of the coming of it and do enjoy Righteousness Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost in which the Kingdom stands And God is Omnipresent and those that enjoy the Light of his Countenance dwell in Heaven and are within the Gates thereof which though they stand open no unclean thing can enter W. S. A Small TREATISE Concerning Thoughts and Imaginations EVil Thoughts and Imaginations are great troublers of the World of Mankind and it is a great plague and misery which man is accompanied and surrounded with who is given up to follow and obey his own evil Thoughts and Imaginations or to walk according to them It was a fore judgment pronounced against the disobedient rebellious Jews in the Word of the Lord by Jeremy saying Hear O earth behold I will bring evil upon this people even the fruit of their thoughts And the Lord by the Prophet Isaiah saith I have stretched out my hand all day to a rebellious people which walked in a way that was not good after their own thoughts which are thoughts of iniquity and the act of violence is in their hands Also 't is written Every thought and imagination of mans heart are only evil and that continually And very great is the misery bondage and slavery of mankind in this estate he is an enemy to God and to himself and to his Neighbour and Brother Wasting and destruction are in their paths who have not God in all their thoughts Now reader that which is principally on my mind is to set before thee a certain infallible way how thou mayest come to be saved from following or obeying thy own thoughts and to gain strength against and get victory over all thy imaginations that are evil and also how thou mayest attain to good thoughts and heavenly Meditations in the room thereof and how thou mayest come to know every good thought and desire brought into the obedience of Christ and every evil thought and imagination destroyed and consumed with the breath of his mouth and the brightness of his appearing And when thou art restored and brought into the same estate mankind was in before transgression Evil thoughts must be consumed and good thoughts must be subject and obedient to Christ even into the Garden of God how thou must then dress and keep the Garden Thou must then watch over and in the Wisdom and Power of God govern thy thoughts lest the Serpent beguile thee as he did Eve First Thou must understand that * Many in their carnal thoughts and imaginations conceive and affirm that it was the outward Earth God cursed and that it would have brought forth no bryars thorns nor thistles which are good Creatures in their places if man had not sinned such thoughts are vain and foolish for all Creatures of God are good the Fire and Air Earth and Water Sun Moon and Stars and all the product of them and they all stand and remain in the blessing and keep their place state and order according to the will of God and are obedient unto him and he is the upholder thereof by the word of his power the ground evil thoughts and imaginations arise from is now that which God in the beginning cursed from this ground spring all the Bryars Thorns and Thistles and other hurtful Weeds in the world of mankind in whose heart they began to spring grow and increase even so soon as he began to lose his Faith in God his Maker incline to hearken to the voice of the Serpent and give credit to his lyes which begot a vain thought from whence a false hope sprung that they should by eating the forbidden fruit better their conditions be as Gods according as the Serpent told the Woman the weaker Vessel and by this false hope grounded upon the thoughts and imaginations entered the first transgression then when the temptation was entred into and sin committed thoughts and imaginations began to multiply and fill the disobedient earthly heart of mankind who having now turned his back upon the heavenly slighten the voice and command of God who was his Teacher and Lawgiver and * How man lost his state at first Let those that are restored thereto again take warning thereby for the same temptation danger attends lent his ear to the wicked one and gave up his mind and heart to obey him even with thoughts it was all for the best Thus poor mankind being deceived with vain thoughts and false hope lost his habitation and dwelling-place in Paradice which after he had transgress'd he still thought to keep for he was soon convinced he had done amiss in cating the forbidden Fruit and fear possest his heart when he heard the voice of God in the cool of the day and therefore sought means to cover and hide himself from the sight of God but herein his thoughts were vain and his endeavours to no purpose the Woman Man and Serpent all received the fruits of their own doings nothing but life good and blessing were known before now death evil and cursing the fruit and effect of disobedience which as I have said entred first by giving place to a vain thought and desire in * Wicked men and sinners of these times and ages of the world propose not that end to themselves the Devil needs not lay such baits snares to win them to his obedience being such vassals to him that his motions and commands are sufficient hope to gain and better their estate become the daily companions of mankind who found and finds by woful experience that saying true When sin is finished it brings forth death So man having lost his place in the Garden which God planted through neglecting his work which God appointed him to do which was to dress it and to keep it for the Garden needed dressing and keeping before the sorbidden Fruit was eaten before Innocency was lost before sin was committed hefore the Serpent became a Tempter Devil and Destroyer And this ariseth in my mind to teslifie to all the wise in heart that after they are come to find that which was lost to witness a Restoration and Regeneration and a returning into Eden again into Innocency again they have work there to do Dressing and Keeping are two very significant words this was the business of mankind in the beginning in the state of Innocency if he had not neglected this work slighted the Light Power Wisdom and Glory of God with which he was replenished he had never fell when the temptation got into a thought if he had watched in the Light and Wisdom of God he would have seen and discovered the tendency of it and have prevented its coming to a desire and act But first giving * The beginning increase and progress of sin and how to stop and prevent it place to a selfish thought it soon sprang to a hunger or desire thence into act this is the beginning and progress of sin at this day which mankind in
light and delightest in the Law of God and meditates therein these good thoughts will multiply and increase in thee to thy great content and satisfaction But the thoughts of the wicked are sin and sin brings trouble Proverbs 15.26 anguish and torment men are accused or excused in their thoughts It is said Belshazzer was so much troubled with his thoughts that his countenance was changed and the joynts of his loins were loosed and his knees smote together Dan. 5.6 Many are the amazing scaring tormenting thoughts that attends the wicked whose feet run to do evil and make haste to shed innocent blood their thoughts are thoughts of iuiquity wasting and destruction are in their paths the way of peace they know not and there is no judgment in their goings c. Isa 59.7 8. Now the thoughts of the righteous are right and those that commit their way to the Lord their thoughts shall he established And that 's a blessed state indeed to have good thoughts established in the heart in the mind The effect of good thoughts when established in the heart such can go forth and come in in peace lie down and rise up in peace live and walk in peace and praise the God of peace who is blessed for evermore And this is the peace the inward peace which the world with all its treasures and pleasures cannot give nor by its frowns take away and is the portion of all that get victory over their own thoughts imaginations lusts defires and affections and that do also keep in the wisdom and power of God that when good thoughts are established in them and are so made partakers of the Divine Nature that they naturally think good thoughts thoughts of love peace and obedience as they did while in the degeneration think the contrary yet in this state of innocency and harmlesness to be diligent in the wisdom of God to dress and keep the Garden * Many may eat and drink unworthily deck themselves with Gold Jewels and play the harlot with them c. lest thou having found honey eat more than may suffice to nourish the right birth lest thou feed thy seed thy self without fear eat and drink and rise up to play grow idle and wanton through plenty and so forget the Lord and let his benefits slip out of thy mind and slight his Commandments and let pride and exaltation in thy selfish spirit grow up again as the first Adam and others did mentioned in the holy Scriptures which are written for our learning and admonition upon whom the ends of the world are come 1 Cor. 10 11. therefore let him that thinketh he stands take heed lest he fall Concerning the Life State and Enjoyment of a True Christian THE life of a Christian of an Israelite indeed in whom is no guile is a life of innocency peace and content quietness and true satisfaction abounds in the inward man he is always doing well so none can harm him he always lives in the fear of God which taught him to depart from iniquity He that lives in the love fear and favor of God needs not fear men nor Devils and now preserveth him out of the same he loveth God and his Neighbour and hates no man so fears not what man can do unto him his bread is sure and his water fails not so he takes no thought for to morrow but receives every day his daily bread from the Lord he liveth without care neither doth he toil nor spin the Lillies life he knows which Solomon in all his wisdom and glory wanted or was not arrayed with if he hath Wife or Children House or Land or the increase of Corn Wine and Oyl he looks upon them as things below so doth not set his heart and affection upon them he looks upon them as they are and loves them in their places but not more than Christ he loves the Lord above all he loves to keep his Conscience void of offence towards God and towards man above all and if he cannot enjoy his Estate and Relations according to the will of God he is ready and willing to part with them and can say as Job did The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away blessed be the name of the Lord. He is not afraid of evil tydings the ruffling of the winds and the roaring of the Sea doth not amaze nor affright him he lives the life of Faith which gives him victory and enables him to overcome all things * The true Christian stands always armed though not with carnal weapons he keeps on the helmet of it and the breast-plate of righteousness and the sword of the Spirit so is always armed against all assaults of the world flesh and the Devil and he knows the name of the Lord as a strong tower as a shield as a buckler as a wall of defence and is prepared to suffer and endure all things like a good Souldier with a settled countenance and holy resolution And though by men he may be accounted smitten and forsaken of God and not fit to live upon the earth yet he enjoys heavenly consolation pure tranquility of mind refreshment comfort and joy in the inward mon the Kings Daughter is all glorious within and all things that do or can befal a Christian on this side the Grave The present enjoyment of the favour and countenance of God is more esteemed more valued by the true Christian than all things visible are not worthy to be compared to the glory that is and shall be revealed in him And if there was no reward on the other side the grave he would not exchange his life and condition for all the glory riches and excellency the world can afford seeing and accounting it all vanity and vexation of spirit yea less than nothing and lighter than vanity Isa 40.17 Psal 62.9 having found the precious pearl which the swine regard not he is willing to part with all for it knowing the wonderful vertue riches and power thereof bids adieu to all the fading treasures and pleasures of Egypt chusing rather to suffer affliction and persecution for righteousness sake than to enjoy the Court-pleasures of Princes and he is a great gainer hereby even in this life on this side the grave a hundred fold he finds by experience that saying true Codlintss with content is great gain and is profitable unto all things having the promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come 1 Tim. 4.6 So though the true Christian seems in the judgment of the wise in their own conceit to lose the enjoyment of his life honour riches profit pleasure preferment relations c. No true enjoyment of any thing but in the will of God and true self-denial instead thereof he finds them all and in the true self-denial enjoys them all and is able to say as Paul did to the Corinthians speaking of himself and other Christians as sorrowful yet always
Therefore my mind is in good will to mankind having received knowledge and understanding of the means God hath ordained for the good and salvation of mankind And being something acquainted with the two great mysteries of Godliness Iniquity and the way and working of each to impart and signifie something of the same in a few words to instruct and inform those to whom this my testimony may come how they may attain thereunto and how they may come to be rid of those troublesome companions viz. Evil Thoughts and Imaginations that do may or shall arise in their hearts whila corrupted and how the same may be purified and made a holy habitation for God as it was before sin entred before Innocency was lost before the Serpent deceived the weaker vessel when all was good yea very good The way that leadeth thereto I affirm and declare to be as followeth and whoever thou art that hast a mind or desire to find that which is lost observe believe and receive what I say or write as Truth not received or learned by Tradition but by the experimental powerful work and operation of the Spirit of Truth in my own Heart Mind and Conscience and what I have said or shall say is and shall be according to the Holy Scriptures and witnessed to by them for I cannot write contrary to them being in unity with them with the just mens spirits that wrote them First then know thou O man whoever thou art and whatever thy thoughts and imaginations are how far soever thou art run into corruption darkness and degeneration from the state of innocency purity and holiness yet there is a measure of Divine Light attends thee though thou art darkness it-shines in thee in order to show thee thy way out of it though thou art degenerated and run from God into the earth yet this pure light Spirit of God follows thee and calls thee back again and thou mayst in this state hear it as a voice behind thee saying Return return this is the way come and walk in it this is the kindness and love of God to thee in his Son who is the light of the world and lighteth every one that cometh thereinto If men would hear and obey the voice of the Son of God Death Hell nor the Grave could not hinder them from Salvation if thou hear and obey this voice of the light of the Son of God though thou wert dead in sin and buried as in a grave thou shalt arise and come forth and live before him the bars and gates of Hell shall not be able to retain thee But if thou slight and despise the Light of God that visits thee and shut'st thy ear against its voice it will be as a thousand witnesses against thee while thou rebellest against it and art found following thy own thoughts and imaginations and doing the thing that is evil for this Light I speak of is the eye of the Lord that runs too and fro through the earth beholding the evil and the good and that discerneth the thoughts and intents of the heart 't is the word that 's nigh in mouth and in the heart which is quick and powerful sharper than any two-edged sword piereing even to the dividing asunder of Soul and Spirit and of the joynts and marrow this is the candle of the Lord that searcheth Jerusalem and gives light to the sides of the earth and corners of the world from whom the shadow of death cannot hide nor the Rocks and Mountains cover or defend for be that formeth the Mountains and createth the winds and declareth or sheweth unto man what is his thought that maketh the morning darkness and treadeth upon the high places of the earth the Lord the God of Hosts is his name This is the Spirit of truth that convinceth the world of sin and that sets mens sins in order before them and reproves and smites in secret for evil and that brings to judgment the hidden things of Esau from this eye or light of the Lord thou canst not hide thy self no more than Adam and Cain could though thou shouldest hate the light which sheweth thee thy thoughts and love the darkness so as to dwell in it No hiding from the eye of God yet the light or eye of God will pursue thee and find thee out Hell nor the utmost parts of the earth and darkness cannot secure thee from the * Mans condemnation is just because he hates the light the way and means of Salvation just condemnation of God because thou hatest the shining of his light and stopest thy ear against the voice and teaching of it and lovest the darkness and dwellost in it while thou doest so thou choosest the way of death and neglectest the means of salvation that God hath ordained for this is the condemnation of the world that light is come into it and men love darkness rather because their deeds are evil Now as the first step towards restoration and everlasting happiness thou art required †The first step in the way to life or towards everlasting happiness to turn thy mind from the darkness in which thou dwellest to the light Eye or Spirit of God and to decline the power of Satan that works in the darkness and embrace the power of God and when thou dost but begin to do so thou wilt find the scales to fall from thy eyes by degrees and the veil to be taken off thy heart and the setters and chains of darkness to be loosed and the prison doors opened so when thy candle is lighted and thy eye opened thou wilt discern thy way out and see the Angel of the Lord go before thee and guide thee in the same And thou wilt also perceive what is in thy house and clearly understand what hath lodged in the dark room of thy heart and when thou comest to see things as they are †Mistake in the understanding concerning the nature of things that do present themselves before mankind is the cause of error Thence it is that some call darkness light and light darkness thou wilt receive wisdom to give them names according to their nature and to judge righteously concerning them and as thou lovest this light thou wilt be enabled by it to divide betwixt thought and thought and begin to make conscience of a thought and to hate every vain thought and when thou canst not be easily rid of them nor remove them from their old lodging-place thou wilt breath and cry to the Lord in the Spirit as one of old did who was burthened and oppressed with their company Search me and try me O God and know my heart try me and know my thougts and see if there be any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting This is the cry which the Lord hears and will answer in due and needful time And Jeremiah's cry to Jerusalem was Wash thy heart from wickedness that thou
multitude of thoughts do arise in thee and troops thereof attend thee which are in themselves sinful yet if thou joyn not with them in thy mind will and understanding they are not thy thoughts neither shall the evil thereof be imputed unto thee if thou lovest the light and keepest thy mind joyned to the Spirit of God or appearance of Christ in thee that discovereth all temptations unto thee in the very thought and first appearance of them then thou art helping the Lord against the mighty being joyned unto him art become one with him in thy mind and spirit though in thy members there is a law a power that wars against thee and as thou abidest with the Lord waiting upon him even as the eye of a Maid waits upon the hand of her Mistress he will save and deliver thee and subdue all thy enemies even those of thy own house which are the greatest enemies Though temptations may and will attend thee yet it is no sin to be tempted It is no sin to be tempted though with inward temptations neither art thou to account thy self nor to be accounted a sinner because sin and vain thoughts may present themselves in thee in thy warfare estate yet thou mayest say as Paul did It is no more I but sin that dwelleth in me and that in me that is in my stesh dwells no good thing which flesh thou art now in the way to know withers as the grass Flesh and sin that dwells in it may be destroved and the earthen vessel cleansed and the creature delivered from bondage even on this side the grave and the glory of it become as the saded flower of the field and sin that dwelleth therein destroyed and the creature of Gods making preserved the earthen vessel that holds the heavenly treasure sanctified and saved and delivered from the yoak of bondage the whole Creation of God groans under And this thou shalt certainly arrive at as thou keepest thy eye upon thy Saviour thy light thy way thy Captain whom thou wilt see go before thee conquering and to conquer till all his and thy enemies are subdued brought under and destroyed and thou made as a King as a Priest to God * Lest thou shouldst stumble at those sayings consider that John was the greatest Prophet that was born of a woman yet the least in the Kingdom was greater than he meeker than Moses stronger than Sampson wiser than Solomon and more patient than Job as thy elder brother was and as the Primitive Christians were who could say as he is so are we in this present world pure as he is pure holy as he is holy righteous as he is righteous harmless and innocent as he was and in all resigned up unto the will of God not my will said the second Adam but thine though his will was as innocent and harmless as the first Adams was before the fall and did excel when thou comest up hither thou wilt understand and receive what I say till then it will be as a mystery and hard saying to thee And in thy way take heed of thinking willing and running that obtains not the prize stand still and see the salvation of God mind above all the arm of his power in thee which is able to suppress thy thoughts mortifie thy will stop thy running and give thee perfect strength to resist the Devil and make him flee and to furnish thee to every good word and work and give thee dominion over thy own spirit whose property is to be swift in thoughts eager in desire and restless in the accomplishment thereof Now it is written he that hath rule over his own spirit is stronger than he that rules a City Consider the simily and in the light try and compare thy self therewith and thou wilt find the truth thereof and he that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a City broken down and without walls when the righteous bears rule the land rejoyceth but when the wicked the land mourneth These things are infallibly true while the usurper keeps the throne the Prince of Peace and his peaceable government is not known Tribulation and anguish comes upon every soul of man that doth evil No opinion nor profession of Religion c. where evil thoughts and evil doings stands avails any thing that thinketh and imagineth evil and that yields his members servants to unrighteousness let his opinion profession and talk of Religion be what it will he that commits sin is of the Devil and without returning from it a finishing or ending of it and righteousness set up in the room thereof will with the Devil have the wages and reward of the same and possess the fruit of their own thoughts and doings Now it is a heavenly estate to live under the government of Christ to know and experience him swaying the Scepter in the heart and established in the throne thereof but this none comes to enjoy till they have first known him to sit as a Refiner with fire and as a Fuller with soap and as a Spirit of judgment and burning and as the stronger man to dispossess the strong man spoil all his goods sweep and cleanse the house and to furnish it again with heavenly goods with heavenly thoughts with heavenly desires and meditations and all things else that becomes the house of the Lord Holiness to the Lord was written or engraven upon the Crown and Plate of Gold and all the furniture of the outward Temple was sanctified of which this is the anti-tipe or substance as he that enjoys it well knows And now it is the duty of a Christian to watch in the light against evil thoughts and to use the axe of God which is laid to the root of them that their springing again may be hindered and the end of them prevented so also it is the duty of every one when good thoughts and desires springs in the room thereof to cherish them to joyn with them and to keep their eye unto the Lord that begat them or raised them up in the heart and so they may be called Gods thoughts being of his own bringing forth of his own begetting being thoughts of purity thoughts of peace and righteousness thoughts of holiness and joy in the inward man which thoughts thou of thy self cannot think Good thoughts are of Gods own be getting and very comfortable to a Christian and are the fruit and effect of keeping and obeying the Law of God within the heart Rom. 2.14 15 these are comfortable thoughts justifying and excusing thoughts thoughts that will stand approved in the light and the end and tendency of them is good even as pleasant fruit to the soul so that such can say as David once did How precious are thy thoughts unto me O Grd how great is the sum of them if I should count them they are more in number than the sand when I awake I am still with thee As thot lovest the