A Small TREATISE Concerning Evil Thoughts and Imaginations And concerning Good Thoughts and Heavenly MEDITATIONS SHEWING How every true Christian must know the one consumed by the brightness of the appearance of Christ and the other subjected and brought into the Obedience of Christ ALSO A few words concerning the Life State and enjoyment of a true Christian and of the true Christian Worship what it stands in and how performed Then the Lord God took the man and put him into the Garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it Gen. 1.27 28. By W. S. Printed in the Year 1679. TO THE READER Friend MY chief end and aim in this small Treatise concerning Thoughts c. is that thou mayest be informed how to attain unto that Primitive * As thou comest into the Image of God again thou wilt subdue the earthly image have dominion over thy own thoughts government over thy will desire and affections This is the Primitive power Mankind was endued withal for the nature of the whole Creation is in Man and he that hath perfect dominion or rule over himself all things else are under his feet where this is wanting disorder and confusion abounds being subject to that Spirit that leads even nature it self out of course Gen. 1.27 28. Wisdom Power and Dominion which Mankind had before Transgression entred the World wherein he did and could subdue the Earth have Dominion over it and over all the Creatures God had made moving upon the face of the Earth in the Air and Water also and and give them all Names according to their Nature and to dress and keep the Garden according to the Command of God for God never commanded any thing as Man's Duty that was impossible he had Wisdom and Power given to him to observe and obey whatsoever was enjoyned him the Serpent could not force or compel though he could entice and allure yet till he was yielded to till consent through deceiveableness of the Bait begot a vain hope to better his estate till he gave way to foolish Thoughts and Consultations he kept his Innocency Place and Habitation in Paradice But when he entered into the Temptation he went forward into a multitude of Thoughts and Inventions till he was driven to the greatest distance from God in which state he doth and will remain till he come to embrace the hand that smites him and obey that voice that calls unto him in the cool of the day To believe and obey the Spirit of God which he hath sent into the world placed in mens hearts which convinceth and reproveth for Sin is the only way means which God hath ordained for the restauration life and salvation of Mankind and is indeed the Christ of God which in Scripture hath many names but is but one pure eternal holy thing and to learn of that Spirit that reproveth him and convinceth him of Sin and maketh him afraid to see the face of God because he hath Transgressed his Law and broken his Holy Commandments and until he comes to believe that he that wounds must heal he that calls to account for evil doing must save from it and that the Reproofs of Instruction is the way to life and that to be slain with the Flaming Sword that turns every way to guard the Tree of Life is the way to live again And that through the Spirit of Judgment and burning Redemption Salvation Restauration and Everlasting Felicity is again to be come unto and the Spirit of DisObedience that took Life by obeying the Serpent must come to Death must be Mortified Slain and Buried out of sight also in all his Thoughts Imaginations Inventions Willing Running Comprehending in all his Wisdom Knowledge Prudence and Vnderstanding also these must all be stopped bowed under and confounded or brought to nought before he can enter into rest again or know what the Sabbath of the Lord is which the outward Sabbath was a sign of Mankind is never safe while he is his own keeper while he is willing running and working for himself while he is guided and led by his own Will Mind Knowledge Wisdom Prudence and Vnderstanding he is never at quiet never content and satisfied never at rest being gone from the Fountain of Living Water though he labours and toils to hew out Cisterns that he thinks may supply his want yet they prove so broken that they will hold no water no refreshment for his Soul no satisfaction nor content for his mind though he toil and dig in the earth and search the dark corners thereof And though in his thoughts and imaginations he ascends up into Heaven and makes his Nests among the Stars his labour is all vain and fruitless when the day of shaking comes when the melting of the Elements come all proves but as a bed too short and as a covering too narrow and as one that walks by the light of his own sparks and warms himself by the fire of his own kindling but in the end lies down in sorrow All these things thou who art a Child of Light and of the day understandest right well therefore art thou made willing in the day of God's power to die to thy self daily to give up and resign thy self to the daily Cross * While men live in the flesh they cannot please God but its possible to be dead thereto and live in the Spirit on this side the Grave till thou dost become dead crucified and buried also till which thou cannot avoid thinking thy own thoughts speaking thy own words and doing thy own works and following thy own will thoughts and inventions from which sprang thy misery and in which it continues so long as thou art alive in thy self and at home in the body thou art really dead and absent from the Lord. For it is only those that are dead and suffer with Christ that come to know a living and reigning with him over all worldly Rudiments over all carnal Ordinances over all filthiness of Flesh and Spirit over all Principalities and Powers and Spiritual Wickednesses in high places over all Thoughts and Imaginations over all Desire Will and Affection these are they that arise and ascend with him up unto the Father and that sits down in heavenly places with him at the right hand of God and that have converse in Heaven talks with God as a man talks with his Friend he holds his Face with Joy and great Delight As thou comest hither thou art come into the Restauration indeed thou hast found that which was lost indeed thou art come from the East West North and South and sate down in the Kingdom with Abraham Isaac and Jacob indeed and art ceased from thy own works as God did from his and art entred into the blessed rest that God hath prepared all which is possible to him that believes Therefore let none put the good and evil day afar off for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand and many are living witnesses
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
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