The Government of the Thoughts, Conclusion
The Close.
HAVING run through the several Parts I intended, I shall now Calculate the whole, and give a Specimen of Reducing it into Practice. Be very careful to stifle every Sin in its primitive motion, and give no place to the Wiles of Satan, but crush, betimes the Cockatrice Egg, lest it break out into a Serpent: Permit not vain Imaginations to possess thy Mind, which are impossible for thee to attain, or unprofitable if they are attained; but rather contemn, and behold them as empty shadows, and lighter than Vanity.
2. BUT labour daily more and more to inspect into thy self, that thou mayst attain to that cognizance. If thou shouldst upon the Enquiry be asked what is the vilest Creature in the whole Earths Circumference, thy nearest and most intimate Friend, thy Conscience may report, thy own self, by reason of thy Sins: And if on the contrary thou wert ask'd the Question, What is the truest Catholicon for it? Thy Heart may readily reply, The Blood of Christ, which speaks better things than the Blood of Abel. Affect not vain Glory, nor Popularity, lest it prove more pernicious than Contempt, and avoid entertaining a male-contented mind, for that may produce thee more misery than thou art sensible of; but think it the greatest Mercy of the Almighty, that in the multitudes of those Blessings thou enjoyest, thou hast some Crosses. God showers upon thee many Blessings, lest through want thou shouldst despond; and he mixes with them some Crosses, lest by too much Prosperity thou shouldst forget thy Maker.
3. WHEN the Subtile Tempter, by his Instigations offers any Motion of Discontent, referring to thy present Station; remember St. Pauls saying, which must be allowed a Maxim, 1 Tim. 6.7, 8, 9. We brought nothing into this World, and it is certain we can carry nothing out; and having Food and Rayment, let us be therewith content; but they that will be Rich, fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful Lusts, which drown men in Destruction and Perdition. Invocate the Almighty, and with wise Agur let this be thy Petition; O Lord, Give me neither Poverty, nor Riches; feed me with Food convenient for me, lest I be full and deny thee, and say who is the Lord; or lest I be poor and Steal, and take the Name of my God in vain, Prov. 30.8, 9.
4. BE not opinionated that any sin is diminutive, for Heavens Vengeance is due to the least, and without Gods Infinite Goodness and Mercy, is enough to cast thee into unquenchable fire, from whence there is no Redemption: Remember that Christ died for thee, and when thou hast committed any sin, mourn for it, and earnestly deprecate the Almighty for Pardon and Forgiveness: Often Contemplate on the Frailties of thy Transitory Life, and of Deaths Infallibility: Wish rather a good, than a long Life, and let thy Verdict agree with the Royal Prophet's; That one day in God's House is better than a thousand elsewhere, so that one week Religiously employed is more estimable, than a Life annually consumed in Debauchery.
6. CALCULATE once a day thy thoughts, and for what good ones thou hast entertained, return thy Lands to him from whom cometh every good and perfect gift: And for what vain and idle ones has possessed thy Memory, humbly implore his Remission, to whom alone belong Mercies and Forgiveness: St Matthew as a good Monitor, gives thee this Memento, that for every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give an account thereof at the day of Judgment, Mat. 12.36. Therefore shun all frivolous and prolix Discourse, which will but infest thy Ears, and prove insignificant, and petulant answers, which many times prove very pernicious: The words were thine when lockt up in silence, but once uttered they are out of thy Possession; and what folly and madness is it, when that sharp weapon thy Tongue shall attest against thee?
6. AVOID Hypocrisie, and let thy Heart and Tongue agree in a direct Harmony; for where Truth and Justice is the Basis, no evil Politicks can undermine the Foundation: Abhorr all Falsity and Dissimulation in another, and Contemn it in thy self, else the Almighty will detest thee, and for ever banish thee his presence; of which the Prophet David gives us that assurance, He that telleth Lies shall not tarry in his sight, Psal. 101.7. Set a Guard upon the Door of thy Lips, that no Obscene words proceed from thence, as thou wouldst preserve thy Food from being Poyson'd; but let thy Discourse favour of Vertue and Piety, that the Hearers may be Improved and well Instructed: And when Religion is the Theme, use that Reverence which so Important a Subject requires.
7. STUDY to be a good Proficient in Three things, which are very necessary: First, to understand with Discretion, to speak with Prudence, and to perform with Alacrity; be not too Credulous to all Informations, neither report totally what you have lent an ear too: For if thou dost, those which were thy Friends will become thy Enemies, and thou wilt expose thy self to perpetual Vexation: This is well observed by the Son of Sirach, Ecclus. 19.8, 9. Whether it be to Friend or Foe, talk not of other Mens Lives, and if thou canst without offence reveal them not, for he heard and observed thee, and when time cometh he will hate thee.
8. LET not Malice provoke thee to divulge that which the Bonds of Friendship obliges thee to Conceal; but to prevent so great an Eruption, make choice of such a Familiar Friend, who is inspired with Evangelical Graces, from whom thou canst never receive any prejudice; for though there may arise some particular dissension, yet the operation of those Graces will infallibly conduce to a Reconciliation. Next, act nothing which may be offensive to Sobriety, or uneasie to thy self, neither be guilty of any thing which may induce thy Friend to become thine Enemy; but when thou hast, through Supineness or Ignorance, committed even the least sin, with all the speed thou canst hasten to the Throne of Grace; and there thou wilt upon thy true Repentance, find Mercy in the time of need.
9. BE not too liberal in declaring all thou knowest, but rather disswade thy self, than thy Friend to keep thy own Councel: Scoff not at other's Infirmities, but consider and pity thy own, by endeavouring to Rectifie and Reform that in thy self which afterwards thou mayest be capable of performing to others: Prefer not the little Ebullitions of Frothy Obscene Wit before Solid Reason and Judgment: But if thou art disposed to use that freedom in Mirth, confine it within the bounds of Legality, and level it at nothing that is Sacred or Religious; lest we provoke God to anger, and pull down a Judgment for our Prophaneness.
10. BE no Contriver of Evil, though it lies in thy power to Act it, for the Almighty will not permit the least sin, without bitter Repantance, to escape unpunished: Omit not any good Duty, neither enter upon any, before thou hast humbly besought God for a Blessing upon thy endeavours in the performance; and whatever thy task and undertaking is, let the Operation be effected, with all Diligence of Alacrity; committing the Event unto him, whose Omnipotence doth Benedict with his Grace, whatsoever Action is intended for his Glory: Be not puft up by any good performance, for the Judgment of God is far differing from the judgments of Men: Avoid that in thy self, which doth most displease thee in others; and remember that as thou inspects into others, so art thou inspected by Omnisciency, Angels and by Men.
11. EXERCISE thy self as often as thou canst in Religious Duties; and abridge thy self of Worldly Pleasures by entertaining them seldom; That if Death should suddenly Summon thee, thou mayst not be Surprized, but stand ready prepared: Render to every Man the Honour due unto his Function; but Esteem and Venerate him more for his Goodness, than Greatness: And from whom thou hast received a Gratuity, according to thy ability express thy Thankfulness. Be apprehensive of the dreadful Events of Notorious Evil Men, and detest their Wicked Actions: But observe the Life of the Sanctimonious, that thou mayst effectually imitate their Blessed Example, to thy Joy and Comfort: Obey thy Superiours, attend the Prudent, accompany the Just, and love the Religious.
12. IT is evident that Corrupted Nature is prone to Hypocrisie, therefore it behoves us to take heed that we exercise our Religion not meerly as Customary, but to those higher ends for which it was designed, as the Glory of God and the Salvation of our Immortal Souls: Be not Rash in thy proceedings, nor Confident and Pertinacious in thy own Opinion; but seek advice of him that is Prudent, and receive Instruction of him whose Judgment exceeds thy own. Petition not for a long Life, but a happy one; for length of dayes oft times prolongs the Evil, and augments the Guilt: Therefore it would deserve Applause if that little time we had allotted us, were employed to the best advantage.
13. LASTLY, In thy Supplications wait with Patience, and be not dissatisfied if thy Requests are not speedily granted; but search the Scriptures and there thou wilt find, holy Job and others, that far out-stripped thee in Sanctity of Life, did not murmure or repine and charge God foolishly, but on the contrary did resign themselves up to his good Will and Pleasure: An Instance we have in that Pattern of Patience, Job 14.14. All the dayes of my appointed time will I wait, till my Change comes. He that fixes his Trust in the most High, shall not miscarry; he is neither puft up in Prosperity, nor cast down in Adversity, but continually fears him, who is his Salvation, and his Refuge.
FINIS.
ADVERTISEMENT.
THere is now ready for the Press, the Art of Patience, and Balm of Gilead under all Afflictions, an Appendix to the Art of Contentment, Written by the Author of the Whole Duty of Man. The Second Impression with Additional Prayers suitable to the several Occasions.