A Discourse Grounded on Proverbs, Part 1 · Trial 2

A Discourse Grounded on Proverbs · Part 1 · Trial 2

p. 144II. Tryal.

Sect. I.

2 Tryal. Thoughts are to be known to be Right or no by their rootSecondly,

THoughts are to be known to be right by their ROOT, as Plants are, eſpecially in winter-ſeaſon: now this is as it were the winter-ſtate of Grace.

We have ſeen in the firſt Tryal that Right Thoughts are to be diſcerned by their Soil, They grow not in the Wild, or common Field of corrupt Nature, but in the Garden of Grace; ſo now, in this ſecond Tryal, by the occult & inward manner of their growth, which I call their Radication. This I ſay then, if good Thoughts be thy DEEP Thoughts, If good thoughts be our deep thoughtsif (as we ſay) the best be at bottom, thy thoughts are then Right, and thou are Righteous: for as the deep p. 147Thoughts of Worldlings are worldly thoughts, & the deep Thoughts of wicked men are wicked thoughts, ſo the deep thoughts of good men are good Thoughts. 'Tis a notable obſervation of the Holy Ghoſts concerning worldly men, That their INVVARD THOUGHT is that their Houſes ſhall continue for ever, Pſal 49 11Ps 49:11&c. Why? is there any Thought that is not an Inward Thought? No; But the meaning is that though they have ſome floating Thoughts of their mortalitie, and the vanity and tranſitorineſs of all worldly things, ſwimming, as it were, on the top; yet they do not ſuffer ſuch Thoughts to ſink into their Hearts, or to go to the bottom, But the Thoughts that lodge there are ſuch as His who is ſaid, by our Saviour,Luke 12 17Luke 12:17 to have thought within himſelf, Soul, thou haſt much goods laid up for many years, Take, Verſe 19thine eaſe, eat, drink and be merry. Note p. 148the phraſe, he thought within himſelf There are other kind of thoughts that ſometimes knock at the door of the worldlings Heart, Nay ſometimes look in at his windows, as Pauls Sermon began to preſs in upon Felix his Heart, Acts 24 25Acts 24:25and to ſet him a Trembling, but there are other Thoughts within, which if they cannot keep good Thoughts quite out, they will keep them off from making any due or deep impreſsion upon the Heart. Now theſe Thoughts that neſtle themſelves, as it were, at the very Heart-roots, to keep others out from reaching thither, theſe deep thoughts are they which the Scriptures call the inward thoughts, according to that of the Pſalmiſt, the inward thoughts of every one of them, Pſalm 64 6Ps 64:6and the heart is deep. And ſo if thy inward Thoughts and deep Thoughts be good thoughts, 'tis a good ſigne. Rom 2 19Rom 2:19Thus He is a Iew p. 149that is one inwardly. When God has put wiſdom in the inward parts, as it is in Ieremiah; Jer. 21 33 Pſalm 5 9Jer 21:33Ps 5:9as 'tis ſaid of the wicked that their inward part is very wickedneſs, Luke 11 39Luke 11:39and that their inward part is full of Ravening and wickedneſs: Jerem 9 8Jer 9:8even when he ſpeaketh peaceably with his mouth, yet in Heart he lays his wait.

Now the Reaſon of this Rule is this,Reaſon of the Rule becauſe as corruption (like the Worm at Jona's Gourd) loves to lie at the Root to wither all; ſo Grace (to work out Corruption) loves to lie at the very Heart roots, as it were; and the work of Grace being to fix the Heart aright, (as David ſaith,Pſal 108 …Ps 108 My Heart is fixed O God, my Heart is fixed) like a wiſe Maſter Builder, Grace goes to the bottom, and looks eſpecially to that; the Foundation being that that fixeth all the building. The Latines do very elegantly expreſs heighth and depth by the ſame p. 148word, thus, altaes radices agere, is to take deep Root, Good thoughts build high, therefore muſt be bottomed low.and yet we call it the Altitude of a Star: He that will build high, muſt dig his Foundation deep and low; Now Grace, where it comes, never aims lower then the Raiſing of the Thoughts as high as Heaven, Sirs, what muſt I do to be ſaved (ſaith the Iayler.Acts 16 3…Acts 16:3) A Converts firſt thoughts are for no leſs than SALVATION; and therefore Grace layeth them in the very depth of the heart, Thus Gracious Thoughts are called the good treaſure, not of the Head (for a Toad, they ſay, may have a Pearl there,) A wicked man may have excellent notions and ſpeculations like Balaam, Num 24 3 4Num 24:3whoſe Heart is full of Poyſon.) But the good treaſure of the Heart.

Our Saviour, comparing Gods Word to Seed, Matht 13 4 Verſe 5Mans Heart to Soil, Thoughts and purpoſes to a ſpringing up of that Seed in the Soil, p. 149…xpreſsly ſaith of the ſtony ground …n oppoſition to the good ground, Luke 8 1…Luke 8:1that is, the good and honeſt Heart, …s himſelf explains it) that there…ore it was that all came to no…hing, becauſe there was no depth … earth for the Seed,Mat 13 56Matt 13:56 and they …hat ſprung up had no root, and …herefore they withered away.Matth 25 …Matt 25

And in the Parable of the Vir…ins, where he deſignedly puts …he difference between the ſound …eliever and the Hypocrite, He …enyes not the fooliſh to have …amps and Lights, and Oil in their …amps, to keep them burning for ſeaſon; but denyes them to have …y Oil in their Veſsels, as the Wiſe …ad. The Lamps were the Out…de and ſhallow appearances of …lendid Notions and Profeſsions, …ut the Veſſels are the very inwards …d depths of the Heart, & there…re its ſaid,Prov 13 …Prov 13 The light of the righte…s rejoiceth, but the Lamp of the p. 150wicked ſhall be put out. The Light of the Righteous (which may be underſtood of their good Converſation, according to that, Let your light ſo ſhine before men, that they may ſee your good wrok,) hath a Veſſel within full of Oyl, to keep it burning perpetually, and therefore it rejoiceth, but the Lamp o… the wicked hath not ſo, & therefore time ſhall put it out.

And when he repreſents th… Grace that he gives, by a Well of Water in a man ſpringing up to everlaſting life; Iohn 4 14 Good thoughts a well-…pring,John 4:14This Phraſe is moſ… accurately to be attended to ou… preſent purpoſes; We are no… in judgeing of a man ſo much t… conſider what may be put into man, or what may for ſome tim… float at top, nay flow from a ma… but what the SPRINGINGS U… are that are IN A MAN. And … the Apoſtle Iames alſo puts th… Tryal upon what the FOUNTAI… p. 151Iames 3 11Jas 3:11yields, whether it be ſweet water, Verſe 14or bitter, ſalt water or freſh; which expreſſion he doth enough explain when he ſaith If you have bitter envying, Verſe 1…or strife in your hearts, glory not and lie not againſt the truth; Mark that, IN YOUR HEARTS, that is, when theſe bitter waters are the ſpringings up of the inward Fountain, glory not, and lie not: ſweet words and pleaſſing profeſsions, ſhews and appear…nces will be no good Teſtimony …or you when theſe BITTER …pringings up within you bear wit…eſs againſt you.

In Nature, there are ſprings or Wells of diverſe ſorts, the diligent …bſervation of which will much …ear the ſcope of theſe Texts of …cripture, and the thing in hand; … ſhall onelyonly inſtance in ſuch as I …ave ſeen. There is the ſalt ſpring … Nantwich, where the ſpringings …p are naturally ſalt, Now let p. 152never ſo much freſh water be poured into it, though it may for the preſent abate its ſaltneſs, and make its preſent waters the leſs briniſh yet that which ſprings up will it ſome time work out all the freſ… water, and will continue (as before) perfectly ſalt. Again ther… is the generous and famous ſprin… called the HOLY WELL in Wales that is perpetually boiling u… with an admirable activity, ſ… that if never ſo much ſalt wate… ſhould be poured into it, thoug… all the waters (for the preſent would taſt ſalt or brackiſh, y… give it time and it would certain… work out all that Heterogeneo… mixture, and retain its ſweetneſ… and (as I may ſay) its Native e… cellencie and puritie.

This then is a grand Rule f… the tryal of Right Thoughts, … thy good thoughts be ſuch as con… nually ſpringing up, do work o… p. 153evil thoughts which ſometimes do ſeem to defile and deprave thee, 'tis a good Scripture-Evidence both of thy thoughts and ſtate: for this is that which the Apoſtle calls a clearing of our ſelves, which he ſaith expreſsly that Godly ſorrow worketh where it worketh Repentance to ſalvation; 1 Cor 7 … 111 Cor 7:11this ſelf ſame thing, ſaith he, that ye ſorrowed after a Godly ſort, Behold what carefulneſs it wrought in you, yea what clearing of your ſelves, &c. Now this Godly ſorrow hath its ſpring in the Thoughts, as the Evangeliſt ſaith of Peter, Mark 14 7….Mark 14:7when he thought thereon he wept. As the Jews in their Captivity, wept when they remembred Zion,Pſal. 137Ps 137 ſo Peter in his ſpiritual captivity wept when he remembred Sin: But a little before the floods of the ungodly had overwhelmed the good man and the waters of bit…erneſs had come into his ſoul; And had we but tasted of his ſpirit, p. 154by what came from him in the High Priests Hall, we ſhould have been apt to have concluded him in the gall of bitterneſs, when with ſwearing & curſing he denyed that ever he knew Ieſus: and all this iſſuing from the Thoughts and apprehenſions of his imaginary danger, that his ſorry ſinful ſlaviſh fear ſuggeſted to him in caſe He had held faſt the profeſſion of his Faith without wavering; theſe were the Thoughts that were uppermoſt, and ſo neareſt his tongues end, to influence that under this ſurpriſe of Temptation; and little doubt but at that very time his deep and bottom Thoughts were full of real real kindneſs to his Lord and Maſter, which ſhortly a…ter (by their ſpringing up) diſcover themſelves; For theſe Thoughts work him to Godly ſorrow (as the Text affirmeth) and godly ſorrow to a clearing of himſelf p. 155of that which had now ſo ſadly ſtained the Glory of his Profeſſion, ſo that we read after of his dying for Chriſt, but never more word of his denying him.

Sect. II.

AS this therefore is the grand trouble of many gracious Perſons,Inſtances of good tho… ghts deepeſt that they find ma…y ſtrong and boiſterous and evil …houghts, like rugged Eſau that …reſent themſelves first to view,Gen. 25.25Gen 25:25 …nd ſeem to be ſtrongeſt and moſt …mpetuous, yet this may be a …omfort if they can find good …houghts, like another Iacob,Verſe 26 …king thoſe other thoughts, as it …ere, by the heel, and continually …bouring to ſupplant them; for in…ance, … p. 156der Nabals provocation, you find all the waters, as it were, turned into bloud, and nothing meditated but cruelty and Revenge; But when Davids deep and bottom Thoughts are ſet on work, How quickly do they work out all that cruelty? The waters return to their proper nature and right colour; and now all becomes goodneſs, meekneſs, gentleneſs. And David ſaid to Ab…gail, Verſe 32 33Bleſſed b… the Lord God of Iſrael who ſent the… this day to me; and bleſsed be thy advice, and bleſſed be thou, whic… haſt kept me this day from coming t… ſhed bloud, and from avenging m… ſelf with my own hand. So tha… whereas there was a Root of bitterneſs ſpringing up, which woul… have brought trouble enough upon himſelf and others there … p. 157And by the way, the Reader may remark that they whoſe Thoughts are right & good,Note well. are very apt to Think well of thoſe that ſet them right, (as any prudent ſerious Travailer that hath been out of his way will be) O bleſſed Sermon, ſickneſs, perſon, providence, will ſuch a one ſay, that hath been an occaſion or eans to ſet me clear of ſuch a Temptation, or from ſuch or ſuch wicked, proud, or paſsionate or unclean, or worldly Thoughts that have ſo diſturbed and diſtempered me.

Take another inſtance in good King Hezekiah, Hezekiahwhom when God had raiſed up, the Text ſaith, preſently his Heart was lifted up, 2 Chro: 3… 25ſo …hat there was wrath upon him, and upon Iudah and Ieruſalem; His heart ſwells with proud & haughty …houghts; Notwithstanding, ſaith …he next Verſe,Verſe 26 Hezekiah humbled himſelf for the pride of his heart, ſo that the wrath of the Lord came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah. page missing p. 160tom thoughts of all, were loſe thoughts, and his Root thoughts were rotten thoughts, for he thought it better for him to diſpleaſe God than the Multitude, and to offend his Conſcience rather than Caeſar; for this was the hinge upon which the whole matter turned, the Iews cryed out, ſaying, if thou let this man go, Joh: 19 12, 13 2…thou art not Caeſars friend; When Pilat… therefore heard that ſaying, He brought out Ieſus, &c. and delivered him to them to be Crucifyed.

AgrippaThus Agrippa, no doubt, had many good Thoughts and motions in his mind, when he cryes out to S. Paul, Acts 26 28Acts 26:28Almoſt thou perſuadeſt me to be a Chriſtian. And many of Chriſts followers thought, Many followers of Chriſtno queſtion, to have continued longer with him, at their first coming to him, and are therefore called his Diſciples, from that time (ſaith the Text)Iohn 6, 66John 6:66 Many of his Diſciples p. 161went back and walked no more with him. Young man Mar. 10 1…Mark 10:1And ſo that rich young man that came running to him with ſo much eagerneſs, and kneeled before him with ſo much Devotion, thought (without all peradventure) that Chriſt was a most excelent perſon, and that is was a moſt deſirable thing to be ſaved; But then his ultimate Thoughts were, that if He could not have Heaven and Earth too, it was beſt to venture the firſt, and to hold to that which he had in his Hand, and theſe thoughts carryed him, (as the like Thoughts do thouſands) away from Chriſt. And therefore the Antitheſis to the Text is remarkable, The thoughts of the Righteous are right, but the Counſels of the wicked (that is, their Deep, Deliberate,Saints at worſt of a more excellent Spirit then Hypocrites at beſt Bottom thoughts) are deceipt.

So then by this Rule we may diſcern what an Excellent Spirit p. 162there is,Daniel 6 3Dan 6:3 as 'twas ſaid of Daniel, in the meaneſt Saint, take him at his very worſt and loweſt, that is not to be found in the moſt flouriſhing Hypocrite in the world when he is arrayed in all his Glory. A gracious heart, (like a faithful ſoulater) be it never ſo oppreſſed and trodden down by its Enemy, yet its bottom thoughts are ſtill working at a Holy Revenge (as the Apoſtle ſaith,1 Cor, 7.11 yea what Revenge?) contriveing how it may cast off its Enemy, and having caſt it off, to cut it off; for it is to every upright perſon in the World that the Holy Ghoſt applyes that of the Prophet, thine heart ſhall MEDITATE TERROUR;Iſai. 33 18Isa 33:18 Thou ſhalt be thinking how to kill this corruption, and how to Conquer that Luſt, How to mortify this uncleanneſs, that inordinate affection, this Evil Concupiſence, that Covetouſneſs, how to be revenged of theſe uncircumciſed Phi…ſtines p. 163for thy two eyes, Iude 16 28for all that …ght of Holy Ioy and Peace, they …ve deprived thee of. Where… on the other hand the beſt Hy…crite, even whilſt he ſeems to …ld out the Garriſon with great…t Gallantry and Reſolution for …od and Chriſt, yet even then …s ſecret thoughts, his inward, …eep, and bottom thoughts are …r trucking with the Enemy, to …etray and yield up all, when He …yeth His ſeaſon, and pleaſing …dvantage; Thus Eſau reſolves … carry it moſt demurely during …is Fathers life, but his De p …oughts are all along,Gen. 27, 41Gen 27:41 (Eſau ſaid his heart ſaith the Text) the days of …ourning for my Father are at hand, …en will I ſlay my Brother. And …h! How many are there that …n palliate a foul and rotten heart, …ith the faireſt pretences and ap…earances, whilſt Godly Magi…rates, Miniſters, Parents, Guardians, p. 164Governours, continue with them, that all the while have a months mind, as we ſay, to the licenſe that other debauched o… vain perſons take, and ſecretly pleaſe themſelves with the thought thereof, which they purpoſe to themſelves, when the Awe o… ſuch, as at preſent hinder them, ſhall be removed and taken away? A kin to theſe are thoſe, who (though they will not ſell Whea… on the Sabbath day, yet) are ſtill thinking when will the Sabbath b… over? Amos 8 5Amos 8:5So then the teſt of our Spirits is our Deep thoughts.

And thus alſo we have a reaſon of a Following Rule in this, for it cannot but be ſuppoſed that Righ… thoughts muſt needs be (not idl… or unactive but) operative and abounding in fruit that are ſo happy in their Root, Iſaia. 37 32they take root downward, and therefore will bear fruit upward.

p. 165Sect. III.

NOw a grand Reaſon why I have deſired to ſpeak ſo fully and diſtinctly to this,Thoughts are to be conſidered with ſpecial reſpect to the Temperament of the body is this, which I deſ re moſt heedfully may be obſerved, The THOUGHTS of men (whereof the word of God is (as hath been ſaid) the great diſcerner, Hebr: 4, …and to the touch whereof we have been bringing them in theſe tryals) I ſay THOUGHTS of mens minds which, in the manner of Exerting and putting forth their operations, do much depend upon the various Temperaments of thoſe bodies wherein thoſe operations are put forth, are to be conſidered with a ſpecial reſpect thereunto; for moſt certain it is that neither Grace nor Corruption, neither ſin…erity nor Hypocriſy find all mens minds, be they good or bad, to p. 166work alike, but according as their diverſe workings are influenced by the diverſity of bodily conſtitution▪ Temperaments may help to more ſtabilitie of thoughts in ſome then in others.Now ſome temperatures (be it) naturally more heavy, lumpiſh and melancholick, more eaſily di… poſe their minds to greater meaſures of Reſolution, ſtability an… fixation of thoughts, when onc… the Thoughts are ſet, be the mind or matters good or bad; In worldly nay wicked things ſome are of on… mind, and who can turn them? truly none, but God Omnipotent; who, if God come once to ſet their Hearts aright, have a marvailous advantage in point of conſiſtency, and as to the ſtability of their good thoughts even from their Natural temper; whereas ſome others in Conſtitution ſanguine, and more ſymbolizing with the Air, their minds ſeem commonly more volatile, and ſo their thoughts more fluid, and leſs fixed, p. 167be the habit of their Minds, or Objects of their Thoughts, good or evil:Difference of natural conſtitution may appear as in converſion, Now this difference of Natural constitution, occaſions many miſtakes in the ſpiritual judging of … Eſtates. A man may be very ſerious, yet not Religious, though Iohn Baptist was naturally 'tis probable) very auſtere, Iohn came (ſaith Chriſt)Mat. …, 18 neither eating nor drinking: & another man may be very pleaſant, and yet not vain; and it would ſeem our Saviours Natural bodily temper was differ…ng from the Baptiſts, and diſpoſed him to a complaiſant converſa…ion, Verſe 29The Son of Man came eating …nd drinking (for even in that ſence his delights were with the Sons …f Men) Prov. 8, 3…Prov 8:3Rejoicing in the habitable …arts of the Earth: The Hebrew word ſignifyes ſporting, and ſo …he Margin reads it, and yet he was the pattern of all perfection. And as in Converſation, So in thoughts.ſo in p. 168Thoughts, the Natural temper may (if not attended) occaſion dangerous miſtakes in judgeing the ſpiritual state. Take an inſtance in tw… whom I take to be Eminent Saints King Solomon, Inſtance in K. Solomon and S. Pauland the Apoſtl… Paul, concerning the latter nor doubt, nor dare I of the former (who was Gods Iedidiah, from whom God ſaith he will never tak… his mercy, A Pen-man of Holy Writ, and ſo numbred by the Apoſtle among the Holy men of God a grand Type of Chriſt, and on… of thoſe Prophets of whom Chri… ſaith expreſsly that all the Prophe… are in the Kingdom of God, Luke 13 28Luke 13:28) yet ſuppoſe a vaſt difference in th… Natural temper of theſe two exce… lent men: Paul, no doubt, w… of great natural reſolution, and fixation, Acts 26 9Acts 26:9I verily thought (ſaith I of himſelf before his converſio… that I ought to do many things … gainſt the Name of Ieſus, Ver. 10, 11whi… p. 169…hing alſo I did in every Synagogue; He never alters his mind (as we ſay,) never changeth his thoughts, never turns, nor ever would, had not God overturned him; but then when God called him by his Grace, and ſet the Watch right, Oh! this Natural temper of His was an Excellent Ballance, and kept the mo…ion admirably right;Acts 21 13Acts 21:13 What do …ou mean (ſaith he) to weep and …reak mine heart? I am ready not …nely to be bound, but to Die for …he Name of Ieſus; 14And when he …ould not be perſuaded (ſay they) …e ceaſed, &c. You ſee He was …ixed before Converſion, and fix…d after; for Grace rather uſeth …hen altereth Nature, though it …ure its corruption. But now …olomon He was naturally (I que…tion not) of a more Airy Conſti…ution, foreign Luke 1… 39Luke 1:39and ſo of a more doubtful mind (as our Saviours Phraſe is which He borrows from the Aery p. 190Meteors, which are now here, and now there, and you can hardly find them fixed any where,) and ſo His thoughts more fluid and volatile, flying up and down from one thing to a contrary thing, from wiſdom, Eccleſ. 2 2Eccl 2:2to Wine, to Women, to Madneſs, to Folly, yea from one thing to a thouſand things, Even from the Cedar of Lebanon, to the Hyſſop upon the Wall; and being naturally (like Reuben) unſtable (as water) 1 Kin. 11 41 Kgs 11:4his Wives turned away his heart, and the Lord was angry with Solomon, becauſe his heart was turned away from the Lord God of Iſrael, which had appeared unto him twice; and yet there was a well of Water after all this, ſpringing up in Him to Everlaſting Life; for you may ſee what was in the bottom of his heart (what his deepeſt thoughts were) by what you find in the bottom of his Book of Penitence and Recantation; Let p. 171us hear (ſaith He) the CONCLUSION of the matter, FEAR GOD, and keep his Commandments, Eccle. 12:13Eccl 12:13&c. Now All is well (We ſay) that ends well.

Sect. IV:

THis then (to ſhut up this ſcrutiny)Concluſion of the Rule is that which we are moſt accurately to obſerve amongſt all that variety not onelyonly of Temptations, but of Tempers and conſequently of Thoughts, Purpoſes, and Reſolutions, if (as David ſaith in another reſpect)Pſal 94 14 Several inſtances of good thoughts at bottom, working out evil thoughtsPs 94:14 In the multitude of our thoughts within us, We can find Divine & gracious Thoughts to be deepeſt in our Soul. As to …d to the inſtance forementioned, when our ſlight Thoughts of God, and ſlaviſh fear of man, and thoughts of ſinful ſecuritie as to our ſelves, are wrought out by our p. 172ſanctifying the Lord God in our hearts, Iſaiah 8 13Isa 8:13and making him our FEAR, as the Prophet ſpeaks,

When ones high thoughts of himſelf, who is ready to ſay in his heart, My power and the might of my hand hath gotten me this wealth, Deut. 8 17Deut 8:17are removed by remembrance of the Lord God, Verſe 18and that it is he that gives power to get wealth.

When our ſelf-juſtifying, ſelf exalting thoughts are taken down and let fall (as Iob's plumes were) by his thoughts of his black feet, Iob …0 4behold I am vile, what ſhall I anſwer thee? &c.

When over-eager thoughts of the world are worn out by thinking on what He ſaith, who hath charged us to take no thought for to morrow; Luke 12 22Luke 12:22and over-valuing thoughts of the World, Matth 6 34Matt 6:34by thinking that the world was not Crucifyed for Us, cannot deliver, Prov. 11 4Prov 11:4or profit in the day of wrath, that labouring for the World, is p. 173but labouring for the wind; Eccleſ. 5 16Eccl 5:16whereof the more a man graſps (for the moſt part) the greater are the gripes, that their end is Destruction that mind earthly things, but eſpecially by Thinking that the Lord hath ſaid, Love not the world, nor the things of the world; 1 John 2 151 John 2:15for if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

When Fleſh-pleaſing thoughts are ſupplanted by thinking that to be carnally minded is death; Roman: 8 6that living in pleaſures upon the Earth, James … …and being wanton, is but the nouriſhing of the heart as in the day of ſlaughter; that a S. Paul himſelf muſt foreign, beat down his body, and bring it in ſubjection, 2 Cor. 9.172 Cor 9:17…eaſt he himſelf ſhould be a cast-away; Philip. 3 8Phil 3:8or when thoughts of the Excellency …f the knowledge of Chriſt come to make a man think other things to …e but dogs meat, or dung, that he …ay win Chriſt; when the thoughts p. 174of the Rivers of pleaſures, that are at Gods Right hand for evermore, do challenge the Heart, What haſt thou to do in the way of Aegypt,Jerem. 2 18Jer 2:18 to drink the waters of Silioi? what haſt thou to do with the puddle pleaſures of Sin, Heb. 11, 25Heb 11:25that are but for a ſeaſon?

When our wandring thoughts take Heaven for their home,In a word, when the wandring Thoughts (like weary travailers,) take Heaven for their Home, and though they fetch too many a compaſs, yet ſtill they ultimately are making thitherward: when they (like ſo many buſie Bees have been flying about all day perhaps, yet never reſt till they have houſed themſelves in God, as an Hive of ſweetneſs, and there find ſatisfactory Repaſt, and ſweet Repoſe, Thou mayſt well ſay Return to thy Rest O my Soul, Pſal. 116 7Ps 116:7and that the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee; for this was it that the Church comforted her ſelf in the thoughts p. 175of, that the deſire of her ſoul was to the remembrance of Gods Name, Iſai, 26 8 9with her Soul ſhe deſired him in the night; Verſe 13even when other Lords had had dominion over her, &c. for though Temptations (which are called)Ephe. 6, 16Eph 6:16 the fiery Darts of Satan may ſometimes make thee black, Cantic. 1 6Song 1:6like the Spouſe in the Canticles, and real mixtures of darkneſs may be found in thee, in reſpect of which thou mayſt fitly be compared to ſmoak, yet if thy Thoughts, like hers, Cant. 3 6Song 3:6be like Pillars of ſmoak, ſtill winding and working upward, Thou art black indeed, but yet beautiful in Chriſts account. As in the Levitical Law the creeping things going upon all four, were unclean, yet, Lev, 11 … 21if they had legs above their feet to leap withal, as the Locuſt, or Graſhopper, they were clean in the Laws account.