Thanks for the replies!

Pilgrim, I checked in Calvin's commentary on Mrk 12:29,30 and indeed he also makes the statement that in Hebrew the word heart often includes the mind. In fact he says, ... that the mind signifies for me the higher seat of reason from which all purposes and thoughts proceed..

William, it is very difficult for me to say what the older man really meant by the change of his faith from the mind to the heart. I know this man for many years and found this statement somewhat of a surprise.

Mark, your blog is quite interesting!! Your observations "I have noticed that the separation of the intellect and the heart or emotions is a popular statement made today in many reformed contexts" and "Often we hear preachers talk about a head knowledge only, and then the claim is made that unless the heart is moved and the will engaged, such head knowledge is a bad thing, or is to be avoided. Often the context involves the subject of "doctrine", and on most occasions, doctrine comes out of the whole situation with negative connotations attributed to it" are precisely the sort of things I am refering to. I think it simply says that there is indeed a popular misunderstanding of what the word heart in these contexts, means in Scripture.

Johan