed ; \ 1 2 T'he Anatomy offecret fim. Cliap , u iformed by the fcnfiblencffe of fpeech, or the vifiblenefs of a6l- ring> who made the franne of fpirit , and fearcherh into the depths of the foul , and clearly obferves ail things in aperfc6l nakednefs. <5odwillrBakc a. The Lord will makj ntant f eft every fecret thing ^ Mark 4. m»nitcft every 22. There is mthivg hid which jhall not be manifefted : Neither lecrci tnin^. ^ ^^^ ^^j^^ ^_^^ fecret hut that it jhsnli come abroad. There is a twofold breaking outofafecret fin or manife- ftation ofit. One i^ natural: look as the childe formed in the womb naturally defi res liberty to come forth, and as the fire within, to flie out and abroad, fo the the inward conceptions of iin, naturally propcnd and ftrive to thrull out themielves into vi- able adding and view; the foul cannot long be in fecret act- ings, but fomc one part of the body or other will be a mef- fenger thereof, r, . ; ,.■ Another is judicial ; as when the Judge arraigns, and trie^, ^^ . ., and fcrues out the dofc murder , and thedark thefts :ib God .nv ..a ^iiihnng to light the moft hidden works of darkncfle ; for though the actings of finne be in the darkneffe, yet the judgings of fin {hall be in the ^ht : though they he fecrct, inuv2Y,onu y^j i\it[ but evil too, whether good works or ill works, whether fecret or open , all mutt be brought to judgement , i C<7r.4.y. Jpidg^e nothing before the time mtill the Lord come^ who bnh will bring to light the hidden things of darkpejfe -^ and will make 7»anifefl the Coanfels efthe heart : Though thou mayeft now cover thy finfulnefs with much hypocrifie , yet then all vizards Ihalibe pulled otf, thou fh at be (Iript of all counterfeit fhapes , as thou art, and as thou hift done, fo £halt thou be made known to men and An'^els , and to all the world: thy whole heart, . „. and thy whole courfe of life fhal be pul'ed a pieces before thee. SeirL l.Thy fecrsts fhall, not only bs manifefted ^ km fhall alfij * ^ ' \ be Chap. I . T^hc Jnatomy offecretjlns. 3 3 Ire Judged hy GsdyRom, 2. i6Jnthe day when God (hall Judge thefecrets of men hy Jefus Chrtfl : wc read fometimcs that God will Judge our words , and God will Judge our works , and here that ^sd wil/Jpt-lge&urfecrets , he will judge words and works as finnes ripened to cxprelfions; he will judge fecrcts,as fins ri- pening and brceding,/^^ 3 1 . 26. Jf I heheld the fun when hjhi' ned,or the moon walkjng in hrlghtneffe , Ti-j, And my heart hath been [ecretly entifed , 28. Ihh aljo were an iniquity to he pu^ nijhed hy the JuJge^ lob i^.lo.he will furely repr&ve you if yon doe [ecretly accept perfo^s , Deut. 27.15. Qurfed he the man that mak^th any Graven Image^anahomination to theLordy^cAnd putteth it in afecret place. There is a twofold judging , to which fecrct a^^ings of fin arc obnoxious. One is Temporall , and in this life; fee this in David , 2 Sam. 1 2.9. wherefore haft thoH defpifedthe commandment of the Lordy to doe evil in his fight ^ thou haft killed Uriah the Hittite with the [word (this was done in a fecrct letter ) znd haft taken his wife to he thy w if e^'^nd v, 10, Now t her fore the [word fhalnever depart fr0m thine houfey hecaufe thou haft ^ c^c, V. 1 1. Thus faith the LoMy he hold I willraife up evil againft thee out of thine own houfe-iand I will takj thy wives he fore thy eyes , and give them t9 thy neighhoursyV Ai^Thou didft ft fecretlyybutlwill doe this thing before all Ifraely and before the Suny Ephi 5.6. Becaufe of theje things Cometh the wrath of GodyUpon the Children ofdijobedience, ' Another is etemall ; that the Lord will Judg them with eter- nal] wrath , for that i§ the portion of hypocrifie: though thou mayeft efcape the judgement of man , yet thou Hialc net efcape the judgement of God, Heb. 15. 4. whore* mongers and adulterers God wi/ 1 judge y he will fentcnce them •'.•':;^ himfelfe for their fecret abominations. ^^ 4. Secret fins are msre dangerous to the f erf on in fom; reJfeSis then open finnes. For, I . A man doth hy his art of finning deprive hiir.felfe of the help j^cret ffniare of hisfinfuUe^e : like him who will carry his wound covered,or moredange- who bleedes inwardly; hclpc comes not in becaufe the dan- ro«i in fome ger is not defcricd nor known ,if a mans fin breaks out , there fe^P^^stfeca is a Minifter ^t hand , a friend near , and others to reprove, to ^^- -- F warne 34 Ag?riV3tion$ otrccrecfins. The mope foule the finis , the worfe if it be fecrec* . The iBf ore rela- tions are br«k- en by iecret 6n5 ihicworrc. The Jnatamyofftcretfins. Chap, i . wanic, to diped:But vvhcn he is r be artificer of his lufts , he bjfrrcs himfelfe of all pubiick remedy : and laic,^ great orr'cr and tare to daiin his foule , by cov<:ring his fecrei Tins with fome piaufible varniih, which may beget a good opinion in others of his wayes. A man doth by his fecre^y glvt the r^ms unto corrHttlm ; the tnindc is fed all the day long, either with (mful contemplations or proje<^ings, 10 that the very ftrength of the foule is wafted and corrupted. ^ . Nay, ■ cret aEl'mgs dichnt heat and hjiamf Kattirall corrupt tlen , asin llioi-ldcrin^ in a croudjwhen one hath got out of the doorc t ^o or th ee are ready to fail out after ; fo when a man faatb given his heart leave to a£i a iecrct fin , this begets aprc- fent,and quick,and llron^ flame in corruption to repcate and muliiply , and throng out the ^Bi^ : finfii! a£ls are not onely fruite^^ of fin, but hcipsand f^rengths^allfinnin:; bein-^ more finful hy more finning : not only in the efted^- biit in the cau/e: the i p rin;^, and caul e of fin will u'ow mad and iniolent hereby. 6r tnore corruptjthis bein^ 3truth,th«it if the heart ^^ives way foronc Cm c wil be ready fo: the neictfif it wilyeld to bring forth onceac the ucviis pleafurc, it wii bring itfo: th twice by its one motion. 4 A man bjf [e cret fins , ioth b'-st foUfh and ifuare the hypocri^ fpe afhis hearty he^oth ftrive no be an exa6"l Hypocrite, and the more cunninv hq is in the pailitting of his finnin^s, the more pertlift he is in his hypocrific. ^^7 he aggravatiofrjywHlyou give me your leave to make a iliorc digretf.on,touching the degrees of agravation of fccrer finnin^^s, V2i:ily»,pcrhaps xhey may fink deep and quicken us xo repentance and caution. I .The mer^foul the fin naturally is^the worfe is the f cret aBtK£ ofr: you know tliat fome fins have a fouler dye in them then . others, all are not a like,but fome are more intrin.ecally yll^ :■ A blafphemous thought , is worfe then an Idle thought , and the fecret ikaiing of a fiiiiiing though ic be a fin,yct not fo great as the fecret killing of a man* J he more relations are broken hy fc cret finning the vpcrfe-they 2. 0!rey and more to he w^reJ^ for all relations are bonds, and cords, thcyarcafilc.ofrcafoisi, v^by weiliouldnot fia; forafindc perfon Chap» u The Jmioffiy ofjecretjiHS. 5 $ fon to commit folly , if? a da^nibie fir, buc for one to bieak the covenant oi her youih and <.^od,tOf ^ perioa who u marri- ed > this very relation trebles rhe guilt: {o: any ont co mufcec is a lin of death ^ but for the Ch Ide co murder the parjat Ic - crctly, this very relation increafes the guilt. ^ 3. rt^ w^f profejJi-7ft a man n.akes the worfe are his fecrn ^f^,^7mw fmmngs ; forafmuch as he carricth not only a badge, but ahb a "^ ,te. ibe judge on his ("hojlders, h: not only weares a profelfion which is wurfe irchU contrary to his pra^lilc , but which fliall condemne and jud^e fecrct On*. him ; that he is not what he would feeme to be, yea , his con- trary pradlite, do:h ground and occafion the great reproaches and blemiHies like dirr,to be cilt upon the face of R:li^ion:ht , but a checking' ll.ht,not only a check- hfih 'b.-morc ing but a threatning , not onciya chreatningbuc alio a troub- abumin*b;t .he line; light , oppoieth , and chrg^th from the confciencciin. againil the finning , this makes it the more outof meafure fin- full. Themnrfa- ^. The more retu^r^ant fecretjins are to the light of nature ^ ^z\n9ixht\\^t the rvor^e are rhev in their a^lf^gs, A hn is Very broad when the cf natu e tbt light of nature wirhout any ayd of knowkdg from the fcripture ^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^' fhall make the heart to tremble at the commilTion and to be terribly amazed , the Apottic toucheth at thefc kindcs of fe^ ", Cl^x.(\TLn\n'i^^ -i^pm.i^HnnMHr all Itiftings and hur:i figs, 6, The more art a man deth nfe to effeti his fecret f.nnlngs the "^^^ ^f^. ^^ • yoorfe they are : forafmuch fas a about the fame fin , ) it is ever I^^" "'/;L *Ii,- worle when It IS breathed out by de iberation , then when it worfct^icy arand this is when thou art folitary.Now the thoughts jfteal out, now ima^^inations prefent and confer with the ininde , with the willjvvith affeil^lions : wouldll thou now free thy felf from fecret a6lings,thcnfrec thy fclf from fccrcc thinkings. The pidure in the glafs may inflame as much as that in- the natural face : fo fin in the rcprefcntation of the mindc^ may fire our corrupt hearts, as well as the entifings of it by convcrfing occafions , Pfalme 19. 14. Let the Meditatims of mj heart he dvoAp accent Me in thjfjight^ Q Lord my ftrengtk ^i my Redeemer, There are two things which will never failc you in your fur-- prifal of fecret finnings,^//;^. ^ ^ 1, One is to be digging Hf the intimate root ^ all Jin^ 2. Another Is to flifiethe firfi eoncepion of fins, to make flnne an abortive in the womb, that it fliall never ftretch out it fclf to a6\ions. Beloved, to tyc Samffms armes, it was a vaine thing, his ftrength lav not there ; hut if the hair of his head be cut off, then his rfrengthis gone, and he Ihall; become weak. To tamper (only) with the ads of finnc is not the way to be ridof finful a6ls.But the fingular way to be rid of bad a6ls,is to be ridof a bad nature : the vertue of the effect al- wayes lurks inthe caufe, and therefore it is the caufc which. gives lifc and death to it. If thou couldeft on-ce get an holy nature, which might be at defiance vvith finnc in its throne; know this , that a new nature and daily combat would much- help againft fecret finnings. Thatfinne is leaft of all a^ed' with life , which is moft ofall combated within the hearts foe. 3 8 the Anatomy of fee ret fins^ Chap . i . for finne huh Icaft praAife where it hath mof} oppofirion : . And of all oppofidons chole that are iaward are moft weakning of fin. 4. G'^t an hatred, of ftnne ^ which will oppofe fin in all kindes, and all dmes, and in a.l places. ^ 5. ^tt the feare of God pU»red In thy heart. There G€rifaefcarc ^^^ thit^ forts oi' finnes v\hich this fi:arwitl preferve a man of God. af^,ainrt. " Firll , TUafant Jtmes , which take the fenfc wich de- liv..ht. "^ Secondly , Prpfit^^hle finnes , which tske the heart with g^aine, but vfhat fhail tt profit me to wlme the whole worlds and t9 hie my foul. Thirdly , fecret Jtnnet of either fort, ^ofgph did not dare to fmne that i,rcat fmneofuncleannefle ; though the afling of it Hiighc have beene fecret, and though perhaps the confeciuence of it mi^ht have been his preferment ; why, the fear of God kept him off, he had an awful regard to God, he knew the ^rcatneiic of his hoUneffe, ofhis power, ' Horp can I do this great ppickjdneffe and ftnne anrainFt ^odf Cen, ^59. 9. Why ( brethren ) if we fcarc the Lofd , it is not the; night which the thief doth take, nor the twi- light vsh'ch the adulterer doth take, nor the feafons of fccre- cy or places of obfcuvity that will prevaile with us , &c. Yea, butCiod fees me, the great jud^e of heaven and earth, the holy one , the God who hates all (inne, whofe eyes arc brighter then the Sunne, and purer then to behold fin ; and who is mi. bty in power, and juft in his threatnings, he fees and beholds, therefore I dare not. Bel Jeved Gods 5, Believe Gods omnjfclence ^ and omniprcfence ; that the pmniicjcncc: j^^^^ -^ ^yg^y yvherc, and all things are naked and open to hi? eye with whom thou haft to deal : thou canft not intend to think, thou