THE HEARTIE CONFESSION OF A CHRISTIAN,
Devised for his owne comfort, written for his remembrance, and now published
for the use of M.H. and others his faithfull and private friends onely.
1.Cor.3.18. Let no man deceive himselfe, if any man seeme to be wise amongst you in this world, let him be (as) a foole: that he may be (come) wise.
19. For the wisedome of this world is foolishnes before God, etc.
The argument of the song.
1.COR.1.
30. But you are of him in Christ Jesus, who was made unto
us wisedome from God, yea, and righteousnes, & holines,
and redemption.
31. That, as it is written, he that boasteth, or rejoyceth, let
him boast, and rejoyce in the Lord.
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A spirituall song of thankes-giving,
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with praier unto God, containing the full
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effect of true religion in a
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Christian.
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The forespeech with the drift and sub-
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stance of the Song.
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THe somme of all the comforts, which I finde
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In holy writ to ease my troubled minde:
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Is this, that God* my nature did unite
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Unto his Godhead full of grace, and might?
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*The uniting of two natures
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in the person of Christ, who is
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our Emmanuell, that is, God
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with us, very man as wee are
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sinne excepted.
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In Christ who standeth betweene God and me
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For ever more my Saviour to be.
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Ruling me, as my *Prophet, Priest, and King,
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On me bestowing every needefull thing.
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*The annexing of three offi-
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ces in the person of Chist, name-
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ly of Prophet, Priest, & King,
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who is our full and perfect Sa-
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viour.
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Not onely for my present consolation,
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But also for my eternall salvation.
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I will therefore sing of his wondrous praise
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For his exceeding love to me alwaies.
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The Song.
Doctrine by way of example.
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1.WHere I by nature* through my parents fal,
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Am so distemperd in my members all,
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And bent to ill (which beareth in me full sway)
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As from all goodnes drawes me guite away
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And thus in sin originall am drownd:
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Christ is my * perfect innocencie sound:
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Him, as that brazen snake, if I adore,
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In me shalbe no sicknes nor no sore.
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*Against our birth sinne, com-
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monly called originall sinne.
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*The proper remedie is, the u-
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niting of two natures in Christ
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by his incarnation upon earth.
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Application of the Doctrine
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praier wise.
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O Christ forgive my naturall infection,
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Which to thy law will not be in subjection,
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And so provoketh me to dayly strife,
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Whilest I am nousled in this noysome life,
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And grant me thy * pure nature to expresse,
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Henceforth in my behaviour, more or lesse,
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Til flesh and blood by death thou shalt subdue,
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My state in heavn for ever to renue.
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*That is divine substance, ma-
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jestie, or godlines: as, Mat.5.
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48. Joh.13.15. and 17.20.21.
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22. 1.Cor.11.1. Ephe.5.1.
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Colos.1.10 1.Thes.2.12.
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Heb.1.3. 1.Pet.1.15. 2.Pet.
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1.4.etc.
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Doctrine.
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2. *Where through my * folly, & mine own igno-rance,
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I know not how Gods glorie to advance,
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Nor to dispose my selfe in any sort
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For others helpe, nor for mine owne comfort:
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And thus am blinde, and no truth I can see;
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Christ is most * perfect wisedome unto mee:
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Him, as that faithfull guide, if I attend,
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I shall not neede any way to offend.
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*Against all our other sinnes,
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commonly called actual sinnes,
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the proper remedie is the an-
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nexing of three offices in Christ
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by his heavenly dispensation.
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And first of his Prophecie.
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*Against our ignorance, which
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is the mother of all sinne and
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mischiefe.
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*The proper remedie is his
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wisdome, which is the roote of
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all grace, and welfare.
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Application.
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O Christ forgive my judgement darke & weake,
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Which causeth me thy blessed Lawes to breake,
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And so provoketh me to daily strife,
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Whilst I do wander in this wavring life,
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And grant me thy deepe knowledge to expresse
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Henceforth in my behaviour more or lesse,
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Till flesh and blood by death thou shalt subdue,
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My state in heavn for ever to renue.
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Doctrine.
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3. *Where I* ungodly am, and superstitious,
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Unreverent, profane, and irreligious,
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Leading my life after a worldly fashion
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Against the rule of my heavenly vocation,
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And thus am set in an ilfavord case;
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Christ is my* perfect holines, and grace:
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Him, as that holy of holies, if I frequent,
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My blottes, and blemishes shall soone be spent.
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*Further of his Priesthoode.
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*Against our unholines, and
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breach of the first table.
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*The proper remedie, is his ho
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lines.
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Application.
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O Christ forgive my foule and ugly vice,
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Which dooth my soule, and body both disguise,
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And so provoketh me to dayly strife,
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Whilest I am foiled in this filthie life.
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And graunt me thy faire beautie to expresse,
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Henceforth in my behaviour more or lesse,
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Till flesh and blood by death thou shalt subdue,
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My state in heaven for ever to renue.
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Doctrine.
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4. *Where I am * toyld with care of earthly pelfe,
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And doe not love my neighbour, as my selfe:
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But hurt his state, life, bed, goods, and good name
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In thought, word, deede, and lusting for the same,
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And so am filled full of all iniquitie:
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Christ is my * perfect righteousnes, and equitie:
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Him, as that upright judge, if I obay,
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I cannot hurt my neighbour any way.
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*Moreover of his Priesthoode.
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*Against our unrighteousnes,
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and breach of the second table.
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*The proper remedie, is h[is]
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righteousnes.
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Application.
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O Christ, forgive my violence and treacherie,
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Which makes me offer others mickle injurie,
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And so provoketh me to dayly strife,
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Whilst I am carking in this carefull life.
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And grant me thy high justice to expresse
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Henceforth in my behaviour more or lesse,
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Till flesh and blond, by death thou shalt subdue.
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My state in heaven for ever to renue.
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Doctrine.
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5. *Where I am * bond-slave to al kinde of misery,
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Solde under sin, and subject to all infamy,
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Falling downe headlong to utter destruction,
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By naturall, and actuall corruption,
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And thus am feeble, fraile, and transitorie;
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Christ my * redemption is, and perfect glorie:
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Him, as that Lord of hoasts, if I doe serve,
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From force of foes he will me sure preserve.
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*Against our bindage & [?]
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serie, which is the just pun[ish-]
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ment of all our sinnes.
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*The proper remedie, is his [re-]
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demption and glorie, whi[ch is]
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the due rewarde of his ex[cee-]
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ding mercie towards us.
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Application.
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O Christ forgive my wretched imperfection,
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Which pulleth me from thine happie protection,
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And so provoketh me to daily strife,
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Whilst I doe warrefare in this wearie life,
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And grant me thy * free ransome to expresse
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Henceforth in my behaviour more or lesse,
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Till flesh and blood, by death thou shalt subdue,
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My state in heaven for ever to renue.
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*Namely by relieving of the
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needy, after thy Royall exam-
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ple, according to the power of
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thy grace in me. Io.13.14.15.
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Rom.12.16. Ephe.5.21.
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Phi 2 5.6.7.etc. 1.Pet.1.17.
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18.19. Ephe.4.7.8. Iam.2.
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8.etc.
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