A Discourse Grounded on Proverbs, Part 1 · Trial 3

A Discourse Grounded on Proverbs · Part 1 · Trial 3

p. 176III. Tryal.

Sect. I:

3. Tryal, Right thoughts have influence upon ordering the converſation aright.Thirdly,

COme we then to the Third Tryall of Thoughts, (viz) Right thoughts have a natural Energy & influence unto the ordering of the Converſation aright, as the Scripture ſpeaks: Now the reaſon of this Rule is this, The Grace of God which (as we have ſeen)Pſal 50 23Ps 50:23 first ſtirs in Thoughts, is called in the Scripture the ſeed of God, … John 8.9John 8:9and therefore 'tis not poſſible that it ſhould prove abortive: for if the evil Spirit worketh effectually in the Children of Diſobedience, Epheſ. 2 2Eph 2:2by working firſt upon their Thoughts (why hath Satan filled thine heart? Acts 5 3Acts 5:3&c. Satans work begins p. 177there.) And if Luſt when it hath conceived in the Thought,Iſaiah 1 15Isa 1:15 brings forth ſin in the life, which is an Anomy or Tranſgreſsion of the Law, True Grace when it conceives in the Thought muſt accordingly bring forth Newneſs in the Life, Rom, 6.…(as Scripture ſpeaks) which is a conformity to the Rule of the new Creature, Gala. 6 16Gal 6:16the Law and the Tearms of the new Covenant, Hebr. 8, 8Heb 8:8which firſt ſaith I will put my ſpirit within them, and then they ſhall keep my judgements and do them, Eze. 36.2…Ezek 36:2which is to be underſtood of Evangelical obedience. Firſt Grace works in us, and then it ſets us a working; for after that it pleaſed God, who called me by his Grace, Ga. … 15, 16to reveal his Son in me, immediately, ſaith Paul, Acts 9 6Acts 9:6I conferred not with fleſh and bloud, &c. With whom then? why, Lord what wouldſt thou have me to do? His thoughts were working in the verſe before, and they p. 178ſet him a work in the verſe following.

Epheſ. 1 11Eph 1:11The works of God, which we cal… Providence, are All purſuant to th… thoughts of God, which Scriptur… calls his Purpoſe. Jer. 23 20Jer 23:20Thus God i… ſaid to perform all the thoughts an… intents of his heart. … Pet. 1, 4Now Grac… is called a partaking of the Divin… nature, and therefore cannot ſpen… it ſelf in bare thinking. In Natur… the motions of the hands and feet without the command or expreſ… dictate of the Tongue, do readily purſue the thoughts and motions o… the mind, Prov 16, 9Prov 16:9and therefore it is ſaid that a mans heart deviſeth his way A man thinketh to go ſuch a way and goes it; He thinks to do ſuc… a thing, and does it. And it is ſo in corrupt Nature, Iſaiah 65, 2Isa 65:2they walk in … way that is not good, after their own hearts; And it is as truly ſo i… Grace. I thought on my ways, ſait… David, Pſa, 119, 59and turned my feet unto th… p. 179…eſtimonies. Right Thoughts indeed may we well call them,Right thoughts are rectifying thoughts: when …hey are Rectifying thoughts, when …hey make us to do Right; as, the …poſtle ſaith, He that doth Righte…uſneſs, is Righteous. 1 John 3 71 John 3:7'Tis ſaid of …he Wicked, They conceive miſ…hief, and bring forth Iniquity. Iſaiah 59 4Isa 59:4…nd can We think it proper to …race onelyonly to prove abortive? Wo to …hem, ſaith God,Micah 2 …Mic 2 that deviſe Ini…uity, and work evil upon their beds; …hen the morning is light they pra…ice it, becauſe it is in the power of …eir hand. This is the Caſe and …haracter of the wicked, He, firſt …eviſeth miſchief upon his bed, Pſalm 36 4Ps 36:4and …hen ſets himſelf in a way that is not …od; And thus the Sincere Con…eit, what good he thinks to do, …hen God holds him down on …e Bed of ſorrows (as Scripture …hraſe is)Revel. 2 …Rev 2 and in the Night of af…ction, he will not therefore for…ar doing, becauſe God lifts up the p. 180light of his Countenance upon him, ſo far as it is in the power of hi… hand; but will rather ſay with David, Pſal: 66 11 12, 13with a little vari tion, th… laidſt affliction upon our Loins, bu… thou broughtest us out into a wealth… place, I will pay thee my vows, whic… my Heart hath purpoſed, and m… mouth ſpoken when I was in trouble 'Tis true indeed,purpoſe often outgoes power, that in both caſes the purpoſe of the Heart doth oftentimes outgo the power of th… hand; A wicked man thinks to do more miſchief then he can poſſibly compaſs; Thus Eſau purpoſed to kill Jacob,Gen, 27 42 and Saul though… to make David fall by the Philiſtine▪ … Sa. 18, 25 Neh. 6.2Neh 6:2It is ſaid Sanballat and Geſhem thought to do Nehemiah miſchief yet they could not do it: So Child of God perhaps purpoſet… greater exactneſs, and more cloſ… walking with God, (in a ſickneſs under a Sermon, or at a Sacrament then he can poſſibly attain unt… p. 181…fterwards, by reaſon of renew…ngs of Temptation, and remain…g corruption, and then (it may …e) he is ready to cry out, Oh my thoughts were never right, my purpoſes were never ſincere, for if they had, I had never fallen …o ſhort in performance; I thought …n ſuch a ſtraight, if ever God brought me out of it, I ſhould never forget my ſelf, and God, and it, as (to my ſhame and confuſion of face I may ſpeak it) I I have ſince done; I thought under ſuch a trouble of mind if God would ever ſpeak pardon to my ſin, and Peace to my ſoul,Job 15 …Job 15 the Conſolations of God ſhould never more be ſmall with me, I would never neglect my Evidences for Heaven,Epheſ, 4 30 never grieve the Comforter, as I (like a wretch) have ſince done; I would never return to folly, never indulge corruption,Pſalm 85 8Ps 85:8 never dally with Temptation p. 182any more; I thought I ſhoul… never have been ſo ſlight in hol… dutyes, in Cloſet or Family, neve… have paſt a day without ſom… ſoul-repaſt by ſweet and ſolem… meditations; never have reſtrained prayer from the Almighty; Job 15 4Job 15:4thought I ſhould never ha… ſpent ſo many Lords days ſo … leſly, heard Sermons ſo unprofitably, read Gods word ſo unattentively, as I have ſince done I thought alſo I ſhould have taug… Tranſgreſſours Gods way, Pſal, 51, 13and th… ſinners ſhould have been conver… unto him; that I ſhould have o… preſſed more Zeal for the glory … God,Hebr: 5 2 more compaſsion on the i… norant, and on them that are o… of the way; more Courage in i… proving Sin in others, and … in being exemplary unto othe… in my own Converſation: B… alas!Job 17 11Job 17:11 How may I complain, … Iob, that my purpoſes are brok… p. 183off, even the thoughts of my heart; that I went out (like Naomi)Ruth 1 21Ruth 1:21 full full of purpoſes, but Returned emptie of performances; I thought to have gone forth victorious like Sampſon, but found my ſtrength upon tryal,Judges 20 17 and 20Judg 20:17Judg 20:20 but like another mans; I thought like Peter, Mark 14 2…Mark 14:2that though all ſhould have been offended in Chriſt, yet ſhould not I; But, alas, I have found ſlender temptations too hard for me, as the Damoſel was for him;Verſe …6 and truly now the thing that I feared is come upon me, I thought this Tryal would find me out, that my thoughts and purpoſes were never right, for they have never reached their intended performance.

p. 184Sect. II.

Right application of the Rule.BUt for the right application of this Rule, and that the bruiſed Reed may not be broken, as the leaf that is driven to and fro, Iſaiah 42 3Isa 42:3you muſt know that the right ordered Converſation before mentioned,Job 13 25Job 13:25 as the genuine iſſue of Right Thoughts, is not to be eſtimated by Legal but by Evangelical meaſures; and ſo the Thoughts themſelves, not ſo much by the ſucceſsfulneſs of attainment, as by the ſincerity of endeavour, for (what the Apoſtle ſaith in another caſe,… Cor. 8 12 is true here) if there be firſt a willing mind, it is accepted according to what a man hath, not according to what he hath not: Now where this willing mind is, there will be reality of endeavour to do what it can, though it cannot do what it would, as the Apoſtle Paul ſaith,Rom. 7 1…Rom 7:1 The good that i… p. 185would do that I cannot; and again, not that I have already attained, either were already perfect, Phil. 3 12Phil 3:12but one thing I do, I preſs forward, &c. there will, and there muſt be a preſsing forward. Grace is a Warfare rather, then a Triumph, and a Plowing rather then a Reaping, Phil. 2… …Phil 2and therefore the Holy Ghoſt to right Thoughts ads diligence, and to that a tending to plenteouſneſs; if plenty do not preſently attend them, yet they intend it, and tend towards it, We ſay, He that will ſhoot high must aim at a Star, though he cannot hit it He therefore that purpoſeth Holineſs, Good purpoſes h… ſeconded with Evangelical diſobedienceas God is Holy, whoſe careful and real endeavours in all holy means and ways are purſuant to his purpoſes; whoſe daily ſhort comings are his daily burden and bitterneſs, who, (unfeignedly bewailing them) humbly rowls his Penitent Soul upon the perfect righteouſneſs p. 186of Ieſus Christ (which was the caſe and practice of the Apoſtle in the place before quoted) is a compleat man in Chriſt, Philip: 4 9and a Converſation thus ordered is a Scripture Evidence that the Thoughts are Right, and that the man is Righteous.

Pſal. 14… 4 Thoughts without works dead thoughts:Ps 14:4But then on the other hand, what the Scripture ſpeaks of the day of Death, is fitly applicable to a ſtate of ſpiritual Death, That all a mans Thoughts periſh; for as faith without works is a dead faith, James 2 17Jas 2:17ſo Thoughts without works may be ſaid to be dead thoughts; Nay theſe are ſometimes the Evidence of one whom the Scripture calls twice dead, Jude 1 2 Twice dead how meantJude 1:2pluckt up by the roots, that is once dead as to his Natural ſinful condition; and then again dead in regard of the motions and ſtirrings of thoughts and purpoſes which ſeemed to ſhew ſome ſpiritual life, and yet after all come to p. 187nothing. Therefore, ſaith Solomon, 1 Kin. 8 47 481 Kgs 8:47if they bethink themſelves and return, &c. For a man to bethink himſelf, and not to return, is to ad an high aggravation to his former Impenitency; 'tis ſin enough to crucify the ſon of God afreſh, and not to bethink ones ſelf what one is a doing; but to conſider Ieſus, and yet to trample his Bloud under feet, (As They ſaid, Come this is the Heir, Mat 21 38Matt 21:38let us kill him) this leaves no room for that very Prayer of Chriſt, Father forgive them, they know not …hat they do: For a man to bethink himſelf of Heaven, as Eſau of the Birthright, and yet to deſpiſe it, Gen. 25 32Gen 25:32or to bethink himſelf of Hell, and yet to ruſh into it as the Horſe into …he Battle, This is as it were to deal cruely with Chriſt in cold bloud, to bid defyance to the God of Heaven upon Advice and ſet …ouncel, which too many do upon …nadvertency and non-conſideration; p. 188or at leaſt, like the vile Gadarenes, when Chriſt comes into our Thoughts, as he came into their Coaſts, for our Swines ſake, our filthy Luſts ſake, to beſeech him to depart out of our Countrey; nay,Luke 8 37Luke 8:37 with the wicked Jews, when conviction puts it upon our Thoughts (as Pilate did upon theirs, ſhall I crucify your King?) ſhall I Crucify the Lord Jeſus, by continued Impenitency, & unbelief? When Barabbas and Ieſus lie both before our Thoughts, deliberately to deny the Holy One, Acts … 14Acts 14and to chooſe a Murderer. And Oh! how ſad will it be to periſh without Christ, under ſo many Thoughts of Christ? or to go to Hell with ſo many Thoughts and fruitleſs purpoſes of going to Heaven.

p. 189Sect. III:

YEt alas,Folly of tru…ting to idle thoughts & purpoſes. how many are t…e e that have many co…fi…ent Thoughts of Heaven, becauſe they have now and then a few co d, unact ve, unoperative though…s for Heaven; and carry theſe con…ident Thoughts with them to their very Graves, as the fooliſh Virgins, M … 25 11 12that roundly knock at Chriſts door with a Lord, Lord, Open unto us, but the Anſwer is, I know you not. Fooliſh Ones, m…y I well ſay; for as in caſe where prudence might foreſee the Evil of Event, or Conſequence, to a Th…ught or purpoſe, we ſay, Stultum eſt dicere non putâram, 'tis a fool ſh thing to ſay, I never thought that this woul… have come of it, or elſe I would never have engaged in it, ſo in …ll caſes where we have the Higheſt aſſurances from Religion p. 190and Reaſon that the underſtanding of a man is capable of, that our Labour ſhall not be in vain in the Lord, 1 Cor. 15.581 Cor 15:58stultum est dicere pu…â am, 'tis a fooliſh thing to ſay, I thought to have repented, and I thought to have believed, and to ſtick there and go no farther. What doth it profit my Brethren, ſaith the Apoſtle,Iames 2 14Jas 2:14 If a man ſay he have faith, and hath not works, can faith ſave him? So I may ſay, if a man ſay he have Thoughts, and hath not works, can Thoughts ſave him? If a man think over night to be ſo far onwards of his journey by ſuch an hour in the morning, and ſleep out the time he ſhould go it in, can Thoughts carry him? If a Prince command his Servant in the morning (on pain of Death) to do ſuch a thing, of moſt high importance to his Crown and Dignity, and that muſt be done that day or not at all; and promiſe him p. 191withal a munificent Reward in caſe of performance; ſuppoſe this ſervant goes forth of his Prince's Preſence, full of many buiſy Thoughts, and preſent purpoſes of going about the buſineſs; but by the way falls into evil Company, or into ſome other buiſineſs, trivial and vain in reſpect of his Great Masters, but more pleaſing to the wicked and ſloathful Servant; but returns at night,Mat. 25 26Matt 25:26 and (with Confidence ſhall I ſay, or Impudence?) ſues for his reward; ſhall the Princes bounty reward this mans vain purpoſe? or his juſt ſeverity puniſh his inexcuſable neg…ect of performance? Reader what thinkeſt thou? Even ſo ſaith God, Caſt ye the unprofitable Servant into …tter darkneſs, Verſe 3…there ſhall be weeping and gnaſhing of teeth; He ſaith not the Servant that never purpoſed, but the Servant that never did what he ſhould have done, and ſo p. 192never profited. And on the other hand, it is not ſaid, well thought, or well meant, or well purpoſed, or well intended, but WELL DONE thou good & faithful ſervant, Verſe 21thus David deſcribing the Bleſſed man, ſai h not onelyonly that He meditates in the Law day and night, but alſo brings forth his fruit in his ſeaſon; Pſa. 1.2, 3, 4Ps 1:2Ps 1:3Ps 1:4But, ſaith he, the ungodly is not ſo.

Sect. IV.

thoughts no wayes right when wayes alway grievous Pſalm 10 5Ps 10:5THis then is a ſure Rule. His Thoughts are no ways Right and Good, whoſe wayes are alwayes grievous, as the Scripture ſpeaks. There is no ſuch thing as GOOD MEANINGS, (a Deluſ ion that damns thouſands) where there is no GOOD LIFE (as before explained)ſaiah 32 8 The liberal ſaith the Prophet, deviſeth liberal things, and by the liberal things he ſhall ſtand. 'Tis well when THOUGHTS p. 193and THINGS go together; otherwiſe the very Thoughts of GOOD or of doing GOOD, or of becoming GOOD, are not GOOD, becauſe they are vain, and Scripture reckons all VAIN THOUGHTS to …he wickedneſs of heart, and ſuch a One as the continuance whereof excludes from Salvation; Waſh …hine Heart from wickedneſs, Jerem, 4 14that Thou mayſt be ſaved, how long ſhall vain thoughts lodge within thee? Thoughts not onelyonly vain when ſet upon vain objects but upon the beſt objects in vain,Now, Thoughts are VAIN, not …nely when ſet upon vain objects, …ut if they be placed upon the …eſt objects in vain, or to no pur…oſe, as our Phraſe is, when a …hing doth not reach its real or …ractical end, we ſay ſuch a thing … to no purpoſe: and ſo pur…oſes themſelves may be ſaid to be …o no purpoſe. How purpoſes may be ſaid to be to no purpoſe.They ſay in Philo…ophy, Frustra fit potentia quae nun…uam producitur in Actum, that …ower is vain that is never produced p. 194Act; ſo may I ſay in Divinity, Thoſe Thoughts are vain that are never produced into Exerciſe or Operation, as the Drunkard who often thinks of amendment, but ſtill turns like a Dog to his vomit, … Pet 2, 24or the unclean Whoremonger, or Harlot in the Proverbs, that after her Vows and her peace offerings, Prov. 7, 14Prov 7:14returns with the Swine that was waſhed to her wallowing in the mire, or as thoſe in Malachy of whom the Holy Ghoſt thus complains,Mal. 2.13Mal 2:13 and againſt whom he thus witneſſeth, And this have ye DONE AGAIN, Covering the Altar of the Lord with Tears, with weeping and with crying out, inſomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, or receiveth it with good will at your hands. Not that we are therefore not to purpoſe, much leſs to purpoſe againſt purpoſing that which is good, but to take care to fulfil our purpoſes; for if they periſh that p. 195go ſo far as this Text mentioneth, what ſhall be the end of thoſe that come ſo far ſhort of them, that come ſhort of Heaven?

And ſo we come to