The Grand Trial of True Conversion, Treatise 2
Gen. 6. 5, 6, 7.
Verſ. 5 And Jehovah ſaw, that the wickedneſs of man was much on the earth, and every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was onelyonly evill every day.
Verſ. 6 And it repented Jehovah that he had made Man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
Verſ 7 And Jehovah ſaid, I will blot out Man whom I have created, from the face of the earth, from man unto beaſt, unto the creeping thing, and unto the fowle of the heavens: for it repenteth mee that I have made them.
IN theſe words we have three things preſented to our view.
1. The Bill of Indictment which is brought in againſt the men of the old world.
2. The evidence which is given in.
3. The dreadfull ſentence that paſſeth upon them.
1. The Indictment ſtands ſtill upon record in the firſt verſ, The wickedneſs of men was much & great on the earth. Their iniquity was now filled up and come to be intollerable. Here are four circumſtances that doe extreamly aggravate their wickedneſſe.
1. It was Ʋniverſall, both in reſpect 2. Pet. 2. 5.of perſons and places: It was not a few men that were guilty, but all, except a very few: neither was it committed in ſom one part or corner of the earth, but in all places; it was much on the earth.
2. This wickedneſſe of the old world foreign in terra.was Superlative and tranſcendent, it was now grown up to a full height.
3. It was an Inveterate wickedneſſe, along time continued, ſeven hundred years at leaſt.
This impiety of the old world began to riſe at the birth of Enos, for then began men profanely to call on the name of Gen. 4. 26.Jehovah.
Enos was borne when Seth was 105 Gen. 5. 8. anno mundi 235.years old, and the world 235. as a learned man obſerves.
2. About the time of Henochs tranſlation it began to be of much ſtrength.
4. This wickedneſſe of the old world was now incurable and incorrigible: divers means had been uſed to reſtrain and reclaim them, but they hated to be reformed, and deſperately hardened themſelves againſt all.
2. The grand capital condemning wickedneſs which is alledged againſt the ſinners of the old world, is the evil of thier Verſ. 5 thoughts: all their thoughts were evil continually. They were filled with Idolatries, adulteries, murthers, blaſphemies, and ſundry other notorious ſins; yet we find not theſe particularly alledged in the Bill of indictment, but their thoughts rather; theſe are the chief evils for which they ſtand here indicted.
2. The evidence is the higheſt that can be, the great Judge himſelfe was an eye-witneſſe againſt them: Jehovah ſaw the wickedneſs of men.
3. The ſentence it ſelfe ſpeakes the moſt dreadfull and diſmall deſolation that hath been ſeen ſince the world began: the Lord denounceth a univerſall cutting off of Man and Beaſt from the face of the earth. Verſ. 7
In the beginning of the Chapter God had declared againſt the wickedneſſe of men, and prefixed a certaine tearm of years, wherein he would wait for their repentance: he had alſo predicted the time of their exciſion, except they repented; but theſe Gigantive fighters againſt God are ſo far from repenting for ſins paſt, that they go on dayly to fill up the meaſure of their ſins. Therefore at length God prepares to take revenge upon theſe Rebels: this is the ſum and ſcope of theſe words.
And Jehovah ſaw: Thus 'tis in the foreign pro foreign & vidit.Hebrew, when Jehovah ſaw: Thus ſome read it.
But was he ignorant what would be the event? was he deceived in his expectation? Oh no: this is ſpoken after the manner of men, and it imports theſe four things.
1. Gods moſt accurate inſpection and attention to all the actings of men, even the moſt ſecret thoughts of their hearts.
2. it ſhews us what are the Epicurean Atheiſticall imagination of ſinners; they thinke that God doth not ſee or take notice what men act upon the earth, Pſal. 10. 11. They ſay in their hearts God hath forgotten, he hides his face Job 22. 13.that he may not ſee for ever.
3. It ſignifies Gods gentleneſs and long ſufferance beyond what can be in man, in that being ſo long and greatly provoked by theſe Giants, yet doth not haſten down his judgements.
4. It ſpeaks to us his great juſtice and wiſdome, that he doth not pronounce ſentence againſt the moſt deſperate ſinners, till matters are exactly weighed and looked into. God from eternity foreknew the impenitency of men, and immutably decreed his judgements.
And that every imagination of the Act. 15. 18.thoughts of mans heart was only evill continually.
In theſe words the Spirit of God diſcovers, 1. what was the great provoking wickedneſſe of thoſe notorious ſinners of the old world. 2. The fountain of all that ſuperfluity of ſin which brake forth in their lives, it was their evil thoughts: the whole fiction of their thoughts: Tremelius and Junius render thus, and every foreign Omne figmentū Cogitationum.figment and thought of mans heart was only evill at all times. But acording to the Hebrew, tis thus to be read, every fiction of the thoughts of his heart; that is,
1. Whatſoever mans heart formeth and thinketh, or formeth by thinking: thus Piſcator very expreſly.
2. The whole frame of the thoughts of their hearts was evill, wicked, onelyonly evill, every day, and all the day long.
Every word in the text hath its weight, to aggravate the wickedneſſe of theſe men.
The heart of man according to Philoſophers is the ſeat of life; but in the Scriptures it is the ſeat of the ſoule, and principall of the underſtanding minde, will, affections, and motions: it is put here chiefly for the minde and thinking power in mans ſoul; his heart is the ſhop wherein all his thoughts are formed and forged, and they are called the fictions of mans heart; and all theſe are ſaid to be evill in naturall men, not one excepted.
Now that thoughts are here to be taken properly for the muſings and imaginations of mens hearts, is evident by comparing Gen. 8. 21. which anſwers to this Text.
Where God in mercy gives us this promiſe, ſaying, I will from henceforth curſe the earth no more for mans foreigncauſe: though the imagination of mans heart be evill from his childhood.
By imagination here is meant that which the mind and underſtanding by thinking frameth and deviſeth: as chap. 6. 5. thus Mr. Perkins and others Quamvis figmentum cordis, id eſt cogitationes cordis. Piſcator.expound it.
Piſcator ſayes, that this figment or imagination of mans heart is the thoughts of the heart.
We have the like expreſſion of mans thoughts in 1. Chron. 28. 9. Jehovah foreignſearcheth all hearts, and underſtandeth every imagination or fiction of the thoughts: that is, the whole frame, and framing of the thoughts. The Hebrew word jetzer ſignifies any thing that the heart firſt imagins, formeth, &c.
And in this ſenſe Mr. Perkins takes thoughts in any text, for the framings and deviſings of mans thinking power, as is evident by his own words.
By thoughts or imaginations in Gen. 6. 5. (ſayes he) can nothing elſe be meant, but that which is deviſed and plotted in the thoughts of mans heart: ſo Salomon ſpeaking of an heart which God hateth, foreign Finxit formavit, finxit mente cogitavit imaginatus eſt, Ʋn…e foreign fictio aut figmentum & cogitatio, Munſter.ſayth, it is framing or thinking thoughts of wickedneſſe, Prov. 6. 18.
Whereby tis evident, that the meaning of this Text is plainly this: The whole frame and fabrick of mens thoughts, every thought framed and formed by their hearts was evill.
2. They were altogether wicked; there was no good in any of their thoughts: theſe Giants of the old world had not one good thought in their mindes, like thoſe in Pſal. 10. 4.
3. All their thoughts were altogether wicked every day, col-haiom, all day long, foreignand all the dayes of their life; that is, perpetually without ceaſing: and it repented Jehovah that he had made man, &c.
God hath no paſſions nor contrary affections, for he is unchangeable: but this grieving and repenting are ſpoken after the manner of men; and the intent of theſe ſpeeches is to hold forth theſe two things.
1. That mans evill thoughts are exceedingly offenſive and provoking to God.
2. That God would now deſtroy his creatures that he had made. This is cleerly expreſſed in verſ. 7.
And the Lord ſaid, I will deſtroy Man whom I have created, from the face of the earth, botb Men and Beaſts: For as the Gen. 1. 26. Gen. 3. 17. Rom. 8. 20.Beaſts were made for man, ſo they became ſubject to vanity and deſtruction through mans iniquity.
The ſenſe and intendment of the words being thus cleared, I will now endeavour through the light and aſſiſtance of the great ſearcher of the thoughts to open the myſterious qualities of the Thoughts, and 1. the myſtery of iniquity which worketh in every mans thoughts untill they are really renewed.
This Scripture that I have opened doth clearly diſcover the horrid hat…full iniquity and impiety of mans naturall corrupt thoughts, and the deadly effects and fruits therof.
In the opening of this firſt myſtery I will diſcover and demonſtrate the iniquity of mans naturall thoughts.
1. In certain generall poſitions.
2. In ſundry particular actings, wherby the manifold myſterious ways of ſin working in mens thoughts will more evidently appear.
1. Poſition
The thoughts of every man and woman by corrupt nature are exceeding ſinfull and profane.
For the full underſtanding of this poſition, there be two things that I muſt demonſtrate.
1. That there are thought-tranſgreſſions.
2. That the thoughts of all unregenerate men are full of wickedneſs and vanity.
1. There are thought-ſins: much ſin is acted in our thoughts: carnal thoughts are ſinfull evils. The Scripture tells us expreſly, that the thoughts of mans heart Gen 6. 5. and 8. 21. Jer. 4. 14.are evill, vain, and wicked: That there is ſin enough in mans thoughts to provoke God to deſtroy a whole world, and to curſe the earth.
We have a full Text, Prov. 24. 9. the thought of fooliſhneſſe (or of a fooliſh foreignthing) is ſin. 1. The thought of the fool is ſin. Thus Piſcator reads it: that is, all the thoughts of ignorant unſanctified men are ſin.
2. The thought of a fooliſh thing, that is, of that which is vain, empty, unprofitable, is ſin: thus things that are vain and unprofitable are ſaid to be fooliſh, Epheſ. foreign.5. 4. fooliſh ſpeaking (which is there condemned) is vain, unprofitable talk. So Titus 3. 9. fooliſh queſtions are ſuch as are unprofitable and vain.
The law of God is broken not only by vile filthy thoughts, but alſo by vain fooliſh idle thoughts.It is an Hebraiſm, as foreign vir iniquitatis.
3. A thought of fooliſhneſſe; that is, a fooliſh thought, a vain empty thought: thus the Scripture calls a wicked man a man of iniquity, Eſay 55. 7.
4. A fooliſh vain thought is ſin, that is, a great ſin: thus in the Scripture phraſe ſin is often put for a moſt ſinfull and damnable act: as Deut. 15. 9. Joh. 15. 24. If I had not done among them the works that none other man did, they had not had ſin. that is, ſo great ſin; and James 4. 17. To him that knoweth to do good, and doth it not, to him it is ſin, a very great ſin.
Now becauſe men uſually think that they may take more liberty in their thoughts then in their viſible works, I will therefore give in Reaſons from Scripture whereby it will more evidently appear that all irregular thoughts are ſinfull evils.
1. Evill thoughts are tranſgreſſions Reaſon 1 of the holy Law of God, which commands and calls for the love and ſervice of our thoughts, as well as of our words and works, Mat. 22. 37. Jeſus ſaid unto him, thou ſhalt love the Lord thy God foreign Marc. 12. 30. Luk. 10. 27.withall thy heart and with all thy thoughts: thus the words are in the originall, and thus learned Paſſor. reads them If God muſt be loved with our whole mind, then certainly he muſt be honoured and ſerved with all our thoughts, which are the actings of the mind. The Royall Law is ſpirituall binding our thoughts to obedience Rom. 7. 14.as ſtrictly as our words and works.
2. Mans thoughts are cenſured and Reaſon 2 condemned by the word of God, Heb. 4. 12. foreign.1. It is a Iudge of the thoughts of the heart, it paſſeth ſentence upon them as a Judge.
2. The word rebukes and ſentenceth the ſinner for his thoughts, 1. Cor. 14. 24, 25. The Ʋnbeliever is rebuked and judged of all that prophecy; for what? for the ſecret thoughts of his heart, which are made manifeſt by the ſearching Miniſtery of the Word. The Law reproving mans thoughts, clearly proveth that thoughts are tranſgreſſions of the Law. yea, the Lord Chriſt who firſt gave the Law, and beſt knew the true intent and extent of his own law, doth ſharply rebuke the Scribes for their evill thoughts, Mat. 9. 3.
3. Evill thoughts are abominations Reaſon 3 which are exceeding hatefull unto God, Prov. 13. 26. tis expreſly ſaid, that the thoughts of an evill man are abomination unto Iehovah. He hates them with a foreignheight of hatred, as the word properly imports.
Nothing is the object of Gods hatred but ſin. Salomon ſpeaking of a heart which God hates, ſaith it is framing or foreign averſari abominari, ſignificat omnibus ſenſibus ab aliqua re. Mollerus.thinking thoughts of wickedneſs, Prov. 6. 18.
Reaſon 4. Mans own thoughts are defiling evils: They make him guilty and filthy in the ſight of God. Every vain thought ariſing out of our hearts faſtens filth upon our minds, and guilt upon our Conſciences: this the great Law-Giver himſelf declares in Marc. 7. 22. from within out of the heart of men proceed evill thoughts; theſe are evils that defile Man, Mat. 15. 19. 20. Now nothing can defile men but ſin, as is evident by the words of Chriſt.
Reaſon 5. Mans own thoughts are a ſpeciall part of thoſe ſinfull evils which muſt be forſaken in the practiſe of Repentance, and returning to God, Eſay 55. 7. Let the unrighteous man forſake his own thoughts, and let him return to Iehovah. The ſins which are forſaken by reall Repentants, are reduced to theſe two heads, thoughts and wayes. Sin hath its beginning and riſe in our thoughts; theſe are the next and immediate productions and actings of the heart, Marc. 7. 21 Wayes are thoughts brought forth into Act. Repentance muſt begin where ſin begins.
Reaſon 6. That plenary pardon that God promiſeth to penitent ſinners, extends as well to their thoughts as wayes, yea more abundantly to their thoughts. See Eſay 55. 7.The thoughts of our hearts are the firſt and fulleſt part of that deep debt for which we muſt beg forgiveneſs from the God of mercy: as is evident, Act. 8. 22. Pray unto God if in deed the thought of thy heart may be forgiven thee.
2. The thoughts of all unſanctified men are full of wickedneſs and vanity. Now all ſtates of unregeneracy (that is of ſuch who were never yet ſavingly ſanctified) may be drawn into four different degrees: 1. notorious ſinners. 2. meer moraliſts. 3. groſs hypocrites. 4. formall hypocrites. All theſe are full of iniquity and vanity in their thoughts:
1. By notorious ſinners, I mean all ſuch as live in notorious crimes and open pollutions, who carry the mark of Satan in their hands, foreheads, and tongues. Now the thoughts of ſuch men are all continually and reſolvedly ſin, and that in a high and horrible degree. Wickedneſs hath ſo enwoven it ſelf into their hearts, that in their inward thoughts, they are very corruption. And whereas ſleep doth moſt ſweetly feed and refreſh nature, yet evil thoughts are far more naturall to them, then deſire of ſheep. The wicked do imagine miſchief upon their beds.Pſal. 36. 4. Mica. …. 3.
When the mind is retired from earthly affairs and diſtractions, when 'tis moſt active and powerfull, and now the fitteſt ſeaſon for Divine contemplation, even then are their thoughts as black as hell, and deepeſt in the works of darkneſs then are they plotting and contriving wickedneſs, how to compaſs their pleaſures and profits, and to accompliſh the luſts of their hearts; where to crown themſelves with freſh roſe buds of ſenſuall delights; how to over reach their brethren, oppreſs their Neighbours, vex and vilifie the Saints: theſe are the dayly thoughts of notorious ſinners, who do not only greedily entertain what wickedneſs doth ordinarily ſpring from their corrupt hearts, and is ſuggeſted by others, but being paſt all ſence both of ſhame and ſin, they ſet their thoughts to invent ſtrange villanies, new forms, faſhions, and circumſtances of acting old ſin.
2. The thoughts of the groſs hypocrite another kind of ſinner, are fully as black and abominable, as thoſe of open Belials, though his outward life be fair and plauſible.
What is groſs hypocriſie? Queſt.
When men profeſs that which is not Anſw. in their hearts at all, and ſo deceive others, but not their own hearts, and this is moſt properly hypocriſie: for the Greek word (as a learned man obſervs) ſignifies a Stage-player, who ſometimes foreign.puts on the Robes and Majeſty of a Prince, himſelf being of a baſe and neglected ſtate; or the gravity and wiſdom of a Counſellor, himſelf being of roguiſh and diſſolute conditions; ſometimes he repreſents a virtuous man, his own life being vitious. Such are all groſs hypocrites upon the ſtage of this World, very painted Sepulchres, and whited walls, glorious in outward forms, ſhews, and repreſentations to the eye of the world, but in the hidden paſſages of their hearts they are very wickedneſs; many ſwarms of filthy thoughts do ſettle there continually, they are full of black and bloudy projects for the fleſh.
Groſs hypocrites do ſin againſt the light of their own conſcience, profeſſing that holineſs outwardly, that they hate in their hearts; they account it their greateſt glory, and make it their deepeſt deſign to appear Saints to others, but within their hearts are a bloudy ſlaughter houſe of cruell malicious thoughts; a hatefull ſtew of impure imaginations and filthy thoughts; a forge of miſchievous and monſtrous thoughts; a very Cage of all uncleane and ravenous birds.
The ordinary thoughts of groſs hypocrites are as vile and helliſh as the thoughts of notorious ſinners.
3. The thoughts of meer morall men are carnal and corrupt earthly, and exorbitant, their goodneſs conſiſts chiefly in an abſtinence from outward notorious offences, and the acting of ſome externall duties of righteouſneſs: therefore though their viſible converſation be ordered civilly and ſmoothly before men, yet their inward thoughts are altogether vain and prophane, wanton, wordly, and ungodly: they do in their judgments and practiſe approve that peſtilent proverb, thoughts are free. They are free indeed in reſpect of obnoxiouſneſs to mens Courts, and penal cenſures, in reſpect of diſcovery by any creatures; but the eye and vengeance of heaven takes firſt and ſpeciall notice of them, and the juſtice of God will puniſh mans evill thoughts as the principals, as the chief plotters, and firſt actors of all tranſgreſſion.
4. The thoughts of formall hypocrits, though they be not ſo black as the thoughts of the three former ſorts now mentioned, yet they are vain, earthly and unſanctified.
What is formall hypocriſie? Queſt.
It is that hypocriſie by which men Anſw. do not only deceive others with a ſhew and profeſſion of piety and outward form of Religion; but alſo their own hearts with a falſe conceit & confidence that they are in a ſtate of life and happineſs, when as in truth their ſouls were never yet poſſeſſed of the glorious life of Chriſt. Theſe formall temporary profeſſors do attain to the higheſt perfections that can be found in men that are not ſavingly ſanctified; for they have a taſte of the generall graces of Gods ſpirit, and in ſome ſort of the powers Hebr. 6.of the world to come: and therefore their hearts will be affrighted with ſuggeſtions of infamous conſequence, and horrid nature: as thoughts of Atheiſm, blaſpheming cruelty, hereſie, and ſuch like. But becauſe their hearts are not faſtened and ſanctified by ſpeciall grace page missing God firſt made them, but both have foreign inquit Heiron quod omnes voce Conſona foreign tranſtulerunt. Secundū Ebraei ſermonis ambiguitatem & numerum poſſumus et rationem & cogitationem dicere. foreign Druſius.ſtrangely gone away from the ſtraitneſs of their Creation. This I have found by the wiſdom given me from the Lord, that God created men upright and ſtraight in their underſtanding, mind, and will: there was not, neither could be the leaſt wry thought riſing from any thing within Man, ſo long as he kept cloſe to God and his will.
Eccleſ. 7. 30. Ipſos autem quaerere Cogitationes multas. Thus Piſcator.
But they both Adam and Eve and alſo their poſterity, have ſought out (of their Et ipſi inquiſierunt cogitationes multas. Thus the Interlin.own accord) many thoughts, that is crooked and corrupt thoughts and devices, whereby they are fearfully faln from the firſt righteouſneſs wherein they were formed. Theſe crooked thoughts were caſt into our firſt Parents by that crooked Serpent Satan; and being by them entertained, they were the bitter root of that dreadfull diſobedience.
What were thoſe thoughts out of Queſt. which that abominable apoſtacy did ſpring?
The firſt was a Thought of Pride, a Anſw. conceit and apprehenſion of ſome God-like perfection and excellency that was to be attain'd by eating that forbidden fruit, which they could not enjoy by their yielding obedience to Gods Commandement.
The Divel had injected this thought into the Woman that by eating of that prohibited Tree, they ſhould preſently have their eyes opened, which the Woman Gen. 3. 4. 5.did apprehend to be meant of a further degree of wiſdom, as the like foreignphraſe imports, Act. 26. 18. Epheſ. 1. 18. and they ſhould be as Gods: this the Woman underſtood of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, as appears by the words of God in verſ. 22.
Thus through the Divels ſuggeſtion and ſeducements, the Woman began to have ſuch thoughts in her mind as theſe, ſurely there is ſome great perfection in that fruit which is reſtrained from us, and by eating thereof we ſhall attain to a God-like wiſdom, a kind of omniſcience: this great ambitious thought was the main root out of which that great tranſgreſſion took its riſe.
2. A thought of Infidelity; our firſt Parents did not really conceive and apprehend that there was an All-ſufficiency in God injoyed, to fill them with all deſirable perfections; and this was the ground of their averſion from God unto the Creature. This vile thought of A thought of diſtruſt made entrance unto the fall of our firſt Parents. Perkins.Diſtruſt entred into the heart of Eve, it may be that it is not true that God hath ſpoken to us concerning this fruit, and it may be God regards us not as we think he doth, in that he denieth us this pleaſant fruit; hereupon her will and affections were drawn out to actual diſobedience and departure from God.
3. The opinion of a conceived excellency. The Woman was poſſeſt with a ſtrong conceit and opinion of the great wiſdom and ſagacity of the Tempter, when ſhe ſaw the ſpirit that talked with her to have taken upon him the ſhape of the moſt ſagacious beaſt of the field, ſhe began to think thus with her ſelf, that though he were one of the abaſed ſpirits, yet by the ſhape he had taken reſembling his nature, he muſt needs be moſt crafty and ſagacious, and ſo might pry further into Gods meaning then he was aware of, and for this end the Divel (of all other beaſts of the field) took the ſhape of a Serpent, thereby to gain this conceit and opinion of ſagacity and ſubtilty with the Woman; and this conceit occaſioned Eves fall.
4. Our firſt Parents were poſſeſt with a thought of iniquity againſt their gracious God: They did wickedly think and imagine that there was not the reality of love in God that he pretended to them, but that he rather envied their perfection, according to that calumniating thought which the Divel had caſt into their minds, that of ill will he had forbidden them this Tree: for God knoweth that in the day ye eat thereof ye ſhall Gen. 3. 5.be as Gods.
5. A thought of impunity, that they ſhould not ſurely dye, though they did tranſgreſs that command of God, who Gen. 2. 17.had threatned aſſured death: the Divel had fild their hearts with this preſumptuous thought, ye ſhall not dying dye; that is, not dye the death, as the Greek Gen. 3. 4.Tranſlates.
Oh what infinite cauſe have we to hate evil thoughts! even for this, in that they were the root of that firſt Apoſtacy whereby we were all undone in Adam.
2. Evill thoughts are the root of all the evill which is in our judgements and affections, words and works.
1. Our thoughts do corrupt our judgements; James 2. 4. men are ſaid to becom Judges of evill thoughts.
For the clear underſtanding of this myſterious Text, it muſt be conſidered in its aſpect and connexion with the two former verſes, wherin the Apoſtle declares how guilty the Hebrews (to whom he writeth) were of that great great evill from whence he diſſwades them, namely, an extra judiciall acception of perſons by an uſuall practice of theirs in their Church-aſſemblies: he convinceth them by a notorious example, that they gave ſpeciall reverence and honour to rich men, though wicked and unworthy, meerly for their worldly wealth and ſplendor: but they diſreſpected and deſpiſed the poor brethren, though rich in faith, becauſe of their poverty; this is a vile proſopolepſia condemned by the Royall Law, and inconſiſtent with Chriſtian faith and charity, in that they ſcorned a godly man, becauſe poor in compariſon of a wicked man that was rich.
In the fourth verſe the Apoſtle declares the true root and riſe of this perverſe judgement▪ in reſpect of perſons: they became Judges of evill thoughts; that Jam. 2. 4 foreign.is, they did judge perverſly according to the crooked Rule of their own corrupt thoughts: ye are become diſcerners, or diſtinguiſhers of evill thoughts: thus the Syriack reads it; that is, they made an unjuſt difference and diſtinction foreignbetween the rich and the poor by their crooked thoughts; they judged between them by evill opinions or imaginations, as the Arabick verſion doth clearly and rightly expreſs it, foreign Genitivus hic non objecti ſed attributi Grot.They judged between the Rich and the poor by evill thoughts: they were poſſeſt with ſuch evill thoughts as theſe; that gold is to be preferred before grace, outward pomp and glory, before ſpirituall excellencies; and theſe wicked thoughts were the root of their From the thoughts of men proceed all bad deſires, corrupt affections, evil words and actions: the mind muſt firſt conceive before the will can deſire, or the affections be delighted, or the members of the body practiſe any thing. Mr. Perkins.unjuſt judging; they valued and eſteemed men according to their earthly excellencies, and externall apearances.
The pollution which is in our affections coms originally from our thoughts: inordinate affections are begotten by exorbitant thoughts. 1. Affections are properly the motions and actings of mans will.
2. All the affections are ſtird up and raiſed by the thoughts, they are bred and fed by them, no one thought paſſeth frō the mind, but it ſtirs ſome affection of deſire, delight, fear, ſorrow, joy, &c.
3. Therefore it follows, that ſuch as our thoughts are ſuch muſt be our affections: if our affections be full of earth and earthlineſs; luſt and looſneſs, it is from the overflowing of all theſe in and from our thoughts: the root and reaſon of worldly affections, is ſome vile thought that is hidden in the heart, Pſal. 49. 11. Their inward thought is that their houſes ſhall continue for ever.
3. Corrupt thoughts are the fountain Vitioſi ſermones non niſi ex perverſis Cogitationibus promanare poſſunt. Cartwright in Proverb.of corrupt ſpeeches: it is a principle proceeding from Truth it ſelf, that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth ſpeaks. Out of the abundance of vanity and impiety which is in their thoughts men bring forth vain ungodly ſpeeches continually: whatſoever evil is ſpoken with their mouths, is firſt ſpoken in and by their hearts.
When men are rebuked and convinced of their fooliſh filthy ſpeeches, they will excuſe and extenuate their ſin with this plea, that they thought no evill: whereas corrupt vitious ſpeeches cannot flow but from corrupt impure thoughts: as is evident Pſal. 10. 7. where tis ſaid of the wicked man, that his mouth is full of execration and deceits and fraud, under his tongue is perverſneſs and iniquity: but the ſpring from whence all this evil-ſpeaking ouerflows, is the impiety prophanes and preſumption of his thoughts as is moſt apparant, verſ. 4. God is not in Pſal. 10. 4.all his thoughts, or all his thoughts are that there is no God.
4. Evill thoughts are the root out of which ſprings an evill eye, and uncharitable Cogitationes malificiorum parentes & ſemen ſunt. Carthwright.hand, Deut. 15. 9. Keep thy ſelfe leſt there be a wicked thought in thine heart, and thine eye be evill toward thy poor brother, and thou giveſt not unto him. whereby tis evident that all the unmercifulneſs that is in the eyes and hands of men, proceeds from unmercifull thoughts; there is the firſt riſe: it is their thoughts that corrupteth their eyes, harden their hearts, and ſhuts up their hands againſt the poor.
5. The iniquity of mens viſible actings proceeds from the ilneſs of their thoughts. This I ſhall evidence from divers Scriptures: as Pſal. 14. 1. The fool Look what men doe practiſe, that firſt of all they think; for the thought is the beginning of every action. Mr. Perkins.hath ſaid in his heart, there is no God. they have corrupted themſelves; they have done an abominable work: there is none that doth good. The wicked man, who is the greateſt fool ſaith in his heart, that is, thinks and conceiveth in ſecret: (thoughts are the ſpeakings of the mind, the language of the heart: ſo Pſal. 10. 4. and 5. 3. 2.) his uſuall thoughts are, that there is no God, no omniſcient ſin-revenging God, no power or dominion of God on the earth, as the Chaldee expounds it.
Obſerve how theſe abominable Atheiſticall This word is uſed for Corruption both of Religion and manners by Idolatry and other vices, Exod 32: 7. Deut. 32. 29.thoughts lodging in mens hearts are the root of all corrupt Courſes, and caſting off the thing that is good, for it follows, they have corrupted themſelves, they have corrupted their works (as the Chaldee ſaith) and all their ways, by vile vitious practiſes.
And that which he ſpake before as of one ſinner, he now applies to all, They Therefore in Pſal. 52. 2. it is guavel, ovil, which here is gualilah, action Pſal. 10.have done an abominable practiſe, meaning their evil actions, not one of them doth any good work.
We have alſo a full text, Pſal. 10. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. The Wicked through the pride of his countenance will not ſeeke after God; God is not in all his thoughts: his ways are always grievous, Thy judgments Verſ. 5 are far above out of his ſight, as for all his enemies he puffeth at them, he hath ſaid in his heart I ſhall not be moved, for I ſhall never be in adverſity, &c.
The wicked man ſtands here accuſed of very great crimes, and crying abominations againſt God and man; as 1. Slighing Whoſoever is of baſe life, it cometh from the prophaneſs of his heart in evill thoughts. Perkins.and contempt of God, his waies and judgments. He ſeeckth not, nothing regardeth: or careth for God, or his will; he deſires no Communion with him: or it may be tranſlated, The wicked inquireth not into the height of his anger; that Verſ. 4 is, he careth not, nor feareth Gods anger. 2. Greiving and vexing the poor: His Verſ. 5 waies are alwaies grievous to the poor whom he perſecuteth. 3. Laying Snares Verſ. 8, 9, 10 and Traps to take the poor afflicted ones. 4. His violence and cruelty towards them, when drawn into his Net, verſe 9. The fifth ſin is his malicious murthering the Innocent, verſe 8.
Now the root from whence all theſe wicked Acts do riſe, are thoſe abominable thoughts which the wicked man harbors in his heart.
God is not in all his thoughts; that is, foreignhe doth not once think of God, whilſt he plotteth and acteth againſt the poor: or, His thoughts are there is no God. Thus, tis in the Margine of our Bibles, and the Hebrew words may be rendred both theſe waies: The ſinner ſtudies Atheiſme, he ſtrives to ſix theſe thoughts in his mind, that there is no all-ſeeing, all-ſearching God. The Chalde expounds it, He ſaith in his heart that his thoughts are not made manifest before the Lord. He hath ſaid in his heart; That is, theſe are his daily thoughts, I ſhall not be moved, from Generation to Generation I ſhall not be in evill. That is, I who am not now in trouble and miſery, ſhal… never bee: The Chalde gives foreignthis ſenſe; I will not be moved from Generation to Generation from doing evill. Wicked men do in their own thoughts promiſe a kind of Eternity in ſinning, and worldly proſperity to themſelves.
The wicked man ſpeaks thus, in his Verſ. 11 heart; That is, he thinks God hath forgotten, he hath hidden his face, he will not ſee to Eternity: and verſe 13. He hath ſaid, thou wilt not require it.
God hath forgotten what I have done, therfore he cannot call me to a reckoning for it: yea he will never ſee or take notice of any thing that I do, or if he ſee it, yet he will not require any account of me, therfore I ſhall eſcape wel enough; wherby it is apparant.
1. That wicked thoughts are the beginning and bottom of all thoſe abominable evils that ſinners do act, verſe 4.
2. They are at the end and cloſe of their wicked deeds, verſe 11.
This atheiſticall thought (that God doth not behold & obſerve their waies) raigns in the hearts of wicked ones; and this conceit is the chief root from which all their curſed fruits do proceed, and that which encourageth their hearts in doing evill: this is evident from divers places of Scripture, as Pſal. 94. 7. ſee what complaints are put up againſt the wicked.
1. They triumph over the people of God.
2. They ſpeak hard things againſt Verſ. 4 them.
3. They break them in peeces with Verſ. 5 their cruelties.
4. They murther the widows, fatherleſs, Verſ. 6 and ſtrangers.
Now the Root of all theſe cruel words and deeds is that curſed Thought which poſſeſſeth their hearts; Yea they ſay, the Lord ſhall not ſee: Where do they ſay it? In their hearts; their tongues do not expreſs it, but theſe are their inward thoughts.
Compare Pſal. 10. 6. 11. 13. and 14. This Helliſh thought is predominant in all the workers of iniquity, verſe 4. ſo Pſa. 73. 3. We find ſundry actuall Impieties layd to the charge of wicked men.
They are full of pride and violence, they Verſ. 6 are corrupt. That is, in their ſpeakings and actings: They ſpeak wickedly and loftily; they ſpeak oppreſſion. They ſet their mouths againſt the Heavens. That Verſ. 8 is, Againſt God and his Saints, whom Verſ. 9 they blaſpheme; and by this they do Revel. 13. Heavens are put for God. Dan: 4. 23. Luk. 15. 18.greatly afflict the people of God, verſe 10. Waters of a full Cup are wrung out by them, at the hearing of thoſe blaſphemies. Teares as many waters flow from them, as the Chaldee expounds it.
Now the Root of all theſe Evils is in their thoughts, verſe 11. And they ſay; That is, in their hearts. How doth God know? And is their knowledge in the moſt Verſ 12 High? Behold theſe are the ungodly.
Pſal. 50. 16, 17, 18, 19, 20. Divers acts of iniquity are brought in againſt the wicked mam, but the Riſe of all theſe is in his thoughts, verſe 21. Theſe things haſt thou done, and I was ſilent. Thou thoughtſt that I was ſurely like unto thee. Hebr: I being had been, or was.All the wickedneſs wch men bring forth daily in their words and viſible waies, is the revelation and manifeſtation of the thoughts of their hearts; words, and works, are evident Characters wherin we may read every mans thoughts, Luke 2. 34. 35. Symeon ſaid to Mary, Behold this Jeſus is ſet for a ſign to be ſpoken againſt. foreign. Pendent a participio. foreign ſayes Piſcator.That the thoughts of many hearts, (or from the hearts of many) may be revealed. Theſe words have dependance on the laſt words of the former verſe (A ſign to be ſpoken againſt.) And they hold forth the root and riſe of all that contradiction, reproach and ſcoffs that the people caſt upon Chriſt (which were as a ſharp Dart, or Sword in Maries heart, or ſoul, peircing it with bitter grief) when they fell off from the Lord Jeſus, and cryed, Crucifie him, and ſcoffed at Luk: 2. 35. & tuam ipſius animam pertranſibit foreign vul. & Beza gladius Syrus foreign; Et eadem voce Arabs haſta vel lancea eſt Heb…aeorum foreign Quod David. de pomis vertit. foreign Haſta lancea ſed addit quoſdam pugiouem gladiolum interpretari.him hanging upon the Croſs. All this did originally proceed from the thoughts of their hearts; and did evidently diſcover and reveale the wickedneſs and perverſeneſs of their thoughts: They had thoughts of giving earthly honour and happineſs by Chriſt, thoughts of adhering to Chriſt, if he ſhould advance them to a Terrene Felicity in an earthly Kingdom. Prou 29. 11. A fool uttereth all his mind. That is, his thoughts; a fools ſpeeches are but goings forth of his thoughts. Thus, tis evident that wicked thoughts are the root and beginning of all evill in affections, judgment, geſture, word, and deed: There cannot be an Action before there be a Thought; for this is the order wherin our Actions LXX. foreign hastam. foreign lauceam &c. interpretantur.are produced. Firſt, The mind thinketh then that thought taketh and delighteth the affections, and from that cometh conſent of will, after this cometh execution of the Action &c. therfore trace every corrupt affection and exorbitant practice, till you come up to ſome inward and hidden thought. There is evill enough in a corrupt thought to turn Angels of light into Devils, and men into the Devils Image; Evill thoughts were the root of the Apoſtacy both of 1 Tim. 3. 6. foreign.Angels and men; the ſin of the Angels was firſt in thought; they were lifted up with the thoughts of their own Excellency, and this threw them down from a height of Glory, into Chains of darkneſs.
Third Poſition.
3. The thoughts of men are leading evils, they have the preheminence and priority in ſinning, they are the Ringleaders in wicked waies; they are firſt in all our evills: all ſin begins in our foreignthoughts, as is evident, Micah 2. 1. Wo unto them that imagine iniquity and work wickedneſs upon their beds, when the morning is light, they practice it, becauſe their hand hath power, and they covet fields and take them by violence, and houſes, and take them away, ſo they oppreſs a man and his houſe, even a man and his heritage.
1. Here obſerve, 1. That all iniquity which is acted in mens viſible converſations is twice wrought; firſt, In their thoughts: They think iniquity and work wickedneſs upon their beds. That is, They work, forge, and frame in their thoughts and imaginations upon their beds.
2. In their affections and viſible courſes: They work and practiſe it when the morning is light. That is, in the day time, becauſe their hand hath power. Wickedneſs is firſt wrought by their hearts, and then by their hands.
2. Wicked affections and the worſt of actions, as coveting of other mens fields and houſes, and violent taking them away, theſe have their beginning in mens thoughts: Theſe are the Leaders that cauſe their whole man to erre and go aſtray Eſa. 3. 12. and 9. 16.from Gods waies; and therfore when the Lord Chriſt declares what are thoſe Capitall ſins of defilement which proceed out of the hearts of men, he nameth evill thoughts in the firſt place: They are ſet as leaders of that black Regiment, they are in the front of that Matth: 15. 19. 20. 21.black Roll, Mark 7. 21. 22: Out of the heart of men proceed evill thoughts, adultries, fornications, murthers, &c.
1. Evil thoughts are the firſt begotten of the old Adam, the firſt fruits of the fleſh, the firſt born of the old man, the eldeſt Sons of corrupt nature, and therfore ſins of ſtrength. No wonder then that vain thoughts do ſo ſtrongly charge and captivate our Souls: the ſtrength of that body of ſin is brought forth in them.Rom: 7, 24.
2. Evill thoughts are the begetters of all other ſins whatſoever: Sins of affection, and ſins of action, are originally in the loynes of our mind (as all ſinners were originally in the loynes of Adam 1 Pet: 1. 13.ſinning); They are the naturall ſeed and off-ſpring of our thoughts.
3. The thoughts of men are the beginners and firſt movers in all evill, they make the firſt motion between ſin and the Soul: In all the ſins that they do act, their thoughts are the firſt movers: they propoſe the Object, they procure a Conference between the heart and the object, they bring them together, and ſo bring forth ſin into act: they preſent alluring Objects, as profits, pleaſures, preferments, beauties, &c. till the hearts of ſinners be drawn away from the ſight of God and his Law, and their affections taken and this in the abſence of the things themſelves.
Poſition 4.
4. Corrupt thoughts are Lording evils; the thoughts of all carnall men do exerciſe a Lordly power over them: they rule as ſtrange Lords in them, Eph: 2. 3. The Apoſtle declaring the ſtate of all men before renewing, ſayes expreſly, That the time was when we all had our foreign. Facientes quae carni & cogitationibus libebant. Paſsor.converſatlon in the luſts of our fleſh, doing the wills of the fleſh, and of the thoughts. So it is in the Originall Text, and thus Paſſor reads it; The fleſh Lordeth it over mans thoughts, and the thoughts over his affections and actions.
Poſition 5.
Mans carnall Thoughts are hoſtile Evils; they are Enemies, yea enmity againſt God.
1. They are Enemies up in armes againſt the Lord of Hoſts: they warr againſt him continually. When the Lord comes to ſubdue our Iniquities in us, the chief Capitall Enemies that are caſt down and conquered by the Sword of the Spirit, are our thoughts and imaginations, 2 Cor: 10. 4, 5.Luke 1. 31. He hath ſhewed ſtrength with his Arme, he hath ſcattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. The thoughts of proud ſinners do as it were pitch the field and ſet themſelves in battell againſt the Almighty: And it is a mighty work wherin the Lord of Hoſt declares the exceeding greatneſs of his power, to ſcatter and caſt down the proud in theſe high thoughts that riſe up againſt him.
This hoſtility of mans thoughts is cleerly held forth, Col: 1. 21. And you foreign.that were ſomtimes alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works (or by your mind in wicked works) yet now hath he reconciled. Unregenerate men are here expreſly ſayd to be Enemies in their mind: That is, their thoughts which are properly the actings and agitations of the mind; the Original word here uſed foreign Cogitatio, mentis agitatio.for the mind in the propriety of it, ſignifies the thought of the mind.
In this Text we have theſe four diſcoveries: Col: 12. 1.1. All carnall men are the declared Enemies of the great God.
2. The main thing wherin God looks upon them as Enemies to him, are their thoughts: Sinners are Enemies in affections & actions, but chiefly in thoughts.
3. The ſins that do eſpecially alienate and eſtrange men from the bleſſed God, and all fellowſhip with him, are their thoughts, every raigning ſin alienates men from God, and builds a wall of ſeparation Eſa: 59. 2.between God and them: but mans crooked thoughts made that firſt alienation in Paradice, that great partition wall that extends from one end of Eccleſ: 7. 30.the earth to the other, and reacheth up to Heaven; and our thoughts ſtill continue the great Dividers that keep us and our affections at ſuch a diſtance from God; and thus they are our grand Enemies which fight againſt our Souls.
4. Wicked works are the naturall iſſue and off-ſpring of mens thoughts: thoſe works of wickedneſs acted by the Coloſſians did proceed out of the loynes of 1 Pet 1. 13.their minds.
2. Mans carnall thoughts are enmity againſt God. This I take to be the principall ſcope and intent of the Text, Rom: 8. 7. The wiſdom of the fleſh. That is, the wiſeſt thoughts, motions, and actions of a carnall mind are enmity againſt God. The Greek word that is tranſlated Wiſdom, ſignifies the act of a carnall mind foreign.comprehending thoughts, diſcourſe, &c. The wiſdom of the fleſh is the imaginaon and conceit of every man naturally; ſayes Mr. Perkins, the minds of natural men and women, their moſt prudentiall thoughts and pureſt imaginations in their carnall corrupted eſtate are ſenſuall, Iam. 3. 15.earthly, fleſhly, yea enmity againſt God.
This extream enmity which is in mens carnall thoughts ſtands in theſe two things.
1. They do not yeild ſubjection and ſervice to the Law of God.
2. They cannot poſſibly ſubmit to the Rom. 8. 7. foreign.Law in its ſpirituality: Enemies may be reconciled and become good Subjects, but enmity it ſelf can never put on love and ſubjection; this enmity muſt be aboliſhed, and the Royall Law put into our minds, before our thoughts can be brought into obedience to Chriſt.
Poſition 6.
6. The thoughts of men are the Formers and Framers of all the evill and errour wherwith they corrupt themſelves and others whatſoever treaſon ſinners do commit againſt the God of Glory, it is prepared and plotted in the privy Chamber of their thoughts, their affections, are the treacherous Abſoloms that do riſe up and conſpire againſt King Jeſus: but their thoughts are the crafty Achitophels that contrive and carry on the deſign; theſe are the Shops wherin Pro: 6. 14.all miſchief is forged & hammered out, if men bring forth iniquity, it is conceived in their thoughts, and hatch'd in their imaginations; the plat-form according Eſa: 59. 4.to which men do act, the work of iniquity is formed in their thoughts; theſe are the principalls & the chief Plotters of all tranſgreſſions, evill words and works are as it were ſins at the ſecond hand, the very firſt life and freſheſt vigor of all ill, is immediatly received and inſpired by the fleſh into our thoughts.
The ſeaventh Poſition.
7. Mans own corrupt thoughts are grand evils, they are of a high and hainous nature, they are ſins out of meaſure ſinfull: Thought-ſins are the worſt foreignof ſins; it is a remarkable ſpeech of the learned Hebrews, that ſinfull thoughts are more heavy then the ſin it ſelf. That is, then ſinfull works flowing from mans thoughts, it is manifeſt by the Scriptures that the ſins of mens thoughts are more ſinfull then the ſins of their words and viſible works. If the evill of their thoughts were put into one ſcale, and the evill of their ſpeeches and outward actions put together in the other, their thoughts would be found the heavieſt.
1. I grant that the evill and demerit which is in the ſmalleſt ſin is great, becauſe in mans leaſt and loweſt ſwerving from the Rule; there is a violation of an Infinite Juſtice and holineſs, and a turning from an infinite good, and therfore the guilt that ſpringeth from thence is after a ſort infinite.
2. Yet tis clear by the Scriptures, that there are degrees of ſin, that ſome ſins have a greater height and latitude of evill then others.
3. I grant that wicked words and deeds in reſpect of that ſcandalizing property which attends them are worſe then thoughts, becauſe open impieties do ſadden the hearts of the righteous and ſtrengthen the hands of the wicked and infect many.
4. It is a real truth that evill thoughts in their own nature have an exceſs of malignity beyond words and works; which is evident by theſe arguments.
1. Evill thoughts are precedents in all the evills that come from us, they are the leading evils, as hath been demonſtrated: now tis a very great aggravation of ſin to be firſt in ſinning; this added to Eves ſin, ſhe was firſt in the trangreſſion; this heightned the guilt of Jeroboam, 1 Tim 2. 14.he made Iſrael to ſin: by his precedency he led on the people to the pollution of Idols, the thoughts of men are the Jeroboams, the Leaders that cauſe their ſpeeches to ſin, and converſations Eſa: 9. 16.to erre, and therefore moſt juſtly do bear the greateſt blame, their thoughts firſt break the commandements of God, and then draw their affections and actions to do the ſame.
2. The thoughts of men are the productors of all iniquity, the common parents of all prophaneſs. The Plotters of all treaſonable practices againſt the Lord God: now the Contrivers and Hatchers of Treaſon have the greateſt guilt and ſuffer moſt.
3. Evill thoughts are moſt provoking ſins, they exceedingly grieve & provoke God againſt us, the perdition of ſinners is chiefly cauſed by their thoughts, this is moſt evident by that Inditement that God brings in againſt the old world, which is purpoſely recorded as a warning to all men even to the worlds end.Gen: 6. 5.
2. By that dreadfull ſentence that paſſeth Verſ. 6, 7. upon them in the Bil of Inditement, the Lord declareth them guilty o… great wickedneſs; and then he ſhews what this Verſ. 5 great wickedneſs was, which had the greateſt ſtroke in their deſtruction. And every imagination of the thoughts of mans heart was only evill. That is, the whole fixion and frame of mans thoughts was wicked.
3. Now upon the declaration of their great provoking pollutions immediatly follows the ſentence of death.
And it repented Jehovah that he had made man on the earth, &c. That is, Verſ. 6, 7: God would now ſweep away man-kind from the earth with the Beeſom of deſtruction, and therby, as it were, unmake man whom he had made; as is more clearly expreſſed in the next verſe: And the Lord ſaid, I will deſtroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beaſt; for it repents me that I have made them. Wherby it appears, that evill thoughts were the higheſt and moſt horrid ſins, wherby God was moſt grieved and provoked by the old world: it is abundantly manifeſt in the Scriptures, that the men of the old world were guilty of many actuall impieties, open pollutions and abominations. As 1. Prophanation of Gods holy Ordinances, in that the Members of the viſible Church mingled themſelves with the corrupt ſeed of Cain in the enjoyment of Church Ordinances, Gen. 6. 1, 2. it is ſaid that when men began to multiply Gen. 6. 1, 2.on the face of the earth, then the Sons of God ſaw the Daughters of men that they were fair, and they took them wives of all which they choſe.
By Sons of God are here meant the members of the viſible Church, Deut: 14. 1. for unto ſuch Moſes ſaith, Yee are the Sons of Jehovah your God. They were the Sons of Seth, and the other Patriarks.
Theſe Daughters of men were of Cains Gen. 4. 14. foreignSeed who were without the Church. From thy face ſhall I be hid or abſent. (as Gen: 4. 14.) ſayes Cain unto Jehovah: That is, I ſhall be ſhut out from the preſence of God in his Church, as it follows verſe 16. And Cain went out from the preſenoe of Jehovah, or from before the face of Jehovah. That is, from the place of Gods word and publike worſhip in Adams Family, who being a Prophet had taught his Children to Sacrifice and ſerve the Lord; from the face of Gods al-ſeeing Pſal. 556. Pſal. 139. 7. 12. Jer 23, 24.providence none can be hidden: therfore it muſt needs be meant of Gods preſence in his Church, of which Cain was now deprived.
The Sons of God mingled themſelves with the Daughters of men: That is, of carnall men, 1 Cor: 3. 3. in their Church-fellowſhip, wherby the Law of Church-Communion was violated.
Ob. How doth this appear, the Text ſeems to ſpeak only of mingling in marriage?
Anſw. In thoſe daies and many Generations after, the Church was only in particular families; Firſt in Adams, then in Seths, &c. The Sons of God by joyning in marriage with prophane women, therby took them to fellowſhip, to a common participation of all Church Ordinances, whereby the holy things were prophaned. We have a full Text to this purpoſe, Gen. 4. 26. And to Seth, to him alſo there was born a Son, foreignand he called his name Enos: then began men prophanely to call; or prophaneſs began in calling on the name of Jehovah. That theſe words ought thus to be read, Enoſchum, id eſt, infeſtum aerumvis doloribuſque. 235. years before men began to call upon God. Seth would not as a Prophet call his ſon ſorrowfull, Enoſh if men had then began to call upon the name of God; Thus Mr: Broughton. Tunc caeptum eſt invocari nomen vel pollui. Thus the Interline in the margine, The learned Hebrews with much conſent do record the firſt Apoſtacy to he at Enoſh his birth. Alſo Kimchi brings in this opinion as chief Then was corrupted the calling upon the name of God.is clear.
1. From the name Seth, gives to his Son Enos, by interpretation, ſorrowfull, miſerable, ſo named (as it ſeemeth) for the ſorrowfull ſtate of thoſe daies wherin great corruption began to appear in the Church, Gen: 6. 2. 3.
2. The Invocation of Gods name began not now, but in faithful Abels daies.
3. Though the Hebrew word may be read, men began, or men prophaned; yet it is commonly underſtood here of the learned Hebrews to mean prophaneſs, and ſome tranſlating it began, take it thus, men began to call (their Idols) by the name of the Lord; the ſorrows and miſeries of that age were very great, as the name of Enos teſtifies, and the Hiſtory following in Gen: 6. confirmeth, for impiety crept into the church by unlawful marriages with Cains Seed Another great ſin wherof the old world was guilty, was Rebellion againſt the voice of God calling them to repentance by Noah Preacher of Righteouſneſs.
3. They were Reſiſters of Gods Spirit who ſtrove with them by his heavenly motions.
4. They were drowned in ſenſuality, 1 Pet: 1. 3. 19. 20. Gen. 6. 3. Matth: 24. 37, 38, 39. They gave themſelves to eating as bruit beaſts: as the word ſignifies. foreign.eathlineſs, and epicuriſme.
5. They were abominable Apoſtates, Ge: 6. 4. There were Gyants upon the earth in thoſe daies: The Hebrew word Nephilim, which is read (Gyants) hath the ſignification from falling, as being Apoſtate fallen from God.
6. They were Idolaters, Gen: 6. 11. The earth was corrupt: That is, the Inhabitants of the earth, Gen: 11. 1. Corrupting foreign Nomen Hebraeum diſcendit a verbo foreign Cadere & ſic appellantur vel quia a vero Dei cultu deciderunt, &c. Piſcator.is in ſpeciall applyed to Idolatry and depraving of the true Service of God, Exod: 32. 7. Deut: 32. 5. Judg: 2. 19. as the people are ſaid to do corruptly. 2 Chron: 27. 2. when they Sacrificed and burnt Incenſe in the high places, 2 King: 15. 35.
7. They were Tyrannicall Oppreſſors, falling upon men, and making them by fear and force to fall before them.
8. The men of the old world broke out into cruell Robberies and Murders, for which Calvin will have them called Gyants; and this ſeems to be the opinion of Chryſoſtom, Philo, and Joſephus, Gen. 6. 13.Gen: 6. 11. The earth was filled with violence, violent wrong, injurious and cruell dealing, Rapines, or Robberies, as the Chaldee termeth it.
9. They were full of groſs infidelity and impenitency, not beleiving Gods threats; yea they hardned they hearts againſt all reproofs, warnings, waitings, 1 Pet. 3. 20. Gen. 6. 3. Gigantes promiſcuo concubitu polluebant faeminas puellus mulieres. Pareus in Geneſ. 6.and long-ſuffering of God.
10. They abounded in abominable adultries and bodily pollutions.
11. All Diſcipline lay trodden down publikely and privatly: there was no humanity left amongſt men but beaſtiall barbariſme in all places. Theſe and many more were the ſins of the old world; yet when God comes to paſs ſentence upon them, hee doth not alleadge theſe open defilements as the chiefeſt cauſe of their deſtruction, but their evill thoughts rather: The greateſt wickedneſs which was alledged againſt them, Gen. 6. 5.was the thoughts of their hearts: Becauſe their thoughts were ſo many, and ſo continually evill, they provoked God more then all their other ſins.
Simon Magus had many foul ſins, but the thought of his heart was his moſt provoking ſin. Hence it is that Peter adviſeth him to pray God if it were poſſible, Act. 8. 22.that the thoughts of his heart might be forgiven him; as though there lay the greateſt guilt, and deepeſt ſtain before God.
4. The ſins of mens thoughts are paſt all number, they are as the ſand of the Sea innumerable: How many thoughts do paſs from them every hour, yea every minute? What man can poſſibly underſtand how oft hee offends in his Pſal. 19.thoughts every day.
This doth exceedingly heighten the evill of our thoughts, and adds to their weight. What is heavier then a Mountain Job. 6. 7.of ſand? There be four aggravations which do make the wickedneſs of mans thoughts to riſe up to a kind of Infiniteneſs; the thoughts of carnall men and women are evill.
1. From their Childhood, yea from Gen. 8. 21.their birth; as the great heart-ſearcher declares: the Hebrew word includes not Exod. 2. 6. foreign A pueritia ejus. Ab eo momento quo fuit in lucem editus, Schindler ex quo excuſſus eſt ex utero: We are al tranſgreſsors from the Womb: Eſa: 48. 8. Pſal. 51. 7. & 58. 4.only mans age, but Infancy, or Childs age: A Jewiſh Rabbin confeſſeth, that the evill imagination is in man from the hour that he is formed.
2. The thoughts of naturall men are evill continually every day and all the day long, Gen: 6. 5. as the Hebrew word imports, the thoughts of man are alwaies acting, even when the body ſleeps, the mind never lyes ſtill day nor night, Pſal: 140. 3. wicked men are ſaid to think (or imagne evils in their heart all the day.
3. They are altogether evill, only evill.Gen. 6. 5. foreign
4. Every thought that carnall men think, is evil, and therefore their evill thoughts muſt needs amount to a numberleſs ſumm: the ſins of mans thoughts are far more in number then all his other ſins whatſoever.
2. Vaine looſe corrupt thoughts do make up the greateſt part of that treaſure of ſin, that ſinners are heaping up againſt the day of wrath. O what a vaſt treaſure of wickedneſs is layd up in their thoughts? All wicked men have their fulneſs of ſin, which they fill up before Gen. 15.they are cut off; the greateſt fulneſs of ſin is in their thoughts.
Poſition 8.
8. Corrupt thoughts are diſturbing evils; Interrupters and Undoers of thoſe good things that we do: they exceedingly hurt and hinder us in all our performances: looſe worldly wandring thoughts do ſpoile us of two pretious things in our Prayers and Services:
1. Of our hearts, by drawing them another way, and cauſing us to bring empty Oblations to God; that wheras we ſhould draw nigh to God with our hearts, and keep them cloſe to him in every performance: our hearts by reaſon of our wandring and impertinent thoughts, are far off from God. The Lord Eſa. 29 16.complains againſt the old Jews, That their hearts were going after their covetouſneſs, when they ſhould have been intent and attent to the word: their thoughts were then upon this preſent world, their earthly Poſſeſſions, Profits, &c.
2. Wandring and earthly thoughts do ſpoyl us of the acceptance of our holy things; they are like a dead Fly in the Apothecaries Oyntment.
Poſition 9.
9. Corrupt thoughts are deadly deſtroying evils.
1. They lead to the height of wrath and miſery in this world. Evill thoughts are the great leading begetting ſins, & therfore in way of juſtice muſt needs bring forth the greateſt puniſhments; the greateſt miſeries that befall a people or Nation in this world, as Sword, Famine, &c. are ſaid to be the fruits of their evill thoughts; as is evident Jer: 6. 19. Behold I bring evill upon this people, In the drowning of the old World, the Lord had great reſpect in that judgment to their wicked thoughts which were the root of all; and therfore he mentioneth them as the cauſe of the Flood. Gen. 6. 5. 7. Thus Mr. Perkins.even the fruit of their thoughts.
The principall ſin which brought that dreadfull deluge and deſolation upon the old world was the wickedneſſe of their thoughts. The thoughts of mans heart were evill, and therfore God would deſtroy man and beaſt from the earth. Of all viſible Judgments that ever were on the face of the earth; this upon the old world was the greateſt, it is not to be parallel'd by any judgment or vengeance on earth, but that ſecond deluge of fire at the laſt judgment, for the waters cut off all man-kind, except Noah and his foreign Di luvium lic dictum quod omnia ſecerit concidere.Family, and made all things fade and dy on earth; as the Hebrew word Mabbul (which is a peculiar name to Noahs Flood) imports.
2. Evill thoughts do lead to eternall puniſhments: They drown mens Souls in perdition; the curſe of the Law, even the flames of eternal Vengeance are due to men for their wicked thoughts. curſed Deut 27. 26. Gal. 3.is every one that continues not in all things that are written in the Law to do them. The man that breaks the Law but once, and that in thought only, is accurſed by the ſentence of the Law, becauſe he hath not done all things that are written therin: the leaſt wry crooked thought makes men liable to endleſs wo and wrath, Micha 2. 1. Wo unto thoſe that think iniquity, ſaith the Prophet.
If our minds be filled with carnall earthly thoughts, it is a ſure ſign that we are in a ſtate of damnation. *Rom: 8. 6. foreign Chal. & Syr. Cogitatio Buxtorf. foreign Alii Reddunt prudentiam, alii cogitationem. foreign Idem eſt Paulo quod Moſi figmentum cordis humani, &c. Gen: 6. 5. Pareus Phil: 3. 19. foreign declarat animi ad aliquid adjicere, & de re quapiam ſerio cogitare Beza.To be carnally minded is death. It manifeſts dead Souls eſtranged from the glorious life of Chriſt. The Syriack reads the words thus, The thought of the fleſh is death: and ſo others read it; that is, carnall corrupt thoughts lodging in mens hearts leads to eternall death. And this reading (I conceive) comes neereſt to the Greek, and to the intent and ſcope of the Text; as is evident by comparing Phil: 3. 19 Whoſe end is perdition, who mind earthly things. That is, damnation will bee the end of thoſe whoſe minds are delightfully taken up with the thoughts of earthly profits, pleaſures, honours, who think upon the vaine things of this preſent world, more then the truths of Gods word. Evil thoughts was that great wickedneſs that principally condemned the old world, and caſt their Souls into the priſon of Hell, 1 Pet. 3. 19, 20. The Spirits of thoſe ungodly men (to whom Chriſt once preached by Noahs miniſtry) are now in priſon: there is evill enough in vain, unclean, ſenſual, worldly thoughts, to condemn and caſt a whole world of men into the torments Prov: 21. 16. foreign in Caetu Gigantum. Thus Mr. Mede reads it. foreign Gigas plur. foreign Gigantes …tem mortui, Buxtorf. foreign ſunt foreign Gigantes fortes, & mortui infernales. Munſterus foreign Gigantes, Schindler Manes, or mortui.of Hell for ever. Hence it is that Hell it ſelf hath its name from theſe wicked Gyants of the old world, Prov: 21. 16. The man that wandreth out of the way of underſtanding, ſhal remain in the Congregation of the Gyants; according to the Originall, tis, In the Congregation of the Rephaim. Which word properly ſignifies Gyants; and in that ſenſe is alwaies rendred by the Seventy, foreign; or foreign: though we and the latter Interpreters both in this and ſome other places take it for the dead, and the ſpirits of dead men.
Queſt. What is this Congregation of the Gyants?
Anſw: It is the place of the damned, that infernal Priſon wherinto thoſe Gyants are caſt, who rebelled againſt God in the daies of Noah, of whom we read in Gen: 6. Thoſe mighty men of the old world, whoſe wickedneſs was ſo great on the earth, and the thoughts of their hearts ſo evill continually, that it repented and grieved God that he had made man. Sinners that wander out of the way of underſtanding, ſhall be added to the Congregation of thoſe damned Gyans in Hell; they ſhall go to that accurſed place in which they are, and abide with them in endleſs pains. Thus Rabbi Salomon expounds this Text.In coetu Rephalm. That is, ſaith Rabbi Salomon in his Gloſs upon this Text. foreign Id caetu Gehennae. foreign ad Gigantes. foreign. Prov. 9: 18. foreign
2. That theſe words ought thus to be interpreted, is evident by comparing other places of Scripture, where the like expreſſion is uſed, as twice more in this book of Proverbs. as Prov: 2. 18. where according to the Vulgar Reading the words run thus: For her houſe inclineth to death, and her paths unto the dead. But in the Heb. tis, And her paths to the Gyants: which the 70. render thus by way of interpretation, She hath ſet her path in Hel with the Gyants: & Pro: 9. 18. Stoln waters are ſweeter—and he knows not (namely he that goes to a ſtrange woman) that the Gyants are there, and her Gueſts in the depths of Hell. This is the proper reading of the words according to the Hebrew: Hence obſerve, that the Gyants place is the depths of Hell. The meaning of both theſe places is evidently this, that Adulterers ſhal have their portion with thoſe Apoſtate Gyants in Hell torments.
So in Job 26. 5. Hell is there elegantly expreſſed by the wailing of thoſe Rephaim, or dead Gyants.
The Gyants do ſorrow or wail under the foreignwaters (or from under the waters) and they that dwell with them. Hell is naked before him (that is before God) and perdition hath no covering. The 5. v: is read otherwiſe by our Engliſh and other Tranſlat: but I conceive this reading is moſt agreeable to the Originall, and the true ſcope and intent of the Text it ſelf; tis thus tranſlated by the vulgar Latine: The Gyants wail under the waters &c. The meaning hereof ſaith judicious Mr. Mede ſeems to be this: The place where the old Gyants mourn or wail under the waters, and their fellow Inhabitants, the reſt of the damned with them, even Hell and the place of perdition it ſelf is naked and open to the eyes of God, from whom nothing is hid: Which is agreeable to that in Prov: 15. 11. Hell and deſtruction are before the Lord, &c. In this place the Jews take the word Abaddon which we render deſtruction for Gehenna, that is, The houſe of deſtruction. For the further cleering of this myſtery, I ſhall preſent theſe 2. things to be duly weighed. 1 That the word Rephaim wch is uſed in theſe 4. Prov. 21. 16. & 9. 18. & 2. 18. Iob 26. 5.places, doth naturaly & properly ſignify Gyants, & is ſo tranſlated in our Engliſh Bibles in other places. 2. That Hell or the place of the damned, is very fitly called the Congregation, or place of the Gyants.
1. This word Rephaim doth primarily Torg. foreign Gigantes in Aſteroth. LXX. foreign.and properly ſignifie Gyants, as is generally confeſſed by thoſe that underſtand the Hebrew, it ſignifies Gyants and mighty men
Hence tis uſed to expreſs thoſe mighty Gigantive people in Gen. 14. 5. Chedorlaomer ſmote the Rephaim in Aſhteroth, Gen. 15. 20.&c. That is, the Gyants, as they are called by the Greek and Chaldee Paraphraſt, and the Hebrew word is uſed expreſly for Gyants, Deut: 2. 11. Rapha Deut: 2 11. foreign Verſ. 20. foreign Joſh: 15: 8. foreign Gen. 6. 4. foreignwas the name of a Gyant in Nob, who had foure Sons Gyants in Davids daies, 2 Sam: 21. 16. 22. But theſe Rephaims were now a people in Canaan: Aſhteroth was a City in Baſan, where Ogg the Gyant after Raigned, Joſh: 13. 31.
2. This word Rephaim is by our Engliſh Tranſlators rendred Gyants, Deut. 2. 11. 20. Which alſo were accounted Gyants as the Anakims that alſo was accounted a Land of Gyants (of Rephaims Gyants.) Rephaims dwelt there in the old time, Joſh: 1. 58. The valley of the Gyants North-ward. Thus our Engliſh Bible renders the word Rephaim.
3. Hell, or the place of the damned is Rabbi Bech. ſcribit, Deut: 2 foreign &c. Id eſt vocantur foreign propterea quod quicunque eos aſpiceret manus ejus remiſſae ſi erent metu ſe. unde & foreign Vocantur nec eſt Incredibile homines in mundo primaevo pleroſque grandioris ſtaturae fuiſſe Pareus Gigantes monſtroſae magnitudinis iſti foreign declarantur fuiſſe potentes & viri nominis Pareus.very fitly called the Congregation, or place of the Gyants, or Rephaims.
1. Becauſe thoſe Gyants of the old world were ſinners of the greateſt Eminency in thoſe daies; They were men of name.
1. For height of ſtature, they were men of vaſt bodies, terrible to all Beholders: Such as Goliah is deſcribed to be, & the Sons of the Anakims; Their ſtature was ſo horrid, that the hearts and hands of thoſe that beheld them, did fall with fear, therfore they are call'd Rephaim and Emims: Yea, there is that Enormous talneſs aſcribed to Gyants, Num: 13. verſ. laſt, That the Spies of Iſrael looked on themſelves as Graſhoppers in compariſon of them.
It is credible that moſt men in thoſe daies of old were of a very grand ſtature for many ages. After the Flood we read of whole Nations, People and Lands that were Gyants, tall as the Anakims, Gen. 14. 5. Deut: 2. verſ. 11. 20. People great and many, tall as the Anakims.
2. Theſe Gyants of the old world were men of name and fame for height of all impiety and cruelty; for they truſting in their Gigantive ſtrength and hugeneſs of ſtature, trod down all things under their feet: They were a monſtrous cruell Cyclopicall kind of men, fearing neither God nor man: They were full of violence and Villanies in their works, filled with vanity and vileneſs in their thoughts, which was the root and top of all their wickedneſs.
2. Theſe impious Gyants would be accounted men of name for Religion and Piety, as the Pope, Cardinals and his Biſhops, being really Antichriſtian, cruell and unholy, yet will be call'd moſt holy, reverend, and men of Clemency, as Luther obſerves.
3. The multitude of thoſe Gyants and their wickedneſs was ſo great, …hat the Flood was ſent purpoſely and principally to deſtroy theſe Monſters, though the corruption and calamity were univerſall.
4. There was ſuch a world of theſe curſed Gyants that went down to Hell in one day, that Hell it ſelf may fitly receive its denomination from them: The Helliſh priſon was almoſt empty, till theſe Rephaims came in, the companies of Gyants that were gathered at once into Hell, and there met together, were ſo many, that the place of damned ſinners is properly called the Congregation of the Gyants.Prov. 21. 16.
Theſe had the preheminence in naming the place of eternall ſuffering, as they had preheminence in ſinning. They that are caſt into that priſon ſince the Flood, are their fellow Inhabitants, ſuch as are daily added to the Congregation of infernall Gyants. Now tis remarkable, Job 26 5:that the chiefe capitall ſins which were layed to the charge of theſe damned Gyants were their evill thoughts, & therfore for their thoughts chiefly were they caſt into the flames of eternall vengeance.
10. Mans evill thoughts are the ſtrong holds of the evill one; all unrenewed Poſition 10. Matth. 12 43, 44. Act. 26. 18.men are under the power and poſſeſſion of the Devil. This ſtrong man hath his ſtrong holds whereby he holds men under his power, 2 Cor. 10. 4. In theſe Forts is Satans greateſt truſt and triumph, theſe ſtrong holds are mainly mans mountainous thoughts; as 1. High thoughts of ſelf-righteouſneſs. 2. Strong conceits of ſelf waies.
1. Many poor Souls are ſtrongly poſſeſſ'd with thoughts of their own righteouſneſs; this is the great ſtrong hold wherby Satan poſſeſſeth their Souls: we are apt to think that there is ſomthing in our prayers and performances that may be our righteouſneſs, life, acceptance, and attonement before God. Theſe raiſed thoughts are thoſe Mountains that muſt be brought low, before we can ſee the Lord to be our Salvation. A Fort is a Mountain raiſed up, or a Luk: 3. 4, 5.Caſtle raiſed upon a Mountain or Hill.
1. Theſe ſelf-exalting thoughts are that ſtrong hold wherin men do ſhelter themſelves againſt the ſtorms of wrath; they are much in duties, and far from open defilements therfore wrath ſhal not come neer them at the great day of wrath, and revenge as they conceive.
2. Theſe high thoughts that men have of their owne righteouſneſs, are that ſtrong hold which keeps them from ſubmitting to the righteouſneſs of God.Rom: 10.
3. Men naturally have ſtrong conceits of their own waies, of the goodneſs of their owne ſpirituall Eſtates; They are alive in their own apprehenſions, and this is another ſtrong hold of Satan, Prov: 14. 12. There is a way that is right in the ſight of man, but the laſt foreignend therof are the waies of death So Prov: 16. 23. All the waies of a man are clean in his own eyes: Every way of a man is right in his own eyes. There be thouſands Prov. 11. 21. 2.of Souls that think their waies are right in Gods ſight, and themſelves in the right way to Heaven, yet at laſt it appears to be the way of Hell; meer moraliſts, legall and formall Profeſſors do frame preſumptions, principles, and premiſes in their own thoughts to build concluſion of Salvation upon. This was Pauls caſe before the Law came in power and ſpirit unto him; he thought Phil. 3.himſelf blameleſs, and in a ſtate of light and life, that if any living went to Heaven, it ſhould be Paul a Phariſee: See what himſelf ſpeaks, Rom: 7. 9. I once was alive without the Law, but when the Commandement came, ſin revived, but I dyed. That is, when the Law came to me in its ſpirituality; I now had experience of the falſeneſs and folly of my former thoughts, I now ſaw my ſelf a dead undone man: thus that Phariſee in Luk: 18. and the fooliſh Virgins, had ſuch ſtrong conceits that their waies were right, that he gives thanks for it, Luk. 18. 10. 11. 12. Matth. 25. 11, 12.and they came knocking at Heaven Gates for admiſſion: Yea the worſt of ſinners do conceive a propriety in God; this is evident, Hoſ: 8. 2. Iſrael will cry unto me, my God, we know thee. Yet this Iſrael had caſt off the thing that is good. verſe 3. and Micha 3. 11. The heads therof judge for Rewards, and the Prieſts therof teach for hire. Their Prieſts and Prophets did mind their own gain more then the gaining of Souls: Their Judges looked to Rewards more then Righteouſneſs, Yet will they lean upon the Lord, and ſay (that is in their hearts) Is not Jehovah in the mids of us? By a moſt intimate preſence, as the Hebrew word imports; No evill can come upon us. Men that are ſtrangers to the light and life of grace, and full of ſelf-love, are apt to think well of their ſpirituall Eſtate, upon preſumptions and principles formed in their own imaginations. The Philoſopher tells us of a Sea, wherin by Ariſtot Problem.the hollowneſs of the earth under it, or ſome whirling and attractive property that draws the Veſſell into it, Ships uſe to be caſt away in the mids of a Calm; even ſo a number of Souls do gently periſh in mids of their own ſecure conceits and preſumptuous imaginations: As the Fiſh Polypus changeth himſelf into the colour of the Rock, and then devours thoſe that come thither for ſhelter: So men do ſhape their miſthoughts and miſ-apprehenſions into a form of Chriſt and Faith in him, and ſo deſtroy themſelves.
This ſtrong hold that ſin and Satan hath in the ſinners thoughts muſt be overturned, before they can be turned to God.