him better and the better thou lovest him thou mayest think of him more for there the Bread of life is broken that it may be Eaten and this Eaten Bread is never to be forgotten there the Blood of Christ is broached that it may be drunk and being drunk Cant. 1.4 Gal. 3.1 that his love may be remembred more then wine for there is Christ before mine eyes evidently set forth even as if he were crucified among us Thâ—â— the King both sits at his Table Cant. 1.12 and is set upon the Table for Christ is both the Master of the Feast and the Matter of the Feast both my Entertainer and Entertainment and whilst I thus see him and feel him and tast him How can I but think of him and whilst the Bread that strengtheneth mine heart strengtheneth also my Faith and so Christ steals into my Soul as it were by my Sense and becomes the very nourishment thereof as the Outward Elements Bread and Wine are of the Outward man How can I forget my Saviour whilst I Remember my self or shut him out of the thoughts of mine Heart Psalm 73 26. John 6.5 who is the strength of mine heart whose Flesh is my meat indeed and whose Blood is my drink indeed whose Death is my life and my Reconciliation and whose life is my Glory and my Salvation who by his continual Intercession Hebr. 9.28 Exod. 28.29 ever bears me upon his heart before his Father in Heaven even as Aaron was to bear the Names of the Tribes of Israel upon his Brest-plate into the most holy place till He appear the second time unto Salvation John 12.20 and come again to take me to himself that where my Lord is there may also his Servant be Sect. XXXVIII Holy Thoughts of Christ ANd as we must away with all souâ—re thoughts of Christ and All low thoughts of Christ so much more with all unsavory and loose thoughts of Christ Our Thoughts of Him must be Holy as well as High Rom. 6.1 2. and Fearful as well as Chearful The Apostle puts an absit upon the least Thoughts as if the coming of Grace were for the countenancing of Sin What saith Moses concerning Christ Beware of him and obey his voice Exod. 23.21 provoke him not for he will not pardon your Transgressions for my Name is in Him What saith David Psalm 2.12 Kiss the SON least he be angry and ye perish from the way when his wrath is kindled but a little The Prophet Isaiah tells us that he comes to give Law as well as Liberty the Isles shall wait for his Isaiah 42.4 Law the Prophecy of our Conversion who are Islanders in the Sea and that this Branch out of the Root of Jesse shall smite the Earth with the Rod of his Mouth Isaiah 11.1 2. and with the breath of his Lips he shall slay the wicked The Angel saith of Christ that his Name shall be called JESUS Mal. 1.21 Acts 2.27 Mal. 5.17 because He was to save his people not IN their Sins but FROM their Sins Christ when he was a Child was the Holy Child JESUS and when he was a Man He tells us that He came not to destroy the Law but to fulfil it And as John Baptist told the People that his Fan was in his hand Mat. 3 12. and he would throughly purge his Floor they found it so for He went into the Temple Chap. 21.21 and scourged out the Buyers and Sellers c. in token that no unclean or prophane thing must expect admittance by Him into the Kingdom of God No no Mat. 3.11 John 16.8 Hebr. 10.1 Mat. 16.24 John 17.17 Acts 15.9 Philip. 4.7 Col. 3.25 Gal. 6.16 The Baptisme of Christ is a Baptisme with Fire and the Spirit of Christ is a Reprover of Sin the example of Christ a pattern of Obedience and the Doctrine of Christ is a Doctrine of Self-denyal the Truth of Christ a Sanctifying Truth and the Faith of Christ an heart purifying Faith and the Peace of Christ is a War with Sin for it keeps the heart and rules in the heart and 't is onely unto them that walk according to Rule that the Gospel of Christ saith Peace be upon them but Tribulation and Anguish Rom. 2.8 9. Indignation and Wrath upon every Soul of Man that doth evil of the Jew first and also of the Gentile Take We heed then of thinking basely of Christ Mat. 11.19 as the friend of Sinners in their vile sense who indeed thought him to be altogether such an one as themselves Psal 50.21 Psal 35.7 but Davids Thoughts were otherwise thou lovest Righteousness and hatest Iniquity therefore God even thy God hath anointed thee with the Oyl of Gladness above thy fellows A Friend indeed of Sinners for he Dyed to save them yea the chief of them 1 Tim. 1.15 but yet an Enemy to Sin for He came to make an end of Sin saith the Apostle St. John to redeem us from our vain Conversation saith S. Peter and to purifie to himself a peculiar 1 John 3.8 1 Pet. 1.18 people Titus 2.14 zealous of good works to sanctifie and cleanse us with the washing of water by the World that we might be holy Eph. 5.26 27. and without blemish saith S. Paul And now tell me O Reader is there any shelter for Sin or license for Lust in all this O be not deceived Gal. 6.7 8. God is not mocked for whatsoever a Man soweth that shall he also reap for he that soweth to his Flesh shall of the Flesh reap Corruption but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life Everlasting For the GRACE of God that hath appeared bringing SALVATION 2 Tit. 11.12 teacheth to deny ungodliness and worldly Lusts c. Psalm 45.6 For Christ is KING as well as PRIEST and LORD as well as JESUS and the Scepter of his Kingdome is a RIGHT SCEPTER and We cannot THINK RIGHTLY of it except we think it so And O how terrible is this THOUGHT that if We slight this way Hebr. 2.36 Chap. 10.26 neglecting so great Salvation by sinning wilfully against this Sacrifice there remains no other SACRIFICE for Sin for there is no other Name given but the Name JESUS Acts 4.12 Heb. 10.28 29. And if He that sinned against Moses 's Law dyed without Mercy how much sorer must his punishment be that trampleth under foot the SON of GOD Then think this of Christ that if he be not thy Foundation-Stone 1 Pet. 2.6 Mat. 21.14 Rev. 5.5.6 John 5.22 Elect and precious to thee if thou be not built upon him he will fall upon thee and grinde thee to powder for the Lamb of God is a LYON too and God hath committed all Judgment to the SON and the WRATH of the LAMB shall one day be found intolerable to the proudest of Men when the Kings of the Earth
not destroy us If our Thoughts did not take them in as the Trojans in the Story the deceiptful Horse and make them ours so that our Destruction is of our selves as the Prophet speaks Hoseâ— 13.9 for if Satan cannot know our Thoughts without us much less can He force them But as Christ saith in one place You are of your Father the Devil John 8.44 Jerem. 7.44 Chap. 9.14 Chap. 11.8 and 13.10 and his Lusts will ye do so the Prophet saith in many places that in and after the imaginations of their own hearts they do and will walk So that as Christ saith the Devil is the Father the Apostle makes mans heart to be the Mother which receives the Temptation and Thought the Womb that Conceiveth and Hatcheth it when he saith James 1.15 Lust when it hath conceived brought forth sin whereas were there a Cordial crying out as by the forced Damosel in the Law Deut. 22.24 25. Rom. 7.24 or the Apostle in the Gospel Oh wretched man that I am who shall deliver me God would lay the sin upon Satan and not upon the Soul disturbed by and afflicted with it Now then since Evil Thoughts are as so many Devils and worse then Devils to us let us dread them as we do the Devil resist them as we ought to do Him and Pray against them as we would against Him and when they break into our hearts which are such unruly and untamed Evils let us serve them as the People of a Country Village would a ravenous Wolf or cruel Bear that should break into thâ—â—r Town all the Town would be after them either to kill them in or to force them out of it Prov. 23.26 And since the heare is the thing that God Principally requires and that out of it are the Issues of Life Let us keep the heart with all keeping Prov. 4.23 Mal. 3.16 17. and be choice of our Thoughts as of Gods Crown-Jewels Phil. 4.8 And now finally Brethren whatsoever things are true whatsoever things are honest whatsoever things are just whatsoever things are pâ—â—e whatsoever things are lovely whatsoever things are of good report if there be any vertue if there be any praise Think of these things CHAP. III. Sheweth the Thoughts of man to be the Souls Pulse and that they evidently discover his Inward Estate Sect. I. YOu see then where this wisdom is to be found Thoughts the Souls pulse and where is the place of self-understanding Reader Thou art before the Lord dost thou unfeignedly desire to know thy self truly then say not in thine heart who shall ascend or who shall descend to tell thee whether of the two Heaven or Hell shall be thy place and portion As the words are nigh thee Romans 10.6 7 8. even in thy mouth so the Thoughts are nigh thee even in thy mind for what Christ saith of thy words I may say of thy Thoughts Mat. 12.37 Verse 34. By thy words saith the text and by thy thoughts saith the reason of the text Thou shalt be justified and thou shalt be condemned For out of the abundance of the heart doth the mouth speak If then thy Thoughts be Right Thou art Right The thoughts of the Righteous are Right All the Righteous have Right Thoughts and All whose Thoughts are Right are Righteous 'T is a Laudable fairness in our Law Thoughts our Neighbourhood that it puts All Tryals for Life and Death upon God and the countrey that is the Neighbourhood This little Book allowes thee the Birth-right of thy Native Law in thy greatest tryal more Important then for Life and Death 'T is for Salvation or Damnation Tryal by them fair Thy Thoughts are thy Neighbourhood they walk and talk with thee they know thy lying down and thy rising up Put thy Soul tryal upon God and them and God send thee a good deliverance Sect. II. Instances of churlishness 1 Sam. 25 26. Isaiah 32.5 Isaiah 32.5 Isaiah 31.8 Liberality A Nabal-like Heart may seem sometimes to put forth a liberal hand and make a Feast like a Prince yet shall not a Churl be the more called liberal The liberal man deviseth liberall things He onely is the liberall man that hath the liberall mind whose thoughts are free in a better sence then the old saying hath it T is not the drawing of the Purse to the Poor though that must be too where there is a Purse but the drawing out the Soul to the Hungry that is true Charity Isaiah 58.10 Mark 12.21 Two mites bestowed with one truly Generous and Liberal thought is a righter Almesgiving then the giving of the two Hemispheres of the whole world would be without it Sect. III. Envy Prov. 26.25 Psal 55.21 THe Envious may carry smooth and speak fair yet never a whit the more to be trusted if there be seven abominations in the heart The Oyl of smooth words may float at top whilst Waters of strife are at bottome war in his heart His words kind his thoughts Cruel now He is what his thoughts are 'T is not said as a man speaketh with his tongue but as a man thinketh in his heart so is He. Nay such are Evil whose thoughts are so though God turn the fruit of their heart to good to those to whom they intend evil Gen 50.20 as in Josephs case Ye thought Evil against me saith He But God turned it to good and to His own Glory Isaiah 10.7 to whom they intend dishonour as in the Assyrians howbeit He meaneth not so neither doth He think so Goodness He was what his thoughts were on the other hand Joseph was a good Brother to them that had been otherwise to him though his carriage were course and his speaking rough for He thought them good and meant them well And thus God himself Isaiâ—h â—0 3 when He sheweth his People hard things and it may be incurs their hard thoughts yet then he approves himself to be a merciful Father and a tender Friend by his gracious thoughts and tender purposes I know the thoughts that think towards you Jer. 29.11 thoughts of peace And as He thinks in His Heart so is he though they think hardly of him his thoughts are of Peace and He is the God of Peace Rom. 15.33 Sect. IV. THe Impatient are not alwayes Clamorous Impatience but sometimes like froward Children that declare their doggedness by not speaking at all Job 36.19 Prov. 23.39 as well as by speaking doggedly 'T is said of the Hypocrites in Heart they cry not when God bindeth them He strikes them yet they will not be thought sick and beats them yet they seem not to feel they have not grieved Jerem. 5. â— they make their face harder then a Rock yet are never the more quiet never the more patient for mean while Habak 2.4 their minds fret their thoughts boil within them their Hearts are lifted up therefore
thy good who never mindst God nor good No no if God think upon thee it will be to destroy thee for not remembring him that made thee The wicked shall be turned into Hell And all the Nations that forget God Now consider this all ye that forget God lest he tear you in peices while there is none to deliver you Even such are the paths of all that forget God and the Hypocrites hope shall perish Job 8.13 In vain is hope in God harboured where thoughts of God cannot be Sect. X. Secondly GOd looks especially to mans thoughts Because if there be any Grace Grace first stirs in thoughts 1 John 3.9 1 Peter 2.2 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is called the seed of God in Man it first stirs there The new-born babe as the Apostles expression is it first breaths in Prayer but it first stirs in thought and its stirring as in Nature is before its breathing Nay even that privation which according to the Old Philosophy is as it were a kind of principle of this Spiritual Generation begins there This is called a Casting down Imaginations 2 Cor. 10.5 and a bringing of every thought of the heart into captivity to the obedience of Christ Grace I say Psal 119.59 first stirs in the Thought I thought on my ways and turned my feet unto thy test monies Luke 15.17 20. Deut. 30.1 1 King 8.46 47 48 49 50. The Prodigal came to himself before he came to his Father First thought of his Fathers house and then turned his feet thither-ward Solomon in his Prayer a Type of Jesus Christ our Lord in his Intercession speaks thus If they sin against thee c. Yet if they shall be think themselves c. and so return to thee c. Then bear thou their Prayer c. and forgive thy People c. First they bethink themselves and then return Thus the Accomplishment of the new Covenant in the work of Grace is called the putting of Gods Laws into mens minds and the writing them in or upon their hearts Hebr. 8.10 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Cor. 10.5 1 Pet. 1.23 Hebr. 4.12 The Greek word signifies I will give them into their Thoughts and write them upon their hearts Thoughts are the Gate and In-let to all the affections Grace first knocks at this door Therefore also the word of Grace which is the great Engine for the foresaid Privation and the very Seed of Regeneration is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a strict and curious observer of the thoughts and intentions of the Heart And if Gods Word be such sure God is so Sect. XI THirdly God principally requires the heart and therefore especially looks at the Thoughts Thoughts to the Heart are as motion to the Watch Therefore especially looks to the thoughts Prov. 23.28 Deut. 32.46 47. Psal 119.41 Sailing to the Ship and 't is those that render these valuable My Son give me thy heart We must give God our Hand too and our all but out heart in All and above All. Thus set your Hearts unto all thâ— words c. for is it not a vain thing for you because it is your life We must lift up our Hands too to Gods Commandments saith David but especially our Hearts and Thoughts and therefore he adds and I will meditate in thy Statutes Thoughts can reach farther than deeds can and God requires our most Psalm 137.1 5 6. Rom. 7.24 25. Our Thoughts can reach farther than our Deeds can and God requires and looks for our utmost The poor Captivated Souldier when he cannot get to his party he can think of his party As the Captives in Babylon could think of Sion nay could not but think of it the Apostle captivated to the Law of sin by the Law in his Members did yet with his MIND serve the Law of God And God minds carefully how your minds stand which way they serve to the World or Heaven Sin or Holiness Christ or Belial Sect. XII Thoughts the Hearts primary productions Exod. 13.1 First born Gods part Job 5.7 Fourthly THoughts are the primary productions of the Mind and Heart therefore God principally eyes these Of old times the first born were under Gods especial eye The Hebrews call sparks the Sons of the burning coal as you may see by comparing that Text in Job with the Margin The Thoughts are the sparklings of mans Mind the very Issue of it if it be enkindled with Heavenly Fire Mat. 3 11. that inward Baptisme what numberless numbers of these Divine sparks are there daily flying upward if with Fire of Hell as the Apostle James speaks of the Tongue James 3.6 thy very thoughts as it were stink of Brimstone and look like Hell in Gods eye they are earthly Ver. 14.15 16. sensual and Devilish there is confusion and every evil work Thoughts I say are the proper Issue nay the first born of the heart Mat. 15.19 for out of the heart proceed evil thoughts Murthers Adulteries Fornications Thefts Blasphemies Mark First Evil thoughts and then all the rest Evil Thoughts are the File-leaders these stand in principal view Evil Thoughts are the hearts first begotten which no sooner are they born but the heart incestuously begets on them again Murthers Adulteries Thefts Blasphemies what not Thoughts you see lie next to the heart and if we would judge of a Fountain we judge of it by the waters that flow next and immediately from the spring head going farther Fountain to be judg'd by what flows most Immediately from it they may come to be altered from their natural taste or look The waters of a salt spring by being distreined and percolated through the fresh earth may loose their brackishness So that which is hatred in heart and every Brine in the Thoughts may seem sweet in the mouth through the intermediation of the dissembling tongue of him whose hatred is covered by deceipt he that hateth dissembleth with his lipes maketh his voice gracious Prov. 16.24 Verse 26. so the Hebrew Hail Master may be in the mouth while Bloud and Treason are in the thoughts and the very Devil and All in the Heart Contrariwise the waters of a pure and wholsome Fountain may receive some other kind of tincture from the Channel they passe through and thus too often Holy thoughts springing from an Heavenly heart may seem lost as it were in the croud of wordly occasions temptations and perturbations Thus Isaac went to MEDITATE in the Field in the evening tide Gen. 24.63 and behold the Camels 'T is not said he went out to meet the Camels and some good thought dropt in as a good Thought may now and then fall in a wicked mans way as the Angel in Balaams But he went out to meditate and the Camels fell in Rebeckah Verse 65. God eyes â—he hearts first setting our Jerem. 2.2 she thought as she said he came to meet her but the Lord saith he
the waters of Sihoi Heb. 11.25 what hast thou to do with the puddle pleasures of Sin that are but for a season When our wandring thoughts take Heaven for their home In a word when the wandring Thoughts like weary Travailers take Heaven for their Home and though they fetch too many a compass yet still they ultimately are making thitherward when they like so many busie Bees have been flying about all day perhaps yet never rest till they have housed themselves in God as an Hive of sweetness and there find satisfactory Repast and sweet Repose Thou mayst well say Psal 116.7 Return to thy Rest O my Soul and that the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee for this was it that the Church comforted her self in the thoughts of that the desire of her soul was to the remembrance of Gods Name Isaiah 26.8 9. Verse 13. with her Soul she desired him in the night even when other Lords had dominion over her c. for though Temptations which are called the fiery Darts of Satan may sometimes make thee black Ephes 6.16 Cant. 1.7 like the Spouse in the Canticles and real mixtures of darkness may be found in thee in respect of which thou mayst fitly be compared to smoak yet if thy Thoughts like hâ—rs be like Pillars of smoak Cant. 3.6 still winding and working upward Thou art black indeed but yet beautiful in Christs account As in the Levitical Law the creeping things going upon all four â—ev 11.20 21. were unclean yet if they had legs above their feet to leap withal as the Locust or Grashopper they were clean in the Laws account III. Tryal Sect. I. Thirdly COme we then to the Third Tryal of Thoughts viz 3. Tryal Right thoughts have influence upon ordering the conversation aright Psal 50.23 1 Iohn 8.9 Ephes 2.2 Acts 5.3 Right Thoughts have a natural Energy and influence unto the ordering of the Conversation aright as the Scripture speaks Now the reason of this Rule is this The Grace of God which as we have seen first stirs in Thoughts is called in the Scripture the seed of God and therefore 't is not possible that it should prove abortive for if the evil Spirit worketh effectually in the Children of Disobedience by working first upon their Thoughts why hath Satan filled thine heart c Satans work begins there Isaiah 1.15 And if Lust when it hath conceived in the Thought brings forth sin in the life which is an Anomy or Transgression of the Law True Grace when it conceives in the Thought must accordingly bring forth Newness in the Life Rom. 6. Gal. 6.16 Hebr. 8.8 as Scripture speaks which is a conformity to the Rule of the new Creature the Law and the Tearms of the new Covenant which first saith I will put my spirit within them and then they shall keep my judgments and do them Ezek. 36.27 which is to be understood of Evangelical Obedience First Grace works in us and then it sets us a working for after that it pleased God who called me by his Grace to reveal his Son in me immediately saith Paul Gal. 1.15 16. Acts 9.6 I conferred not with Flesh and Blood c. With whom then why Lord what wouldst thou have me to do His thoughts were working in the verse before and they see him a work in the verse following The works of God which we call Providence are All pursuant to the thoughts of God Ephes 1.11 Jer. 23.20 which Scripture calls his Purpose Thus God is said to perform all the thoughts and intents of his heart Now Grace is called a partaking of the Divine nature 2 Pet. 1.4 and therefore cannot spend it self in bare thinking In Nature the motions of the hands and feet without the command or express dictate of the Tongue do readily pursue the thoughts and motions of the mind and therefore it is said Prov. 16.9 that a mans heart deviseth his way A man thinketh to go such a way and goes it He thinks to do such a thing and does it And it is so in corrupt Nature Isaiah 65.2 they walk in a way that is not good after their own hearts And it is as truly so in Grace I thought on my wayes Psal 119.59 Right thoughts are rectifying thoughts 1 John 3.7 Isaiah 59.4 Micah 2. saith David and turned my feet unto thy testimonies Right Thoughts indeed may we well call them when they are Rectifying thoughts when they make us to do Right as the Apostle saith He that doth Righteousness is Righteous 'T is said of the Wicked They conceive Mischief and bring forth Iniquity And can We think it proper to Grace only to prove abortive Woe to them saith God that devise Iniquity and work evil upon their Beds when the morning is light they practice it because it is in the power of their hand This is the Case and Character of the wicked Psalm 39.7 He first deviseth mischief upon his Bed and then sets himself in a way that is not good And thus the Sincere Convert Rev. 2.2 what good he thinks to do when God holds him down on the Bed of sorrows as Scripture phrase is and in the Night of affliction he will not therefore forbear doing because God lifts up the light of his Countenance upon him so far as it is in the power of his hand Psal 66.11 12 13. but will rather say with David with a little variation thou laidst affliction upon our Loins but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place I will pay thee my Vows which my Heart hath purposed and my mouth spoken when I was in trouble Purpose often outgoes power 'T is true indeed that in both cases the purpose of the Heart doth oftentimes outgo the power of the hand A wicked man thinks to do more mischief then he can possibly compass Gen. 27.42 2 Sam. 18.25 Thus Esau purposed to kill Jacob and Saul thought to make David fall by the Philistins It is said Sanballat and Geshem thought to do Nehemiah mischief Neh. 6.2 yet they could not do it So a Child of God perhaps purposeth greater exactness and more close walking with God in a sicknesâ— under a Sermon or a Sacrament then he can possibly attain unto afterwards by reason of renewing of Temptation and remaining corruption and then it may be he is ready to cry out Oh my thoughts were never right my purposes were never sincere for if they had I had never fallen so short in performance I thought in such a straight if ever God brought me out of it I should never forget my self and God and it as to my shame and confusion of face I may speak it I have since done I thought under such a trouble of mind if God would ever speak pardon to my sin and peace to my soul Job 15.11 Ephes 4.30 the Consolations of God should never more be small with
yet was alive once without the Law and gives this as the Reason He did not by all their Doctrine know LUST He knew not that thought-sins were such sins untill the Commandment came in another manner and by another kind of teaching then ever he had from them For this was our Saviours great business in that Incomparable Sermon upon the Mount to vindicate the Spirituality of the Law from their carnal and corrupt Dotages they put the great stress of the Rule upon the outward man He puts it upon the Heart also Poverty in spirit he begins with that He layes the breach of the Sixth and Seventh Commandments in heart and thought as well as outward Act He condemns carking cares Anxiety of Thoughts 'T is strange indeed they should be so blinded seeing the very last of Gods Ten Words goes down to the very bottom of the mind and thought Thou shalt not COVET so that when the scales were but fallen from the Apostles eyes He could easily-see in the light of that Law that THOUGHT was Sin He knew LUST to be SIN then He knows now that the Law is Spiritual Yea and thus he Schools others 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That ye might learn not to think above what is written Gods written WORD is the measure of mans Right THOUGHTS yet even some Heathens had some glimmerings of this Deut est animus therefore mente colendus God it a Spirit and requires mental worship and conformity to his will And this is indeed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 our reasonable Service when the Internal 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 THOUGHT and mind serve the Law of God Sect. I. Secondly AS a man must have a right Rule for his Thoughts Right thoughts of the Rule James 4.11 1 Cor. 2.14 so he must have Right Thoughts of the Rule The Apostle speaks of some that Judge the Law Take we heed that we do not misjudge it Therefore it is necessary that we look on the Spiritual Law with a Spiritual eye To carnal Thoughts the Right wayes of the Lord seem crooked and unequal Gods right Rule why seems crooked to men not that the Law is so but because the medium is such through which it is looked upon as if a man put part of a strait staff into the water it appears crooked because of the inequality of the medium All Gods Rule to David Psal 119.228 All right But now a right heart hath right thoughts of the Rule I esteem all thy Precepts concerning all things to be right So we Read it but the Text is I esteem all thy Precepts to be all right every one and every way Right 'T is true There may be some kind of approving the things that are excellent Rom. 2.18 Some approve some excellent things As Herod Mark 6.20 And yet the Heart not be Right But if there be not an approving of excellent things the Heart cannot be Right A bad Heart may think good of many good wayes as Herod but a good heart thinks good of every good way as David Then shall I not be ashamed when I have respect unto all thy Commandments Psal 119.6 But David all Gods Laws Universal respect fair evidence 1 Tim. 3.16 Men may have a fair respect to many of Gods Laws yet have hard Thoughts of some But an universal respect is a fair Evidence of Sincerity For ALL SCRIPTURE is given by Inspiration of God and is profitable for Doctrine for Reproof for Correction for Instruction in Righteousness c. THE Second Part. Contents of the II. Part. AN Introduction of particular Instances of Thoughts suited to their several Subjects according to Scripture Rule .. 1. In thinking of Scripture it self 2. Of Our Selves 3. Of others 4. Of Creature-comforts 5. Of Ordinances 6. Of Sin 7. Of Holiness 8. Of Afflictions 9. Of Temptations 10. Of Persecutions 11. Of the present Condition of Life 12. Of the present Time of Life 13. Of Death 14. Of Judgment 15. Of Eternity 16. Of Angels Evil Good 17. Above all in Thinking of GOD. To have High Thoughts and Sweet Thoughts but in all points Regular and Scriptural Of his Being Highness Holiness Unshangeableness Unity yet Trinity in Unity Eternity Omnipresence Omniscience Omnipotence Invisibility Terribleness and just Severity Truth Verity Loveliness and Goodness not only in his sparing Mercies and means of Grace but even in His Judgments and Destruction of the ungodly in the First Covenant especially in the New Covenant of Grace richest Theme for thoughts CHRIST the Objeâ—t of Gods Eternal thoughts and of all good mens of Old and of Angels though Men otherwise concerned in Him than They. Immanuel God with us makes All in God Ours Justice Holiness Highness c. Gods Love in Christs Incarnation Suffering The Necessity and Excellent Vertue of Christs Death Right thoughts of Christs righteousness Imputed High thoughts of Christ sweet thoughts of Christ Holy thoughts of Christ as tho great Enemy of Sin though Friend of Sinners right thoughts of God the Holy Ghost High thoughts of God the Spirit in his Essence Subsistence and Operations Sweet thoughts of him and our high Obligations to Him the finishing work in mans Salvation the Spirits Holy Ghost the great Promise of the New Testament as Christ of the Old Fruits of the Spirit sweet Thoughts For God must be Scriptural as well as Of God Conclusion Exhorting to Self-reflection by and upon Our thoughts Giving Motives and Rules for keeping thoughts RIGHT THE Second Part. WHICH Contains an Induction of particular Instances of Thoughts suited to their several Subjects according to Scripture-Rule and concludes with an Exhortation to self-Reflection and Motives and Rules for keeping Thoughts Right NOw then supposing a Man have a right Rule for his thoughts and right thoughts of the Rule The great inquiry for the tryal of thoughts is whether they be suited to their several Subjects according to that Rule Right thoughts of Scripture Adoro Scripturae plenitudinem Tertul. cont Hermog See B. Tayler's Dissuasive from Popery 2 Tim. 3.15 16 17. John 5.39 As for Example Sect. I. IN thinking of SCRIPTURE that it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 All divinely inspired and a sufficient Rule in all things pertaining to God and our Souls Able to make the man of God perfect throughly furnished to every good work able to make wise to Salvation and therefore to be searched by every one that desires to be Saved Search the Scriptures saith our Saviour for in them ye think to have Eternal Life and they are They that testifie of Me. Now to think otherwise of Scripture then we are taught by it is to think strangely of it which is a thing the great God takes strangely at their hands that do it a dishonour done to our Spiritual MAGNA CHARTA the great Charrer of our Salvation I have WRITTEN to Him saith God the GREAT THINGS of my Law Hosea 8.12 but they counted them as a strange thing Great things indeed
never pay the uttermost farthing We must not pretend high Thoughts of Christ to harbour hard thoughts of God 1 Pet. 1.18 Verse 19. But still We must take heed while We pretend high Thoughts of Christ that we harbour not hard thoughts of God as if he would exact of Our Surety more than was due or were indeed profuse or prodigal of the Blood of his Son No no God counted it as precious sure as thou canst do for thine heart and if Men be loath to be lavish of corruptible things such as Silver and Gold sure God would never have been so of the precious blood of Christ as aâ— Lamb without spot for if a drop would have done it Circumcision might have excused the Passion and the Propathia or Bloody Sweat in the Garden the Bloody Death upon the CROSS Gal. 2.21 and so Christ have dyed in vain a thought which the Apostle so much abhors for as he there reasons concerning the Law I may argue in this present case if Righteousness could have been by a drop of his Blood then â—hriâ— dyed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as one would say Gratis in a complement and for a meer flourish of his kindness which the Apostle will by no means admit Joh 2.19 21. No no The Temple of his Body must be deâ—troyed which the loss of a Drop of his blood would not do Rom. 6.23 He must be made SIN for Us now the wages of Sin for he knew no sin as to the work of Sin but he must be made Sin as to the wages of Sin which is Death Cor. 5.21 That we might be made the righteousness of God in him And that he might Redeem us from the Curse of the Law he must be made a Curse for Us that is He must hang upon the Tree till he be dead Deut. 21 22 23. Scripture-thoughts of Christ our onely right and high Thoughts Luke 24.25 26. for in that sence it is that the Apostle quotes that in the Law of Moses where it is written Cursed is he that hangeth upon a Tree And the truth is as our Scriptural Thoughts of Christ are our onely Right Thoughts O fools and slow of heart ought not Christ to have suffered these things c. so are they also our high Thoughts for herein God commeâ—ded his Love to us not that Christ was Circumcised for us though that were Love Rom. 5.8 Not Christ bleeding but his dying the grand commendation of his Love to loose a few drops of his precious Blood for Us but this is the high commendation of his Love that he dyed for 〈◊〉 for many there are that would willingly enough â—â—ose a little Blood for a Friend that would not die for their Friend but this was Love that though We were Enemies He not onely Bled for Us but Dyed for Us. For suppose you had been ear-witnesses 〈◊〉 the great Councel of Peace between the Father and the Son Heb. 10.3 4 5. whereof we have such plain Intimations in Scripture saith God Lo yonder are a multitude of Sinneâ—â— and a multitude of Sacrifices but I have no pleasure in the One or the Other but if Thou my Son wilt but come in the Room of both I shall be satisfied in whom Mat. 3.17 as well as with whom I shall be well pleased But know then that there must be Dying or there can be no Doing Hebr. 9.12 for the Sinners should Die and the Sacrifices they do Die and thou must Die or else my Wrath can not be appeased the Sinner can not be acquitted and then that you had heard Christ thus making answer If it must be so Lo I come Lord Hebr. 10.9.7 Verse 5. Isaiah 50.5 6. in the Volume of thy Book it is written of me even to do this thy Will O God if this be the way Let it be so a Body hast thou prepared me and mine Ears haâ—t thou opened and I was not Rebellious neither turned I away back Lo here is my Back to the Smiters and my Cheeks for them that pull off the hair and my Face for shame and spitting And if all this be not sufficient here is my Soul too for a Sacrifice for an Offering for Sin Isaâ—ah 53 1â— and if Thou be but satisfied I am Satisfied for as never had Mother sorrow in her Birth-pains for a Son like my Sorrow so never was Mother satisfied in a Son as I am in my Seed Isaiah 53.10 When thou shalt make his Soul an Offering for Sin He shall see his Seed and the Pleasure of the Lord prosper in his hand Verse 11. He shall see of the Travail of his Soul and be Satisfied And therefore well mayest Thou be satisfied O my Soul as with Marrow and with Fatness to think of all this Verse 1â— If it pleased the Lord to bruise him that He might spare thee and if the Son were satisfied to be so served to justify thee Verse 11. and to bear thine Iniquities shall this Thought not be pleasing to thee That He should not onely be Cut as in his Circumcision but Cut off out of the Land of the Living as in his Passion even Messiah the Prince Verse 8. Dan. 5.24 25. be cut off for thee to finish thy Transgression to make an end of Sin to make Reconciliation for the Transgression and to bring in Everlasting Righteousness That He should be delivered for thine Offences Rom. 4.25 and raised again for thy Justification without thy desert or desire or thy care or thy Thought before all this was done for thee doth it not deserve now thy Love Jer. 23.6 and thy Joy and thy Care and thy Thoughts to be laid out upon it nay to be taken up with it That The Lord should be Thy Righteousness Isaiah 32.2 and this Man thine hiding place and thy Peace and that by Blood onely Eph. 2.13 15. Eph. 1.6 7. so making Peace That thine Acceptation should be in Him and thy Redemption through his Blood and neither the One nor the other by Doing nor by thy Dying Rom. 5.10 but thy Recâ—nciliation by His Death and thy Salvation by His Life Oh how dear should the Thought of this Dying-Rising Lord be to thee 1 Pet. 3 1â— who once suffered for Sins the JUST for the Unjust that he might bring us to God put to Death in the Flesh or Manhood but quickened in or through the Spirit that is the Godhead Sect. XXXVI High thoughts of Imputed Righteousness Rom. 4 24. Phil. 3.8 6. ANd how Highly Reported should that Imputed Righteousness be by Thee which the Apostle counts a Gain for which He willingly Suffered the loss of All nay for the working out of which Christ Himself became poor that We by his poverty might be made â—â—ch 'T was this Righteousness that was look'd at in the Sacrifices 〈◊〉 8.9 Heâ— â— 14 15. and through the Sprinklings of the Law for
save to the utmost That therefore there was hope in Israel concerning my soul a possibility nay a probability nay a Certainty that if I would agree quickly even while I am in the way Mat. 5.25 Job 22.25 acquaint now my self with God I should be at peace That thou art not only Reconcileable but in Christ reconciling the world to thy self 2 Cor 5.15 Vâ—rse 20. And therefore as though thou wert beseeching me by Him thine Ambassadour He did pray me in Christs stead that I would be reconciled to God And O my Soul was moved within me at that word shall the Judge though I as it were petition and not I the Offender entertain the motion 1 Kings 20 23. Lam. 3.29 nay catch at the words as Benhadads Servants and put my mouth in the dust if there may be hope But then withal he told me That Christ must be Lord as well as Jesus Zach. 6.13 Rom. 3.27 Mat. 13.45 and 46. and 19.21 chap. 19.24 Hebr. 3.15 and 10.30 Luke 17.32 a Priest indeed but a Priest upon his Throne That Faith was not Libertinisme but a Law That all must be sold and not a farthing would be abated if I would buy the Pearl of great price That there was a dear self to be denyed A da ly Cross to be taken up A crucified leader to be followed a severe example to be imitated No time to be delayed before I began to day if I would hear his Voice c. nor looking back with Lots Wife to be endured after I had once begun Wherefore he charged me in thy Name before I went farther to sit down Luke 19.28 and consider the Cost But O the consternation that this new Thought breeds in my perplexed Spirit I had almost said in my heart 1 Sam. 15.32 like Agag the bitterness of death is over Alas my Sea-sick Soul would fain have been at shore any way though she ventured a drowning for it But now I see there is no remedy but I must out again into the tempestuous Ocean But O the unexpressible torment of a divided distracted mind Alas the contrary struglings in my poor soul Gen. 25.22 as if there were two Nations there One throng of Thoughts breaks in Impetuously Isaiah 57.10 Luke 19.21 did not we tell thee from the very first silly soul that there is no hope in God for thee we knew that he was an austere Lord whatever others might tell thee that his sayings are hard so that none could bear them And shouldst thou set out thou couldst never hold out and so thy last end would be worse than thy beginning John 6.60 2 Pet. 2.20.21 Jerem. 2.25 Isa 22.23 And now thou mayest find our words true Come come there is no hope no but we will throw up all Let us eat and drink for to morrow we must die did not we tell that these Micajahs though at first they might seem to sooth thee in some flattering hopes yet would never prophesie good concerning thee But let not thy heart say so saith a contrary thought And so flies with indignation in the face of the former And behold a Troop cometh after it which when it hath forc't them to give some ground This new Troop seizeth upon mine heart and speaks thus to it Sect. VIII UNngrateful sinner Rom. 5.8 is this thy kindness to thy Friend that herein commendeth his love to thee in that whilst thou wort an enemy he dyed for thee that thou art still listening to the cursed Off-spring of that old and evil heart of unbelief that ever was Heb. 3.12 and ever will be for departing from the living God who had he had a mind to destroy thee might have done it and never have shewn thee such things as these Judg. 13.23 Phil. â— 7 Isaiah 30.18 He took upon himself the form of a servant And he still waiteth that he may be gracious He stretcht forth his arms to open thee a way to his Bosome love upon the Cross and he stretcâ—eth out his hands again to thee Isaiah 65.2 Mat 26.26 Rev. 3.20 in the Preaching of the word It hath been said Ask and have 't is now Take and have Take eat this is my body broken for thee Salvation knocks 't is but thy opening and the work is done A work indeed saith the drooping soul which before it be done I am like for all this to be undone 't is but taking but opening a sad BUT God knows for me who am weak and cannot Vile and dare not Alas what have Dogs to do with Childrens Bread should I presume thinking to believe and Blaspheme thinking to pray Mat. 15.26 call Christ my Saviour Rev. 2.9 and God my Father and be rejected of both O whither should I make my shame to go No no had I an Hand fit to receive such a Guest gladly would I go through Fire and Water to open the door to Jesus and take him with ten thousand welcomes into my Soul And is it such Presumption saith a thought on the other hand and such pride to be dutifull and obedient for this is Gods Commandment that thou believe on Jesus Christ what pride 1 John 4.13 what presumption then is it to be undutifull and disobedient He that believeth not the wrath of God abideth on him And wilt thou needs be damned that thou mayst have the credit of being modest and going mannerly to Hell Thou sayest Luke 5.8 Mat. 9.12 depart from me for I am a sinfull man Why he is the Physician what should he do with thee if thou wert not sick Chap. 8.8 Thou art not worthy Grace should come under thy Roof neither would it be Grace if thou wert worthy for if it were of works saith the Apostle it were no more grace But whilst thou speakest thy Fears and dismal dread of presumption Rom. 11.6 didst thou never hear of such a Sin as despair presumption indeed were it so might undo thee but bold and blasphemous despair which thou thinkest modest and humble laâ—ours to undo Jesus Christ Other sins make work for Christ who came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance Math 9.13 Chap. 13.58 and 17.20 but black desperation shuts him out of work as 't is said he dâ—id not many works there that is in his own Country because of their unbelief And dost thou thus requite the Lord foolish sinner and unwise as to spill the Wine of his precious blood in thy proud humility and Impudent Modesty like water upon upon the ground and that for no other reason than this Isaiah 55.1 Job 15.11 that he offers it to thee that hast no Money nor price Must the consolations of God needs be small with thee that thy modesty may be great Thou hast no money but hast thou mind thou hast no desert but hast thou no desire Christ hath a healing hem in his garments for thee be thy
I be nothing He hath high thoughts of the Grace of God yet low thoughts of Himself Not I but the Grace of God with me 1 Cor. 15.10 Self performances Luke 17.10 And as we must think thus of what we are at the best so also of the best that we can do We are taught to say and therefore to think that when we have done all we are unprofitable servants Carnal self to be denyed Mat. 16.24 In its wisdom 1 Cor. 1.10 and 2.14 Prov. 3.5 Will. Gal. 5.17 1 Pet. 2.11 Righteousnesses Isaiah 64 6. Rom. 3.20 Job 10.20 and ver 31. Strength Rom. 5.6 And if we must think thus of our Regenerate self what can we think of Carnal self but that it is to be denyed if any man will be my Disciple let him deny himself denied in its Wisdom which is Foolishness for the Natural Maâ— receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God neither can he know them and therefore we must not think of leaning to our own understandings in its Will which is wickedness and perverse Rebellion for the Flesh lusteth against the Spirit and these lustings war against the Soul in its Righteousnesses which are Rottenness and filthy rags for no Flesh can be justified in the sight of God and if we should say we are Righteous our own lips would prove us perverse and our own cloths would abhor us And finally in its strength which is weakness for whilst we were ungodly saith the Apostle at that time we were without strength and we have already seen if we will think rightly of our selves we must think that we are not sufficient as of our selves so much as to think one good thought And therefore we are to think in all this Eccles 7.29 Rom. 3.12 Verse 23. How is the Gold become Dross Man that was made upright Oh how is He come short of the Glory of God and altogether become unprofitable His Destruction is of Himself but his help of the mere Mercy and Free Grace of God Hosea 13.9 Rom. 9.16 for it is not of him that willeth nor of him that runneth but of God that sheweth Mercy But yet we are to think of our selves Job 10.3 8. as to our Natural Beings that we are the works of Gods hands though thus defiled and defaced by our sins that Our Bodies are yet capable by Grace 1 Cor. 6.19 to be made Temples of the Holy Ghost and therefore that we are to possesse these our Vessels in Honour and Sanctification 1 Thes 4.4 And that our Souls are more worth then as many Worlds for what shall a man give in exchange for his Soul Mat. 16.26 That in neither are we our own But in both bought with a price 1 Cor. 6.19 20. Self-love the standard of Love to others Lev. 19.18 and therefore that we are to glorifie God both in our Bodies and in our Souls for both are Gods For certain it is there is a SELF that is to be tendred as well as a Self that is to be denyed nay the Love that we owe to It is made both by Moses and Christ the Rule or Standard of our loving our Neighbour which is called the second great Commandment like unto the first which is Love God Mat. 22.93 Thou shalt love thy Neighbour as thy SELF First GOD and then our SELF and then our Neighbour as our Self For the Rule hath a natural priority to the thing Ruled And therefore we are to THINK thus of our selves 1 Cor. 6.18 that for a man to sin against HIS OWN Body as the Apostle speaks or to wrong HIS OWN Soul as it is in the Proverbs being against that LOVE which Scripture makes the Standard of our loving one another Prov. 8.36 Sinning against our selves greater then to sin against oâ—hers is by so much greater then our sinning against or wronging others for Charity may and must begin at home though it must not end there And therefore as we have already intimated that self deceipt is the worst deceipt and self-Murder the worst kind of Murder so I might add that in this as in some other Respects as is largely observed by Mr. Capel in his choice and rare Treatise of Temptations SELF Pollution is a more hainous kind of pollution then many perhaps are aware of and so in other cases And therefore we are to THINK All those SELF-Tormentings used by IDOLATERS of an elder Date as was the manner of the Priests of Baal to cut themselves 1 King 18.28 till the blood gushed upon them or by others of a later Edition yea and All those SELF Neglectings so much magnified by a new Sect of Self-â—ustitiaries sprung up lately amongst us whose Religion lyes so much in Touch not 1 Cor. 2.21 22. Verse 20. Verse 23. taste not handle not c. after the Doctrines and Commandments of Men as the Apostle concludes them to be unscriptural when he calls them Worldly Rudiments though he confesseth them to have a shew of wisdom in Will Worship 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and humility and NEGLECTING the Body or not sparing the Body not in any Honour to the satisfying of the Flesh so are we I say by the same Apostolical Authority to think them UNNATURAL Eph. 5.28 29. for he expresly saith He that loves his Wife loves HIMSELF for no man ever yet hated his OWN Flesh but nourisheth and cherisheth it even as the Lord the Church So that we are to think these things so far from justifying us in the sight of God as that he condemns them and will condemn all that trust unto them Sect. III. Right thoughts of others 1 Cor. 4.1 IN Thinking of OTHERS some are short in estimating some men Let a man therefore saith the Apostle so account of us as of the Ministers of Christ Not under what was written 1 Cor 3.5 Nor above Chapter 4.6 Others better then our selves Philip. 2.3 Acts 12.21 â—ude 8. â—ccles 19 20. and Stewards of the mysteries of God Some think too highly of some therefore saith he again Who then is Paul or who is Apollos but Ministers by whom ye believed and this was spoken That they might learn in them not to think of Men above what was written and not be puffed up for one against another On both hands there are great Evils We may think others better then our selves but none better then the word declareth 'T is a great sin to cry up the Greatest as the people did Herod And on the other hand to despise DOMINION or to Curse the KING in our very THOUGHT Sect. IV. IN Thinking of CREATED COMFORTS Of created comforts 1 Tim. 4.4 All good Gen. 32.10 Our selves unworthy of the least yet the greatest not enough Psal 4 6. Without Christ Phil. 3.7 8. Happiness not having but in having sanctified 1 Tim. 4.4 Job 31.25 27. as the Apostle Paul every Creature of God is good c. and of our selves
yet but One Sun or to come nearer both to the Thing and Himself He thinks perhaps of the Soul in his Body where he finds an Understanding Will and Memory yet but One Soul But alas thinks he these are short shadows and dark resemblances of so great and high a Mystery for that light is not the Sun though it be Sun-light c. and that Understanding is not the Soul but the Souls understanding power or faculty But Jesus Christ is the LORD and the holy Spirit is GOD and yet to us there is but One God and One Lord. But this He thinks 1 Cor. 8.6 All in God GOD. That All that is IN God Eternally Imminently Unchangeably must needs be God As verily He thinks that GOD IS And that God the Father hath a perfect KNOWLEDGE of himself in himself God knowâ— himself This also He cannot but Think and that this Knowledge WISDOM Wisdom Prov. 8.22 23 25. John 1.1 Word Ver. 30. Image of God Hebr. 1.3 Loves Himself Fathers love to the Son declared by the Holy Ghost Verse 16. or WORD is God because it is IN the Father who is God And further that He cannot but LOVE himself whom He thus Knows and seeth in that express Image of Himself begotten in Himself and this Image or begotten WORD being in God and therefore being God cannot love God again And this Infinite Mutable liking Loving and good will Proceeding from Both and being in Both cannot but be what Both are viz. GOD. Thus We see when there was a visible manifestation of the Divine complacency with a loud voice from Heaven saying This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased The Word being now made Flesh It was made by the Descending of the Holy Ghost like a Dove from the Father and resting on the Son But Alas after all thinks He of Himself who is he that hideth Counsel without knowledge Mystery exceeding thought Yet is to be thought for God is able to do above thought Eph. 3.26 Therefore is above thought Trinity one in working yet each his peculiar work John 5.17 19 20 21. Phil. 1.19 compared with 4.19 God onely properly Eâ—câ—â—â—â— Psal 106 48. Therefore have I thought that I understood not things too wonderful for me which I knew not God hath indeed told me that THESE THREE are ONE And if I cannot tell how to think it yet I will think it For seeing Scripture teacheth me to Think that he is able to Do exceeding abundantly above all that I can think well may I Think that He Is above All that I can Think And therefore though it be above my thought 't is the fitter seeing He saith it to be thought of him that is so much above me These three thus gloriously but mysteriously coequally coessentially and coeternally One must be thought also to be One in Working as well as Being and yet each one to have his own peculiar work Thus Gods supplying by Jesus Christ is called the supply of the Spirit Sect. XXI THis God We must think an ETERNAL Being and nothing properly Eternal but God Created Spirits Angels and Souls of men and the bodies of these raised Spiritual bodies at the last day being Onely Eâ—erlasting But from Everlasting to Everlasting thou are God Art not thou from Everlasting Psalm 90.2 Hab. 1.12 Isaiah 48.12 O Lord my God And as if God were making answer to this Question saith He Hearken O Jacob and Israel my Called I am he I am the First I also am the Last Chap. 44.6 Verse 8. Jerem. 2.32 I am the First I am the Last and besides Me there is no God and after saith he Is there any I know not any There is no Eternal no First and Last but God onely Hebr. 7.3 And therefore Our First Thoughts and Our Last Thoughts yea and all our Thoughts should be of him and for him Thoughts should be Lasting where the Theme is Everlasting But O burning shame that We should forget him dayes without number who hath neither Beginning of Dayes nor end of Life but is Eternal Sect. XXII THoughts also must be holy and Reverend of the Infinite Immensity Gods Immensâ— omnipresence filling all things Psalm 33.5 as well as Eternity of this one true God His OMNIPRESENCE filling all things Hell with his glorious Justice and Severity Heaven with the glory of his Grace Earth with his Goodness Patience and Providence If I ascend up into heaven thou art there Psal 139.8 9. If I make my Bed in hell behold thou art there If I dwell in the utmost parts of the Sea even there shall thy hand lead me Jer. 23.23 24. Am I a God at hand saith the Lord and not a God afar off Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him saith the Lord do I not fill heaven and earth saith the Lord. And 't is repeated so that the Lord saith this because vain men do so little think of this Thus doth he fill all things but is contained of none Contained of none 2 Chron. 6.18 But will in very deed dwell with men on earth behold heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee Alas How should it Can a Man be contained in his own span My right hand hath spanned the heavens Isaiah 48.13 saith God Alas how little can Our very hearts hold or Our Thoughts contain of this Great God! now the less we can comprehend the more and the greater should our Admiring Thoughts be Sect. XXIII God All-wise omniscient HE is also to be Holily and Reverently remembred in the Immensity of his Wisdome and OMNISCIENCE as well Omni-presence That He is All Wise Knows Us. 1 John 3.20 as well as Onely-Wise that knows us better then we know our own Hearts who is greater then our hearts and KNOWS all things He knows whereof we are made Our frame Psal 103.14 Psal 139.16 Our Sins Job 13 27. Chap. 14.16 17. his eyes did see our substance being yet imperfect He books our members He knows wherein we have sinned he looks narrowly to all our paths and sets a print upon the heels or as the Hebrew upon the Roots of our feet And as he books our Members so he bags â—our Sins Thou numbrest my steps dost thou not watch over my sin my transgression is sealed up in a bag and thou sowest up mine Iniquity But then he knows our Sorrows too as well as our Sins Our sorrows Psal 56.8 thou tellest my wandrings put thou my tears into thy Bottle Thou seest how I have Sinned observe how I mourn and indeed he doth so I have heard Ephraim bemoaning himself Jer. 31.18 I saw him sinning and I hear him groaning He that hath a Book for our Members a Bag for our Sins hath a Bottle also for our tears He knows our Soul in Sin and he hath saith David known my Soul in adversity Psal 31.7 Our need Matth. 6.8
Job 23.10 2 Pet. 2.9 All Man 1 Cor. 3.20 Isaiah 2.15 So that he knows also whereof we have need Our heavenly Father doth so even before we ask as he knows our sins before we confess He knows the way that we take and he knows what way to take with us He knows how to deliver if we be Righteous And how to reserve the wicked to the day of Judgment to be punished He knows the Thoughts of the wise the way that they take yea though they dig deep to hide their Counsel from the Lord and knows too how to take them in that way that they take 1 Cor. 3.19 so that the Wisdom of the World is foolishness with God as it is written he taketh the wise in their own craftiness Knows how to bring good out of sin Be they Men or Devils We must think him a God so holy as that he would never suffer Sin in the World and so Pittiful and Gracious that he would never suffer sorrows and sufferings on his Saints Sufferings but that he is a God so WISE that he knows how to bring Glory to himself and good to his Chosen out of All to break Leviathans heads Psal 74.14 and to make it Food for his People As the Apothecary would never suffer so many Poysons in his shop but that he knows one way or other how to make them to conduce to the honour of his Art And good of his Patient for known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the World Acts 15.18 And his wayes are higher then our wayes because his Thoughts are also higher then our Thoughts as the heavens are high above the earth Isaiah 15.18 Isaiah 55.9 Chap. 40.28 James 1.5 Job 13.3 Psalm 2. Psalm 9.12 Psalm 16.11 Psalm 43.3 So that there is no searching out of his understanding And therefore think If any man want wisdom he is to ask it of God Would I know my Sins Lord make me to know my Transgression and my Sin Would I know the measure of my dayes how frail I am Lord make me to know my end so teach me to number my dayes as that I may apply my heart unto wisdom would I know thy Path of Life Lord shew it me In thy light I shall see light O send out therefore thy light and thy truth let them lead me and bring me to thy holy â—â—ll O thou Father of lights James 1.5 in whom there is no darkness at all Seeing therefore that we are to light our Fire at this SUN this Parent of Lights 1 John 1.5 All wisdom to be fought of God but only in means and measure prescribed 2 Tim. 3.15 Rom. 12.3 who affords us the Burning Glass of his Word for our help herein We are to think thus surely of his Wisdom if we will think of it rightly That as we are to be thankful for the Means so contented with the Measures of KNOWING that he prescribes and allows inasmuch as they are such as are able to make us WISE to Salvation for he hath expresly cautioned us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ne quis sapiat supra quam oportet c. for so Beza uulg. c. not to be wise above what we ought but to be wise unto sobriety I know indeed that there is in corrupted man a Natural desire to KNOW Rom. 1.25 but it is to study the Creature more then the Creator who is blessed for ever to pursue the Science of other things whilest the EXCELLENCY of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord Phil. 3.8 is neglected All which Natural Knowledge should designedly be made subservient to such a Spiritual end as the holy Psalmist pursues in his ASTRONOMICAL Observations Psal 8.3 4. When I consider saith he THY heavens the work of thy Fingers the Moon and Stars which thou hast ordained What is Man that thou art mindful of him c. But when Solomon himself who knew more 1 Kings 4.29 Eccles 2.12 in Naturals then any meer Man since Adam casts up the total sum he tells you that what he did arrive at by all this knowledg was to know this that the increase thereof is the increase of sorrow Chap. 1.18 and most notorious it is that ever since who so comes nearest to him in that point of knowledge Troublesomeness and uncertainty of natural lawful knowledge doth so likewise in that part of experience Alas how long have some of us been learning how ignorant we are And how great is his Wisdom that hath lock'd up from us in the intricate labyrinths of vexatious uncertainty the knowledge of that which he finds so apt to draw us from him who make so little right use of so much that is clearly revealed being sufficient in its kind to draw us to him We know where it is said Deut. 29.29 that secret things belong to God but things that are revealed belong to us and to our Children that it is not for US to KNOW the times and seasons that the Father hath put into his own power Acts 1.7 2 Pet 2.18 But grow in Grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ John 17.3 Sinfulness of affecting to know by familiar spirits Wizards Isaiah 8.19 for this is life Eternal c. But besides a natural and lawful if duely moderated and ordered Desire of natural knowledge there is a desire of knowing such things and by such means as we are to think sinful and Satanical being no way approved in the Word or the Wisdom of God such is theirs who seek unto them that have familiar spirits and unto Wizards that peep and that mutter as 't is expressed by the Prophet Isaiah or that use divination Ezek. 21.21 that consult with Teraphim that look into the liver that is the intrails of Birds or Beasts c. as Ezekiel speaks to direct actions or foretel future events thereby Judicial Astrology Isaiah 47.13 So also we find a severe and black brand fastened by the Scripture upon ASTROLOGERS Star-gazers and Monethly Prognosticators and such as are drawn by them from their sole Dependencies upon God 1 Tim. 6.20 for admit we forbear to say that here is Science falsly so called as the Apostle speaks whose Principles and Conclusions are certainly uncertain It s uncertainty and delusory for the Conjunctions and Aspects of the STARS being the same when divers Children are conceived or born in the same Place and instant of Time as in some great and Populous Cities how come they to divers and contrary Fortunes to use their own phrase some to live longer others under the same Stars to die sooner some to live and die in Wealth Honour and Prosperity Others born in the same article of time and under as auspitious and benigne a Planet to a life of Misery and a death of Shame or to add that undeniable experience frequently confutes the most positive
Lord JESUS Gal. 6.17 As 't is said Callis might have been read in Queen Maries heart if it had been ript up And here methinks I could even forget my self and run along in my Thoughts with this sweet Apostle but that I must not forget my Reader for 't is time to be hastening towards a Conclusion III. Motive AGain 3. Motive Keep Right Thoughts and they will keep thee right Consider that to keep thy Thoughts Right is the way to keep Thee so My Life for thine He that keeps his Thoughts Right shall never die Traytour to God or the King Not to the King for Curse not the King no not in thy Thought saith the Rule of Righteousness Not to God for Right Thoughts will yield the Fruits of Righteousness Fruits of the Lips Psalm 45.1 My heart is Inditing a good matter I will speak of the things I have made touching the King Psalm 119.15 my Tongue is the Pen of a ready Writer so saith the Psalmist And the Fruit of good living I will meditate saith He in thy Precepts and have Respect unto thy Wayes and again I have remembred thy Name and have kept thy Law Verse 55. IV. Motive 4. Motive Right Thoughts will yield peaceable Fruit. Mal. 3.16 Verse 17. ANd lastly Consider That Right Thoughts will yield as the Fruits so the Peaceable Fruits of Righteousness For these are thy fair Evidences that thou art in Gods Books as we say proverbially of One highly favoured that Thou art one of his Jewels for a Book of Remembrance was written before him for them that Thought upon his Name And they shall be mine saith the Lord of Hosts in that day when I make up my Jewels And how should We count and keep that as Our peculiar Treasure in respect of which God counts Us so And therefore in the II. place to Direct thee I. Practical Rule 1. Practical Rule Repent of evil Thoughts Acts 8.22 THe First Practical Rule for the Keeping of Right Thoughts is Diligent and daily Repentance of Evil Thoughts what saith the Apostle Repent and pray God if perhaps the Thoughts of thine heart may be forgiven Thee And O what cause of deep Humiliation for our thought-Thought-sins is here that the very Thought of a mans Heart may bring a Man to a peradventure or a Perhaps whether ever He may be forgiven Matth. 3.8 What saith John Baptist Bring forth therefore Fruits meet for Repentance and think not to say within your selves c. Hence thus much is Evident that where Fruits meet for Repentance are brought forth Evil Thoughts are expelled and cast forth Now as nothing can banish Darkness but Light so can nothing expel Evil Thoughts but Good Thoughts And as the Ablaqueation and laying of the Roots bare in the time of year is the way to make Trees bring forth Fruit well in their season so the laying Our hearts bare in the sight of God by Confession Compunction Contrition deep Humiliation for our Evil Thoughts is one way to be fruitful and abounding in Good Ones II. Practical Rule 2. Practical Rule 2 Sam. 13.20 Make the evil of thine heart subservient to thy good thoughts NExt as the Israelites went down to the Philistines to sharpen every man his Share and his Colter and his Axe and his Mattock because they would not suffer a Smith in Israel So deal with the Corruption of thy Nature that would not suffer One good Thought in thy Soul Whee thy Thoughts for good by that very Contrariety that is in thee to good For instance Thou complainest that such is the corruption of thy Nature that thou canst not of thy self think one Good Thought Why Think then of the Corruption of thy Nature and even this Thought well followed shall be a Good Thought in Thee and a Good Thought for Thee Thou complainest that thou canst not think of Heaven for the thoughts of Earth and of things below why think of these things onely think of them aright viz. as Gods Word and thy Reason and thy Sense tell thee as what God hath placed under thy feet as the Psalmist speaks Let me tell thee Psalm 8.6 that Right Thoughts of Earth and of things below may help not hinder thy thoughts of Heaven In Nature the ambient Winter-cold makes Springs in the Bowels of the Earth they say the hotter Mans heart is a Spring and Thoughts are its flowings and thus David we have seen waxed hot with musing while the wicked were before him Psalm 39.1 3. God can make Corruption of Nature subservient to Grace as Joshua said of the Canaanites Numb 14.9 they are Bread for us God can make the very Evil of our hearts to be Food and Fewel to our Good Thoughts III. Practical Rule 3. Practical Rule Heave at thine heart Numb 15.20 NExt Heave daily at thine heart for our Thoughts are our Heave-Offerings Lift at thine heart as they do at a great Stone or piece of Timber which is by raising to be laid into the Building Unto thee Psalm 25.1 O Lord do I lift up my Soul saith holy David But not in thine own strength Pray for the Spirit to help thee to right Thoughts John 14.26 But then still Remember that of thy self thou art not sufficient to think any thing aright as of thy self Therefore Pray in aid of the Spirit whose work it is as in Prayer so in Meditation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to lift with us and to help us to lift And Pray in Faith of that Promise the Holy Ghost whom the Father will send in my Name shall bring All things to your Remembrance that is good Thoughts to your minds And here let me desire thee carefully to Remember this That if Gods Spirit do not Satan will be filling thy heart Acts 5.3 The very First Petition in the Lords Prayer teacheth us to pray for Right Thoughts for by these we sanctify the Lord God in our hearts Isaiah 8.13 1 Pet. 3.15 Luke 11.13 And therein also to pray for the Sanctifying Spirit whom God hath promised to give to them that aâ—k him Be thankful for right thoughts Psalm 30.4 And further be sure to be thankful to God when he helps thee to be thoughtful of that which is Good in this sense Give thanks at the Remembrance of his holiness even when he helps thee to Remember it Humble thankefulness for what we have is a cleanly way of begging for more Labour for holy affections And that thou mayest alwayes be full of good thoughts Implore Gods Grace to fill thee with those sanctified Affections that carry the Key and command of the thoughts viz. Holy Fear and Love Fear For the first of these even slavish Fear can carry the thoughts before it the Mariners in a storm can easily think of their Danger Jonah 1.5 And shall not an holy and Filial fear they feared the Lord Mal. 3.16 and