Religion Our True Interest, Chapter 9
CHAP. IX. Containing a sharp Redargution.
OUT of the quiver of this Text I may draw several Arrows of Reproof.1 Vse. Reproof. 1 Branch. 1. It reproves such as do not think upon Gods Name. It is the Brand-mark of a Reprobate, God is not in all his thoughts, Psalm 10.4. *Dei nunquam recordatur, ita se gerit ac si non esset Deus. Mariana.He endeavours to expunge and blot God out of his mind: though he draws his Breath from God, yet he doth not think of him: his thoughts shoot into the Earth, Philip. 3.19. Had not sinners by their fall lost their Headpiece, they would reason thus with themselves: Sure God is best worth thinking on; is there any excellency in the World? then what is there in God that made it? He gives the Star its beauty, the Flower its fragrancy, Food its suavity; and if there be such deliciousness in the Creature, what is in God? He must needs be better than all *Quod essicit Tale, id est magìs Tale.. O my Soul, shall I admire the Drop and not the Ocean? Shall I think of the Workmanship, and not of him that made it? This is the fruit of Original Sin, it hath warped the Soul, and taken it off from the right Object.
It reproves such as indeed think of God,2 Branch▪ but they have not Right Thoughts of him. As the Lord said to Eliphaz, Job 42.7. Ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right; so some think of God, but they do not think of him the thing that is right. 1. They have Low unworthy Thoughts of God, they Fancy God to be like themselves, Psalm 50.21. Men think God is as short-sighted as they, and that he cannot see them through the thick Canopy of the Clouds: but he that makes a Watch knows all the Wheeles and Pins in it, and the Spring which causeth the Motion. God who is foreign the inspector of the Heart, sees all the intrigues and Private Caballs in the Thoughts *Job 42.2. Amos 4.13. God knows the true Motion of a false Heart, Ier. 29.23. I know and am a witness, saith the Lord.
2. Men have Injurious Thoughts of God: 1. They deem his wayes unequal, Ezek. 18.25. Is not my way equal? Some call Gods Providence to the Bar of Reason, and Judge his proceedings excentrick; but God laies Righteousness to the Plummet, Isa. 28.17. His wayes are secret, but alwayes just. God is most in his way, when we think he is out of his way.
2. They think his wayes are not Profitable, Mal. 3.14. What profit is it that we have kept his ordinance? we cannot shew our earnings. These are not Right Thoughts of God. Men think him to be an hard Master: But God will be in no mans debt, he gives double pay, Mal. 1.10. Neither do ye kindle a sire on my Altar for nought.
… Branch.It reproves such as instead of thinking on God, their minds are wholly taken up with Vain Thoughts. Vain Thoughts are the froth of the Brain, Ier. 4.14. How long shall Vain Thoughts lodge with thee? I deny not but Vain Thoughts may sometimes come into the best Hearts, but they have a care to turn them out before night, that they do not Lodge. This denominates a Wicked man, his Thoughts Dw…ll upon Vanity; and well may his Thoughts be said to be Vain, because they do not turn to any profit, Ier. 16.19. Vanity, and things wherein there is no Profit. They are Vain Thoughts which are about Foolish things, and run all into straw. They are Vain Thoughts which do not Better the Heart, nor will give one drop of Comfort at death, Psalm 146.4. In that very day his Thoughts perish. Vain Thoughts are Pernitious, they Fly-blow the Heart and leave an ill tincture behind.
4. It reproves such as have not only Vain Thoughts, but Vile Thoughts.4 Branch. 1. Proud Thoughts, while they view themselves in the Glass of Self-love, they begin to take up Venerable Thoughts of themselves, and so Pride fumes up into their Head and makes them Giddy *Acts 5.36.
2. Impure Thoughts. They think how to Gratifie their Lusts, they do foreign make provision, or as the word signifies, become Caterers for the Flesh, Rom. 13.14.
Sin begins in the Thoughts; first men Devise sin, then Act it, Mica. 2.2. For instance, would one have preferment: he bethinks himself by what Ladder he may climb to Honour. He will Cringe and comply, and lay aside Conscience, and this is the way to rise. Would a man Grow rich: he sets his Thoughts a work how to compass an estate, he will circumvent, and pull down his Soul to build up an estate. Would he wreak his Malice on another; he frames an Engine in his Thoughts to take away his Life: as Iezabel (that Painted Harlot) when she would ruine Naboth, presently fains a Sham-Plot and Subtilly thinks of a way how to dispatch him, 1 King. 21.9. Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the People, and set two men Sons of Belial to Witness against him, saying, thou didst blaspheme God and the King, and carry him out and stone him. O the Mischief of Thoughts! A man may Deny God in his Thoughts, Psalm 14.1. The Fool hath said in his Heart there is no God. He may commit Adultery in his Thoughts, Mat. 5.28. Whosoever looks on a Woman to Lust after her hath committed Adultery with her in his Heart. A man may Murder another in his Thoughts, 1 Ioh. 3.15. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer. O how much contemplative wickedness is in the World! Tremble at sinful Thoughts. We startle at Gross sin, but we are not troubled so much for sinful Thoughts. Know, 1. That sin may be committed in the Thoughts, though it never blossom into outward Act, Prov. 24.9. The Thought of Foolishness is sin. See this in two things.
1. Envy, the Jews envied Christ the fame of his Miracles, Mat. 27.18. Pilat knew that for envy they had delivered him. Here was sin committed in the Thoughts: the Jews sinned by envying Christ, though they had never Crucified him.
2. Discontent, Gen. 24.5. Cain was wroth and his Countenance fell. He did Malign his Brother, and his thoughts were boiled up to Discontent. Here was sin committed in the thoughts. Cain sinn'd by Discontent though he had never Murdered his Brother.
2. God will punish for sinful thoughts. We say Thoughts are free; so they are in mans Court *Cogitationis poenam in nostro soro nemo luat, is the Civilians Rule.; but God will punish for Thoughts: it was set upon Herods score, that he thought to have destroyed Christ under a pretence of worshipping him, Mat. 2.8.
Let us be humbled for the sins of our Thoughts, Prov. 30.32. If thou hast thought evil, lay thy hand upon thy Mouth. That is, humble and abase thy self before the Lord. The best alive had need be humbled for their thoughts. 1. The Instability of their Thoughts. How do the Thoughts Dance up and down in Prayer: like Quick-silver they will not six. 'Tis hard to tye two Good Thoughts together.
2. The Impiety of their Thoughts. In the fairest fruit may be a Worm, and in the best Heart evil Thoughts may arise. Did mens Hearts stand where their faces do, they would blush to look one upon another. Let us I say be deeply humbled for our Thoughts. Let us look up to Christ that he would stand between us and Gods Justice, and that he would intercede for us that the Thoughts of our Hearts may be forgiven us.
2 Vse. Exhortation.Let us think of Gods Name;1 Branch. let us lock up our selves with God every day; let our Thoughts get Wings, and with the Birds of Paradise fly up towards Heaven. Christians, look up on that day to be lost, wherein you have not conversed with God in your Thoughts; think of God in your Closet, in your Shop: Trade above the Moon. Isaac went out into the field to meditate, Gen. 24.63. He did take a turn in Heaven by holy Ejaculations. Our Minds should be steeped in holy Thoughts. It is not enough to have a few Transient Thoughts of God by the By, but there must be an immoration or staying our Minds on God, till our Hearts are warmed in love to him, and we can say as they, Luk. 24.32. Did not our Hearts burn within us?
But what should be the matter of our holy Musings?Quest.
1. Think of Gods Immense Being. Answ.Adore his illustrious Attributes, which are the Beams by which the Divine nature shines forth. Think of Gods Omnisciency: he makes a Curious and Critical descant upon all our Actions, and enters them down into his day-book. Think of Gods Holiness, which is the most sparkling Jewel of his Crown, Exod. 15.11. Think of Gods Mercy: this makes all his other Attributes sweet. Holiness without Mercy, and Justice without Mercy would be terrible. Think of Gods Veracity, Exod. 34.6. Abundant in Truth; that is, God will be so far from coming short of his word, that he doth more then he hath said. He shoots beyond the Promise, never short of it.
2. Think of the Works of God, Psalm 77.12. I will meditate of all thy Works. Gods works are bound up in three great Volumes, Creation, Redemption, Providence: here is sweet matter for our Thoughts to expatiate upon.