Right Thoughts, Part 1 · Trial 3
III. Tryal.
Sect. I.
Thirdly,
COme we then to the Third Tryal of Thoughts, (viz, 3. Tryal, Right thoughts have influence upon ordering the converſation aright. Pſal 50.23. 1 Iohn 8.9. Epheſ. 2.2. Acts 5.3.Right Thoughts have a natural Energy and 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) firſt ſtirs in Thoughts, is called in the Scripture the ſeed of God, and therefore 'tis not poſſible that it ſhould prove abortive: for if the evil Spirit worketh effectually in the Children of Diſobedience, by working firſt upon their Thoughts (why hath Satan filled thine heart? &c, Satans work begins there.Iſaiah 1.15.) And if Luſt when it hath conceived in the Thought, 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. Gal. 6.16. Hebr. 8.8.(as Scripture ſpeaks) which is a conformity to the Rule of the new Creature, the Law and the Tearms of the new Covenant, which firſt ſaith, I will put my ſpirit within them, and then they ſhall keep my judgments and do them, Ezek. 36.27.which 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, to reveal his Son in me, immediately, ſaith Paul, Gal. 1.15, 16. Acts 9.6.I conferred not with Fleſh and Blood, &c. With whom then? why▪ Lord what wouldſt thou have me to do? His thoughts were working in the verſe before, and they ſee him a work in the verſe following.
The works of God, which we call Providence, are All purſuant to the thoughts of God, Epheſ. 1.11. Jer. 23.20.which Scripture calls his Purpoſe. Thus God is ſaid to perform all the thoughts and intents of his heart. Now Grace is called a partaking of the Divine nature, 2 Pet. 1.4.and therefore cannot ſpend it ſelf in bare thinking. In Nature the motions of the hands and feet, without the command or expreſs dictate of the Tongue, do readily purſue the thoughts and motions of the mind, and therefore it is ſaid,Prov. 16.9. that a mans heart deviſeth his way; A man thinketh to go ſuch a way, and goes it; He thinks to do ſuch a thing, and does it. And it is ſo in corrupt Nature, Iſaiah 65.2.they walk in a way that is not good, after their own hearts; And it is as truly ſo in Grace. I thought on my wayes, Pſal. 119.59. Right thoughts are rectifying thoughts. 1 John 3.7. Iſaiah 59.4. Micah 2.ſaith David, and turned my feet unto thy teſtimonies. Right Thoughts indeed may we well call them, when they are Rectifying thoughts, when they make us to do Right; as, the Apoſtle ſaith, He that doth Righteouſneſs, is Righteous. 'Tis ſaid of the Wicked, They conceive Miſchief, and bring forth Iniquity. And can We think it proper to Grace only to prove abortive? Woe to them, ſaith God, that deviſe Iniquity, and work evil upon their Beds; when the morning is light they practice it, becauſe it is in the power of their hand. This is the Caſe and Character of the wicked,Pſalm 39.7. He firſt deviſeth miſchief upon his Bed, and then ſets himſelf in a way that is not good; And thus the Sincere Convert,Rev. 2.2. what good he thinks to do, when God holds him down on the Bed of ſorrows (as Scripture phraſe is) and in the Night of affliction, he will not therefore forbear doing, becauſe God lifts up the light of his Countenance upon him, ſo far as it is in the power of his hand; Pſal. 66.11, 12, 13.but will rather ſay with David, with a little variation, thou laidſt affliction upon our Loins, but thou broughteſt us out into a wealthy place, I will pay thee my Vows, which my Heart hath purpoſed, and my mouth ſpoken when I was in trouble. Purpoſe often outgoes power.'Tis true indeed, that in both caſes the purpoſe of the Heart doth oftentimes outgo the power of the hand; A wicked man thinks to do more miſchief then he can poſſibly compaſs;Gen. 27.42. 2 Sam. 18.25. Thus, Eſau purpoſed to kill Jacob, and Saul thought to make David fall by the Philiſtins: It is ſaid, Sanballat and Geſhem thought to do Nehemiah miſchief,Neh. 6.2. yet they could not do it: So a Child of God perhaps purpoſeth greater exactneſs, and more cloſe walking with God. (in a ſickneſ…, under a Sermon, or a Sacrament) then he can poſſibly attain unto afterwards, by reaſon of renewing of Temptation, and remaining corruption, and then (it may be) 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 ſo ſhort in performance; I thought in 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 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 15.11. Epheſ. 4.30. the Conſolations of God ſhould never more be ſmall with me, I would never neglect my Evidences for Heaven, never grieve the Comforter, as I (like a wretch) have ſince done;Pſalm 85.8. I would never return to folly, never indulge corruption, never dally with Temptation any more; I thought I ſhould never have been ſo ſlight in holy Duties, in Cloſet or Family, never have paſt a day without ſome ſoul-repaſt by ſweet and ſolemn meditations, never have reſtrained Prayer from the Almighty; Job 15.4.I thought I ſhould never have ſpent ſo many Lords-dayes ſo careleſly, heard Sermons ſo unprofitably, read Gods Word ſo unattentively, as I have ſince done; I thought alſo I ſhould have taught Tranſgreſſors Gods way, Pſal. 51.13.and that Sinners ſhould have been converted unto him; Hebr. 5.25.that I ſhould have expreſſed more Zeal for the Glory of God, more compaſſion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way: more Courage in reproving Sin in others, and care in being exemplary unto others in my own Converſation: But alas! How may I complain; as Job, Job 17.11.that my purpoſes are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart: that I went out (like Naomi) full of purpoſes,Ruth 1.21. but Returned empty of performances; I thought to have gone forth victorious like Sampſon, Judges 16.17. and 20. Mark 14.29but found my ſtrength upon tryal, but like another mans; I thought like Peter, that 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 66. 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.
Sect. II.
Right application of the Rule. Iſaiah 42.3. Job 13.25.BUt for the right application of this Rule, and that the bruiſed Reed may not be broken, or the leaf that is driven to and fro, you muſt know that the right ordered Converſation before mentioned, 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, is true here) if there be firſt a willing mind, 2 Cor. 8.12.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. 7.18. The good that I would do that I cannot; and again, not that I have already attained, either were already perfect, Phil. 3.12.but 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 21.5.and therefore the Holy Ghoſt to right Thoughts adds diligence, and to that a tending to plenteouſneſs; if plenty do not preſently attend them, yet they intend it, Good purpoſes how ſeconded with Evangelical diſobedi….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, as God is Holy, whoſe careful and real endeavours in all holy means and wayes 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 of Jeſus Chriſt (which was the caſe and practice of the Apoſtle in the place before quoted) is a compleat man in Chriſt, Phil. 4.9.and a Converſation thus ordered is a Scripture Evidence that the Thoughts are Right, and that the man is Righteous.
But then on the other hand,Pſal. 146.4. Thoughts without works dead thoughts. James 2.17. what the Scripture ſpeaks of the day of Death, is ſitly applicable to a ſtate of ſpiritual Death, That all a mans Thoughts periſh; for as Faith without Works is a dead Faith, ſo Thoughts without works may be ſaid to be dead thoughts; Nay theſe are ſometimes the Evidence of one whom the Scripture calls twice dead, Jade 12. Twice dead, how meant.pluckt 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 nothing. Therefore, ſaith Solomon, 1 Kings 8.47, 48.if they bethink themſelves and return, &c. For a man to bethink himſelf, and not to return is to add an high aggravation to his former Impenitency; 'tis ſin enough to crucifie the Son of God afreſh, and not to bethink ones ſelf what one is a doing; but to conſider Jeſus, and yet to trample his Blood under feet, (As They ſaid, Come this is the Heir, Mat. 21.38.let us kill him) this leaves no room for that very Prayer of Chriſt, Father forgive them, they know not what they do; For a man to bethink himſelf of Heaven, as Eſau of the Birthright, and yet to deſpiſe it, Gen. 25.32.or to bethink himſelf of Hell, and yet to ruſh into it as the Horſe into the Battell: This is as it were to deal cruelly with Chriſt in cold Blood, to bid defyance to the God of Heaven upon Advice and ſet Councel, which too many do upon inadvertency, and non-conſideration; or 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 beſe…ch him to depart out of our Countrey; Luke 8.3….nay, with the wicked Jews, when conviction puts it upon our Thoughts (as Pilate did upon theirs, ſhall I crucifie your King?) ſhall I Crucifie the Lord Jeſus, by continued Impenitency, and unbelief? When Barabbas and Jeſus lie both before our Thoughts, deliberately to deny the Holy One, Acts 3.14.and 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.
Sect. III.
Folly of truſting to idle thoughts, and purpoſes. Mat. 25.11, 12YEt alas, how many are there that have many confident Thoughts of Heaven, becauſe they have now and then a few cold, unactive, unoperative thoughts for Heaven; and carry theſe confident Thoughts with them to their very Graves, as the fooliſh Virgins, that roundly knock at Chriſts door with a Lord, Lord, Open unto us, but the Anſwer is, I know you not. Fooliſh Ones, may I well ſay; for as in eaſe where prudence might foreſee the Evil of Event, or Conſequence, to a thought or purpoſe, we ſay, Stultum eſt dicere non putaram, 'tis a fooliſh thing to ſay, I never thought that this would have come of it, or elſe I would never have engaged in it, ſo in all caſes where we have the Higheſt aſſurances from Religion and Reaſon that the underſtanding of a man is capable of,1 Cor. 15.58. that our labour ſhal not be in vain in the Lord, ſtultum eſt dicere putaram, '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, If a man ſay he have faith, James 2.14.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 withall a munificent Reward in caſe of performance; ſuppoſe this ſervant goes forth of his Princes Preſence, full of many buſie Thoughts, and preſent purpoſes of going about the buſineſs; but by the way falls into evil Company, or into ſome other buſineſs, trivial & vain in reſpect of his Great Maſters, but more pleaſing to the wicked & ſloathful Servant; but returns at night,Mat. 25.26. & (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 neglect of performance? Reader, what thinkeſt thou? Even ſo ſaith God,Verſe 30. Caſt ye he unprofitable Servant into utter darkneſs, there ſhall be …eeping 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 never 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 and faithful Servant, Verſe 21.thus David deſcribing the Bleſſed man, ſaith not only that He meditates in the Law day and night, but alſo brings forth his fruit in his ſeaſon: But, ſaith he,Pſal. 1.2, 3.4. the ungodly is not ſo.
Sect. IV.
THis then is a ſure Rule.Thoughts no wayes right, when wayes alw y grievous. Pſalm 10 5. Iſaiah 32.8. His Thoughts are no wayes Right and Good, whoſe wayes are alwayes grievous, as the Scripture ſpeaks. There is no ſuch thing as GOOD MEANINGS, (a Deluſion that damns thouſands) where there is no GOOD LIFE (as before explained) The libe…al ſaith the Prophet, deviſeth liberal things, and by the liberal thin…s he ſhall ſtand. 'Tis well when THOUGHTS and 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 be wickedneſs of heart, and ſuch a One as the continuance whereof excludes from Salvation;Jerem. 4.14. Waſh thine Heart from wickedneſs, that Thou mayſt be ſaved, how long ſhall vain thoughts lodge within thee? Thoughts not only vain, when ſet upon vain objects, but upon the beſt objects in vain. How purpoſes may be ſaid to be to no purpoſe.Now, Thoughts are VAIN, not only when ſet upon vain Objects, but if they be placed upon the beſt objects in vain, or to no purpoſe, as our Phraſe is, when a thing doth not reach its real or practical end, we ſay ſuch a thing is to no purpoſe: and ſo purpoſes themſelves may be ſaid to be to no purpoſe. They ſay in Philoſophy, Fruſtra fit potentia quae nunquam producitur in Actum, that power is vain that is never produced into Act; 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, 2 Pet. 2.24.or the unclean Whoremonger, or Harlot in the Proverbs, that after her Vows and her Peace-Offerings, Prov. 7.14.returns with the Swine that was waſhed to her wallowing in the mire, or as thoſe in Malachy, Ma…. 2.15.of whom the Holy Ghoſt thus complains, 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 go 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.