The Young Mans Guide, Chapter 18
CHAP. XVIII. Of the well ordering our Thoughts.
HAving shewed sundry Vices whereunto Young Men are much addicted, that so they may carefully avoid the same;
I come now to another direction for the leading a godly and gracious life, which is this; Keep a strict watch over thy self in those things which concern thine own person. For thy help therein, observe these Rules.
1. Be careful of thy thoughts. Care of, and about thoughts, is a special discovery of a godly man. Other men do seldom any more than wash the out-side, let what will lodge within them: Or if Conscience sometimes put them upon a restraint of inward passions, and lusts, yet when do we find any of them make Conscience of a thought?
For the better keeping thy thoughts in order, put these things in practice.
1. Give God thy first thoughts, by prepossessing thine heart at thy first awaking with thoughts of his infinite Purity, Wisdom, Power, Mercy, Truth, or the like Excellencies in him. Thus did David, Psal. 139. 18. When I awake, I am still with thee; that is, so soon as I awake, my thoughts are upon thee, meditating on thy Word and works; whereby his heart was exceedingly fenced and guarded, both against the suggestions of Satan, and the wicked risings of his own heart. Holy and spiritual thoughts in the Morning will so season thine heart, that thou mayst retain the savour of so good a beginning all the day after.
2. Do thine utmost to keep bad thoughts out of thine heart: but if they have entered in, and got possession, suffer them not to lodge and continue there, but thrust them out of doors by head and shoulders, so soon as they appear. We cannot hinder Birds from flying over our heads, yet may we easily prevent their Nestling there. So the best of men cannot always hinder the hovering of worldly, wanton thoughts in their hearts, yet must they deny them Harbour there, by a speedy rejecting of them.
3. Make it thy business frequently to raise, and extract holy and useful thoughts, as from all Gods dealings with thee, so from what thou seest or hearest, yea from all accidents and occurrences. As the Philosophers Stone is said to turn all Metals into gold; so by this Heavenly Chymistry mayst thou turn all earthly things into some spiritual advantage, and extract the pure gold of spiritual thoughts from common objects and occurrences.
4. In regard the spirits and thoughts of men are very active, always busied; if they be not set upon good objects, they will be working upon bad; it will be thy wisdom to get such a Treasure of Divine Truths, and Gospel Mysteries, as may furnish thy heart with abundance of matter for holy and spiritual thoughts, and to be much in exercising thy self upon them. Matth. 12. 35. A good man, saith our Saviour, out of the good treasure of his heart, bringeth forth good things; that is, sendeth out suitable Emanations for the good and comfort of his own Soul, as well as others. Mens layings out are according to their layings up: Such as have a Stock of Spiritual Provision, I mean, have treasured up many precious Promises, many Gospel-mysteries, and Scripture-truths in their hearts, will be able to bring forth as favoury discourses in company for the benefit of others; so many spiritual thoughts, when they are alone, for the good and comfort of their own Souls.
5. Oft consider Gods Omnisciency, whereby he knoweth not only all our secret works, whether good or evil, but also the thoughts of our hearts. Thou knowest, saith David, my down-sitting, and my up-rising, thou understandest my thoughts afar off, Psal. 139. 2. There are two things which God is said to know afar off, the Pride of man, and the Thoughts of man. He hath, it seems, a severe eye up on each of these: He minds our thoughts before they come into our minds; while they are in the Chaos, in the confused Womb of the Soul, before they are expresly conceived and formed, God knoweth them: and therefore must needs know what we think, when we think.
Surely, O Young Man, didst thou seriously consider this, thou wouldst be more fearful of sinning in secret, and more watchful over thy thoughts, not suffering any worldly, wanton, or exorbitant thoughts to lodge and harbour in thy breast, much more to rule and domineer there.
6. Consider how God expects to be honoured by our thoughts, as well as by our words and actions; by the workings of the heart, as well as by the way of the life. Holy thoughts are something of the root of an holy life: who knows how much precious fruit may be in a good thought? It's true, if they die as soon as they are born, and bring forth nothing, God will but lightly regard them; but there is great hope that where the Grace that is in the heart does put forth into holy thoughts, it will thence spring up into holiness of life.
Therefore, O Young Man, forget not daily to render unto God thy Thought-service, as well as thy Tongueservice; and the rather, because thou hast more opportunities for the one, than the other. Thou hast not always opportunity for outward performances, but thou mayst when thou pleasest think of God, and the matters of Eternity, where-ever thou art. What can hinder thee from giving a Visit to Heaven every hour, and oftner? Send these winged Messengers up constantly, let there be frequent comings and goings betwixt Heaven and thine heart: let thy Messengers go up, and they will doubtless bring thee down gracious and comfortable returns. He whose eye is much upon God, his Eye will affect, and warm, and quicken his heart, and beget upon it the very Visage and Image of God, in the view of whose Face he lives. These good Spies sent up in search of the good Land above, will return with such Clusters of the precious Fruits thereof, as will revive and incourage, and also strengthen the heart for that hard service it may be put to in its journey thither. None make such haste Heaven-ward, and such sensible Progress in their way, as they whose eye is continually there.
7. Whensoever thou goest unto God in Prayer, amongst other thy sins, bewail the multitude of vain, worldly, wanton thoughts that lodge in thine heart, and there Revel it day and night. Think it not enough to confess the outward acts of sin, but likewise the inward contemplative wickedness, and speculative filthiness which is in thine heart. For the outward acts of wickedness are no more transgressions of the Law, than the inward thoughts, which do beget and produce the outward acts. And sinful thoughts are the more abominable, for that they are the Fountain and Original of all actual sins. Such therefore as please themselves with this fancy, that they were never guilty of outward acts of Uncleanness, Drunkenness, Murther, Oppression, and the like, so long as they entertain and harbour inward lusts after those, or any other sins, and live in contemplative wickedness, they shall find those to their cost and woe as dangerous, as the outward gross acts of wickedness and uncleanness.
Besides, we ought to bewail our vain thoughts, because of the number of them, which indeed are numberless. Not a moment of our lives, but swarms of vain thoughts arise in our hearts: so that though they may be accounted lesser sins in comparison of outward gross acts, yet by reason of their multitude they may prove as dangerous as they. Many Sands by their multitude may sink a Ship, as well as a few great Millstones: So vain, wicked, worldly, wanton thoughts, by reason of their number and multitude, may sink a Soul to Hell, as well as a few outward gross acts.
Therefore, O Young Man, thou hast cause to humble thy self for thy sinful thoughts, as well as for thy sinful words and actions. And having confessed them unto God, then amongst thy Petitions, let one be for Grace to inable thee to keep down all wicked, wanton thoughts; and to give thee his sanctifying Spirit, which may spiritualize thy carnal heart, making it more holy and heavenly, fit to produce heavenly thoughts.