The Sinfulness of Evil Thoughts, Table of contents
The Contents.
Chap. 1. Context opened in ſundry obſervations, and the grand obſervation (the ſubject of the whole diſcourſe) propounded. pag. 2
Chap. 2. The Doctrine explained, proved, and confirmed, by ſundry arguments in the Text. p. 14
Chap. 3. Severall other reaſons from other Scriptures. 22
Chap. 4.The ſeverall kinds of evil Thoughts, whereof ſome tranſient, ſome deliberate. 39
Ch. 5.The ſeveral kinds of deliberate Thoughts, referred to three heads. 45
Ch. 6. Sins of thoughts in reſpect of God; and firſt in having no thoughts of God. 50
Six kinds of Atheiſme. ibid.
Ch. 7.Of Low thoughts of God. 58
Ch. 8. Of Atheiſtical thoughts. 61
Chap. 9. Of Injurious and Erroneous thoughts. 68
Ch. 10. Of Blaſphemous thoughts. 70
Ch. 11. Of Politick thoughts. 76
Ch. 12. Of Groſse and Superſtitious thoughts. 81
Ch. 13. Of Hard thoughts of God. 84
Ch. 14. Of Deſpairing thoughts. 87
Ch. 15. Of Preſumptuous thoughts. 98
Ch. 16. Of Murmuring thoughts. 110
Ch. 17. Of Carefull thoughts. 112
Ch. 18. Of Carnal thoughts. 127
Ch. 19. Of Doubtfull, diſtruſtfull, and fearfull thoughts. 128
Ch. 20. Of Reaſonings and Irrationall thoughts. 132
Ch. 21. Of Hypocriticall thoughts. 139
Ch. 22. Of Evil thoughts in reference to our Neighbour. 142
The Evil Eye. 143
Eight evil eyes. ib.
Ch. 23. Many other Evil thoughts,
1.Cenſorious. 151
Sevenill Judges. 152
2. Contemptuous thoughts. 154
3. Over weening thoughts. 155
4. Cunning craftineſse. 156
5. Revengfull and malicious. 158
7. Uncompaſsionate. ib.
8. Vile and ſinfull wiſhes. 159
Ch. 24. Of Evil thoughts in reſpect to our ſelves. 160
1. Impure thoughts. 161
2. Ambitious. 162
3. Thoughts of Security. 164
4. Self-magnifying. 165
5. Projecting thoughts. 166
Ch. 25. Of the Melancholy thought. 167
And the ſinfull Merry thought. 171
Four kinds of Mirth. 172
Four kinds of Evil Mirth. 176
Chap. 26.Of thoughts of Self-Murder. 181
Ch. 27.Of Carefull thoughts. 186
Vain thoughts. 196
Ch. 28. The firſt Uſe. 200
Thought is not free. ib.
Ch. 29. All are to be humbled for their thoughts. 204
Ch. 30. Third Uſe of Information.
1. Of the difference between the Lawes of Men and the Law of God. 214
2. A worſe difference between Gods holy Law and our vile hearts. 215
3. Where the difference lies between the unfound and the ſincere. 216
4. What a buſie work it is to be a Chriſtian. 217
5. How far a Hypocrite may go, inſtance in Simon Magus. 219
Ch. 31. Containes, 1. A Uſe of Terror, to ſuch as harbour Evil thoughts. 226
2. Comfort to the godly ſoule, whoſe good thoughts are the beſt part of his ſanctification. 229
3. Reſolution how to judge of the thoughts. 230
Ch. 32. Uſe of Exhortation.
1. To know and keep the heart. 238
2. To repent of Evil thoughts. 242
3. To Fly to Chriſt. 244
Ch. 33. An Uſe of Examination, with certain notes to try whether the thoughts be good or evil. 246
Ch. 34. Of good deſires. 253
Eight Concluſions concerning good deſires. 253
Four Rules to know them by. 260
Rule 1. Deſires good when the Object good. 260
What their Object is. ib.
Rule 2. When they flow from a right ſpring. 263
The right ſpring of deſires. ib.
Rule 3. When their properties and effects are right. 265
Sundry properties of ſuch deſires. ib.
Rule 4. When attended with their right Companions. 273
The many Companions of ſuch deſires. ib.
Chap. 35. Directions how to keep the heart. 276
Prov. 4. 23. Explained and enlarged upon. ib.
How the heart is to be obſerved if evil. 279
How to be preſerved if good. 280
1. In Tenderneſſe. ib.
Four Notes of a tender heart. ib.
2. In Humility. 281
Three Conſiderations to keep the heart humble. ib.
3. The heart muſt be kept up in due height. 282
Three Helps hereto. ib.
4. The heart muſt be kept clean. 282
Three Helps thereto. ib.
5. To be kept in Faith. ib.
Three Helps thereto. 283
6. To be kept in holy fear. ib.
Three Helps thereto. ib.
7. To be kept in readineſſe and willing. neſſe. ib.
Three Helps thereto. 284
8 To be kept in ſteadineſſe. ib.
Three times eſpecially when to be ſo kept. ib.
Severall helpes to prevent evil thoughts. 285
Ch. 36. An admonition to Simon and his followers. 292
Ch. 37. A ſad Soliloquy or meditation upon the evil of the thoughts. 296
THE SINFULNESS OF Evil Thoughts
Act. 8. 22.
Repent therefore of this thy wickedneſſe, and pray God, if perhaps, the thought of thy heart may be forgiven thee.
NONE will think this paſſage The Preface.of Scripture, at the firſt ſight, to be like the Carcaſe of the Judg. 14. 8.Lyon which Sampſon found, and therein a ſwarm of Bees, and ſo ſweet an Hony-comb; but more like the Carcaſe of a Dead Dog, wherein is to be ſeen nothing but a Swarm of Vermin, and a Comb full of the Gall of Bitterneſſe. But wait a while, and I hope you will find out of this Eater may come Meat, and out of this ſtro…g unſavoury ſmell may come ſome ſweet. It is not like, I confeſſe, to that ſight which Moſes beheld with admiration and delight, a Buſh burning not Conſumed, wherein the Exod. 3. 2, 4.Lord was preſent, and out of which he ſpake; But here you may ſee one of Satans Hell-buſhes, Burning with ſin, nor yet Conſumed, out of whom Satan ſpake; yet be not afraid to draw neer, and I hope we ſhall hear the voice of the Lord ſpeaking, if not out of the Buſh, yet to the Buſh, or at leaſt to us. Repent of this thy wickedneſſe, and pray God, if perhaps, the thought of thy heart may be forgiven thee.