The Government of the Thoughts, Chapter 5 – Chapter 6
CHAP. V. Rules of Practice.
FOR the right composure of Mind and Thoughts, it is very requisite to consider those Rules of Practice which concern the same in general; and then that which appertaineth to some particular Passions of the Mind. First, Have a care of thy Soul as thy greatest Interest, and that which surpasseth all things in the World: Next have a care of thy Mind, which, if well composed, is prudently Content in every Estate, without which Even Temper, nothing can prove good, or comfortable. What is Strength? Sickness may anticipate, but Age must bow down to the Grave. What is Beauty? Why those Flowers quickly fade, and many times become the Snare and Destruction of foolish and unhappy Owners.
2. WHAT are Honors, where a qualification of Mind is wanting to manage them? Those Phaetons precipitate themselves, and set the World on fire. What are Riches without a Mind well qualified, but snares, and easie ways to Hell? All things duly weighed to a prudent Mind, which can limit it self within the desires of Necessaries, a little is enough; but to an ambitious Mind, nothing can satisfie. Alexander had a monstrous Mind when he was grieved, that there was but one World for him to Conquer. 'Tis the Mind that maketh truly Rich or Poor; That, contented in every Estate, aboundeth in its own Happiness; but discontented, can be blessed in none.
3. THE way to gain Riches, is not so much by adding to an Estate, as by depriving the Mind of that foolish desire of having Superfluity beyond use. Temporal Riches are but a burden to him, who hath truly placed his Affections on Heaven, where neither Moth nor Rust doth corrupt, and where Thieves do not break through and steal, Matth. 6.20. That which must once be lost, is nothing worth; which Consideration possibly made Stilpo answer like a Philosopher, who when Demetrius had taken Megera, and out of a noble Care to give him Protection from Plundering, asked him if the Soldiers had taken ought from him, he answered, No; for, said he, I saw no Man that would take any Knowledge, or Learning from me.
4. THE Mind is Sacred, and out of the reach of violent hands; so that to make thee happy, which is the scope of a prudent Desire, the way is not to labour so much, and disquiet thy self in things External, but to compose thy Mind aright, to value and make a good Use of what thou hast; to get true Wisdom and Understanding, and well-ordered Affections, quietly to endure want, or enjoy plenty: In which there is not only an admirable skill and strength of Mind requisite, but also an holy Habit. No Precepts can suddenly make a Man practically wise, or good; which must make us resolve quickly to study this Divine Philosophy: And indeed, Experience here discovereth a marvellous Stupor, and Incogitancy of most Men. In any bodily Dissection, we speedily consult the Physician; but in our Soul's Distempers, we not only delay our seeking help, but are too often impatient of offered Remedies. That which thou designest to do well, speedily put in practice.
5. SOLOMON's advice is, Prov. 4.23. To keep thine Heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of Life. Many think it enough to keep their Tongues and their Hands. But it highly concerneth all Christians to keep their Hearts from Satan's Snares; there he beginneth all his Stratagems which afterwards break out into Words and Actions. It is true, that bare Suggestions without any delight, or consent of our own, are no more our Sins, than any Robbery or Murder committed without our Consent or Knowledge: But except we are vigilant over our Thoughts, and carefully stand upon our guard, Satan's deluding Influences will create a Delight, and excite in us a Consent, and concession to them; Therefore the Counsel of the Wise Man is this, Prov. 7.25. Let not thine Heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.
6. CHECK the first beginnings of Sin in thy Thoughts use them roughly at the door, and think of the Prophet Elisha's saying, 2 Kings 6.33. Is not the sound of their Masters Feet behind them? We must there chiefly observe and extinguish Sin, where 'tis born, and quench the Sparks, before they break out into masterless Flames. We must crush the Cockatrice in the Egg, before it proves a fiery flying Serpent. We neglect not the biting of a Serpent, but presently seek remedy to keep the Venom from the Heart: With how much more care and diligence should we look to the biting of the Old Dragon, Rev. 12.9. who is able, if a little neglected, to kill Body and Soul? Of evil Seeds, spring evil Plants. Murder from Revenge in the Heart; Adultery from Lust unextinguish'd there; and God justly castigateh evil Intentions, though they do not always break forth into Actions.
7. KEEP a good Conscience, and put on Sanctity. The Wicked meditate on Evil; and the Prophet Esay affirms, cahp. 59.7. That their Thoughts are Thoughts of Iniquity; Wasting and Destruction are in their paths. As our Actions follow our Thoughts, so do they leave Impressions in them, which prove occasions of their further Operation; and Solomon tells you, Prov. 12.5. That the Thoughts of the Righteous are right; but the Counsels of the Wicked are deceit. Love good Thoughts, and thou shalt be furnished with them; as Flowers spring out of Buds, so good Desires flow from Celestial Thoughts. We often think of those we Love, and are ambitious of their Acquaintance. Think often of God, for his Love will cause thee to detest all thoughts of Evil, and will hinder the approaches of that old malicious Serpent to thy Heart.
8. FIX thy Thoughts on something certain. The Heart is a spiritual Labyrinth, in whose perplexed turnings we often lose our selves; and the best fruits of idle and extravagant Fancies, are but as the Eyes, continually rolling up and down, seeing nothing intentively, but a wandring Mind. It is a signal Token of a composed Mind, if it can contain it self, and not launch out into those vain Evagations and wandring Thoughts: From whence waking as out of some feverish Dream, after much thinking, we can give our selves no true account, what the Mind has busied it self about; but that in long thinking, we thought on nothing to the Purpose.
9. THE Mind is Man's most active Faculty: In a Moment, with the flight of a Thought, it mounts from Earth to Heaven, and back again from Age to Age; from Present, to Future: Like Lightning, it shoots from East to West, vanishing in the Appearance. It is not a little skill to arrest it so, as that we may say with David, Psal. 108.1. My heart is fixed; O God, my heart is fixed. Without this we can neither Hear nor Pray, otherwise than prophane Hypocrites, provoking God's Anger, by drawing near him with their Lips, when their Hearts are far from thinking on him.
10. SEEK Peace with God through Faith in Christ; for therein consists the true Composure and happy Rest of the Mind. The Prophet tells you, Isa. 57.21. There's no Peace to the Wicked; neither is there any true Rest out of Christ Jesus. Sin is the distemper and disquiet of the Soul. Until that Jonah be cast over-board, we can never appease the Surges of a troubled Mind. This thou mayest seek by hearty sorrow for thy Sins; this restringent Acrimony shall heal the Fountains, that Death and Barrenness may no more fluctuate from the Mind into thy Words and Actions. 'Tis a good symptom of Recovery when the Disease changeth Place: So when we are pleased with Repentance, who were wont to please ourselves with Sin, 'tis a token that Sin declineth in us.
11. BY Committing thy works unto the Lord, thy thoughts shall be Established, Prov. 16.3. and by filling thy Soul with such happy thoughts, as constant Meditation, or God's Word will furnish thee: And Wisdom, as a Monitor advises thee, Ecclus. 6.37. Let thy mind be upon the Ordinances of the Lord, and meditate continually on his Commandments; he shall establish thine Heart and give thee Wisdom at thine own desire. Overcome thine own Mind, and in every thing as much as possibly thou canst, subject it to right Reason, and let not Affection or Passion master it.
12. SET thy Mind ever upon some good, to prevent the rising of evil Thoughts, that the Tempter may never find thee at leisure to entertain him. The Mind is naturally active and prone to thoughts: Even when thou lyest Dormant it hath its Motions. Imploy it then in some Business, it cannot be Idle. As the Earth neglected, for want of Culture, bringeth forth noisom Weeds; so will the Mind evil and vain extravagant Thoughts, if it be not duly Cultivated. Often the light of Reason is Eclipsed by the mischievous interposition of vicious Thoughts: Yet perplex not thy Mind with too much, or too weighty Affairs: Proportion thy undertakings to thy Strength: The Mind requireth some intermissions and rest, which otherwise, like the Fields, with perpetual Bearing, will grow Fruitless. The Unballanced Ship is easily Overset with every gust of Wind: And too much Burden Sinketh her.
13. THERE is an Ark of God's secret Counsel, which our thoughts must not pry into. There are also admirable Mysteries, from whence God calleth out of the fiery Bush, Exod. 3.2, 5. Come not nigh hither, put off thy Shoes from off thy Feet, &c. Resign thy Thoughts to God's Immensity: It is enough to believe his Truth, tho thou canst not examine his incomprehensible Secrets. If thou wilt play with these Flames, thou wilt burn thy Wings: God hath revealed suficiently enough to make thee Happy: Ambition of knowing more, destroyed Mankind.
14. COMMUNE with thine own Heart concerning that, which may advantageously make thee Happy. Divine Soliloquies are Heavenly Raptures and the Soul's prepossession of that Blessedness. Inure thy Heart to ponder on good and heavenly things; and such will thy Thoughts, Words and Actions be. The Heart of the Wise teacheth his Mouth, says Solomon, Prov. 16.23. Custom grows habitual; therefore also the Wise man saith, Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath Vnderstanding, Prov. 14.33. If the Wicked, the worst of Fools, have any notion thereof, it can no more rest with them, than Lightning in the Air.
15. TAKE the Prophet's advice, Jer. 17.10. To set God ever before thee, as a Searcher of hearts: And that which thou wouldst detest to speak before others, abhor to think with thy self. Thoughts are the words of the Heart, which God heareth; who therefore saith, Matt. 9.4. Wherefore think you Evil in your hearts? And Solomon gives us this Charge, Eccles. 10.20. Curse not the King, no not in thy Thought. Thou must be pure in Heart, if ever thou meanest to see God. Let not thy Heart dissent from thy Tongue; neither desire to appear more Holy than thou art, if thou intendest to please him who is Omniscient.
16. PRAY, and beseech the Lord with the earnest Supplication of the Psalmist, to Create a clean heart, and to renew a right Spirit within thee, Psal. 51.10. To encline thy heart unto his Testimonies, Psal. 119.36. Then Pray with the Prophet, Jer. 24.7. That God would give thee a heart to know him: To prepare thy Heart that thou mayst truly fear him, Meditate on him, and Love him above all: And That he who cast out the tumultuous Rabble from Jairus's House, would also be pleased to cast out of thy Soul and Mind, all those thoughts which offend him, or hinder the raising up thy Soul to the life of Grace here, whereby it may be fit for the life of Glory hereafter.
CHAP. VI. Of the affections of Love and Delight.
FOR the right governing the Thoughts arising from some particular Affections, or Passions, which usually discompose and render the Mind less apt for the Service of God, and less comfortable to our selves, we must ever have in mind the General Rule before laid down, that extream and violent Passions of any kind, are Distempers of the Soul, which at best befool a Man, if not, as Hypocrates thinketh, maketh him Lunatick; they are like a Deluge, which rather overflow and drown, than refresh the Mind; they are like an enraged Sea, full of hazard; they disturb the Intellectuals, and distract the Will. Behold, how all things in troubled Waters, seem wreathed, and disordered, which in the still are clearly seen; so is it here: The calm Affections are more fit for God's Service, and our own.
2. LOVE and Delight, are great Actors in this present Life; and every Man hath some share in them. Now our main skill is to fix 'em on right Objects, as God, Psal. 37. and upon heavenly Things, as St. Paul directs us, Col. 3.1. By this means we cannot fall into any Excess, but shall be undoubtedly happy; that we pervert not the Order, we must not delight in, or love any object but God; let him be our first and chief Love and Delight, and we shall have Felicity in all that is subordinate.
3. LET no inferiour Love or Delight allure us away from him who is perfect Love. Tho there is a time, place, and measure for Secular Delights, so far as they are subordinate to God's Will, which may make us fit for his Service, and administer occasion of Expressions of Thankfulness to him: But if on the contrary, they prove hurtful to us, if God loves us, he will take that away from us, which else would wean us from him. A necessary Rule for them to consider, who too impatiently bear the loss of that they so much loved or delighted in.
4. LET us neither love nor delight in any temporal things, otherwise than to hold it with a loose Hand; and let us follow the Apostles advice, 1 Cor. 7.31. To use this World as not abusing it; for the fashion of this World passeth away. And St. John commands us in his first Epistle, chap. 2.15. That we should not love the World, nor the things that are in the World. We must be contented to part with all, when God in his good pleasure sees convenient. It was Job's Resolution, chap. 1.21. The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away, and blessed be the name of the Lord.