The Right Government of Thoughts, Tract · Chapter 7
CHAP. VII.
I Have hitherto diſcovered General Remedies againſt the errours and wickedneſſe of mens thoughts: Let me now preſcribe ſome particular helps to be uſed againſt the ſeveral maladies.
And firſt againſt that errour of idleneſſe, deadned drowſineſſe, or unthoughtfulneſſe of the mind before mentioned, the remedy will be: after due obſervation and mourning for the ſame; that the Righteous man do endeavour to keep himſelfe, and his thoughts in ſome bodily or mental employment: and if that be within the compaſſe of his Calling, it will be the more prevailing remedy: ſo when ſervants are idle, wiſe Maſters ſet them their taskes, and hold them to their works, out of reſpect to their own profit, and their ſervants good. So wiſer Parents buy their children Horn-books, and ſend them to ſchool; not ſo much to learn, as to keep them from harrnes, while they have nothing elſe to do. It fares ſo with our minds, like wandering children, or worthleſſe ſervants, they will do nothing, or (which is worſe) ſhrewdly, unleſſe they be held to employments. It had been better with that ſweet Singer of Iſrael, if he had been imployed in Kingly affairs like himſelf, when his eye deceived his heart to follow filthy luſts. The Apoſtles would not have younger widows received to miniſter as widows in the Church, to lodge ſtrangers, and to waſh the Diſciples feet, as their manner was, leſt they learn to be idle, and wander about, become tatlers, and buſie-bodies. 1 Tim. 5. 13. Idleneſſe, or that which is worſe, creeps into the practiſe of thoſe that are not well, or fitly employed: ſo it doth upon the mind. Standing waters will puddle, and the mind not employed ſtands, and breeds verminous and evil thoughts. We make draines to cleanſe ſtanding waters, if we mean to keep them wholeſome; and we muſt find iſſues for our thoughts about ſome bodily or mental labour, if we mean to keep them juſt, as the thoughts of the Righteous are:
And that ye may the rather make uſe of this Remedy againſt idle thoughts, Conſider:
1. It is againſt the nature of mans mind to be out of action: in ſleep the ſenſes both outward and inward are bound up: yet even then, the phantaſie hath her dreams of actions. The heart of the Spouſe was awake while ſhe ſlept: I ſleep, but my heart wakes: Cant. 5. 2. So in the very drowſineſſe and heavineſs of a Righteous ſoul, all is not, all his thoughts ought not, to be bound up: there are, or ought to be, ſome excurrencies of the thoughts to Chriſt.
2. The body not employed, grows reſty, and carries on the man headlong, not onelyonly to that which is beſides, but alſo to that which is contrary to the courſe of goodneſſe. Idleneſſe is the hour of temptation, wherein Satan joynes with our imagination to plot or attempt the production of ſome, or much miſchief.
3. Employment and action hath the promiſe: This is the warrantable way wherein ſo long as the mind is found walking, the labour thereof ſhall not be in vain. It is the Righteous mans portion to enjoy the good of all his labour which he taketh under the Sun: 1 Cor. 15. Eccleſ. 5. 18. So then, if ye reſpect the nature of the mind, which is alwayes in action, or the diſpoſition of the body not employed, or the bleſſing of God over both, while they are in action according to his will, ye cannot but make uſe of this Remedy for the cureing of the minds idleneſſe.
But before I paſſe from hence, I muſt admoniſh, that thoughts employed about bodily labour, is not enough, nor all: there are employments of our thoughts which are more mental, and almoſt abſtracted from the body, and theſe are very needful: ſuch as contemplation and meditation of heaven and heavenly things: a ſoul thus employed, whether he be in the body, or out of the body he cannot tell: ſuch a neighbourhood or indiſtance he apprehends betwixt God and his mind.
Again, I admoniſh that labour, whether it be about bodily things, or ſuch as are more the work of the mind; yet it muſt be about that which is good, otherwiſe the remedy may be worſe than the diſeaſe. Its better, ſaith our Proverb, to be idle, than ill employed. The Apoſtle would that every one ſhould labour, but he that labours bodily, muſt labour the thing that is honeſt: and he that labours with the mind muſt ſtudy to ſhew himſelf approved unto God, a workman that need not be aſhamed. Epheſ. 4. 28. 2 Tim. 2. 15.
Further, I admoniſh, that your thoughts be employed about thoſe things eſpecially which are within your Callings: he that moves in his Calling, though but ſlowly, though not ſo faſt as others, ſhall in the end find comfort: But I cannot hope to gather grapes of thorns, nor figs of thiſtles: Every tree muſt bring forth his own fruit; the Magiſtrate hath his thoughts, the Miniſter his, and the honeſt Husbandman and Tradeſman theirs.
Once more I admoniſh, that your thoughts of employment, be in ſuch things as are proportionable to your ſtrength and parts. Jether the firſt-born of Gideon, was too weak and fearful to riſe up and ſlay Zeba and Zalmunnah: Judg. 8. 20. And the Apoſtle thought judiciouſly, that a Novice or young Chriſtian, newly come to the Faith, would not be a meet man for the office of a Biſhop; leſt being lifted up with pride, he ſhould fall into the condemnation of the Devil. 1 Tim. 3. 6When men take upon their ſhoulders burdens that are too heavy for them, they reel to and fro like drunken men, ſometimes they are brought to their wits ends, and ſometimes they fall with ſhame to themſelves, and injury to others that come near them. Its ſo alſo when any are puffed up in their fleſhly minds, and take upon them to meddle in things that are above them.