Works, Chapter 8
CHAP. VIII. Containing Rules of Wiſdome concerning the Inner man; and firſt of the Mind, Thoughts, and Will.
BEing to entreat of the Rules of Wiſdome concerning man and the things of man, good order requireth that wee b…gin with ſuch as concern, firſt, Ones ſelf; And ſecondly, others. They which concern a mans ſelf, reſpect either the inner man, of the outward. The inner man in five particulars. 1 In his Mind. 2 Thoughts. 3 Will. 4 Conſcience; And 5 Affections.
Rules for the Minde. 1 To inlighten it.For the Minde, theſe rules of wiſdome are neceſſary to bee remembred.
1 To furniſh it with neceſſary, profitable, and humble knowledge: The wiſe mans eyes are in his head, Eccleſ. 2.14. This is a wiſdome to ſobriety, Rom. 12.13. where alſo the Apoſtle condemneth curioſity and conceitedneſs, which waſtes our time, and brings infinite idle queſtions, wherein men preſume above that which is meet. The Prophet David profeſſed hee medled not with things too high for him. Pſalm 131.1. 1 Cor. 2.2.And the Apoſtle Paul deſired after his converſion, to know nothing but Jeſus Chriſt, and him crucified. As for humbleneſs in knowledge, Solomon ſaith, The way of a Fool is right in his own eyes, Prov. 1….15. and, A wiſe man in his own conceit is more hopeleſs than a Fool, Prov. 26.12, 16. Our rule therefore muſt bee to grow up in wiſdome, and as wee grow in knowledge, ſo to grow in humility; for the more ſound knowledge a man attains, the more ſhall hee ſee in himſelf to humble him.
2 To deck.2 To deck and adorn the minde with humility, holineſs, modeſty, ſhamefastneſs, &c. 1 Pet. 3.4, 5. and Col. 3.12. As the Elect of God, put o… tender mercy, kindneſs, humbleneſs, and meekneſs, but above all things put on love, verſe 14.
Rules for the Thoughts.The ſecond ſort of Rules concerns a mans Thoughts. The general is in Prov. 4.23. Keep thy heart with all diligence; for it is ſlippery and deceitful, more than neceſſary to watch and ſuſpect it, and to ſet time apart to check and reclaim it. But for the better keeping of thy thoughts in order, think on theſe particulars: 1 Give God the firſt thoughts.1 Give God thy fi…ſt thoughts, that hee may hold the chief part in thy heart, and this will ſweetly rell…ſh th… heart, and by eſtranging it from worldly impediments, fit it, and keep it in preparedneſs for all good occaſions, Pſa. 108.1, 2, 3. David prepares his heart, and will awake early to praiſe the Lord: The way to walk ſafely and comfortably all the day, is firſt to reform that which is within.
2 Examine them whence they come, and whither they go.2 Examine thy thoughts whence they come, and whither they go, and what they do in thee: By which means thou ſhalt baniſh a number of idle and wandring thoughts, which like roaving vagrants, being worth nothing, come …ver to ſteal ſomething, either time or grace, and ſo ſhalt thou make and keep room for better. And do this betime, becauſe the firſt motions of ſinful thoughts defile a man; This rule is in 2 Cor. 10.5. to draw weapons againſt every ſtrong imagination, that is exalted againſt the knowledge of Chriſt.
3 If thy thoughts concern the world, pull them back, keep them from the world, 3 Pull them from the world.ſave as much as needs muſt for the moderate maintaining of thy ſelf and thine, leſt heavenly thoughts be drowned and hindred, 1 Tim. 6.9. The reaſon is, becauſe our hearts being earthly, do preſently conceive a ſweetneſs in earthly things, and are preſently diſtracted from the love of the Creator, to the love of the creature. Now ſpiritual wiſdome requireth, that wee diminiſh the love of the creature, that wee may increaſe our love of the Creator. But, if they will run upon the world, then turn the courſe of them a little, to conſider the vanity and miſery of this evil world; the painted vizor of the pleaſures of it, the uncertainty of life, the deceitfulneſs of riches, how they bee not ours, what evils and incumbrances wee have received from the world, what fools they have made us in treaſuring on earth, whoſe home and expectation is in heaven.
4 If thy thoughts concern thy ſelf, or others, thy brethren, If they concern thy ſelf or others, ſee they be humble.labour to think better of others than thy ſelf; for thou ſeeſt no ſuch thing in them as in thy ſelf, Phil. 2.3. Let every one eſteem better of another than of himſelf. Yea, the more thou ſeemeſt to excel others in gifts, the more humble labour to bee. An hard rule and difficult to bee practiſed; and therefore it is often commended to us, as Rom. 12.16. Make your ſelves equal to them of the lower ſort, and elſewhere. For this purpoſe, conceive not onelyonly what thou haſt received, but what thou wanteſt, and what good things thou art without; and then with Paul, ſay, thou haſt not yet attained to perfection.Phil. 3.12. 5 If they concern ſin, be ſure it be to ha…e it.
5 If thy thoughts concern any ſin, bee ſure it bee to hate and renounce, to bewail and mourn for it, in thy ſelf, or others. For there is a ſlineſs and ſubtilty in ſin, which while wee think of, it eaſily gaineth ſome tickling and conſent, which at leaſt hindreth that thorow-hatred that wee ought to maintain againſt it.
The third rule for the inner man concerneth the Will, namely, Rules for the will.that our care muſt bee, there bee but one will between God and us; for ſo hath the Lord taught us to pray, Thy Will bee done. Concurrence of our wil with Gods will. 1 Revealing. 2 Determining. 3 Preſcribing.1 Wherein ſoever God hath revealed his will to us, in that wee muſt reſt. 2 Whatſoever his will determineth of us, that wee muſt account holie and juſt, whether with us, or againſt us. 3 Whatſoever his will preſcribeth to us, whether obedience to the Law, or faith of the Goſpel, wee muſt hold our ſelves faſt bound in conſcience unto it, let it ſeem never ſo croſs to us, or contrary to his Law, as Abraha… …id in offering his ſon. 4 Whatſoever his will diſpoſeth to us, 4 Diſpoſing.proſperity or adverſity, ſickneſs or health, life or death, or whatſoever elſe; all is from a moſt wiſe hand, diſpoſing every thing for the good and ſalvation of his Elect, and ſo ſhould bee entertained. Thus Eli ſaid, 1 Sam. 3.18. Iſa. 39.8.It is the Lord, let him do what is good in his eyes: And Hezekiah, The word of the Lord is good, even when it threatned the overthrow of his houſe and Kingdome. So David Pſal. 39.9. I held my tongue, and ſaid nothing, becauſe thou Lord didſt it: And Job, The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh, Chap. 1. v. 11.bleſſed be the name of the Lord.