Christian Directions, Chapter 5
CHAP. V.
Of Christian Watchfulness over our Thoughts.
DO not think, that having saluted God by prayer, and reading his Word in the morning,Prov. 4. 23. Mark 13. 33. 37, 38. thou mayest take thy leave of him all the day after. But second thy praye…s and reading with Christian Watchfulness,2 Tim. 4. 5. which is a duty incumbent upon all, being much pressed upon us in Scripture.
For the profitable handling whereof, I shall shew you
1 The Nature of Christian Watchfulness.
2 The Extent thereof, or the particulars wherein we are to manifest the same.
I. For the Nature of Christian Watchfulness; It is an heedful Observation of our selves in all things, and a diligent circumspection over all our waies, courses, and actions, that wee may not displease God in any thing, but rather please him in all things.
II. For the Extent of this duty, The Apostle sets it down in general Terms,2 Tim. 4. 5. Watch thou in all things, which I shall branch into several particulars.
1 Over thy Thoughts, Words and Actions.
2 Against Sin in general, and the several kinds thereof.
1 Thou must be watchful over thy Thoughts, Jer. 4. 14.that vain Thoughts may not lodge in thine heart.
For the profitable pressing of this, I shall
1 Give you some Motives to quicken you up thereunto.
2 Some Directions and helps thereunto.
I. For Motives, first consider, that vain and evil thoughts, though they break not forth into acts, yet are they actual sins; for thoughts, though they are inward, yet are they the acts of the soul, and in that they are evil, they are sinful.
2 Evil thoughts are not onelyonly sinful in themselves, but they are likewise the cause of all sins, the plotters of all treasons against God, the Panders of all other lusts; so much the Apostle Iames expresseth,Jam. 1. 15 When lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin; lustful thoughts being conceived in the heart, they soon bring forth sin, breaking forth into acts of filthiness and uncleanness.
3 Consider, that by our thoughts especially, will the Lord judge us at the last day,1 Cor. 4. 5 When hee will make manifest the counsel of the heart, as the Apostle expresseth it. And Rom. 2. 16. God hath appointed a day wherein he will judge the secrets of men by Iesus Christ. Then the swarms of our vain and evil thoughts shall be discovered, and laid open, to our eternal shame, before God, Angels, and men, without true and unfeigned repentance.
4 Evil and vain thoughts without true and unfeigned repentance, will sink our souls to Hell; such of you therefore as make no conscience of your thoughts, but delight your selves in vain and wicked thoughts, in lustful and unclean thoughts, and that impenitently, how can you escape the vengeance of hell?
I deny not but the best men, through the remainder of corruption in them, are subject to vain and wicked thoughts; but these are their grief and their burden against which they strive, and for which they earnestly begge pardon, and therefore shall not bee said to their condemnation.
The helps and directions are these.
1 Consider, That the Lord doth as strictly observe all inward sinful thoughts, as he doth the outward acts of sin; Hee is Omniscient, and knoweth all things, yea he is the trier and searcher of our hearts, and so is privy to every vain and wicked,Psal. 139. 1, 2. to every wanton and lustful thought in our hearts; So that howsoever men discern not our thoughts, yet God doth.
2 Make not too much of those vain and wicked thoughts which doe either arise from thine own corrupt heart, or are cast in by Satan; I mean, thou must not revolve them in thy mind, by musing and meditating on them with any delight; for if so, thou art in danger to be ensnared by them.
3 With detestation speedily reject, and cast all vain and wicked thoughts out of thine heart; As in thy judgement thou canst not but condemn them as base and wicked, so in thy affections abhor and defest them, yea reject and cast them away as abominable.
4 So soon as any vain or wicked thoughts begin to arise in thine heart, fix thy meditation upon good thoughts, and upon such especially as are contrary thereunto. Thus when vain thoughts begin to arise in thine heart, strive to put them out, by fixing thy meditation upon some serious matter; when earthly, worldly thoughts begin to arise in thine heart, fix thy meditation upon some spiritual and heavenly thoughts; when any lustful and impure thoughts begin to arise in thine heart, fix thy meditation upon some holy and good thoughts, think of the excellency and necessitie of holiness,Heb. 12. 14 without which no man shall see the Lord.
5 Humble thy self for all thy sinful and vain thoughts, of what sort or kind soever. For know assuredly, that unless thou humble thy self for thy sinful and vain thoughts, thou shalt bee called to an account for them at the Day of Judgement,1 Cor. 4. 5 when the Lord will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the heart.
6 And that which sanctifies all other means, is earnest and hearty prayer unto God that he would be pleased, as to suppress and keep down all vain, wicked, wanton thoughts from rising in thy heart, so that he would rebuke Satan, and restrain his malice, that he may not cast his hellish thoughts into thine heart; or at least, that he would enable thee to quench them at their first entrance. This course did the Apostle Pau… take in the like case, as we read in 2 Cor. 12. 7, 8.