The Government of the Thoughts, Chapter 4
CHAP. IV. The necessity of Governing our Thoughts.
THERE is great necessity of Regulating our Thoughts and Heart, without which, as the Prophet says, Isa. 29.13. It is in vain to draw near to God with our Lips. And the art of governing the Affections and Thoughts, must be performed by Wisdom and Ingtegrity. Wisdom is as a Mistress to tumultuous Servants, at whose Presence the most Disorderly are suddenly Composed and Silenced. An understanding Heart is the inward illumination of the Soul, which God beholds; without which, all External appearances of Sanctity make formal Hypocrites no better than Aegyptian Temples, grave and decent outwardly, but within, very ridiculous; setting up for Gods, Apes, Serpents, Cats and Crocodiles.
2. SOLOMON, to whom God granted a free choice of any thing he would request, desired, an Vnderstanding Heart, 1 Kings, 3.5.9.12. This was more estimable to him than Riches or Life; and he, whom God was pleased to make the Wisest of Men, of all the Holy Pen-men, gave most Precepts concerning the Heart and Mind; and we are commanded for our further directions, to search the Scriptures, which as the Apostle tells us, are only able to make us wise to Salvation, 2 Tim. 3.15. And St. James requires us to ask Wisdom of God, that giveth to all Men liberally, and Vpbraideth not, James 1.5. He that trusteth in his own Heart, is a Fool, Prov. 28.26. Again, the Wise Man like a true Prognostick, tells you, That the Heart of the Sons of Men is full of Evil, and madness is in their Heart while they live, Eccl. 9.3. Unhappy is he who goeth on perversely in the way of his own Heart, or walks contrary to the Apostle's Rule, 1 Cor. 3.19. persuing the Wisdom of this World, which is foolishness with God.
3. WE must so compose our Hearts, that they may be upright and sincere in the sight of God. Without this, our best actions, as Prayer, Hearing, Repentance, Alms, and what-ever else we do, is worth nothing. O Jerusalem, saith the Lord, wash thy Heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be Saved: How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge in thee? Jer. 4.14. It is but folly to labour the Cure in the outward part, while the Contagion and Venom of Sin invades the inward; or to wash the Eyes with floods of Tears, where the sin of Judah is written with a Pen of Iron, and graven with the point of a Diamond, upon the Table of the Heart, Jer. 17.1.
4. THE Psalmist tells us, Psal. 84.5. Blessed are they in whose Heart are the ways of God: And that he is good unto such as are of a clean Heart, Psal. 73.1. And the Prophet tells you, Jer. 29.13. They shall find him who seek him with all their Heart. And they that know righteousness, have the Law of God in their Heart, Isa. 51.7. And Psal. 37.31. Their steps shall not slide; they delight to do God's Will, Psal. 40.8. And Psal. 119.11. They hide up the Law of God in their heart, that they might not sin against him: The knowledge of God is pleasant unto their Soul, Prov. 2.10. and Prov. 3.2. They shall have length of days and Peace; and when they go, it shall lead them; when they sleep, it shall keep them; when they wake, it shall talk with them, Prov. 6.22. It is a Lamp and Light to direct them in the ways of Life to preserve them from Sin.
5. NOW, however the ways of an Hypocrite may seem clean in his own Eyes, yet seeing the God of Justice Weigheth the Spirits, Prov. 16.2. it highly concerneth every Man to look to the ordering of this inward House, that it may be a clean Temple, for God's Spirit to dwell in, without whose guidance, Man runs to Destruction, both Body and Soul. If we govern our Thoughts aright, we have our conversation in Heaven, we walk with God: And in our many dangerous sicknesses of Mind, sundry Distempers, and Perturbations of fluctuant Thoughts, the wearied Soul shall ever have recourse unto this Ark for Rest.
6. THERE are troublesome Errors of sick minds which see false Comforts instead of true. There is Anxiety, Impatience and Grief which devoureth the Heart: There is the fire of Anger to inflame, Envy and Malice to transport, vain Hopes and Fears, whose vicissitudes do miserably afflict the disquiet Mind. There are many Perturbations, which if not prudently managed, will master Reason, and violently carry Men into the most dangerous Precipices, from whence they cannot, when they would retrieve themselves: All which to a wise and good Man, shall prove but Exercises to make his Victory over his own Passions more Glorious.
7. NOR is he less Honourable who is victor over himself, than he that conquereth others. The great Conquerors of Kingdoms have been overcome of their own Affections; whereby they have foolishly eclipsed all the Glory of their Victories. The Strong may vanquish others; but only the Good can over-come themselves. I shall conclude with the Saying of a Pious Man, I had rather over-come my own Mind, than all my Enemies; and I would I were secure of my self: All the Powers of Hell, cannot over-come me, nor make me unhappy if my own Affections betray me not.