Right Thoughts, Part 1 · Trial 2
II. Tryal.
Sect. I.
Secondly, THoughts are to be known to be right by their ROOT, as Plants are,2. Tryal. Thoughts are to be known or no by their root. 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 grown not in the Wild, or common Field of corrupt Nature, but in the Garden of Grace; ſo now, in the ſecond Tryal, by the occult and inward manner of their growth, which I call their Radication. This I ſay then,If good thoughts be our deep thoughts. if good Thoughts be thy DEEP Thoughts, if (as we ſay) the beſt be at bottom, thy thoughts are then Right, and thou art Righteous: for as the deep thoughts of Worldlings are worldly thoughts, and 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 INWARD THOUGHT is, Pſal. 49.11.that their Houſes ſhall continue for ever, &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 mortality, and the vanity and tranſitorineſs of all worldly things, ſwiming, 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, to have thought within himſelf, Luke 12.17. Verſe 19.Soul, thou haſt much goods laid up for many years, Take thine eaſe, eat, drink and be merry. Note the phraſe, he thought within himſelf; There are other kind of thoughts that ſometimes knock at the door of the worldings Heart, Nay ſometimes look in at his windows, as Pauls Sermon began to preſs in upon Felix his Heart, Acts 24.25.and 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, Pſalm 64.6.according to that of the Pſalmiſt, the inward thoughts of every one of them, and the heart is deep. And ſo if thy inward Thoughts and deep Thoughts be good thoughts, Rom. 2.19.'tis a good ſigne. Thus He is a Jew, that is one inwardly. When God has put wiſdom in the inward parts, as it is in Jeremiah; Jer 21.33. Pſalm. 5 9. Luke 11.39. Jerem. 9.8.as 'tis ſaid of the wicked, that their inward part is very wickedneſs, and that their inward part is full of Ravening and wickedneſs: even when he ſpeaketh peaceably with his mouth, yet in Heart he layes 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 Hearts root, as it were; and the work of Grace being to fix the Heart aright, (as David ſaith, My Heart is fixed O God, my Heart is fixed) like a wiſe Maſter Builder, Pſalm. 108.1.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 word, thus, altas radices agere, Good thoughts build high, therefore muſt be b…tomed low. Acts 16.30.is to take deep Root, 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 …ayler.) 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, Numb. 24.34.whoſe Heart is full of Poyſon.) But the good treaſure of the Heart.
Our Saviour, comparing Gods Word to Seed, Math. 13.4. Verſe 5.Mans Heart to Soil, Thoughts and purpoſes to a ſpringing up of that Seed in the Soil, expreſly ſaith of the ſtony ground in oppoſition to the good ground, (that is,Luke 8.14. the good and honeſt heart as himſelf explains it) that therefore it was that all came to nothing,Ma…. 13.56. becauſe there was no depth of earth for the Seed, and they that ſprung up had no root, and therefore they withered away.
Mat. 25.1.And in the Parable of the Virgins, where he deſignedly puts the difference between the ſound Believer and the Hypocrite, He denies not the fooliſh to have Lamps and Lights, and Oyl in their Lamps, to keep them burning for a ſeaſon; but denies them to have any Oyl in their Veſſels, as the Wiſe had. The Lamps were the Outſide and ſhallow appearances of ſplendid Notions and Profeſſions, but the Veſſels are the very inwards and depths of the Heart▪ and therefore its ſaid,Prov. 13.9. The light of the righteous rejoyceth, but the Lamp of the wicked 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 th y may ſee your good works) hath a Veſſel within full of Oyl, to keep it burning perpetually, and therefore it rejoyceth, but the Lamp of the wicked hath not ſo, and therefore time ſhall put it out.
And when he repreſents the Grace that he gives, by a Well of Water in a man ſpringing up to everlaſting life; John 4.14. Good thoughts a well-ſpring.This Phraſe is moſt accurately to be attended to our preſent purpoſes; We are not in judging of a man ſo much to conſider what may be put into a man, or what may for ſome time float at top, nay flow from a man, but what the SPRINGINGS UP are that are IN A MAN. And ſo the Apoſtle James alſo puts the Tryal upon what the FOUNTAIN yields, James 3.11. Verſe 14.whether it be ſweet water, or bitter, ſalt water or freſh; which expreſſion he doth enough explain, when he ſaith,Verſe 12. If you have bitter envying, 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 pleaſing profeſsions, ſhews and appearances will be no good Teſtimony for you when theſe BITTER ſpringings up within you bear witneſs againſt you.
In Nature, there are Springs or Wells of diverſe ſorts, the diligent obſervation of which will much clear the ſcope of theſe Texts of Scripture, and the thing in hand; I ſhall only inſtance in ſuch as I have ſeen. There is the ſalt ſpring at Nantwich, where the ſpringings up are naturally ſalt; Now let never 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 in ſome time work out all the freſh water, and will continue (as before) perfectly ſalt. Again, there is the generous and famous Spring, called the HOLY WELL, in Wales, that is perpetually boiling up with an admirable activity, ſo that if never ſo much ſalt water ſhould be poured into it, though all the waters (for the preſent) would taſt ſalt or brackiſh, yet give it time, and it would certainly work out all that Heterogeneous mixture, and retain its ſweetneſs, and (as I may ſay) its Native excellency and purity.
This then is a grand Rule for the tryal of Right Thoughts, if thy good thoughts be ſuch as continually ſpringing up, do work out evil 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 expreſly, that Godly ſorrow worketh where it worketh Repentance to ſalvation; 1 Cor. 7.10, 11.this ſelf ſame thing, ſaith be, 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 ha…h its ſpring in the Thoughts, as the Evangeliſt ſaith of Peter, when he thought thereon he wept. Mark 14.7.As the Jews in their Captivity, wept when they remember Zion; ſo Peter, in his ſpiritual Captivity,Pſ l. 137.1. wept when he remembred Sin. But a little before, the ſtoods of the ungodly had overwhelmed the good man, and the waters of bitterneſs had come into his ſoul; And had we but taſted of his ſpirit, by 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 and curſing he denied that ever he knew Jeſus: 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 bottome Thoughts were full of real kindneſs to his Lord and Maſter, which ſhortly after (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 of 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.
Inſtances of good thoughts deepeſt. Gen. 25.25.AS this therefore is the grand trouble of many gracious Perſons, that they find many ſtrong and boiſterous and evil Thoughts, like rugged Eſau, that preſent themſelves firſt to view, and ſeem to be ſtrongeſt and moſt impetuous, yet this may be a comfort, if they can find good Thoughts, like another Jacob, taking thoſe other thoughts, as it were, by the heel, Verſe 26.and continually labouring to ſupplant them; for inſtance,
If you look on David (a Gracious man, and one of a very tender ſpirit) as He firſt appears under Nabals provocation,David. 1 Sam. 25.21, 22. you find all the waters, as it were, turned into blood, 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 Abigail, Verſe 32.33.Bleſſed be the Lord God of Iſrael, who ſent thee this day to me; and bleſſed be thy advice, and bleſſed be thou, which haſt kept me this day from coming to ſhed blood, and from avenging my ſelf with my own hand. So that whereas there was a Root of bitterneſs ſpringing up, which would have brought trouble enough upon himſelf and others, there is alſo a deeper root of ſweetneſs ſupplanting the former, and yielding the peaceable fruit of righteouſneſs. And, by the way, the Reader may remark that they whoſe Thoughts are right and 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 means 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, Hezekiah.whom when God had raiſed up, the Text ſaith, preſently his Heart was lifted up, 2 Chro. 32.25.ſo that there was wrath upon him and upon Judah and Jeruſalem; His heart ſwells with proud and haughty thoughts; Notwithſtanding, ſaith the next Verſe,Verſe 24. Hezekiah humbled himſelf for the pride of his heart, ſo that the wrath of the Lord came not upon them in the dayes of Hezekiah. Here was Humility at the bottom, His lowly Thoughts were his loweſt Thoughts, and his deepeſt Thoughts, which did wear and work out the former.
Thus holy Aſaph, Aſaph. Pſal. 73.16, 17.what dark and diſcontentful Thoughts had he concerning the proſperity of the wicked in this world, and the equitableneſs of divine providence therein? When I thought to know this, Verſe 21.ſaith he, it was too painful for me; But when he comes into the Sanctuary, Verſe 23.and applyes himſelf to the due uſe and help of Holy means and Ordinances, how plenteouſly do better thoughts then the former ſpring up, and work out the former? and how doth his Heart preſently flow not only with truly penitent Thoughts, like Peters for his former diſtemper, Thus, ſaith he,Verſe 24. my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins; but alſo with ſweet ſerenity and Coeleſtial ſatisfaction; for you inſtantly find him in the mount of contemplation, which becomes to him a Mount of Transfiguration, when he thus ſaith,Verſe 23.24. Nevertheleſs I am ſtill with thee; thou ſhalt guide me with thy Councel, and afterwards receive me to glory: Verſe 26.Whom have I in Heaven but thee? and there is none in Earth that I deſire beſides thee. And thus you ſee in gracious Hearts, that gracious Thoughts are ſtill the bottom thoughts.
Inſtances of evil thoughts deepeſt Pilate.On the contrary, How many are there that have many good thoughts, as to the matter of them, floating at top, but there is ſtill ſome Evil, wicked thoughts at the Bottom, to worm and work them out? Thus Pilate had many thoughts that were good in themſelves, He thought Jeſus was a juſt perſon, and he thought it juſt in Himſelf to acquit and juſtifie the innocent, and he had many thoughts and contrivances how to ſet him at liberty; but then the bottom thoughts of all, were baſe 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,John 19.12, 13, 17. the Jews cryed out, ſaying, if thou let this man go, thou art not Caeſars friend; When Pilate therefore heard that ſaying, He brought out Jeſus, &c. and delivered him to them to be Crucified.
Agrippa.Thus Agrippa, no doubt, had many good Thoughts and motions in his mind, when he cryes out to St. Paul, Acts 26.28. Many followers of Chriſt.Almoſt thou perſwadeſt me to be a Chriſtian. And many of Chriſts followers thought, no 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) Many of his Diſciples went back, John 6.66.and walked no more with him. And ſo that rich young man that came running to him with ſo much eagerneſs, Young man, Math. 10.17.and kneeled before him with ſo much Devotion, thought (without all peradventure) that Chriſt was a moſt excellent perſon, and that it 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, Bottom thoughts) are deceipt.Saints at worſt of a more excellent Spirit then Hypocrites at beſt. Daniel 6.3.
So then by this Rule we may diſcern what an Excellent Spirit there is, 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 Souldier) 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 yet what Revenge? 1 Cor. 7.11.) contriving 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;Iſaiah 33.18. Thou ſhalt be thinking how to kill this corruption, and how to Conquer that Luſt, How to mortifie this uncleanneſs, that inordinate affection, this Evil Concupiſence, that Covetouſneſs, how to be revenged of theſe uncircumciſed Philiſtines for thy two eyes, Jud. 16.28.for all that light of Holy Joy and Peace, they have deprived thee of. Whereas on the other hand the beſt Hypocrite, even whilſt he ſeems to hold out the Garriſon with greateſt Gallantry and Reſolution for God and Chriſt, yet even then his ſecret thoughts, his inward, deep, and bottom thoughts are trucking with the Enemy, to betray and yield up all, when He ſpyeth His ſeaſon, and pleaſing advantage; Thus Eſau reſolves to carry it moſt demurely during His Fathers life, but his Deep thoughts are all along,Gen. 27 41. (Eſau ſaid in his heart ſaith the Text) the dayes of mourning for my Father are at hand, then will I ſtay my Brother. And Oh! How many are there that can palliate a foul and rotten heart, with the faireſt pretences and appearances, whilſt Godly Magiſtrates, Miniſters, Parents, Guardians, Governours, continue with them, that all the while have a months mind, as we ſay, to the licenſe that other debauched or vain perſons take, and ſecretly pleaſe themſelves with the thoughts thereof, which they purpoſe to themſelves, when the Awe of ſuch, as at preſent hinder them, ſhall be removed and taken away? A kin to theſe are thoſe, who (though they will not ſell Wheat on the Sabbath day, Amos 8.5.yet) are ſtill thinking when will the Sabbath be over? So 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 Right thoughts muſt needs be (not idle or unactive but) operative and abounding in fruit that are ſo happy in their Root, Iſaiah 37.32.they take root downward, and therefore will bear fruit upward.
Sect. III.
Thoughts are to be conſidered with ſpecial reſpect to the Temperament of the body. Hebr. 4.12.NOw a grand Reaſon why I have deſired to ſpeak ſo fully and diſtinctly to this, is this, which I deſire moſt heedfully may be obſerved. The THOUGHTS of men (whereof the word of God is (as hath been ſaid) the great diſcerner, 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, Temperaments may help to more ſtability of thoughts in ſome then in others.neither Sincerity nor Hypocriſie find all mens minds, be they good or bad, to work alike, but according as their diverſe workings are influenced by the diverſity of bodily conſtitutions; Now ſome temperatures (being naturally more heavy, lumpiſh, and melancholick, more eaſily diſpoſe their minds to greater meaſures of Reſolution, ſtability and fixation of thoughts, when once the Thoughts are ſet, be the minds or matters good or bad; In worldly, nay wicked things ſome are of one 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 volatile, and ſo their thoughts more fluid, and leſs fixed, be the habit of their Minds, Difference of natural conſtitution may appear, as in converſion.or Objects of their Thoughts, good or evil: Now this difference of Natural conſtitution, occaſions many miſtakes in the ſpiritual judging of Mens Eſtates. A man may be very ſerious, yet not Religious, though John Baptiſt was naturally ('tis probable) very auſtere, John came (ſaith Chriſt) neither eating nor drinking: Mar. 11.28.and another man may be very pleaſant, and yet not vain; and it would ſeem our Saviours Natural bodily temper was differing from the Baptiſts, and diſpoſed him to a complaiſant converſation, Verſe 29.The Son of Man came eating and drinking (for even in that ſence his delights were with the Sons of Men) Rejoycing in the habitable parts of the Earth: The Hebrew word ſignifies ſporting, Prov. 8.5.and ſo the Margin reads it, and yet he was the pattern of all Perfection. And as in Converſation, So in thoughts.ſo in thoughts, the Natural temper may (if not attended) occaſion dangerous miſtakes in judging the ſpiritual ſtate. Take an inſtance in two, whom I take to be Eminent Saints, King Solomon, and the Apoſtle Paul, Inſtance in King Solomon and St. Paul.concerning the later none doubt, nor dare I of the former, (who was Gods Iedidiah, from whom God, ſaith he, will never take 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 one of thoſe Prophets of whom Chriſt ſaith expreſly, that all the Prophets are in the Kingdom of God, Luke 15.2…) yet I ſuppoſe a vaſt difference in the Natural temper of theſe two excellent men: Paul, no doubt, was of great natural reſolution, Acts 26.9…and fixation, I verily thought (ſaith he of himſelf before his Converſion) that I ought to do many things againſt the Name of Jeſus, Verſe 10, 11.which thing 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 motion admirably: What do you mean (ſaith he) to weep and break mine heart? Acts 21.17.I am ready not onelyonly to be bound, but to Die for the Name of Jeſus; And when he would not be perſwaded (ſay they) we ceaſed, &c. You ſee He was fixed before Converſion, and fixed after; for Grace rather uſeth then altereth Nature, though it cures its corruption, But now Solomon, He was naturally (I queſtion not) of a more Airy Conſtitution, and ſo of a more doubtful mind (as our Saviours Phraſe is which He borrowes from the Aiery Meteors, foreign. Luke 12.30.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. 2.2.to 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) his Wives turned away his heart, 1 Kings 11.4.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 us hear (ſaith He) the CONCLUSION of the matter, FEAR GOD,Eccleſ. 12.15. and keep his Commandments, &c. Now All is well (We ſay) that ends well.
Sect. IV.
THis then (to ſhut up this ſcrutiny) is that which we are moſt accurately to obſerve amongſt all that variety not only of Temptations,Concluſion of the Rule. but of Tempers, and conſequently of Thoughts, Purpoſes, and Reſolutions,Pſal. 94.14. Several inſtances of good thoughts at bottom, working out evil thoughts. Iſaiah 8.13. if (as David ſaith in another reſpect In the multitude of our thoughts within us, We can find Divine and gracious Thoughts to be deepeſt in our Soul. As to add to the inſtance forementioned, when our ſlight Thoughts of God, and ſlaviſh fear of Man, and thoughts of ſinful ſecurity as to our ſelves, are wrought out by our ſanctifying the Lord God in our hearts, and making him our FEAR, as the Prophet ſpeaks,
When ones high thoughts of himſelf, who is ready to ſay in his heart, Deut. 8.17.My power and the might of my hand hath …otten me this wealth, are removed by remembrance of the Lord God, Verſe 18.and that it is he that gives power to get wealth.
When our ſelf-juſtifying, ſelf-exalting thoughts are taken down and let fall (as Job's plumes were) by his thoughts of his black feet, behold I am vile, Job 40.4.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 12.22. Matth. 6.34. Prov. 11.4.and over-valuing thoughts of the World, by thinking that the world was not Crucified for Us, cannot deliver, or profit in the day of wrath, that labouring for the World, is but labouring for the Wind; Eccleſ. 5.16.whereof the more a man g…aſps (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; for if any man love the World, 1 John 2.15the love of the Father is not in him.
When Fleſh-pleaſing thoughts are ſupplanted by thinking that to be carnally minded is death; Romans 8.…. James 5.5.that living in pleaſures upon the Earth, and being wanton, is but the nouriſhing of the heart as in the day of ſlaughter; that a St. Paul himſelf muſt foreign,1 Cor. 9.27. beat down his body, and bring it in ſubjection, leaſt he himſelf ſhould be caſt away, Phil. 3.8.or when thoughts of the Excellency of the knowledge of Chriſt come to make a man think other things to be but dogs meat, or dung, that he may win Chriſt; when the thoughts of the Rivers of pleaſures, that are at Gods Right hand for evermore, do challenge the Heart,Jerm. 2.18. What haſt thou to do in the way of Aegypt, to drink the waters of Sihoi?Heb. 11.25. what haſt thou to do with the puddle pleaſures of Sin, that 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,Pſal. 116.7. Return to thy Reſt, O my Soul, and that the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee, for this was it that the Church comforted her ſelf in the thoughts of, that the deſire of her ſoul was to the remembrance of Gods Name, Iſaiah 26.8, 9. Verſe 13.with her Soul ſhe deſired him in the night; even when other Lords had dominion over her, &c. for though Temptations (which are called) the fiery Darts of Satan may ſometimes make thee black, Epheſ. 6.16. Cant. 1.7.like 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 h…rs, be like Pillars of ſmoak, Cant. 3.6.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, …ev. 11.20, 21.were unclean, yet, if they had legs above their feet to leap withal, as the Locuſt, or Graſhopper, they were clean in the Laws account.