The Right Government of Thoughts, Tract · Chapter 2
CHAP. II. THe thoughts of the Righteous are juſt.
Ye have heard the Proverb expounded: and it appeares to be a Doctrine of it ſelf, affording a ſtable and ſufficient ground unto a holy courſe of life in word and deed. The Argument and matter-ſubject of this Treatiſe, is this, To ſhew, that he which is a righteous man in Gods acceptation, by the ſpirits ſanctification, in his own perſwaſion, and the worlds reputation, ought to have juſt thoughts, and to be the Maſter, or Governour of them; he muſt endeavour to get them into his mind, and having gotten them, it is required, that he rightly govern them, for the orderly and ſeaſonable producing of their effects in words and deeds.
The government of his thoughts is a righteous mans great buſineſſe, of great neceſſity, and of much difficulty. It's day work, and night work, with him: his meditations are alwayes upon it; he ſo delights in the Law of the Lord, that he meditates in it day and night. Pſal. 1. 2. Some are careful of their actions, that by them they give no offence to the weak, nor lay ſtumbling-blocks in the way of them that are without. Theſe are commendable amongſt the godly: others go further, they keep their lips as it were with a bridle, and they are purpoſed that their mouths ſhall not tranſgreſſe; Pſal. 39. 1. Pſal. 17. 3. yet few people go ſo far as to take heed to their thoughts. It ſeems all men are not aware of it, that their inward thoughts may be very wickedneſſe: but a wiſe man thoroughly inſtructed, and ſanctified by the Spirit of God, loves the Law of God with ſuch vehemency, that he hates thoſe floating vanities of his thoughts, which riſe in oppoſition to it. I hate vain thoughts, (ſaid that righteous man) but thy Law do I love. Pſal. 119. 113.
And every juſt man doth ſo govern his thoughts, that they are generally good. I do not ſay that every particular thought of a righteous man is juſt: David had his exorbitancies in thoughts, or elſe they had not ſo much appeared in his doings; and yet his heart was right with God for the main. And ſo it is with many of Gods dear children, they have excurrent and ſinful thoughts, the knowledge whereof, give many a ſecret prick upon their conſciences; though they have good meanings, and good hearts generally. It is written of Aſa, that the high places were not taken away out of Iſrael in his days; nevertheleſſe the heart of Aſa was perfect all his dayes. 2 Chro. 15. 18. A righteous man may ſometimes think fooliſhly, as well as ſpeak unadviſedly with his lips, or put his hands unto wickedneſſe; Yet as his words and workes are for the main end, regulated by the word of God, ſo are his thoughts. A righteous man is the maſter of juſt thoughts. And though Maſter-workmen may ſometimes miſtake in their lines and meaſures, and ſorting their materials; yet not like them that have no skill in building. If a righteous man meditate in Gods precepts, he will have reſpect unto Gods wayes.Pſal. 119. 15.
Take the reaſon of the righteous mans practiſe, on this behalf.
Firſt his thoughts are moved upon by the Spirit of God; though God be not in all the thoughts of the wicked; yet the righteous, God leads by his Spirit, and guides by his counſel. There are many that are after the fleſh, and theſe mind the things of the fleſh; … they cannot think of higher things, becauſe they have no higher principle of life within them; but there are ſome that are after the ſpirit, & theſe mind the things of the ſpirit; for they have received, not the ſpirit of the world, but the Spirit of God; Rom. 8. 5 and therefore mind and think upon the things of God; and their thoughts are juſt.
1 Cor. 2. 11.
Secondly, a righteous man hath an holy principle of good thoughts within; he hath grace inherent, the new man is put upon him: and he is renewed in the ſpirit of his minde: and Eph. 4. ergo, though he was ſometimes darkneſs, yet now he is Eph. 4. 8. light in the Lord. O the ſweet and ſecret interviewes and conſultations, held betwixt God and the ſouls of his beloved ones: they think upon God in the night-ſeaſon, while others lie upon their beds and ſleep ſecurely. Their thoughts enter into his Pavilion, while other mens thoughts rove and wander abroad amongſt many vain things, and know not where to make any ſtay, to faſten themſelves; the ſpirit of life which is in them that are Chriſts, quickens their mindes to think upon that which is juſt.Rom. 8. 2.
Having thus farre proved that the thoughts of righteous ones are juſt, and that he which is a righteous man, muſt have good and juſt thoughts; my method ſhall be,
1. To ſhew the neceſſity or needfulneſſe of this government of the thoughts.
2. The errours and exorbitances of mens thoughts.
3. The remedies againſt theſe exorbitancies;
Generally,
Particularly.
4. The meanes to get good thoughts.
5. Rules to govern good thoughts gotten.