Religion Our True Interest, Chapter 10 – Chapter 12
CHAP. X. Swasives and Incentives to Holy Thoughts.
LET me, to inforce the Exhortation, propound some Swasives and Inducements to be frequent in the Thoughts of God. 1. The end why God hath given us this thinking faculty is, that we may think on his Name. When our Cogitations run out in Impertinencies (like water running beside the Mill) we should think with our selves thus: did God give us a Talent to misimploy? did he give us Thoughts that we should think of every thing but him? were these Arrows given us to shoot beside the Mark?
2. If we do not inure our selves to Good thoughts, we cannot be Good Christians. Thinking seriously on Heavenly things, makes them stay in our Mind, causeth delight in them, and makes them Nutritive. Musing on Holy Objects is like concocting food, which turns it to Blood and Spirits: so that without Holy Cogitation, no Religion. Can a man be Religious and scarce ever think of it?
3. We are deeply obliged to think on God. 1. God is our maker, Psalm 100.3. It is he that hath made us, and not we our selves. Our bodies are Gods curious needle work, Psalm 139.15. And as God hath wrought the Cabinet, so he hath put a Jewel in it, the Precious Soul. Hath God made us, and shall not we think of him? 2. God hath sweetned our Lives with Various Mercies. The city of Syracuse in Sicily was so curiously scituated, that the Sun was never out of sight: God hath so placed us by his Providence, that the Sun-shine of Mercy is never out of sight. We are Bemiracled with Mercy; Mercy feeds us with the Finest of the wheat, the Bread of Life; Mercy guards us with a Guard of Angels; it makes the Rock pour forth Rivers of Oyl: and shall not the Stream lead us to the Fountain? shall not we think of the God of our Mercies? this were high Ingratitude.
4. To have frequent and Devout Thoughts of God witnesseth Sincerity. No truer Touchstone of Sanctity, than the Spirituality of the Thoughts: that a man is, that his Thoughts are, Prov. 23.7. For as he thinketh in his Heart so is he. Thoughts are freer from Hypocrisie than words: one may speak well for applause, or to stand right in the Opinion of others; but when we are alone and think of Gods Name, and admire his Excellencies, this shews the Heart to be Right. Thoughts are freer from Hypocrisie than an Unblamable Life. A man may in his outward carriage be fair, yet have a Covetous, Revengeful mind. The Acts of Sin may be forborn, when the Heart sits brooding upon Sin; but to have the Thoughts Spiritualized and set upon God, is a truer Symptom of sincerity, than a Life free from Vice. Christians, what do your Thoughts run upon? where do they make their most frequent Visits? can you say, Lord, our Hearts are still Mounting up to Heaven, our Thoughts are lodg'd in Paradise; though we do not see thy face, yet we think on thy Name? this is a good Evidence of Sincerity. We Judge of men by their Actions; God Judgeth of them by their Thoughts.
5. Thinking much on God would Cure the Love of the World. Great things seem little to him that stands high. To such as stand upon the top of the Alps the great Cities of Campania seem little Villages: they who are Mounted High in the contemplation of Christ and Glory, how do the things of the World disappear, and even shrink into nothing! A Soul elevated by faith above the Visible Orbs, hath the Moon under his feet. A true Saint intermedles with Secular Affairs more out of Necessity than Choice. St. Pauls Thoughts were sublime, he lived in the Altitudes, and how did he scorn the World *Quae citò aspecta placent, inspecta displicent, Seneca.! Gal. 6.14. The world is crucified to me *.
6. Thinking on God would be expulsive of Sin. Whence is Impiety but from Incogitancy? Did men Ruminate upon Gods Holiness and Justice, durst they sin at that rate as they do? That which check'd Ioseph, was the Thoughts of a Sin-revenging God. When the delights of sin Tickle, let the Thoughts of God come into mens Minds, that he is both the Spectatour and the Iudge, and after the Golden Crowns and Womens Hair come the Lions Teeth, Rev. 9.8. This would put them into a cold Sweat, and be as the Angels drawn Sword †Num. 22.31., it would scare them from sin.
7. Thinking on God is an admirable means to encrease our love to God. As it was with Davids musing on Mortality, Psam 39.3. As I was Musing the fire burned; so it is with our Musing on the Deity: while we are thinking on God, our Hearts will kindle in love to him. The Reason our Affections are so chill and cold in Religion is, because we do not warm them with the Thoughts of God. Hold a Burning-glass to the Sun, and the glass burns that which is near to it: So when our Thoughts are lifted up to Christ the Sun of Righteousness, our Affections are set on fire. No sooner had the Spouse been thinking on her Saviours Beauty, but she fell sick of love, Cant. 5.8. O ye Saints, do but let your Cogitations dwell upon the Love of Christ, who did pass by Angels and think of you; who was wounded, that out of his wounds the Balm of Gilead might come to heal you; who leaped into the Sea of his Fathers wrath, to save you from drowning: think of this unparallel'd love which sets the Angels a Wondring, and see if it will not affect your Hearts and cause Tears of love to slow forth.
8. Thinking on God will by degrees transform us into his Image. As Jacobs Flock looking on the Rods that had White streaks conceived and brought forth like them, Gen. …, 39. So by contemplating Gods Holiness, we are in some measure changed into his likeness. 2 Cor. 3.18. Beholding as in a Glass the Glory of the Lord, we are changed into the same Image. The contemplative sight of God was transforming: they had some Print of Gods Holiness upon them; as Moses when he had been on the Mount with God, his face shined, Exod. 34.35. What is Godliness but God-likeness? and who are so like him as they that think on his Name?
9. Thinking on God is sweet, it Ushers in a secret delight into the Soul Psalm 104.34. My meditation of him shall be sweet. He whose Head is got above the Clouds, his Thoughts are sled aloft, and he hath God in his eye, is full of divine Raptures, and cries out as Peter in the transfiguration, Lord, it is good to be here. Holy Thoughts are the Dove we send out of the Ark of our Souls, and they bring an Olive branch of Peace. Some complain they have no Joy of their lives; and truly no wonder, when they are such strangers to Heavenly Contemplation. Would you have God give you Comfort, and never think of him? Indeed Israel had Manna drop'd into their Tents, and they never Thought of it; but God will not drop down this Manna of Heavenly Joy on that Soul which seldom or never thinks of him. Would you have your Spirits chearful? let your Thoughts be celestial. The higher the Lark flies, the Sweeter it sings: The higher a Soul ascends in the Thoughts of God, the sweeter Joy it hath.
10. Thoughts of God will turn to the best account. Thoughts spent on the World are often in Vain. Some spend Thoughts about laying up a Portion for such a Child; and perhaps, either it dies, or lives to be a Cross. Others beat their Brains how to rise at Court; and when Royal Favour hath shined upon them, on a sudden an Eclipse falls out, and the Kings smile is turn'd into a frown, and then their Thoughts are frustrated—Et stultus labor est ineptiarum— *Martial.. How oft do men build Castles in the Air? But the Thoughts of God will turn to a good account, they Augment Sanctification, and bring Satisfaction, Psalm 63.5. My Soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, when I remember thee on my bed, and meditate on thee, &c. The Thoughts we have of God in the time of health, will be a Comfort to us in the time of sickness.
11. God thinks of us, and shall not we think of him? Psalm 40.17. The Lord thinketh upon me. God thinks on us every Morning, Lam. 3.23. His Mercies are new every Morning. He gives us Night-Mercies, he Rocks us every Night asleep, Psalm 127.2. So he giveth his beloved Sleep: and if we chance to wake he gives us Songs in the Night, Job 35.10. If God be thinking of us Day and Night, shall not we think of his Name? How can we forget a freind who is ever mindful of us? Jer. 29.11. I know the Thoughts that I think towards you (saith the Lord) Thoughts of Peace. Though God be out of our sight, we are not out of his Thoughts.
12. God will one Day reckon with us for our Thoughts. He will say I gave you a Cogitative faculty, what have you done with it? If God asks a Covetous man, what have been your Sentiments? which way have your Thoughts run? he will Answer, to heap up Riches: if God asks Princes and Emperors, how have you employ'd your Thoughts? they will say, how by our Scepter to beat down the Power of Godliness. What a dreadful account will these Persons have to give at last! Not only mens Actions, but their Thoughts will accuse them, Rom. 2.15.
13. Our Thoughts of God shall not be lost. God accepts of the Thought for the deed. David had a good Thought come into his Mind to build God an House, and God took it as kindly as if he had done it, 2 Chron. 6.8. Forasmuch as it was in thy Heart to build an house to my Name, thou didst well that it was in thy Heart. When Christians have Thoughts of promoting Gods Glory, they would do such good Acts if it were in their Power, build Hospitals, distribute Justice, cut off offenders from the City of God, the Lord looks upon it as if they had done it: so that our Thoughts of God are not lost.
2 Branch.Let us think of God in a Right manner. A Good Medicine may be spoiled in the making: so may a Good Duty be spoiled in the doing. Thoughts may be Good for the matter of them, yet may be Faulty in the manner. I shall shew you
1. How Thoughts of God may fail in the Manner.
2. The Right Manner of Thinking upon God.
1. How Thoughts of God may fail in the Manner. 1. A man may Think of God, yet not intend his glory. Jehu had good Thoughts came into his Mind, to destroy the Baal-worshippers, but his intent was to advance himself into the Throne. Bad aims Fly-blow good Actions. 2. A man may have Good Thoughts but they are forced,—Virtus nolentium nulla est— When one bleeds under Gods afflicting hand, he may Think of God, yet have no love to him, Psalm 78.34. When he slew them, then they remembred that God was their Rock, and the high God their Redeemer: nevertheless they did flatter him with their Mouth. These were good Thoughts, but it was to complement with God, and to get rid of the Affliction. 3. A man may have Thoughts of God out of design to stop the Mouth of Conscience. Conscience doth lash the profane Sinner; what art thou so Wicked as never to Think of God, who indulgeth thee with so many favours? Hereupon he may have a few good Thoughts; but they are irksome to him: this is not from a Principle of Conscience, but to quiet Conscience. 4. A man may think of God with Horrour: he thinks of Gods Soveraignty, and dreads the Thoughts of God. You see one may think of God, yet these Thoughts may become sinful.
2. I shall shew you the Right manner of Thinking upon God: 1. Our Thoughts of God must be Serious. Feathers swim on the top, but Gold sinks into the Water: Feathery Spirits have some floting Thoughts; but good Hearts sink deep in the Thoughts of a Deity. 2. Our Thoughts of God must be Spiritual. Take heed of framing any gross conceits of God in our Minds, representing him by the similitude of the Creature, Deut. 4.15. Ye▪ saw no Similitude. Conceive of God in Christ: we cannot see him any other way, as we cannot see the Sun in the Circle but in the Beams, the God-head dwells in Christs Humane nature, Col. 2.9. Think of God as a Spirit full of immense Glory, propitious to us through a Mediatour. 3. Our Thoughts of God must be Delightful. With what Delight doth a Child think of his Father! A gracious Soul counts them the Sweetest hours which are spent with God. 4. Our Thoughts of God must be Vertual and Efficacious, leaving our Hearts in a a better Tune: The Thoughts of Gods faithfulness must make us confide in him, the Thoughts of Gods Holiness must make us conform to him. This is the Right thinking on God when it is influential, it leaves us in a more Heavenly frame.
CHAP. XI. Helps to Holy Thoughts.
IT shews us how to have our Thoughts frequently fixed upon God. 1.3 Vse. Direction.Begin the day with Holy Thoughts *foreign, Aristot., Psalm 139.17. When I awake I am still with thee. God should have the first buddings of our Thoughts. In the Law, the Lord would have the first fruits offered him: give God your Virgin-thoughts in the Morning—Quo semel est imbuta recens servabit odorem testa diù—what the Vessel is first seasoned with, it keeps the rellish a long time after. The Mind being seasoned with Good Thoughts in the Morning, will keep the Heart in a better Decorum all the day afrer.
2. If you would think of God take heed of hindrances. 1. Turn away your eyes from beholding Vanity, Psal. 119.37. Vain Objects Poyson the Imagination, lascivious Pictures, and wanton talk leave bad impressions upon the fancy. 2. Call off your Thoughts what you can from the world. If worldly Thoughts come Crowding into our Mind, good Thoughts will be lost in the Crowd.
3. Get a love to God and his wayes. One cannot but think of that which he loves, Ier. 2.32. Can a Maid forget her Ornaments? when she hath not her Jewel on her Ear, she will have it in her Thoughts. A person deeply in love cannot keep his Thoughts off from the Object he loves. The reason we Think on God no more, is, because we love him no more. Let there be but one spark of love to God, it will fly Upward in Heavenly Ejaculations. By nature we have Quick-silver Hearts which cannot be made to fix on God, but by love.
4. If you would think often on God, get an interest in him, Psalm 48.14. This God is our God. We think most upon that which is our own. If a man ride by brave Houses and Gardens, he casts his Eye slightly upon them, and doth not much Mind them; but let him have an house of his own, and his Thoughts dwell in it. Why do men think no more of God, but because God and they are strangers. Let a mans interest in God be cleared, and he will not be able to keep his Thoughts off from God.
CHAP. XII. Shewing the first Good Effect of the Saints Piety.
2. THE Good effects of the Saints Piety. 1. God Regarded it. The Lord hearkened and heard.
These blessed ones in the Text were speaking and thinking of God, and he did not turn away his Ear from them, as if he had not minded them; but he hearkened and heard; which expression denotes.
1. Diligence.
2. Delight.
1. It notes the diligent heed God gave to these Saints, He hearkened. Here was attention of Ear, and intensness of Mind. Hearkening is the Gesture of one that Listens to what another saith.
2. Gods hearkening shews the delight he took in the Holy Dialogues of these Saints: he was pleased with them, they were to him as sweet Melody.
Doct.That God takes special Notice of of the Good which he sees in his People. The Children of God may perhaps think that God doth not regard them, Iob 30.20. I cry unto thee, and thou dost not hear me. The Church complains, God did shut out her Prayer, Lam. 3.8. But though God be sometimes Silent, he is not Deaf: he takes Notice of all the good Services of his People, the Lord hearkened and heard.
Quest.Whence is it God takes such Notice of his Peoples Services?
Answ.1. Not from any Merit in them, but the Impulsive cause is his foreign or Free-grace. The best duties of the Righteous could not endure Gods ballance*Horreo quicquid de meo est. Bern., but God will display the Trophies of his Mercy. Free-grace accepts what Justice might condemn.
2. Gods taking Notice of the good in his people, is through Christ, Eph. 1.6. He hath made us accepted *foreign.in the Beloved. Or as Chrysostom renders it, he hath made us Favourites. Through the Red glass every thing appears of a Red Colour: through Christs blood, both our Persons and Dutyes appear Ruddy and Beautiful in Gods Eyes.
3. God takes Notice of the Services of his People, because they flow from a Principle of Grace. God regards the Voice of Faith, Cant. 2.14. O my Dove, let me hear thy Voice, for sweet is thy Voice. The Services of the Wicked are harsh and sowre, but the Godly give God the first ripe Cluster *Micah 7.1.Which grows from the sweet and pleasant Root of Grace.