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A09465 A treatise of mans imaginations Shewing his naturall euill thoughts: His want of good thoughts: The way to reforme them. Framed and preached by M. Wil. Perkins. Perkins, William, 1558-1602.; Piersonn, Thomas. 1607 (1607) STC 19751; ESTC S100455 58,962 240

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darknes he cannot without Gods speciall grace perceiue the things of God and so he iudgeth the gospell foolishnes and embraceth error rather then the truth yea loueth darknesse rather then the light because his deedes are euill Ioh. 3. 19. For the examination of our hearts touching this badde thought After due triall wee shall finde that the mindes of most among vs are possessed herewith for we are indeede content to come into the assemblies where God is worshipped and we doe submit our selues to the ministerie of the worde to bee taught and instructed Therein wee haue our owne personal sinnes displaid and reprooued and withall very fearefull and terrible curses of the lawe denounced against vs for the same both iudgmentes in this life iudgements in death and also iudgements eternall after this life Nowe let the conscience answere what is the cause when wee heare these things that wee be not mooued why are not our hearts touched with greefe and sadnesse when wee heare Gods iudgments due vnto vs for our sins daylie denounced against vs Some indeed there bee whose hearts tremble at the worde but small is that number If a man runne thorough the streets and crie fire fire our hearts are suddenly stroken with great feare but the minister of god may stand and crie fire fire the fyre of hell which is kindled by the breath of the Lord like a riuer of Brimstone as the Prophet speaketh and yet mens hearts are nothing mooued what is the cause that we should bee so affected with the burning of an old house by temporall fyre and be not affraid at the voyce of God which proclameth vnto vs eternall burning with the fire of Gods wrath Surely the cause is this our hearts are forestalled with this false imagination that the curses of the lawe are foolishnes and that there bee no such torments as the world denounceth It will not sinke into the heart of a naturall man that his sinnes are so heinous and Gods iudgements so terrible against them as the worde maketh them And till such time as this damnable thought be taken away mens hearts will neuer bee touched with the threatnings of the law this is a barre to stoppe the way to all such passions as the lavve would worke Againe when the minister of God speaketh of the pardon of sinne and of eternall life by Christ who hath his heart melting for ioy in regard of this saluation Though men be daily taught the doctrine of saluation yet who learneth the same Though men bee called vpon to come into the kingdome of heauen yet fewe striue to enter in though wee bee daily exhorted to repent yet fewe turne to the Lord all which bee branches of the Gospell but men beleeue them not because their hearts bee filled with this damnable thought The Gospell of Christ is foolishnes When the Israelites were restored from captiuitie in Babilon it was as a dreame vnto them nowe if that temporall deliuerance seemed a dreame what a dreame will this spiritual deliuerance from the captiuitie of hell death to the libertie of the sonnes of GOD in grace and glorie seeme to be And indeede to a naturall man it seemes foolishnes that God should become man and that Christ by death should free men from death and by suffering the curse of the lawe should take away the same from vs and by his righteousnesse should iustifie vs vnto life all which notwithstanding be points of the Gospell This also is the cause why after long teaching there is little turning or faithfull obedience yeelded vnto the Gospel neither will it be better with men while this euill thought abideth in them Vse 1. If this bee a truth that euery naturall man thinketh the word of God to be foolishnes then wee must learne this lesson of the Apostle Hee that seemes to bee wise in this world must become a foole that he may be wise that is he must reiect his owne naturall reason and stoppe vp the eyes of his naturall minde like a blinde man and suffer himselfe wholly to bee guided by Gods spirite in the thinges of God that thereby he may bee made wise vnto saluation Secondly we must heereby learne to make earnest praier vnto God for the opening of our eyes that we may bee able to vnderstand the Gospell of Christ and know the right meaning of that word of saluation for of our selues wee can neuer vnderstand it vnlesse the Lord instruct vs by his spirit No man commeth vnto me saith Christ that is beleeueth except it bee giuen him of my father But euery one that hath heard and learned of the father commeth vnto mee Thus much of this second euill thought Sect. 3. Of this thought I will not obey Gods word From the former ariseth an other most vile thought in the heart of euery naturall man as a branch of the same namely because the word of God is foolishnes therefore I will not performe obedience thereunto That this is the naturall thought of man Iob teacheth plainely for he bringeth in the wicked that is euery sinner saying thus to God Depart from vs wee will not the knowledge of thy waies This the wicked man saith not with his mouth for none is so farre past all shame that dares thus blasphemously speake against God but thus hee saith in his heart his affections speake it when he purposed with himselfe to cast off the yoake of God and to liue after his owne lusts and therefore they say further Who is the Almightie that wee should serue him as if one should say It is a disgrace to mee to abase my selfe to serue God I will not doe it The Prophet Ieremie bringeth in the Lord saying thus to his people Stand in the waies and behold and aske for the Old way which is the good way and walke therein and yee shall find rest for your soules but in the same place the Iewes answer We will not walke in thy waies Shall wee thinke that they durst thus impudently answer the Lord with open mouthes No surely But the Prophet in these wordes setteth downe the purpose of their hearts who hardned the same obstinately against the word when they were exhorted to repentance and obedience before the Lord. Our Sauiour Christ compareth himselfe to a noble man that goeth into a farre countrey now when he is gone the citizens of his countrey send messengers after him to tell him that they will not haue him to raigne ouer them Which though it be properly to be vnderstood of the nation of the Iewes who did indeede say so to our Sauiour Christ yet it may also be extended to all impenitent sinners who say in their hearts Christ shall not raigne over vs for so long as a man is vncalled he carrieth a purpose to liue in sinne some in this sinne and some in that and so doing saith in his heart God shall not bee my God I will not
obseruing the sinnes of our liues and this will make vs arme our selues against him by Gods grace euen in the weakest parts that hee breake not into our hearts to the ruine of our soules This consideration concerneth all men not onely the dissolute and sinnefull but euen those that haue receiued most grace It were infinite to goe through all the temptations of Satan consider this one for all whereby he kills many a soule Through the whole course of mens liues he laboureth to fill their hearts with carnall securitie and to bring them to neglect the ordinary meanes of saluation this done he seekes to keepe them in this estate all their life long but in the end he takes an other course for when death approcheth then he seekes to strike their mindes with obliuion of gods mercies and to fill their soules with terrours in regard of their sinnes and of Gods iudgements due vnto them that so bereauing them of all hope of mercie he may bring them to finall despaire Wee therefore beeing forewarned of his deadly fraud must seriously bethinke our selues of this temptation and cast with our selues euery day how to auoide it This we shall doe if we shake off carnall securitie and negligence in the meanes of our saluation and prouide betimes for the assurance of Gods loue and fauour that when death shall come wee may be free from the terrour of an euill conscience haue strong hope and consolation in Christ Iesus Sect. 4. Of our particular ende Fourthly we must consider our particular ende The Lord complaineth of the want hereof in his owne people Oh that they were wise then would they consider this They would consider their latter end In this consideration three points must be obserued first that the time of death is vncertaine no man knoweth when he must dye secondly that the place is vncertaine no man knoweth where he must dye thirdly that the manner of his death is vncertaine none knoweth by what death he shall glorifie God and therefore that we may not deceiue our selues wee must thinke that most fearefull and greivous ends may befall vs in regard of the bodily payne and torment euē then when we little feare or suspect any such thing This consideration will bee a notable meanes to stirre vp our hearts either to beginne or renew our repentance when wicked Ahab heard of his fearefull end hee was humbled And the Ninivites beeing told of their sudden destructiō repented in Sackcloath and Ashes and turned to the Lord. Sect. 5. Of our straight accompt at the last day Fiftly we must often consider with our selues and that most seriously of that straight account and reckoning of all our thoughts words and actions which we must make vnto God at the last day of iudgement This is the principall consideration of all and the want hereof a fearfull sinne arguing great negligence ignorance blyndnes of mind and hardnes of heart If a Traveller come into an Inne hauing but one penny in his purse and call for all manner of dainty fare and prouision spending sumptuously will not al men iudge him void of all consideration sith he hath nothing to pay when his account is to bee made loe this or worser is the most mens case who in this life pursue their profits and pleasures with all eagernes they care not how neuer regarding that reckonning which they must make vnto God at his terrible day of accounts with all the world and therefore though the former cōsiderations will not yet let this take place in our hearts to mooue vs to a daily forehand reckonning with God in the practise of true repentance and to imploy the good gifts and blessings we receiue from God like good seruants vnto the best advantage of his glorie that when this account is to be made we may giue it with ioy and not with feare And that this consideration is effectuall to this purpose Salomon teacheth in vsing it as his farewell with dissolute youth with whome otherwaies he hath little hope to preuaile saying goe too thou young man take thy pleasure in thy youth yet know that for all this thou must come to Iudgement But how powerfull it is with Gods child we may see in Paul who professeth of himselfe that in regard of this account he endeauoured to haue alway a cleere conscience towards God and towards men Sect. 6. Of our present estate towards God Lastly we must seriously consider of our present estate towards God whether we be in the state of sinne or in the state of grace whether we belong to the kingdome of darkenes or be true members of the kingdome of Christ It is not enough to bee in the Church but we must be sure we be of the Church For many wolues and Goates be in Gods fould They went out from vs saith S. Iohn but they were not of vs And therefore Paul adviseth to this consideration saying prooue your selues whether you bee in the faith or not The want hereof was the fearefull sinne of the foolish virgins who contented themselues with a shew of religion hauing the blasing lampes of outward profession and laboured not for that oyle of true grace which might enlighten their soules to the fruition of Gods glorie yea this is the common sinne of this age men blesse themselues in their good meaning saying they hope well and doe not through search whether they be true members of gods Church or not Now if after tryall it appeare that true faith and repentance be wanting in vs which are the seales of Adoption in Gods children then with all good conscience we must vse the meanes appointed of God to obteine these graces for our assurance the comfort whereof will be so pretious vnto our soules that we shall abhor to admit such wicked Imaginations into our minds as any way tend to depriue vs of it These are the considerations which respect our selues whereunto if we giue our mindes in a constant course as also to the former which concerne the Lord obseruing withall the rules before prescribed through Gods blessing vpon our endeauour wee shall vndoubtedly finde by good experience that euill thoughts shall not preuaile against vs but beeing reformed in our cogitations we shall send out of our mindes as from a cleansed fountaine such streames of good words and works through the whole course of our liues as shall redound to the glorie of our God the good of our brethren and the consolation of our owne soules through Iesus Christ our Lord to whome with the Father and the holy Ghost be praise in his church for euermore Amen FINIS a Pro. 4. 23. b Pro. 23. 26. c See Acts. 5. ● Luk. 22 3. d Moses body Iude 9. e Mat. 12. 35. Hinc fons boni peccandi origo Hieron ad demetriad f August in p● 148. g Psal. 24. 7. h Ephes. 6. 2 i Qui posse di● ipse imperabit ibid. Aug. k Mat.