The Practical Sabbatarian, Chapter 30
CHAP. XXX. How to compoſe our inward man in our approaches to God in Ordinances.
HAving thus copiouſly ſhewn how we muſt order our Cor cum manibus levat, qui orationem ſuam cum operibus roborat; nam quiſquis orat, ſed operari diſſimulat, cor levat ſed manus non levat, et qui oper…tur et non orat, manus levat, ſed cor non levat. Greg. Moral.outward behaviour in publick Ordinances: In the next place we muſt glance at out inward deportment, viz. That of the mind. The Prophet Jeremy adviſeth us, Lam. 3. 41. Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens. The ſoul is principally intereſted in all holy duties.
Firſt, Not only becauſe in all holy ſervices God principally eyes the heart, Prov. 23. 26.
Or Secondly, Becauſe Goſpel Ordinances chiefly influence and aim at the heart.
But Thirdly, Likewiſe becauſe the welfare of the ſoul is the only Port we ſail to in all our attendance upon Goſpel opportunities: It is the ſouls conviction, the ſouls converſion, the ſouls edification and building up in its moſt holy faith, which is the grand deſign in every Evangelical adminiſtration. Now for the compoſure of our inward man in Eph. 3. 16.holy Ordinances,
Let us apply our underſtandings to the word and the work we are about. The wiſe man ſaith, Prov. 20. 27. The ſpirit of a man is the candle of the Lord; and when we Haec lux in intellectu in▪tenebris micans ſovenda eſt, ſtudio et diligenti operum dei commentatione, et experimentis, et otio, veluti rubigine corrumpitur. Cartw.come to holy Ordinances, it is both our duty and our wiſdom to ſnuff this candle that it may burn the brighter, to ſee the myſteries of the Goſpel; and this is ſuitable to the Apoſtolical Counſel, 1 Pet. 1. 13. Gird up the lo…ns of your mind. A metaphor taken from travellers, who gird their garments cloſe that they may not be impeded and hindred in their journey. When we draw nigh to God in Ordinances, we muſt bend our minds and be intent on the word, and drink in truth, as the parched ground doth the rain; we muſt ſcrew up our minds to an acurate obſervation of what ever is revealed unto us from divine Writ. If the Goſpel John 3 19.be light, it is the eye of the underſtanding muſt behold this light; If the Goſpel be a day, it is the eye of the mind muſt Rom. 13. 12.diſcern this day. Some hear the word and underſtand it Iſa. 6. 10.not, and this is Gods judgment. But ſome hear the precious truths of God and entertain them not, and this is mans ſin. Men ſhut the eye of their underſtanding by careleſneſs and neglect. We ſhould hear the word as condemned men their pardons, as Legatees the Wills wherein their Legacies are ſet down, with that intenſeneſs of minde. Preaching, if we ſpur not up the minde to purſue it, is a noiſe, Pater nobis de… illuminatos oculos cordis noſtr… ut ejus lumine illuſt…ati, Chriſtum plenè agnoſcamus. Ambr.not the word, an inarticulate ſound, not ſoul-ſaving Doctrine. And that our underſtanding may diſcharge its office, prayer muſt precede: That God would open the eyes of our minde, that we may ſee the wonderfull things of the Law, Pſal. 119. 34. and we muſt beg eye-ſalve, Rev. 3. 18. and that God would give us the ſpirit of Revelation, Eph. 1. 18. to ſhed a light upon our underſtandings, Luke 24. 45. that we may dive deep into the profound Myſteries of the Goſpel. We know not what ardent prayer and a diligent minde may Chriſtus ſolus operit intelle… tum Scripturarum. Chemn… Mel in Ore, melos in Aure. Bern.accompliſh towards Scripture knowledge. Indeed the Goſpel is proportionate to every thing in man, it is honey to the taſte, and Gold to the intereſt of man, Pſal. 19. 10. It is muſick to his ear, Ezek. 33. 32. light to his eye, John 19. and comfort to his heart, Rom. 15. 3. And pity it is, the ſhutting of an eye, a little rareleſs remiſneſs and not bending the minde, ſhould rob the ſoul of ſuch unſearchable treaſure.
We muſt deal with our hearts to embrace the word in the diſpenſations of it. The Goſpel is not only to be let in by Prov. 23. 23. Verbem dei ſ…t domeſticus, non peregrinus, non for… ſtare, ſed in domo cordis continuò verſari. Daven.our apprehenſions, but to be lockt in by our affections, and we are to entertain it not only in the light of it, but in the love of it. The Apoſtle complains, 2. Theſ. 2. 10. That many did not entertain the truth in the love thereof, that they might be ſaved. The truths of God muſt have the heart, and we buy them not by our audience, but our eſpouſals. The word muſt dwell in us, Col. 3. 16. and not as a tranſient gueſt, but as an inmate. Scholars may underſtand the word, but Chriſtians embrace it. It is a rare ſpeech of the holy Pſalmiſt, Pſal. 119. 20. My ſoul breaketh for the longing it hath to thy judgments at all times. The word is the Mat. 13. 23.ſeed, the heart the ground, where this ſeed muſt be thrown. John 5. 40.David calls the Law not his light, but his love, Pſal. 119. 97. and his delight, Pſal. 119. 35. When we come to Ordinances, we muſt reſolve to treaſure up truth, and entertain it as Lot the Angels, Gen. 19. 3. Or the Virgin Mary the wonders of her time, Luke 2. 19. A refractory will renders all opportunities of grace abortive. The two Diſciples Luke 24. 32.which came from Emmaus queſtion one with another, Whether their hearts did not burn within them, when Chriſt had opened the Scriptures to them? intimating to us, that the heart is properly the Altar upon which the fire of the word is to be laid to the ſacrificing of our luſts, and the inflaming of our graces. And it is the glorious promiſe of God to write his Law upon our hearts, Jer. 31. 33. Let us meet this bleſſed promiſe in bringing our hearts to every Goſpel diſpenſation.
We muſt put our memories upon employment when we come to holy Ordinances. The memory it is the Secretary of the ſoul, and as at Council boards the Secretary cannot be abſent, ſo at Ordinances, which are the Council table, Acts 20. 27.where ſoul-concernments are agitated and tranſacted, the memory muſt not be abſent. We muſt not write the word when preached to us in duſt, but in marble, not in a heedleſs neglect, but in a faithfull remembrance. We do not throw Pearls into ſieves to drop out. The paradox is greater Memo…ia ignis gehennae, eſt …emedium ap…rimè utile contrà omnes tentationes. Chryſoſt. Rev. 14. 6.when we put the eternal Goſpel into a treacherous and faithleſs memory. Surely we ſhall never practice that truth we cannot remember, if we do not mind the word, we ſhall never live it. We cannot read blotted lines, or underſtand torn papers; and if the word lie onelyonly upon the ſurface of the memory it will never get within the bark of the life. That Sun-dyall will never give us the time of the day, which wants the gnomon to caſt the ſhadow: charge thy memory to retain every truth thou heareſt; Let it pick up the filings John. 6. 12.of divine Truth, that nothing may be loſt. The richeſt Fringes are ſo many ſeveral threads wrought together: We do not Agnoſcamus, et deploremus communem honc humanae naturae corruptionem, quòd in mundanis quidem, ſive quis nobis benefaciat, ſive nos offendat, ſatis acrem habemus memoriam; Ac in Divinis, Benefaciat deus nobis, ſive nos puniat, facillimè obliviſcimur. Lyſ.addreſs our ſelves to Ordinances to ſee our faces in a glaſs, as the Apoſtle ſpeaks, Jam. 1. 23. and preſently forget both our featute and complexion. Whatever truth thou forgeteſt, ſo much is loſt to thy ſoul. We put not our Treaſure in broken baggs. The forgetful hearer is guilty of the ſame unthriftineſs. Let us before-hand beg of God a firm and tenacius memory: He who gives wiſdome, Jam. 1. 5. to underſtand his word, can give us a memory to retain it: All the faculties of the ſoul are created & enriched by him. Remembred Truths are probably riveted in the heart and revealed in the life. It is a moſt gracious providence of God that he commits his Word to writing: And ſhall that Word which hath been preſerved by God for many Ages, even to a Miracle (the fury of Man, the rage of Perſecutors, the malice of Satan, the ſubtilty of Hereticks being conſidered) ſhall that bleſſed Word, I ſay, be loſt by thee in a moment? where God hath brought a Pen to ſet down, wilt thou bring a ſpunge to blot out? Let us be ſerious, and conſider God remembers thoſe truths we forget, and if they are not the guide of the life, they will prove the guilt of the ſoul.
Let us ſummon conſcience to appear at every Ordinance. Satan will give us many diſpenſations in holy duties and divine worſhip; He will permit us an ear to hear, a tongue to pray; nay, he will not diſquiet us in our tranſient heats of zeal, and ſweet paſſions of joy, as Herod heard the Word foreign, Mark 6. 20.ſweetly; Our affections for a little time ſhall be dallianced and delighted with ſome ſweet Truths, eſpecially if they be ſet off by the muſical voyce of the Preacher; but this evil one will never ſuffer (if he can obſtruct it) that conſcience ſhall come into the Aſſemblies of the Saints, within the hearing of Gods ſacred and ſaving Word. Indeed, the purpoſe and deſign of the Word is to deal with conſcience, Cant. 5. 16. Rom. 7. 24.to work upon conſcience to convince conſcience of the ſinfulneſs Eccleſ. 1. 1. Mat. 16. 26. Epheſ. 2. 10. Mat. 11. 29, 30 Luke 7. 45. Acts 2. 37. Mat. 10. 30. 31. John 8. 8. Rom. 2. 15. In Baſilica cordis humani Deus tribunal conſtituit, legeſ que in ejus tabulis incidit digito ſuo, rationem creavit judicem, conſcientiam actorem, Teſtes cogitationes, quae vel accuſant, vel defendunt hominem. 1 Sam. 16. 6, 7, 8.of ſin, of the lovelineſs of Chriſt, of the vanity of the creature, of the preciouſneſs of the Soul, of the beauty of Holineſs, of the eaſineſs of Chriſts Yoke, &c. Chriſt he Preaches, and convinceth Mary Magdalen in her conſcience, and ſhe melts in tears at his feet. Peter convinceth the conſcience of the ſtubborn Jews, and they are pricked at the heart. Paul and Silas convince the conſcience of the Jaylour, and he is in a fit and an agony of trembling and deſpair, and preſently falls upon enquiry after life and ſalvation. When thou approacheſt to Ordinances, if a ſin be reproved, let conſcience ſpeak, is not this my default? If a duty be preſſed, let conſcience ſpeak, is not this my tye and obligation? If a corruption be unmasked and detected, let conſcience ſpeak, is not this my Dalilah, my right eye, which with Antigonus in his Picture, I put my finger upon? If ſelf-denial be urged, let conſcience anſwer, is it not the Croſs I have ſo wriggled under, and have been ſo impatient of? Conſcience is the chief Gueſt which is invited to the feaſt of an Ordinance. To leave conſcience at home, is to let all the ſons of Jeſſe to paſs by, and to keep back David too, and ſo Samuel may go back again with his anointing Oyl.
Let us come to holy Ordinances with ſecret and ſevere reſolutions to live them over, to practice every Prayer we put up, to act every truth we hear, and to adorn every Ordinance we enjoy. Our mingling with the people of God in holy worſhip, is onelyonly the bare canvaſs: It is Converſion brings the Pencil and the colours to draw a fair and beautifull piece. Moſes when he came down from converſing with God, his face ſhone. Our light muſt ſhine before men Exod. 34. 30.after our communion with God in Ordinances. The light Mat. 5. 16. Conciones ſunt verba vivenda, & non tantùm audienda.of the Goſpel muſt enlighten our lives, as one taper lights another: It is rare, when our heart is ſuitable to Gods nature, as it is ſaid of David, 1 Sam. 13. 34. and our life is ſuitable to Gods Law. And indeed, though the ſpiritual life, as the natural, begins at the heart, yet it doth not end there, but proceeds to the hands and the feet, &c. The ſame water which was in the VVell, is in the Bucket. The holy heart is like a box of Musk which perfumes and ſcents the tongue, the eyes, the ears, the hands, and whatever is near it, with ſanctity and holineſs. The Ordinances ſhould impreſs our hearts and influence our lives, and therefore a holy converſation is called a converſation becomming the Goſpel, Phil. 1. 27. If we are reſolved upon ſin, let us lay aſide holy Sabbaths, holy Duties, holy Ordinances. When the Preacher hath ſhut up all in the Pulpit, the hearer is to begin in his practice: the ſtrokes in Muſique muſt anſwer the notes and A morte Chriſti omnis piorum miniſtrorum ſufficientia, & aptitudo dimanat, qui aures verbo percipiendo, et pollices actionibus ſacris praeparat. Riv.rules ſet down in the Leſſon: Our actions are theſe muſical ſtrokes which muſt anſwer the rules ſet down in the Sermon. It is obſervable, that the blood was to be ſprinkled on Aarons right ear, on his right thumb, and on his right toe, Exod. 29. 20. The firſt did note the right hearing of the Word; the ſecond and third, his working according to the tenor of it; His working by it, and his walking in it. Our Saviour couples hearing and keeping the Word together, Luke 11. 28. The Porter is not ſo rich who carries the baggs of Silver, as the Merchant who ownes them: He is not ſo happy who hears the Sermon, as he who lives it. As one well obſerves, The Virgin Mary was more honoured that ſhe was the member of Chriſt, than Rom. 6. 13.that ſhe was the mother of Chriſt. Life and holineſs ſet off the luſtre and beauty of Ordinances. A ſavoury Chriſtian is an Ornament to holy inſtitutions. Prayer is muſique when holineſs ſets the tune; The Goſpel is glorious when holineſs 2 Cor 4. 4.gives the ſhine, and reverberates bright beams upon it. Let Jer. 5. 14.us then fully, in the ſtrength of Chriſt, Phil. 4. 13. reſolve, Pſal. 119. 105.when we come to Ordinances, the Word ſhall be a Fire to our droſs, a Curb to our paſſions, Muſique to our ear, A Purge to our corruptions, a Light to our feet, a Card and Acts 17. 18.Compaſs to our converſations. Some hear and deride the Acts 7. 54.Word; Some hear and ſtorm at the Word; Some hear and Mark 6. 20.onelyonly admire at the Word: But let us hear, and both admire and reform, ſo hear as to ſet our dyall according to the Sun of the word: And as many as walk according to this Rule, Gal. 6. 16.the peace of God ſhall be upon them, and the whole Iſrael of God.
Let us take heed of wandring thoughts in holy Ordinances. It is ſtoried of Bernard; that when he came to the Church Luke 10. 37.door, he would ſay, Stay there all my earthly thoughts. Let us go and do ſo likewiſe; When we approach to holy Ornances, let us ſay, ſtay behind me all my ſecular imaginations, all my worldly cares, all my vain and impertinent thoughts, we are now going to meet with God on the Gen. 22, 5.Mount. Vain thoughts in holy Worſhip, they are as weeds in the Garden, or thoſe painted plants in the Corn, which hinder the ſpringing up of the bleſſed ſeed of the Word; Indeed they are like Thieves who dog us to do us a miſchief, either to ſteal away the comforts of the Word, or to wound and burden Conſcience, or to keep the heart in an hurry till Chriſts meſſage be delivered, and the bleſſed opportunity be over. Theſe vain thoughts in Ordinances are the flyes in the ointment, the motes in the eye of the ſoul, and the ſpots in the feaſt of an Ordinance. But here, we will firſt find out the diſeaſe, and then apply the Remedy.
All our wandring thoughts in holy Ordinances, They are open and offenſive to Gods eye: They cannot creep ſo ſliely Deus totus oculus eſt, et minima videt. Aug. Heb. 4. 12. Jer. 4. 14. Oculus Dei ſimul univerſa cernentis, non abdita locorum non parietum ſepta ſecludunt. Non ſo…ùm ei acta, et cogitata, ſed agenda, et cogitanda ſunt cognita. Aug.and cloſely through the mind, but God fully obſerves them, certainly takes notice of them, and as ſurely is angry at them, 1 Chron. 28. 9. Gods eye is more peculiarly upon us in holy Worſhip. Beggars crowd not into the Preſence-Chamber. Vain thoughts what are they but the raggs of the mind, the emblems of our nakedneſs and poverty, and ſhall theſe thruſt in when we are in the Preſence-chamber of the infinite Majeſty? God ſees all theſe Vagrants, and ſhall we converſe with him with Concubines in our boſomes? How often is it repeated, Chriſt knowing their thoughts, Mat. 12. 25. Luke 5. 22. Luke 11. 17. Luke 6. 8. which doth alarm us to keep our thoughts pure, eſpecially in the Divine Preſence, when God meets us in holy Worſhip. And let us ſeriouſly conſider, Chriſt who is now the Spectatour ſhall be the Judge of our thoughts and imaginations.
Impertinent and vain thoughts they very much diſcompoſe and diſtract Duty; they are like a broken ſtring in an Inſtrument, which makes the Muſique harſh and unpleaſant: They are the inward noiſe of the mind which ſo much diſturbs Iſa. 29. 13.us, that we cannot heed with that attention, nor pray with that devotion as doth become us. As if Muſique ſhould be brought into the Room, and play while we are hearing a Will read, we cannot apprehend one clauſe in it diſtinctly and to any purpoſe: ſuch ſwarmes of inconvenient thoughts hinder the ear from liſtning to, and the heart from faſtning upon God in holy Worſhip, they are like Tobiah and Sanballat who hindered the building of Jeruſalem. What confuſion muſt there be, if the Miniſter ſpeak, Nehem. 4. 2.and the Spirit ſpeak, and our worldly hearts ſpeak all at the ſame time? whom ſhall we hear? God uſually comes in the ſtill Voyce when the ear bends, and the heart waits 1 King. 19. 12.ſilently at the door of Salvation.
Vain thoughts in holy Ordinances, they are ſinful irregularities, the ſpawn of the Serpent, they do not onelyonly diſturb, but ſtain our duties: They are breaches of Divine Command, Prov. 4. 23. When we are in Ordinances we Nocturnas et diurnas excubias collocemus, invigilando cordi. Cartw.are not onelyonly to thruſt out enemies, but to keep out wanderers. If we watch our hearts, we muſt not onelyonly reſiſt Satan from his attempts, but reject fooliſh thoughts from their intruſion, their company being our crime. Indeed a careleſs hearer flings all open, and lets in light, vain, worldly, wanton, all ranks and degrees of ſinful thoughts and imaginations. foreign, Captivum ducentes omnem intellectum. Syr.Surely it muſt be a great ſin, that when in holy duties our hearts ſhould be Gods incloſure, we ſhould make them a Common for all beaſts of prey to graze upon. And how can we bring every thought in obedience to Chriſt, according to Command, 2 Cor. 10. 5. When our hearts in a duty are like open Cages for every thoughts to flye out, and perch upon any vanity it meets with. Our thoughts in duty muſt not ſport, and like the Bees run from one flowre of pleaſure, to another of worldly affairs, and ſo skip over to another of ordinary occurrences, and think to ſuck ſweetneſs from them. In Goſpel opportunities our 1 Cor. 6. 20. Quòd non caput, non pedem, non manum, petit Deus; illud e…us ſapientiae eſt conſentaneum, quippe cordis poſſeſſione omnia corporis mem bra, ſibi addicta et devota habebit. Cartw.thoughts are not our own, but they are under Authority, and muſt be ſtaked to the ſpiritual buſineſs they are now about, they muſt be confined to Truth, to Chriſt, to ſacred Counſels, and holy inſtructions which are now in handling. and the ſuggeſtions of Gods Word, which are now laid before them. And how can we be ſaid to give God our hearts, according to that Command, Prov. 23. 26. if our thoughts are toſſed too and fro in a looſe vagary, when we are in Communion with God? To give God our hearts, is a gift never ſo rational, ſo neceſſary, ſo ſeaſonable, as when we are in holy duties, then this donative is like ripe fruits, blown Roſes, like thoſe Commodites which bear the greateſt price: So much of the thoughts as wanders from God, ſo much of the heart is eſtranged, and it muſt be ſo, for Iſa. 29. 13.thoughts are onelyonly the hearts emiſſaries. And it is very remarkable, Mal. 3. 8.that thoſe thoughts which are good in themſelves, yet if impertinent to the duty in hand, viz. prayer, hearing, receiving, &c. they are ſinfull and irregular. As a Limner who eyes the hangings in the Room, the fret-work in the Ceiling, the largeneſs of the windows, which obſervation is not blame-worthy in it ſelf; yet not eying the perſon, whoſe picture he is drawing, he is guilty of folly and careleſneſs. Our thoughts in holy duties are ſinfull, if not ſuitable.
Wandring thoughts in holy ordinances, they are the ebullitions and breakings forth of a corrupt heart. Mans heart hath Jer. 2. 24.no month to be taken in, it is as the troubled ſea, which always caſts up mire and dirt as a Furnace, which is ever ſparkling forth its vanity and folly, nay, the ſpecial preſence of Chriſt in ordinances cannot ſhackle it, or compoſe it to a due conſiſtency, Maligni ſpiritus in menſtruis animum inveniunt, quando in pollutis cogitationibus poſitum, facilè ad perverſam operationem trabunt. Greg.it will ſteal away under the eye of the judge; impertment thoughts in holy duties are the pimples which evidence the heat of Corruption within: And here we may expoſtulate with Job, Job 14. 4. Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? And ſurely the ſcum of a putrified heart muſt needs be offenſive to the pure eyes of an holy God; this is wickedneſs which God hath no pleaſure in, Pſal. 5. 6. Vain thoughts in duty are onelyonly the breaking of the impoſtumation which lies covertly in the heart, where no eye ſees it.
But now the Diſeaſe being diſcovered, let us apply the Remedies. And for the preventing of wandring thoughts in holy Ordinances,
Let us heartily bemoan theſe ſinfull impertinencies. Let us ſpeak to God in the language of the Pſalmiſt, Pſal. 120. 5. Wo is me that I dwell in the Tents of Kedar! Wo is me that I cannot keep my heart cloſe to Chriſt in holy Ordinances, nor watch with my Lord one hour, no not one hour, but that I dwell among ſinfull, vain, fooliſh and flatulent thoughts. God ſurely will take away the cumberſome burthen of a troubled ſoul, if it be a real burden, he will chaſe away theſe frothy thoughts from our minds; and this is one of thoſe burdens we muſt caſt upon God, Pſal. 55. 22. Chriſt will not break the bruiſed Reed: It breaks the very heart of a Saint, that when he ſhould enjoy cloſe Communion with Jeſus Chriſt, a cloud of vain thoughts ſhould interpoſe, to eclipſe his happineſs, and darken his comforts. Let us ſpread therefore this affliction before the Lord with a weeping eye, and a bleeding heart: God knows how to ſtop up every paſſage, that a vain thought ſhall not ſlip out of any cranny of thy heart.
Let us over-awe our hearts with a ſence of the divine preſence. Say with the Centurion, Acts 10. 33. We are all here preſent before God. The Creature dares not trifle, if thunderſtruck Acts 17. 28.with the preſence of the Lord; he cannot but know ſomething of Gods power, his own dependance. I can ſpeak it Loquor per experientiam quantillum boni per ſacras ſcripturas obtinendum, &c. Eraſ.by experience, ſaith Eraſmus, That there is little good gained by the Scriptures, if a man hear or read them curſorily and careleſly; but if a man do it out of Conſcience, and heedily, as in Gods preſence, he ſhall find ſuch efficacy in it, as is not to be found in any other Book. Gods eye will make us ſerious, and Pedro Mexia, Hiſtor. Imper.fetter our flitting thoughts. The Servant will not ſport in the Maſters preſence. The Hiſtorian obſerves, That Domitian the Emperour played with flies when he was in the Chamber alone. Indeed we give the reins to our hearts in holy duties, becauſe we think there are none ſee them; but were we ſenſible of the divine preſence, and that Gods piercing eye 1 Theſ. 2. 13▪ſaw all the hurly burly in the ſoul, when our thoughts took their ranges, we ſhould fetter our hearts ſtraighter, then the Jaylor did the feet of the Apoſtles, Acts 16. 24. and put a pad-lock upon our imaginations. We ſuppoſe there is none in the congregation but the Miniſter, and the people, and they are ſtrangers to our thoughts, whether they are fixed or flying; but let us not deceive our ſelves, Pſal. 139. 12.our thoughts are as fair Champian to Gods eye and proſpect, as our actions.
Let us take ſome pains with our own hearts. Children will be wanton, if not diſciplined; our hearts will be flying, if not deplumed by care and induſtry. Charge thy heart in holy Ordinances, not to ſtir up to awake thy beloved until he Cant. 2. 7.pleaſe, which will be after the Ordinance to bleſs thy care Cant. 3. 5.and watchfulneſs.Cant. 8. 4.
We muſt pray againſt theſe wandring thoughts, that God would fix our Quick-ſilvered hearts, and keep Dinah at home.
We muſt ſtrive againſt them, and ſet before our hearts,
1. The eye of God:
2. The day of Account, when evil thoughts will be canvaſſed, and condemned for leſſer evils.
3. The great evil of leſſer ſins; nay, let us threaten our hearts, if they will not commune with God in Ordinances, and be ſtill, Pſal. 4.
4. that we will fill them with ſmarting grief and ſorrow.
We muſt fight againſt theſe vain and wandring thoughts, with the ſword of the ſpirit, which is the Word of God, Eph. 6. 17. We muſt convince our hearts, how many Scriptural Commands, wandring thoughts are the breach of, and Eph. 6. 17.therefore in themſelves they are weapons drawn againſt heaven. Our hearts, like Gardens, are beſt when dreſſed, but being neglected, they are eaſily over-grown with ſin and vanity.
If vain and impertinent thoughts ariſe in our minds, when we are in holy Ordinances, let us not dwell upon them. Ah let Agrippina cū filio ſuo Nerone concubitum ambire auſa eſt, ut imperium petulantèr et ſuperbè exerceat. Hiſt. Imp.us not take pleaſure in ſpeculative Wickedneſs. Evil thoughts, like Curtezans, if they are ſmiled upon, they grow impudent, and will croud in upon the ſoul; therefore when ſuch thoughts ariſe, ſend them away with a ſigh. Let us drown our ſinfull thoughts, as Pharoah did the Iſraelites Children, in their firſt birth, Exod. 1. 16. When our hearts are ready to cheriſh them, let our graces be ready to cruſh them. Vain thoughts even in holy duties, will be ready to break out, if the love of Chriſt, and holy reſolution keep Acts 15. 9.not the door. That heart-purifying-grace of faith will give theſe ſinfull intruders their ſpeedy diſmiſſion.
Let us preſerve and keep holy affections in the heart; for ſuch affections as we have, ſuch neceſſarily will be our Sibimutuò cauſae ſunt.thoughts, Pſal. 119. 97. Mal. 3. 16. The fear of God will make us think much of God. Indeed thoughts and affections are mutual cauſes one of another; thoughts are the bellows which enflame affections, and when they are enflamed, they cauſe thoughts to boyle over; and therefore men newly converted to God, have new and ſtrong affections, and they think more of God, then any other. Superlative love to Jeſus Chriſt will ſcatter vain and wandring thoughts Cant. 3. 1, 2.in holy duties; the ſoul will then ſay, I come to ſeek my Beloved.
Let us get ſtrong apprehenſions of the holineſs and purity of God: And let us conſider how unſuitable vain and ſlight thoughts are, to his holy and unblemiſhed thoughts, how Attributa dei ſunt inviſibilia, et ſpiritualia, et ideò deus eſt colendus, latriâ precib…, votis, et gratiarum actione. Alap.unſuitable our mud is to his Chryſtal. What is the reaſon, that the Saints and Angels in Heaven have not a vain thought, they ſtrike not a wry ſtroak, the ſight of the holy God doth fix them. Nothing would more ſpiritualize our thoughts in holy duties, then the conſideration of Gods Attributes, the tranſcendent brightneſs of thoſe moſt glorious beams. The Maſters eye keeps the Servant demure and obſervant; and nothing more conſolidates mans heart, then the ſerious apprehenſions of a glorious and infinite God.
Let us be earneſt with God for the ſpirit: He can ſanctifie our thoughts in holy Ordinances, and keep them cloſe to the 1 Theſ. 5. 23.work in hand. The ſpirit of God can turn the heart, which naturally is a bed of luſt, to become a bed of ſpices, and 1 Cor. 2. 10.ſo fill it with divine cogitations; this bleſſed ſpirit can preſent the ſoul with Heavenly objects, in Heavenly duties. The ſpirit is not onelyonly a diſcerner of thoughts, but the refiner of them, to purge away their droſs and impertinency; and therefore called a Refiners fire, Mal. 3. 2. Our Saviour faith, John 16. 13. The Spirit of truth ſhall lead us into all truth; and our hearts being guided, the thoughts will not be ſubject to wander into by paths, when we are intereſſed in holy and ſacred opportunities.