A Discourse Grounded On PROV. 12.5, The Thoughts of the Righte­ous are Right. Proving Our state (God-ward) to be as Our Thoughts are. Directing how to try [...] and Our Selves by them. Propounding Schemes of Right Thoughts. With Motives and Rules [...] keep­ing Thoughts Right. In Two Parts. By FAITHFUL TEAT.

For as a man THINKETH in his Heart, So is He. PROV. XXIII.VII.
Let the Unrighteous man forsake his Thoughts, ISAI. LV.VII.
Doth not He that Pondereth [...] H [...]T, Con­sider? PROV. XXIV.XII.

DUBLIN Printed by Nath. Thompson Anno Domini, 1666.

The Preface.

Little Book,

I Am very sensible that thine Entertainment in the World is likely to be the same with His, on whose Errand Thou art sent, who is said to have endured, [...],Hebr: 12, 1 the contradiction of Sinners against Himself. For to tell Men of making Conscience of THOUGHTS, for Set­ting and Keeping them RIGHT, when the most do even hate to be reclaimed from the most Outward Enormities in Words and Actions, Psal, 50, 17 is likely but to tickle the Spleen of too many Ishmaels to an Impious scurrility,Gen. 27, [...] compar with Gal 4 28. [...]9 and prophane Derision.

But (whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear) Go Thou and tell the the wicked WITS that thou dost meet with,Exek 2, 4, 5 That whilst they are Quaffing Themselves into a drunken merriment in the Vessels of the Dan. 5.3. [Page] Temple, Verse 25 (making sport of things Spi­ritual) there is a tremendous MENE TEKEL upon the Wall, Verse 27 Their wit is weighed in the Ballances (of the Sanctu­ary) and found want [...]ng; Ver [...]e 26. Their Dayes are numbred, and themselves shortly to give up the Ghost, and a sad account therewith to God that gave them their active Phansies for better use.

And here I could tell thy Reader, that I have been lately an Eye witness of some (taken for Wits of prime mag­nitude in the Orb of Prophaness) who upon their Death beds, could allow no rest to themselves or those about them, without procuring the Visits and Prayers of such as themselves had by a mimical way of Praying, and Theatri­cal mock Preaching, been wont to ex­pose to Derision among their Compa­nions; Unhappy partners in their pro­phane LIFE, and again unhappy in that they were not spectators of their penitent DEATHS!

Exod. 10, 16When Gods Pl [...]gues are upon Ae­gypt, Oh then call for Moses & Aaron in hast, cha. 8, 8, 28 and 9, 27 Oh Pray, pray, pray for us; Yet this Moses is the man, that at other times,Hebr. 11.26 must bear the Reproach of Christ [Page] in Aegypt, as the Apostle (to the He­brews) testifyeth For though the Hearts of the Sons of men are fully set in them to do Evil, and Madness▪ in their Hearts whilst they Live (as Ec­clesiastes observeth) yet,Eccles. 9, 3 saith the Holy Ghost, Destruction, and DEATH say, Job 28, 21 compa. with Verse 28 We have heard the Fam [...] of Wisdom with our Ears, that is, of the true fear of the Lord, as the Text expounds it self. Now

'Tis not that which first we Love,
Mr. Waller quoted by Mr. R. Boyl
But what Dying We approve.

Go thou therefore and tell the World that thine Author,2 Cor. 5.12 knowing the Terrour of the Lord, (and in the many years leasure he hath had for Thinking, finding no more Noble Theme than Thoughts) hath sent thee forth to per­suade Men, to be so far from daring to adventure [...]heir Souls in naked & open Prophaness, as not to rest under the fairest Fig-leaves of superficials, or the best of OUTSIDES whatsoever; but to consider seriously, That there is a Sanctify the LORD GOD in your HEART; and a Curse not the KING,1 Pet 3, 15 Ecces. 10, 12 Hebr. 4, 22 no not in thy Thought; That the word [Page] of God is quick & powerful, [...]. a (critical) discerner of the thoughts of the Heart.

And therefore thou canst be unfit for the Hands of none, for that all have HEARTS. Discourses of other sorts may more particularly concern some one sort of Readers, and some ano­ther, but that Counsel of Solomons Be thou diligent to know the state of thy FLOCKS,Prov. 27, 23 concerns every one if that of Holy Herbert be true,

Herbert in Temple. My Soul's a Shepheard too, a Flock it feeds,

Of THOUGHTS, and Words, and Deeds.

Let all sorts therefore be diligent to know the state of their Thoughts.

As for the Poor in this world, they have the more need to be rich in (that which our Saviour calls) the good trea­sure of the Heart, Matt. 12, 33 t [...]t is, (amongst other things) good THOVGHTS; and as for the Great st, go thou and tell them, that as the Bereans were the More Noble for wearing the precious Pearl of Gods Word at their Ear;Acts 17, 10 11 So, Thoughts regulated by that Word, are [Page] the best Iewel that can sparkle upon the most Honourable Breasts,Mal. 3, 1 [...] to make them orient in his Eye,Verse 17 who hath said of those onely, who so THINK upon his Name, They shall be Mine, in that day when I make up my JEVV­ELS.

But if the sick of the Plague of the Heart (which Scripture speaks of as the worst of Plagues and) whose Cure thou designest, will not receive thee,1 Kin. 8, 38 because the Divine Patience doth as yet suffer them to walk abroad free from Outward and bodily Maladies; Then go thou, and visit my old Neigh­bours in Doleful Colchester, and other such sad places, where the Plague in their Houses, hindring their freedom of converse with others doth the more oblige, and may perhaps the more dispose them to turn in to Themselves, to stand in aw, and not to sin, but to com­mune with their Own HEARTS;Psalm 4, 5 And the God of all Grace go along with thee, and succeed thee for the effe­ctual Turning of many Hearts from Darkness to Light, and from the Power of Satan unto God.

Chap. 1, Of Self discovery, its Nature and necessity.

C [...]p. 2 [...] this Principle that Thoug [...]ts are Free; The less [...]o in Gods [...]ye because free from Mans. Evil Thoughts sin to us, Abomination to God, Damn'd in the Old World, Exclude from Salvation, like Devils, & worse.

Chap. 3. Thoughts the Souls pulse. In Ch [...]rlishness, Liberality, Envy, Goodness, Impatience, Patience, Unclean­ness, Chastity, Covetousness, Pride, Humility, Purity. Judge we Ourselves by what we would others (if we could)

Chap. 4. God chiefly [...]yeth mens Thoughts, they have feet, tongues, and hands. Thought-Adultery, Prophaness Presumption, &c. Evil and Good Chare­cterized from their Thoughts: known to God afar off. Our Possessions, Companions, &c. 1 God made us for Thinkin [...]. Gods Good will towards us, and Our [...] to Him set out by Thoughts, so Our Ill will by not thinking of Him, &c. 2. Grace first stirs in Thoughts 3 Tboughts can reach further then our Deeds can, and God requires our utmost. 4, Thoughts are the Hearts first born, Gods part Mans Heart a fountain, Mint house, God eyes our hearts first setting out. 5 God judgeth (as Man cannot) most by what is in-most. 6. Conscience (Gods deputy) judgeth us by our Thoughts.

Chap. 5 Right Thoughts how to be known, not thoughts of, but In our selves. Conscience the Lords candle to search

Tryal 1: By their Original, not from Nature, but Grace. The occasion and season of Gods first working them. A Scheme of a Converts first thoughts. agree with natural motions in 1, Facility 2. Frequency, 3, Perpetuity,

Tryal 2 By their Radication, when good thoughts are deepest. Rule explained, Reason of the Rule, Instances in good and bad, Godly (at lowest) excell Hypocrites at best. Bodily temperament how considerable in this tryal.

Tryal, 3 Right thoughts operative in a Right Con­versation. Thoughts without Works vain & dead. Right application of this Rule.

Tryal, 4 Right Th ughts are Regular, Here 1, Think there is a Rule for Thoughts 2, Have Right Thoughts of the Rule.

RIGHT THOUGHTS The Righteous mans EVIDENCE: A Discourse upon Proverbs 12.5. The Thoughts of the Righteous are Right.

The I. Part.

Chap. I. Sheweth how Self Discovery is to be had and made: bewails Self-Ignorance: Persuades to Self-studying and Self acquaintaince.

Sect. I.

COgito, ergo sum, Thinking th'evidenc [...] of Being. is a prime Conclusion with the modern and ingenious Phi­losopher. THINK­ING is the surest proof of BEING. For since O­peration doth certainly suppose Es­sence, Man doth most certainly con­clude [Page 2] his Being from that Operati­on that he is most certain of. I can­not so surely conclude I am, be­cause I walk, or talk, or eat, or drink, ot see, or hear; for I may be deceived as to these Operations; senses are not seldom deluded; Phantasy obtrudes, falsity; A man dreams and thinks he eats (saith the Prophet) and awakes and his soul is empty: Isa. 29.8 Man is not so sure he eats when he thinks he eats, as he certainly knows he thinks, when he thinks he thinks; and if he be sure he thinks, he is sure he Is, for Thinking is an Operation and flows from Being.

Right thou­ghts of a right Spirit Acts. 8.21 Psal. 51.10And as naked Thinking is the surest argument of meer Being, so is well-thinking (if our Text be true) an Evidence of Well-Being, Right Thoughts (as this Scripture calls them) of a Right Heart and a Right Spirit (as other Scriptures call it,) for (saith the Holy-Ghost) As a man THINKETH in his heart, Prov. 23 7 So is He.

Sect II.

NOw this Self-sight or Self-dis­cerning, Self sight how to be had. as it is onely to be had and made in the Looking-glass of thine own Thoughts, so onely by the Eye of thine own soul, for what man knows (saith the Apostle) the things of a man, 1 Cor. 2.11 save the Spirit of man that is in him? Yet must that Light, that makes manifest, Ephes. 5 13 be held rightly to thee, even the word of God which is quick and powerful and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart: so also must that Spirit, Hebr. 4.12 that searcheth all things, 2 Cor. 2.10 give thee visive power, and help thee in the search, (as David saith, Search me, Ps. 193 23 O God, and know mine heart, try me, and know my thoughts.) For this is the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation (saith the Apostle) not onely in the knowledge of God, Ephes. 117 and 18 but also of our selves; that the eyes of our under­standings being enlightned, we may [Page 4] know not onely what is the hope of his calling, but also what is his work­ing in us. Wherefore, Reader, though the Author know not what thy spiritual state is, yet for the loves sake he bears thy soul which he knows to be inestimably pretious, most earnestly desirous he is to meet and help those Self-discovering Thoughts of thine, by these few Thoughts of His, here presented to thy view, and to thy value no farther than they carry the Evi­dence of that Word which shall judge thee at the last day; Jo. 12.48 Praying that as thou readest, thou may'st recieve an unction from the Holy One, 1 Joh. 2.20 that know­ing all things, thou mayest not be ignorant of thy self.

Sect. III.

THe Scripture saith, The wise mans eyes are in his head, but the fools eyes are in the ends of the earth. Eccles. 2.14 Pro 17.24 How many HOVV DO YOU'S do [Page 5] many make (for which they will one day make but a sad account) without bestowing one poor hour in a Month or year in a profitable HOVV DO YOU upon their own souls, which if thou thy self neg­lectest, though I might say (with the Prophet) Who shall pity thee, who shall bemoan thee, Jerem 15 5 Who shall go aside to ask thee HOVV THOU DO'ST; yet (mee thinks) it greatly pityes me for the multitude of Our Wan­dring Iews (miscalled Christians) that gad like Dinah, Gen 34.1 or rather flee from themselves,Gen. 4.12 and the presence of the Lord like Cain, whose feet a­bide not in the house, their own he [...]rt, nay scarcely their own home;Pr v. 7 11 but their days are consumed in vanity (as the Psalmist speaks) betwixt making and shewing themselves fine and brave.Psal. 78 33 But Oh have not such heard, have they not known that for wandring Stars (though they glitter like them for a season) there is yet reserved a blackness of darkness Jude 13 [Page 6] for ever; surely the Lord will say to such as now depart from them­selves,Matt. 7 23 depart from me; to such as know not themselves, I know you not.

O how diligent is the Tradesman in his Counting-House? and the Countrey-man in knowing the state of his Flocks? Pro 27.13 How anxious are Thou­sands about Titles, Evidences, Bills, Bonds, in matters of dirty Mam­mon, yet prodigiously careless as to what Scripture calls pretious; Faith, (2 Pet. 1.1.) Promises, (2, Pet. 1.4.) Souls, (Psalm 49.8.) Christ, (1 Peter 2.7.) Never so much as asking themselves, or o­thers, for any Evid [...]nces for Hea­ven, or what they might do to be sa­ved? like those that prepare a table for a Troop, but forget Gods Holy Mountain; Our Thoughts are with Martha, Isaia 65.11 Luke 10 41 43. cumbred about ma­ny things, But O when shall we make choice of Maryes part? What looking amongst others of the na­tural [Page 7] face in a glass? Mean while Gods glass thrown by;James 1.23 the Souls complexion never enquired after; Its state not searched into, even though the most offensive excrements of nature are diligently examined for the discovery of the vile bodyes condition,Phil. 3 21 when threatned with the least hazarding distemper; a [...]d the Soul, the Soul of man drudg­ing at all this. Ah poor Soul who made thee the Keeper of all these Vine­yards, while thine own is unkept? Cant 1 6 What spending of time amongst o­thers, Athenian like, Acts 17 2 [...] in hearing and telling some new thing? who, mean while, are never acquainted with the Old Man, Eph 4.22 who hath so long dwelt in their own bosoms. What looking (like the Mother of Sisera) out of their windows (and like that cursed woman the wife of Ahab) yet not in at their hearts? There, Iudg. 5.28 hearts look­ing out, not looking in 2 King 39. [...] are are open Casements; here, are brazen shuts, and Iron sinnews to keep all close,Isaiah 48 4 even from their own [Page 8] eys: What buisy inquiryes by un­concerned Idlers after Alien and Forraign things, like his in the Gospel, And what must this Man do? yet I hearkened and heard, John 21.21 but they spake not aright, no man repented him saying, Jerem. 8.6 what have I done? or how shal I do? Intelligencers from abroad are gladly received, those in mens own breasts are checked and choaked. What will become of such and such Interests? what will times come to? what will become of Trade? such and the like are fre­quent Inquiryes. What will be the issue of this mans Contest, and the other mans Law suit, Nay of this Cock-Fighting, or that Horse-race, of this Game at Cards, or that Cast at Dice? But where shall I meet the Man or Woman that seri­ously, that seasonably cryes out, but what will become of my own Soul, my immortal Soul to all e­ternity?Jer. 5.35 What will you do in the end? this is a Query of Gods putting to [Page 9] us, and methinks (amidst all other our Inquisitiveness and Curiosity) we should not neglect to put this to Our selves.

Alas! how deplorable and la­mentable a thing it is, that Man that would be wise, should be so vain? he greedily drinks in the knowledge of all about him, Job 11 12 yet is willingly ignorant of himself. If man do but meet a Ghost (if his met­tle will serve him) he presently cries out, In the name of God what art thou? yet carryes a Spirit a­bout him every day, whereunto he never moveth that Question. Miserable man that thou art! Is thy Conscience such a Fiend to thee, and thine own Soul such a gastly Ghost, that thou darest not stay to talk with it? Put thy self to it: Temptation will put thee to it, Affliction will put thee to it: death and Judgement will put thee to it, and ask thee plainly what thou art? Ask thy self beforehand, that thou [Page 10] mayest know what to answer them that ask thee.

Sect. IV.

Self know­ledge neces­sary. 2 Cor. 13 5SUrely that Antient, Apostolick, may pass for a Catholick chal­lenge [...] Know you not your own selves? you know your conditions and outward con­cernments, do you not know your spiritual state? you know your Heras, do you not know your Hearts? you count your Coin, take you no account of your Consciences▪ you try your Gold, do you not prove your Faith? nay more, you are acquainted abroad, and know others know you not your own selves▪ Must that needs be true of you, tha [...] is said of the Witch in the Fable that she wore eys when she went abroad and still laid them by when she cam [...] at home? you take upon you to judg one another, to know the hearts, an [...] fore know the ends and future state [Page 11] of others, and know you not your own selves? surely God may say to that his Officer (though a bribed one) that self-discerning power and faculty, that he placed in mans breast, as sometimes he did in a­nother case, who is blind as my ser­vant, or deaf as my Messenger, Isa. 42, 13 20 that I sent? seeing many things, but thou observest not the one thing that more concerns thee than all other things. But God knows thee, though thou know not thy self; and will tell thee what thou art (as Ahijah did Ieroboams wife) whether thou make or take thy self to be ano­ther; 1 Kin. 14.5 And that Bribed Officer will (one day) do his office, and will make thee, too late, to know thy self, when thou wilt not know what to do with thy self.Luke 16.24 Thy tormented tongue will then tell thee, what this little Treatise would fain ac­quaint thee with, in a better sea­son, and more to thy profit, yea and those very thoughts of thine [Page 10] [...] [Page 11] [...] [Page 12] that thou wilt by no means put thy self upon the trouble now to re­flect upon, will turn upon thee, and fly in thy face, and gnaw at thine heart as so many never dying wormes, and roundly tell thee then, what they might have told thee be­fore, even before thou hadst come into that place of torment. Those thoughts thar are now thy pulse, thou mayst try thy self by them, will then be thy pain, thou wilt torture thy self with them. Son remember, said Abraham to Dives, Verse 25 Oh thy Memory will then be thy Miserie, and thy thoughts thy torment. Those thoughts of thine that might now make a Iury whilst, if thou be cast, thou hast time before thee to sue cut thy pardon, if thou empannel them not for this better service, they will then turn thy Execution­ers, when there will remain neither help in thy self, nor hope in God, for thee. Oh then thou wilt think of thy Soul, Pr. 5 11 12 Jer. 2 5 Psal 50 21 thy Sin, thy Misery, means neglected, mercyes abused.

Reader, pause here, and think of what is past, before thou pro­ceed (a whet's no let) Thou canst not endure to spend a little time now in the unpleasing work of self-Reflection, Think no [...] what thy e­ternal tho­ughts will be if thou miscarry. whilst self Reflection might do thee good; And can thine heart endure to spend an Eternity in the same work to a worse end, save that Eternity can never be spent? My heart is enlarged to thee, O Reader, fearing thine may be straightned towards thy self, yet do but promise me that thou wilt well weigh this one word, what the work of thy thoughts will be to all E­TERNITY; (if thou shouldst mis­carry) I say to ETERNITY; And I will leave the porch of my discourse (built larger for thy sake then was intended) and so lead thee to its principal parts.

CHAP. II. Damneth this licentious principle that Thoughts are free.

Sect. I.

Thought's FREE a damned Principle. ANd now that we might make a right Iudgement of our selves by our thoughts, it will be ne­cessary that we first Iudge aright of our Thoughts; and therefore we must come in the first place to damn that hell-born Principle, to the place from whence it came, THAT THOUGHTS ARE FREE: for hard­ly can I think any thing a more evi­dent token of a Reprobate mind (as the Apostle calls it) then for a man to think of his thoughts as some will say of their words,Rom. 1.28 Our lips are our own who is Lord over us? Psal. 12.4 But I may say to all those that promise liber­ty [Page 15] to their thoughts, as the Apo­stle speaks in another case, Whilst they promise them liberty, 2 Pet 2, 19 they them­selves are the servants of Corruption; for as we shall find, the first stir­rings of grace are in thoughts, 'tis as [...]rue that the first motions of Corru­ption are there also;James 1, 15 for Lust con­ceives (saith the Scripture) and then brings forth sin. Thought is the Cockatrices Egge (as the Ptophet calls it) that Breaks forth into a Vi­ [...]er. Isai 59.49 And thus are they miserably [...]equited by their own thoughts be­ [...]ng themselves Enslaved by them, [...]o whom they proclaim a liberty.Thought [...] not right, except we think aright of our thoughts in this point.

In this discourse we shall soon [...]ee that Thoughts are the Test by which God will try us, and we [...]hould try our selves; Now as Thoughts are reckoned amongst [...]he highest acts of the mind, so Re­ [...]exive Thoughts are ranked in the [...]ighest order of Thoughts, and hence [...] will clearly follow, that thoughts [...]re not right in specification, that as [Page 16] to this Principle are not so in re [...] plication, that is to say, That God will approve the thoughts of no man that thinks He is unaccountable to God for his thoughts, for if the Thoughts of the Righteous be right (as our Text speaks) it follows that he that thinks not in this very poin [...] aright of his thoughts, is unrighte­ous. Isaiah [...]5 7 And now let the unrighteou [...] forsake his thoughts, even these un­righteous thoughts of his thoughts▪ for as Scripture mentions a judge­ing of unrighteous thoughts, James 2 4 so this surely is an unrighteous judging of Thoughts, for any man to thin [...] that his thoughts are Free. Evil thou­ghts are sin to us. No, no but the very thought of foolishness i [...] sin. Prov. 24 9 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, is one of the seaven things that the Lord hates, Prov. 6 18 Abomina­tion to God and it is placed by the wise man (as the Sun in the midst of the Planets) as that which all the rest do derive, what they have from. Evil thoughts are iniquity to Those that harbou [...] [Page 17] them. They conceive mischief, Isaia, 53.7 their thoughts are thoughts of ini­quity (saith the Prophet;) And as they are iniquity to themselves, so the thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord, Pro. 15.26 as Solo­mon saith. This was the Grand wickedness and great Condemnation of the old World,Condemn­ation of the old world God saw that the wickedness of man was Great,Gen, 6, 5 for the imagination of the thoughts of his heart was onely evil continually, and therefore it repented God that he made man, Verse 6 and it grieved him at his heart.

The evil thoughts of our hearts grieve God to his heart; and surely man hath great reason to repent of that, that made God to repent that he made man.

'Tis a sad complaint that God makes by his Prophet,Break Gods Reart. Ezek, 6, 9 I am bro­ken saith God, with their whorish heart, (as the fountain of their whorish practices.) Be not deceived,Jer, 4, 1 [...] [Page 18] Iniquity is bitter, Jer, 4, 14 when it reacheth the heart, and so must our sorro [...] for thought sin be, if, we ever b [...] saved.Pro, 30, 32 If thou have thought ev [...] lay thine hand upon thy mouth, na [...] upon thine heart.Exclude from salva­tion, Wash thy hea [...] from wickedness that thou mayest [...] saved, how long shall vain though [...] lodge within thee? If a man ma [...] think himself to Hell by vai [...] thoughts, what shall we think [...] [...]vile thoughts? for even vai [...] thoughts lodg'd and allowed, ar [...] plagued and punished by suc vile thoughts oft times as are abhorrent to nature, as it is said [...] the old Romans,Ro. 21.26 they became vai [...] in their imaginations, and God gav [...] them up to vile affections.

Sect. II:

God knows thoughtsFOr the Truth is that which mo [...] likely induceth Men to thir [...] that their thoughts are free, (viz [Page 19] [...]hat they seem, and in some sort are [...]o in respect of Men, doth render [...]hem the less so in the sight of God, who understandeth all the imagina­ [...]ions of the thoughts, 1 Cor, 28, 9 more infalli­bly then Men do words and actions. I know their works and their thoughts (saith God in Isaiah, Isa, 66, 1 [...]) We may know Mens works, but we know not what the thoughts were, that put them upon those works, whe­ther for the glory of God, or to be seen of men; But God knows both.

What though mans eye cannot see, or his Law bind,And eyet [...] them the rather be­cause less lyable to outward in­ducements▪ or outward weights and plumbets force the thoughts of men, (when threat­nings or rewards may make men act against their minds, or speak what they do not think, yet all the world cannot make a man think what he doth not think, God that is him­self an Independent Agent, doth the rather judge of the conformity of the minds of men to his own▪ [Page 20] by those Acts that have least depen­dency upon outward Inducements, or Inforcements.

A man may seem to do many Acts for God, and speak many words for God, and yet onely make man his debtour, they do it (saith Christ) to be seen of men, and verily they have their reward,; Mat. 6, 5 But he that lays out his thoughts upon God, and for God, he trusts God without a witness, and the Righteous God will place, what we thus lend to his own Account, and will pay us again in our own Coin, but with infinite Interest, Holy-David had had many thoughts for God, and saith David, Many O Lord my God are thy thoughts which are to us▪ Psal, 40, 5 ward, they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee, If I would declare and speak of them, they are more then can be numbred, so that whilst the outward Actions, if they be no more then bare outward Actions, can look [Page 21] for no more then an outward Re­ward, there is upon good thoughts, which are a spiritual exercise, an Intail of spiritual blessings in hea­venly places, for to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Rom, 8, 6 Here is Use upon Use, for what thou lend­est to the Lord; Life and Peace, Salvation and Assurance, for what can be more an uncontrollable Evidence that the man is Spiritual then that the mind is so, which Scripture calls,1 Pet, 3.4 the hidden man of the heart.

A cudgel may make a dog to let go a Bone out of his mouth, From car­nal fear, when it doth not go out of his mind; Laws of the Land, and shame of people, (as we say) may keep a man from committting Adulte [...]y in the out­ward Act, but all the world cannot keep him from committing Adultery in his heart. But the fear of God in a Iosephs heart could make him a­fraid to look upon a woman to lust af­ter Gen, 39, [...]0 [Page 22] her, to lie by her, saith the Text, or to be with her; he dreaded all ex­terior incentives to adulterous thoughts; and so also in a Iobs, why then (saith he) should I think upon a Maid? Job 31, 1

Self Love,And again, Carnal self love, if thou be a Preacher, may raise thy tongue to the high praises of Christ, and fill thy Pulpit with Hosannahs in the highest to the son of David, but it is onely love to Christ that can make thee take him to bed and board with thee, to lay him all night between thy breasts, to remember his love more than Wine, Cant, 1, 4, 13, and that not so much for that thou art to Preach upon it the Lords Day, as that thou art to Live upon it all the week, as St. Paul saith, to me to live is Christ; Phil, 1, 21 for 'tis one thing to prove our parts to men, and another thing to approve our hearts to God: neither are we so much to desire to evidence to others a Proof of [Page 23] Christ speaking in us (as the Apo­stle speaks) as to find a proof of Christ living in our selves,1 Cor, 13, 3 Chap, 9, 22 least while we preach to others, We our selves prove [...] that is, unap­proved.

So then for a man to think that his Thoughts are Free, that is, that he is unaccountable to God for his thoughts (according to which God especially judgeth men) is to admit a contradiction, not onely to all Scripture, but to all Right Reason.

Sect. III.

LEt me freely tell thee O Rea­der (whosoever thou art) whose thoughts are not right,Evil thoug­hts like De­vils, thine heart is but an hell, and thy thoughts are but as so many Divels, and worse then Devils to thee, for First,

As Angels, In their original, (the most Excel­lent of Gods Creatures) became [Page 24] odious Devils, by departing from God, so that our Thoughts (that in their own nature, are the Off­spring of the noble & most excel­lent Mind of man) should become Iniquity to us,Isaia 59.7 and an abomination to God. Prov 1 [...].26 Hebr, 3, 12 This is from our evil heart of unb [...]lief, in departing from the living God.

Nature, spiritual wickedness▪ Ephes. 6 12And as Devils for their na­ture, are called spiritual wickednesses, can enter into men ('tis said Satan entred into Judas,Luke 22 3) and fill their hearts (as in Ananias his case) why hath Satan filled thy heart? Ezek 18, 10 so also Evil thoughts are said to come into mens minds, and fill their hearts; Inwardly they are full of rottenness (saith Christ.Mat, 25, 27) And as Devils for their pride and power are called, spiritual wickednesses in high places, In high places, so also evil thoughts are said to be those high things that exalt them­selves against God, 2 Corin, 10 5, and against Christ (Casting down Imaginations and [Page 25] every high thing, &c. and bringing into captivity every thought of the heart, &c.

And as Devils for their number made the possessed man cry out,Number, Legions, My name is Legion, for we are many; Mark 5, 9 so may Evil thoughts say, for these are called the abundance of the heart, Luke 8, 30 Like the swarmes of Flyes in Aegypt,Mat. 17 34 as if they were of Beel­zebubs Army, who, by the Ety­mology of his name, is Lord of the Flyes, and by the account of the Pharasees, Prince of the Devils.

And as Devils for their agility, agility, made answer to God (when he demanded, Satan, Job 1 7 whence commest thou?) From going in the earth to and fro, and from walking up and down in it; Just so may evil Thoughts say; for the wandring of the desire is by the Thoughts; Eccl, 6, 9 they go where we cannot, Israelites in the Wil­derness,Acts 7, 39 yet in heart went back to Aegypt.

VigilancyAnd as Devils for their Vigi­lancy, 1 Pet, 1, 8 are said to walk about as roar­ing Lyons, which are slirring when we are sleeping, (as the Psalmist observes) Therefore saith the A­postle,Psalm 104 20, 21 be vigilant, so the world­lings thoughts are at work while himself is asleep, for as his days are sorrow, Eccles 2, 23 so his heart taketh not rest in Night, for a dream comes through the multitude of business; Chapt 5 8 And oh how often cause have we to be trou­bled, when we awake, for the Thoughts of our sleep, as Nebuchad­nezzar was with his Thoughts in his sleep? Daniel 4 5

Disturbing in GoodAnd as Devils for disturbing in good dutyes, are called the Fowls of the Air, Matt 13 4 that steal away the word; such are evil thoughts, and so do they;1 Sam 1 13 As when Hannah was a Praying, Elie's thoughts were run­ning upon that, that was neither charitable nor true, (viz.) that she was drunk. And when Simon [Page 27] should have been minding what Christ was a saying,Luke 3 37. his Thoughts were wandring, He said within himself, if this man were a Prophet, he would have known who and what manner of Woman this is that touch­eth him, for she is a sinner. Vain thoughts can dog us when and where vain company cannot come at us, even in our closest places and performances.

And as Devils are signalized for disturbing us in what is good,Tempting to evil, so for tempting to evil, (therefore Satan is called [...] The Tem­pter, Matth 4 3) so every man is tempted (saith the Apostle) when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed; James 1 14 so that Evil Thoughts are our Tempters as much as He, and we should belie the devil should we say otherwise: for they have made ready their heart like an Oven, saith the Prophet;Hosea 7 6 What though Satan bring the Fewel, yet men put it into the [Page 28] Oven, and stir it about by their own Thoughts, in their own hearts, so that if He, like a cun­ning Baker, seem to sleep all night, (as 'tis there expressed) yet he knows that they will tend it, and so look to it, that in the morning it shall burn like a flaming fire.

And then accusingAnd as Devils, when they have been Tempters will be sure to be Accusers, (so that, as many men are called by such a name, Alias such a name, so Satan is called Tempter, Rev 12 10 alias the Accuser) so also are Evil Thoughts. Their thoughts mean while accusing, &c. as the Apostle speaks.Rom 15 2

and tormenting, Matt 18 34And as Devils are Tormenters as well as Tempters and Accusers, so also the Thoughts of the damned shall be a principal part of their tor­ment, Son, rememb [...]r, &c. saith Abraham to Dives, Luk 16 25 that is, bethink thy self, &c.

And thus have we seen that Evil Thoughts are as bad as Devils; Ye [...] worse then Devil [...] to us yea that they are worse then so, we shall now make appear in a few lines, and so conclude this head, And that,

First in themselves, In them­selves (in some re­spect) Let me tell thee O Reader, that thy thoughts may be guilty of such a sin, as Satan himself is not, nay cannot be guilty of, for saith the Psalmist.Psalm 14 [...] The Fool hath said in his heart, that there is no God; whereas the Apostle saith expresly that the Devils believe and tremble. James 2 1 [...] And Oh that we could tell how to bewail it sufficiently, that there should be more Atheisme in one heart upon Earth, nay in one thought, than in all the Devils of Hell. We pitty others when pos­sessed with Evil Spirits, how much more should we lament bitterly over our own selves when possessed with Evil thoughts, in some sort worse then the worst of spirits.

And to usII. As to those whose Thoughts they are, For these are the Heifers wherewith Satan Ploweth, whose Temptations could onely disturb, not destroy us, If our Thoughts did not take them in (as the Tro­jans in the Story, the deceiptful Horse,) and make them ours; so that our Destruction is of our selves (as the Prophet speaks,Hosea 13 9) for if Satan cannot know our Thoughts (without us) much less can He force them, But as Christ saith in one place, You are of your Father the Devil, John 8 44 and his Lusts will ye do, so the Prophet saith in many pla­ces,Jerem 7 24 that in and after the imaginati­ons of their own hearts they do and will walk; Chap 9 14 Chap 11 8 So that as Christ saith, the Devil is the Father, the Apo­stle makes mans heart to be the Mo­ther, and 13 10 which receives the Tempta­tion; and Thought the Womb that Conceiveth and Hatcheth it, when he saith,James 1 15 Lust when it hath conceived [Page 31] bringeth forth sin, whereas were th [...]e a Cordial crying out, as by the forced Damosel in the Law,Deutero 22 24 25 or the Apostle in the Gospel, Oh wretched man that I am, Rom 7 24 who shall deliver me? God would lay the sin upon Satan, and not upon the Soul disturbed by, and afflicted with it.

Now then since Evil Thoughts are as so many Devils, and worse then Devils to us, let us dread them as we do the devil; resist them as we ought to do Him, and Pray against them as we would against Him, & when they break into our hearts (which are such unruly and unta­med Evils,) let us serve them as the People of a Countrey Village would a ravenous Wolf, or cruel Bear, that should break into their Town, all the Town would be after them, either to kill them in, or to force them out of it.

Pro 23 26And since the Heart is the thing that God Pripcipally requires, and and that out of it are the Issues of Life, Prov 4 23 Let us keep the Heart with all keeping; and be choice of our Thoughts as of Gods Crown-Iewels. Mal 3 16 17

Phil 4 8 And now finally Brethren, what­soever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, what­soever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, if there be any praise. Think of these things.

CHAP. III. Sheweth the Thoughts of man to be the Souls Pulse, and that they evidently discover his Inward estate,

Sect. I.

YOu see then where this wisdom is to be found, Thoughts the Souls pulse and where is the place of self-under­standing. Reader▪ Thou art before the Lord, dost thou unfeignedly desire to know thy self truly? then say not in thine heart, who shall ascend, Romans 1 [...] 6 7.8 or who shall descend to tell thee, whether of the two, Heaven or Hell shall be thy place and portion; As the words are nigh thee even in thy mouth, so the Thoughts are nigh thee, even in thy mind; for what [Page 34] Christ saith of thy words, I may say of thy Thoughts, Mat. 12 37 By thy words (saith the text) and by thy thoughts (saith the reason of the text) Thou shalt be justifyed, Verse 34. & thou shalt be con­demned. For out of the abundance of the heart doth the mouth speak, If then thy Thoughts be Right, Thou art Right. The thoughts of the Righteous are Right. All the Righteous have Right Thoughts; and All, whose Thoughts are Right, are Righteous.

Thoughts, our neigh­bour-hood.'Tis a Laudable fairness in our Law, that it puts All Tryals for Life and Death, upon God and the Countrey; that is, the Neighbour­hood. This little Book allows thee the Birth-right of thy Native Law in thy greatest tryal, more Important then for Life & Death.Tryal by them fair. 'Tis for Salvation or Damnation. Thy Thoughts are thy Neighbour­hood, they walk & talk with thee, they know thy lying down, and thy rising up; Put thy Soul tryal upon [Page 35] God and them, and God send thee a good deliverance.

Sect. II.

ANabal [...]like Heart may seem sometimes to put forth a libe­ral hand, Instances of chu [...]lish [...]es 1 Sam 25 26 Isaiah 32 5 and make a Feast like a Prince, ye [...] shall not a Churl be the more called liberal, The liberal man deviseth liberal things. Isaiah 32 8 He onely is the liberal man that hath the li­beral mind, Liberality whose thoughts are free in a better sence, then the old say­ing hath it; 'Tis not the drawing of the Purse to the Poor (though that must be too where there is a Purse,Isaia 58 10) but the drawing out the Soul to the Hungry, that is true Charity.Mark 12 2 [...] Two Mites bestowed with one truly Generous and Li­beral thought, is a righter Almes-giving, then the giving of the two Hemispheres of the whole world, would be without it.

Sect. III.

THe Envious may carry smooth, and speak fair,Envy Pro 26 25 yet never a whit the more to be trusted if there be seaven Abominations in the heart. Psal 55 21 The Oyl of smooth words may float at top, whilst Waters of strife are at bottom, war in his Heart: His words kind, his thoughts Cruel; now He is what his thoughts are. 'Tis not said as a man speaketh with his tongue, but as a man think­eth in his heart so is He. Nay such are Evil whose thoughts are so, though God turn the fruit of their Heart to good, to those to whom they intend evil, as in Iosephs case, (Ye thought Evil against me, Gen 50 20 saith He, But God turned it to good), and to His own Glory, to whom they intend dishonour; as in the Assyri­ans (howbeit He meaneth not so, neither doth He think so, Isaiah 10 7) He was [Page 37] what his thoughts were: on the other hand,Goodness Ioseph was a good Bro­ther to them, that had been other­wise to him, though his carriage were course, and his speaking rough, for He thought them good, and meant them well. And thus God himself when He sheweth his People hard things, Isaiah 60 3 and (it may be incurs their hard thoughts, yet then he approves himself to be a me [...]ci­ful Father, and a tender friend by his gratious thoughts and tender purposes,Jer 29 1 [...] I know the thoughts that I think towards you, thoughts of peace; And as He thinks in His Heart [...]o is he, (though they think hardly of him) his thoughts are of Peace,Rom 15 33 and He is the God of Peace.

Sect IV.

THe Impatient are not always Cl [...]morous, Impatience. but sometimes like froward Children that declare their [Page 38] doggedness by not speaking at all, as well as by speaking doggedly. 'Tis said of the Hypocrites in Heart, Job 36 19 they cry not when God bindeth them, Pro 23 35 He strikes them yet they will not be thought sick, and beats them, yet they seem not to feel, they have not grieved, they make their faces harder then a Rock, Jerem 5 3 yet are never the more quiet; never the more patient; for, mean while, their minds fret, their thoughts boil within them, their Hearts are lifted up, therefore they are not upright. Habak 2 4 Their thoughts are froward, and so are they, for as a man thinketh in his Heart so is he. The foolishness of man pervert­eth his way, Prov 19 3 and his Hea [...]t f [...]etteth against the Lord. He [...]rets in Heart and thought, though not in word.

Patience.On the other hand, you have heard of the Patience of upright Iob, yet how often did His Impatience (like some Mens sickness) break out a [...] his lips, when the distemper had [Page 39] made no mortal seisure upon his heart; for search but his Heart and his History to the bottom, and you shall find it full fraight with thoughts of Penitence, of Patience, of Piety, of Humility, full of God-exalting, self abasing thoughts, thoughts of calmness and sweet­ness towards God, and onely of bitterness and Indignation against sinful self. Behold I am vile, what shall I answer thee? and again, I know that no thought can be with­holden from thee: Job 40 4 41 [...] and 42.2 3 6 who is he that hi­deth Councel without knowledge: I have uttered that I understood not, wherefore I abhor my self, and repent in dust and ashes.

Sect. V.

Solomons strange woman keeps a stir about wiping of her mouth, Uncleaness Pro 30 20 whilst she never regardeth the cleansing of her thoughts; Prov 7 14 She can talk of [Page 40] Peace-Offerings, and of Her paying her vows in the day, and think the same moment, of pleasing her bruitish Lust all the night, Come let us take our fill of loves till the morning. Verse 18 Her thoughts were un­clean, and so was she. What­ever mens garbes and pretensions are, how demure soever their de­portments, how mortifyed soever their appearances, they whose pro­foundest thoughts, are how to make provisi n for the Lusts of the Flesh, Rom 13 14 are fleshly, and they that do mind the things of the Flesh are after the Flesh; and 8 5 Chastity On the contrary, Chast Iob will not onely make a Covenant with his eys, Job 31 1 but will not allow himself so much as to think upon a Maid. His thoughts were Chast and clean and so was He.

Sect VI.

THe Covetous walk not always in open and in naked view for every one to see,Covetou [...] ­ness. perhaps not for themselves; but often wear a Cloak (as the Apostle calls it) a Cloak of zeal, and seeming sanctity,1 Thes. 2 as Iehu, and others. Their thoughts boil, but th [...] fervour of their spi­rits is, for the serving of themselves, not the Lord Iesus Christ; Iudas talks of the poor, John 12 16 but he thinks of the purse, and of his Prey; yet he carryed it so plausibly that the Eleven suspected themselves more than Him.2 Pet [...] Mens Hearts may be exercised with covetous practices, whilst their hands seem not so, They come & sit before the Lord as his people, but their hearts run after their covetousness; nay,Jer 23 31 Jer. 22 17 their hearts are not but for their covetousness, as the Pro­phet smartly expresseth it. They may talk of better things, but their [Page 42] thoughts are for no other, their tongues may run of heavenly things, but their thoughts still run after their covetousness. Their thoughts are for to morrow, Matt 6 31 what they shall eat, and what they shall drink, and where­with they shall be cloathed. Their Inward thoughts are that their Hou­ses and Inheritances are to them and their Heirs for ever. Psal 49 11 Such are the thoughts that they drown their Souls in, and buiry themselves in alive, working like Mo [...]es under­ground, & if they sometimes appear above ground, they are not in their Element, Phil 3 19 till rooting in the earth a­gain, they mind earthly things. The young man in the Gospel, His tongue ran of Heaven, What must I do that I may inherit Eternal life? Mar 10 17 but his thoughts ran after Earth, if I go with this Christ I must for­go my Estate, if I cleave to Him, I must leave that: He went away sor­rowful, for he had large Possessions. [Page 43] [...]ut saith God to his People, Be­ [...]are there be not in thy wicked heart [...] thought, &c.Deut 15 [...] which he there cau­ [...]ons in this case of Covetousness. [...] Covetous thought reigning in the [...]eart, Allowed, Loved, Liked, Maintained, customarily enter­ [...]ained there, is the Evidence of a [...]icked Heart, of a bad man, for as [...] man thinketh in Heart so is He.

Sect. VII.

THe Proud person may be tryed by his Thoughts,Pride, be he never [...]o much in the disguise of his vo­ [...]ntary humility. His thoughts do [...]ell and rise high, whilst He cring­ [...]th low;Isaia 58 53 like those in Isaiah who [...]ung down their heads like Bulrushes, [...]et their Hearts were lifted up in proud thoughts against God, as if He were in their Debts for [...]heir formal devotions; where­ [...]ore have we fasted, say they, and [Page 44] thou takest no notice? The Pharise [...] was the worse for his good thought of Himself; God I thank thee, [...] am not as other men; Luk. 18.11 Y [...]a, an [...] thousands in the world have caus [...] enough to think ill of themselves if they had no more then thei [...] thinking too well of themselves God will punish the fruit of mens stout hearts; Isai. 10.18 compared with the 12 now the fruit of th [...] stout heart is in the same place▪ explained to be the proud Thought▪ The Psalmist complains, the wicked through the pride of their Counte­nances will not seek after God, Psal. 18.4 God is not in all their thoughts. He fetch­eth proof of their wicked pride f [...]m their Godless thoughts. Ezek. 28.26 The proud Prince of Tyrus did set his heart as the heart of God, in high thoughts of Himself, as the Sequel there shews.Humility But the best Men on the contrary are least and lowest in their own thoughts Thus Abraham, Gen 18 27 but dust and ashes. and 23.10 Jacob, less than [Page 45] the least of Gods mercyes. David,Psal. 22.6 a worm and no man. Asaph, a beast before thee. Agar,Psal. 73.22 Prov 30 2 more bruitish then any man. Isaiah, a man of unclean lips. Paul,Isaiah 6 5 1 Cor. 15.9 the very least of the Apostles, but the chiefest of Sinners. Put on humbleness of mind, saith the Apostle.Collo. 3.12 The Humble man is humble in mind, Mat. 11.29 and lowly in heart and thought as Christ was, for as a man thinketh in his heart [...]o is He.

Sect. VIII.

BLessed are the pure in heart, Purity. Matth. 5. [...] saith our Saviour, they shall see God. Are thy thoughts holy? then thou art happy. In a good mans heart there is a good treasure, Mat. 12 35 Ps. 193.17 and 10.4 and the Psalmist tells you what it is, How pretious are thy thoughts, O God, unto me? But for the wicked,Pro. 10, 20 God is not in all his thoughts, therefore the heart of [...]he wicked is little worth, and he, whose Heart is little worth, is wicked.

Sect. IX.

TO draw this Head towards [...] conclusion, let me persuade thee, O man, but to judge of thy self, which thou canst, by the same way, that thou wouldst judge thy Neighbour if thou couldst. I [...] anothers thoughts lay as fair to thine eye, as his words do sound to thy ears, thou wouldest try his thoughts towards thee, before thou wouldst too much trust his words, for the wise man observes, these two may be very wide each from other, Eat and Drink saith h [...] to thee, and yet his heart is not with thee. Prov. 23 7 But God hath purposely lockt up thy Neighbours thoughts from thee, to correct thy curiosity and over eager propension to Cen­soriousness abroad, and hath said, Iudge not that ye be not Iudged, but hath made thee Turn-key to thy own,Matth. 7.1 because 'tis best for thee to [Page 47] turn often in at thine own door, for [...]f we would judge our selves we should not be judged. 1 Co. 11 31 Mans Law doth what it can in the tryal of those that are under Inquest, for discove­ [...]y not onely nor chiefly of the Act, [...]ut the Mens rea, the Intent and [...]hought of the Heart in the Act, whether a Traiterous, Malitious, Fe­ [...]onious Intent, and of Malice fore­thought or no? When smooth-tongued Simon Magus came with Honey in his mouth, and his well-tuned tongue had a fair freedom to make a plausible profession, he was received and Baptized, but as soon as the Apostle Peter came to discern his thought (Repent and pray God, saith he,Acts 8.13 Verse 22 if perhaps this thought of thine may be forgiven thee) he presently perceives that his heart was not right, and that his state was naught, for he saith not, I perceive that the gall of bitterness [...]s in thee onely,Verse 23 but that thou art in [...]t and in the bond of Iniquity.

Sect. X.

IN one word, as the Pu [...]se s [...] the Thoughts derive immediately from the Heart, both as to Tem­per and Distemper, the one in a phy­sical the other in a moral notion and respect, and wert thou but as careful and skilful to observe thy flowing thoughts, as thy Physitian is to examine thy gliding pulse, thy Thoughts would less often deceive thee, then thy Pulse him, and thou needest not be so much at a loss as the most are for the know­ledge of thy spiritual and everlast­ing state, having so fair an Index to Eternity so near at hand. Com­mune then with thine own heart upon thy bed, Psalm. 4 4 and be still. 'Tis Scripture Councel, and it will never hurt thee to take it. Thy thoughts may talk with thee when none else will, when none else can, when there [Page 49] is none but God, and thou, and they together. Thy faculty will be true to thee, if thou be so to it, thy Thoughts will not flatter thee if thou do not daub with them; but and if thou dost, God will not. And so I pass to the next.

CHAP. IV. Proves that the Iudgement that God passeth upon Men is by their Thoughts.

Sect. I.

WOuldst thou then O Man, Try thy self by the same Measures that God will try thee, and Iudge of thy state, as He judgeth of thee, who judgeth not according to the appearance, but judgeth righteous [Page 50] judgment? Let me tie thy thought [...] and thee together again. For th [...] Lord searcheth the heart & tryeth th [...] reins, Jer. 17.10 and 11 20 those reins the Psa mist speak [...] of,Psal. 16.7 My reins instruct me in the nigh [...] season, His solemn thoughts and s [...]rious self-reflecti [...]ns. Those ar [...] they that God tryeth, and thee by them. O Lord thou hast searched me and known me, Ps. 139 1 2 thou understandest my thoughts afar off; As Chris [...] said to Nathaniel, I may say to others in other cases, before tha [...] Philip called thee, John 1, 48 I saw thee when thou wast under the Fig tree, so be­fore others called thee to the Alc [...] Bench, or into the Whore House, he saw thee, he kn [...]w the propension [...] of thy Thoughts, the motions in thy mind, the tendency of thine heart, He understandeth thy thought [...] afar off, and by these He dooms sent [...]nceth, and judgeth thee though (to speak strictly) God judgeth of us or knows us by [Page 51] pure and simple intuition, abstra­ctly as well from Thoughts as from words and actions, that is, He needs no more any thought or thing, then he doth any man,John 2.28 to testify of man, for He knows, as what is in man, so wh [...]t man is, by a more perfect way than discursive infe­rence, or argumentation. He knows all things in their principles before they operate, Acts 15, 11 For known un­to the Lord are all his works from the beginning.

Sect. II.

THo [...]ghts have feet, they have a tendency, Thoughts have feet▪ be they good or evil. The thoughts of the diligent tend to plenteousness, Prov 21, 5 [...]he Lord t [...]kes notice of the tendency of thy thoughts,can go. and counts thee gone the same way that they go. Ephes. 4, 17 The Gen­tiles are said to walk not onely af­ter but in the vanity of their mind. Jer. 7, 24 [Page 52] And the wicked Iews not onely after but in the imaginations of their evil Hearts. [...] Tongues Thoughts can speak as well as go, Matth 3, 9 Think not to say within your selves, &c. and God hears them,Lam. 3, 60 (Thou hast heard all their ima­ginations against mee, saith the Church) when the voice is not heard Hannah prayed in her Heart, can pray, 1 Sam. 1, 13 Verse 14 and her lips moved, But her voice was not heard. Old Eli that measured her by the bare moving of her lips, misjudged her; but God had an eye to the Motion of her Heart. Thoughts can Curse too,and curse, Ecc. 10, 20 19 Curse not the King, no not in thy thought. The Heart of the wicked is said to utter perverse things. The Holy-Ghost heard Ananias thoughts tell the lie before Peter and the rest heard his tongue do so,Pro, 23, 33 and lie, Acts 5.3, 4 Why hath Satan filled thine Heart to lie unto the Holy-Ghost? thou hast not lyed unto men but unto God.and hands.Thoughts have Hands too as well as Tongues and [Page 53] Feet in Gods account.Isaia. 22, 6 can work, The Heart of the vile person is said to work Ini­quity, and to practice Hypocrisy. Therefore saith God of the false witness, thou shalt do to him as he thought to do to his Brother. David thought to build God an house, Deut. 19 19 and thus God reckons,1 Kin. 8, 18 thou didst well in that it was in thine heart. When Esau thought to slay his Brother if his Father were but once dead, (Esau said in his heart, the days of mourning for my Father are at hand, Gen. 27, 41 then will I slay my Brother Iacob) God Books it down though he never did it. How are the things of Esau searched out, Obadiah 6 how are his hid things sought up? and so shall all mens be, for the Lord searcheth all hearts, 1 Chro. 28 [...] and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts.

Sect. III.

IF a man looking on a woman do but send after her an Impu [...]e thought,Thought, Adultery. God writes down A­dultery committed already, Matt, 5 28 if he look, sai [...]h Christ, to Lust after her. If thou do but think profanely, he notes [...]t,Prophaness Psal. 50, 21 thou thoughtest I was alto­gether such an one as thy se [...]f, But I will reprove thee; I say he observes it, a [...]d accordingly judgeth thee. It presumptuously, Presumpti­on, he dooms it, and thee for it. If a man hearing the words of this curse, Deuter. 29 1 [...], 20 bless himself in his heart (that is, in his own thoughts) saying, I shall have Peace though I walk in the Imagination of mine heart: the Lord will not spare him, Vanity &c. If thy thought be vain and foolish, wicked and worldly, God will pronounce thee such [...]s he finds that.Luke 12 16 17, 19, 20. The grounds of a certain rich man brought forth pl [...]n­teously, [Page 55] and he thought within him­self what shall I do, &c. I will say to my Soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years, take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry; But God said unto him, thou fool, &c. If thy thoughts be Viperous and Venimous,Venime, blasphemous and ma­litious against the Lord and His Christ, He will damn thee for such as he finds them. Iesus knew their thoughts, Mat 12 25 compa [...]ed with ver 34 Psal. 2, 1, 5 and said O Generation of Vipers, &c. Why do the Heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? they take Councel against the Lord and against his Anointed, &c. The Lord shall speak to them in his wrath. &c. They Consult, He condemns, they Think, and He Speaks, that is to say, speaks in judgement.

Sect. IV.

Evil men characteri­zed by their thoughts,THis was the Condemnation of the old world, as we have seen. Gods proof of mans wicked­ness was from the Thoughts of his heart, Genes, 6, 5 and the punishment thereof was proportioned thereunto, an over flowing scourge upon them for that superfinity of naughtiness that was in them. Yet were there many amongst these that because of their profession were called the sons of God.Genes, 6, 2 The sons of God saw the daughters of men, &c. 'Tis not what our professions are, or what our Names are, but what our thoughts are that the Lord looks at, and accounts of us by. 'Tis said of our Lord Jesus that though ma­ny beleeved on his Name, John 2, 23 24, 25 when they saw the Miracles which he did, yet did not Iesus commit himself to them, because he knew all men, and needed [Page 57] not that any man should testify of man, for he knew what was in man. The Text saith, he judgeth of Man, by what was In Man: Our words proceed out of us, our professions are on us, but our thoughts are in us; and these a [...]e they that the Lord Christ looks at, and was himself set (amongst other ends) for the manifestation of,Luke 2, 5 [...] 35, That the thoughts of many hearts might be revealed.

Sect. V.

ON the other hand,So the God­ly. those bles­sed Souls whom the Lord Crowns with so high a testimony, and so Honourable a Character of being his, whom he will spare, Mal. 3, 15 17, his Iewels which he will make up, for whom a Book of Remembrance was written before him, they are briefly thus described, such as feared the Lord, and that Thought upon his Name. 'Twas not the Name of God [Page 58] upon them, but the Name of God in them, 'twas not the bare speaking of his Name, though (no d [...]ubt) they did that too, (for they spake often one to another,) but their thinking upon his Name, that God Characterizeth them from, where­as be the wicked grosly such, or Hypocrites, Psal. 9, 17 Job 8, 13 they are stigmatized for such as forget God.

Sect. VI.

God is said to know thoughts afar off. Psal. 13 8 6 and 139, 2THere are two things that God is said to know afar off. The Pride of man, and the Thoughts of man. He hath it seems a severe eye upon each of these. I know their Imaginations which they go about (saith God of Israel) even now before I have brought them into the Land which I sware: Eze 38 10 and of Gog, thus saith the Lord, it shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou [Page 59] shalt think an evil thought. God minds our thoughts before they come into our minds; and knows what we are about to think, before we think it; Then needs must he know what we think, when we think; and what to think of us too whilst we are a thinking, before we speak or act.Psal. 94 11 The Lord knoweth the thoughts of m [...]n that they are vanity, saith the Psalmist, the Lord know­eth the thoughts of the wise that they are vain, saith the Apostle.2 Cor 3, 2 [...] The variation in the version speaks thus much, Amongst all the vain Chil­dren of men there is not one wise e­nough to hide his thoughts from b [...]ing known to God, and himself by them. Prov. 15 26 Yet abhors evil thoug­hts though at a distance The thoughts of the wicked are an a­bomination to the Lord: He cannot keep the noisom stench of them from the Almighties nostrils; nor can God endure them without de­claring his abhorrence of them. Who smels them at a distance [Page 60] (afar off and abhors them, so they that are of a froward heart are an abo­mination to the Lord, Prov 11 20 It thy thoughts be froward, though thy words (through thy subtil or hypocriti­cal restraint of them) be not so; as appears by the Antithesis, but such as are upright in their way are his delight. You see then how God reckons men by their Thoughts.

Sect. VII.

We value men by their possessions, Our thoug­hts are so.VVE value men according to their Possessions, and God according to their Thoughts. A man of mean parts, of low ac­quirements, of mean Possessions, we reckon a mean person: A man of high Improvements, of large Acquisitions, of great Possessions we reckon a Great man, a substan­tial person; now Mens thoughts are their Possessions; and 'tis ob­ [...]ervable [Page 61] that one word in the He­ [...]ew expresseth both, therefore [...]hen [...]he Text in Iob reads,Job 17, 1 [...] My [...]urposes are br [...]ken off, even the [...]houghts of my heart; The Mar­ [...]in (according to the Hebrew) [...]eads the possessions of my heart. Tis by patient Thoughts that we [...]ossess our Souls, under Affliction:Luke 21 19 [...]y Chast and pure thoughts that very one should possess his vessel in [...]anctification and Honour, 1 Thes. 4, 4 'Tis by [...]elieving thoughts, we possess the [...]ord Iesus, put him on, dwell in him, Rom. 13.14 Col. 2, 6 [...]ulk in him having received him. On the other part; when Iobs [...]houghts were restless and unquiet,Job 7, 3, 4 [...]ossing and tumbling from morning [...]o evening, from [...]v [...]ning to morn­ [...]ng, from week to week, from month to month, then it is said, God made him to possess months of vanity. When God presented all [...]is you the sins (as so many frightful Ghosts) fresh to his Thoughts, [Page 62] then it is said God made him t [...] possess the iniquityes of his youth. Job 13, 26 So when the Heart is full of goo [...] Thoughts, God calls that the goo [...] treasure; if of evil Thoughts, th [...] evil treasure of the heart; Matt. 12, 35 and w [...] value Men to be, as their treasures and possessions are.

Sect. VIII

We Judge men by their companionsWE Judge men by their constant Companions. Noscitu [...] ex socio qui non dignoscitur ex se Now our thoughts are our constan [...] Company, Our thoug­hts are so, They are ever with u [...] at Bed and Board. Company draw out answers from us (sometimes when we have no great mind t [...] speak,) so do our Thoughts Therefore do my thoughts cause me t [...] answer said Zophar. Job 20, 2 These are a [...] Rhehoboams Councellours, 1 Kin 12, 8 that wer [...] brought up with him from his youth so the Imaginations of mans heart a [...] said to be;Gen. 9, 21 These are our Inmate [Page 63] [...]nd Intimates (be they good or [...]vil,Jer. 4, 14 Divine or vain) They [...]dge with us, nay within us; these [...]rt guests that never part with us, [...]ll we bid adieu to our selves. 'Tis [...]ot till that very day, Psal. 146, 4 that our [...]houghts perish; no nor then neither [...] some sence, but they go with [...] into another world, and there God will judge them, and us by [...]hem. Pro, 13, 20 He that walketh with the wise the word, Men, is not in rhe He­ [...]rew) shall be wise. He that [...]alks with God, who gives wisdom, [...]nd he that walks with the word [...]f God which is able to make a man [...]ise to salvation, 2 Tim 3, 15 He that hath that we [...]ing richly in him, and dwells [...]pon it by wise and holy Thoughts [...]nd Meditations (as the Psalmist [...]aith,Psa 119, [...]9 I have more understanding [...]hen all my teachers, Good thou­ghts good company. for thy testimo [...]ies are my meditation) as well as [...]e that converseth with wise and [...]oly persons, shall be wise. It thou [Page 64] bind them continually upon this heart, Pr. 6, 21, 22 when thou goest it shall le [...] thee, when thou sleepest it shall ke [...] thee, and when thou awakest it sha [...] talk with thee, that is, wisdom shall Under God thou canst not har [...] better Company then good thoughts nay,Gods canot be had with out Theirs. thou canst not have His with out theirs. Thou mayst have hi [...] Company when thou canst n [...] have good mens; but thou canst no [...] have His, except thou have good thoughts. But the companion of fools (saith another Proverb) shall be de­stroyed; Prov. 24, 9 of foolish sinners withou [...] us, of foolish thoughts within us, (for even the thought of foolishness is sin.) If we choose either for our Companions especially the latter, they will undo us, and bring us under that doom of Destruction [...] This made holy David choice o [...] his Company, but curious of his Thoughts. I have not sate with vain persons, Psalm 26, 4 saith he, but I hate vain [Page 65] thoughts, when his Company was had his thoughts were good; Even while the wicked was before him, Psalm. 39.2 his heart was hot within him, while he was musing, the Fire burned: his Thoughts inflame his affections with godly Zeal; and this Holy Fire, as by an Anteperistasis, burnt so much the hotter for the Frost [...]f cursed Contrariety that was [...]bout it. When the careful Ma­gistrates or Officers of a Citie [...]preak into a suspected house in the Night time, the great question is, what Company have you here? Gods inqui­ry in mans heart What thou­ghts have you here? Luk, 24 38 James 2.4 so when God breaks in upon our [...]ark hearts, the Inquiry is, what [...]houghts have you here? why do [...]houghts arise in your Minds? Are ye [...]ot become Iudges of evil thoughts?

Sect. IX.

FIrst,God made man to think of his maker Eccles. 12.1 God made Man to think of his Maker, Remember thy [Page 66] Creatour, there is mans end and duty sumd up in short.We value things as they suit their ends. God gave man a mind higher then o her A­nimals, that he might mind higher than they; a mind above other things, that he might mind things above; An Heathen could say, Os homini sublime dedit, Caelumque tueri jussit. We chiefly estimate things as they suit their Chief end, as Fewel by its burning, a Knife by its Edge, an Horse by his good heels, &c. Otherwise though they look well, if they do not burn well, or cut well, or go well, we like them not; So God will have none of thy (Naphthali like) goodly words without Godly thoughts. Gen. 49 21 We do not reckon Parrats or Mag pies men; because they are taught to talk; We know they have not Thoughts like Men, though they have w [...]rd like Men; And is it possible that for a little professions sake, God should have good [Page 67] thoughts of thee, whose thoughts are not good? Let me tell thee once for all, He thinks better of thy Oxe or Ass that in its kind minds thee its Owner, then of thee who mindest not Him whom thou callest thy Lord and Maker, (and so perhaps often swearest by him, when thou dost not once think of Him.) 'Tis a dismal Charge and Challenge that,Isaiah 1.3 But my people do not consider; They call themselves Mine, Deu. 32, 18 19 but they MIND not Me; Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee, And when the Lord saw it, he abhorred them, because of the provoking of his Sons and of his Daughters. Alas how little do Names, Titles, Pri­vilidges, Professions stand for in Gods Account, where God Him­self is not minded? As she said, How sayest thou that thou lovest me, Jud. 16.35 seeing thy heart is not with me? how [Page 68] is it that thou pretendest to God, seeing thy mind is not with him; God is not in all thy thoughts? Psal. 10.4

Gods good will to us set out by his thoughts Ps. 115.12As Gods good-will towards men in Scripture is called his being mindful, his remembring, his think­ing upon them. He is ever mind­ful of his Covenant. Psal. 111.5 Nehe. 5.19 and 13 22 Luk. 23 41 Think upon me O my God: Lord remember me when thou comest into thy Kingdom! So ours also to God ward. We have thought of thy loving kindness O God! Psal. 48.9 We will remember thy love more then Wine. Cant. 1, 4 If we have for­gotten thy Name, Psal. 44.17 18, 20, 21 shall not God search this out? All this is come upon us, yet have we not forgotten thee; Isaiah 64.5 our heart is not turned back▪ Therefore it is said, thou meetest them that remember thee. So ours to God. A good God will be sure to be even with them; They remember him, and he minds them. He is in their thoughts, and they are in his. But on the other hand, Think not O [Page 69] man to be regarded by him that is forgotten by thee; And our e­vil will by our not thinking of him. or that God should have any good thoughts of thee, who never harbourest any good thoughts in thee, or that God should mind thy good, who never mindest God nor good? No, no, if God think upon thee it will be to destroy thee, for not remem­bring him that made thee. The wicked shall be turned into Hell, Psal. 9 15 And all the Nations that forget God; and 50, 2 [...] Now Consider this all ye that forget God, lest he tear you in pieces while there is none to deliver you. Even such are the paths of all that forget God, and the Hypocrites hope shall perish. Job 8, 13 In vain is hope in God harboured where thoughts of God cannot be.

Sect X.

Secondly,

GOd looks especially to mans thoughts, Grace first stirs in tho­ughts. Because if there be [...]ny Grace, which is called the [Page 70] seed of God in Man, it first stirs there.1 Joh. 3, 9 The new-born babe (as th [...] Apostles expression is,1 Pet, 2, 2 [...].) it firs [...] breaths in Prayer, but it first-stir [...] in thought, and its stirring (as in Nature) is before its breathing Nay even that privation, which (according to the Old Philosophy is as it were a kind of principle o [...] this Spiritual Generation, begins there. This is called a Casting down Imaginations, 2 Cor. 10.5 and a bringing of every thought of the heart into ca­ptivity to the obedience of Christ Grace, I say, first stirs in the Thought. I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimo­nies. Ps. 123, 59 The Prodigal came to himsel [...] before he came to his Father First thought of his Fathers house, Lu. 15.17 20 an [...] then turned his feet thither-ward Solomon in his Prayer (a Type o [...] Jesus Christ our Lord in his Intercession) speaks thus,Deut. 30, 1 If they si [...] against thee, 1 Kin 8.46 47, 48, 49, 50 &c. Yet if they sha [...] [Page 71] bethink themselves, &c. and so re­turn to thee, &c. Then hear thou their Prayer, &c. and forgive thy People, &c. First, they bethink themselves, and then return. Thus the Accomplishment of the new Covenant in the work of Grace is called the putting of Gods Laws in­to mens minds, Hebr. 8 10 [...] and the writing them in or upon their hearts. The Greek word signifyes, I will give them into their Thoughts, and write them upon their hearts. Thoughts are the Gate a [...]d In let to all the affe­ctions. Grace first knocks at this door. Therefore also the word of Grace, 1 Cor. 10, 5 which is the great Engine for the foresaid Privation, 1 Pet. 1.23 and the very Seed of Regeneration is called [...] a strict and curious observer of the thoughts and intentions of the Heart. Hebr: 4, 12 And if Gods Word be such, sure God is so.

Sect. XI.

God princi­pally requi­reth the heart, Therefore especially looks to the thoughts,THirdly. God principally re­quires the Heart, and there­fore especially looks at the Thoughts. Thoughts to the Heart are as motion to the Watch, Sailing to the Ship; and 'tis those that render these valuable.Pro: 23:26 My Son give me thy Heart. We must give God our Hand too, and our All, but our Heart in All, and a­bove All. Thus set your Hearts unto all the words, Deut: 32:46 47: &c. for is it not a vain thing for you, because it is your life. We must lift up our Hands too to Gods Commandments (saith David) but especially our Hearts and Thoughts,Ps: 119:41 and therefore he ads, and I will meditate in thy Statutes. Our Thoughts can reach farther, Thoughts can reach farther than deeds can, & God re­quires our most, than our Deeds can, and God re­quires and looks for our utmost. The poor Captivated Souldier [Page 73] when he cannot get to his party, [...]e can think of his party.Psalm 13 [...] 1:5.6 As the [...]aptives in Babilon could think of [...]ion, nay could not but think of [...]t: the Apostle captivated to the [...]aw of sin by the Law in his Mem­ [...]ers, Rom: 7:23 25 did yet with his MIND serve [...]he Law of God. And God minds [...]arefully how your minds stand, which way they serve, to the World or Heaven, Sin or Holi­ [...]ess, Christ or Belial.

Sect. XII.

Fourthly,

THoughts are the primary pro­ductions of the Mind,Thoughts the Hearts primary [...] productions and Heart, therefore God principally [...]yes these. Of old times the first [...]orn, Exod: 13:1 were under Gods especial [...]ye. The Hebrews call sparks, First born Gods part, he Sons of the burning coal, as you [...]ay see by comparing that Text [...]n Iob with the Margin.Job 5 [...] The Thoughts are the sparklings of mans [Page 74] Mind, the very Issue of it, if [...] be enkindled with Heavenly Fir [...] that inward Baptisme, Matt: 3.11 what numberless numbers of these Divin [...] sparks are there daily flying upward; if with Fire of Hell (as th [...] Apostle Iames speaks of th [...] Tongue,James 3 6) thy very thoughts, a [...] it were, stink of Brimstone, an [...] look like Hell in Gods eye; the [...] are earthly, V: 14 15, 16 sensual, and Devilis [...] there is confusion and every ev [...] work. Thoughts I say are the proper Issue, nay the first born of th [...] heart,Mat: 15:19 for out of the heart procee [...] evil thoughts, Murthers, Adulteri [...] Fornications, Thefts, Blasphemies Mark, First Evil thoughts, an [...] then all the rest. Evil Thought [...] are the File-leaders, these stand i [...] principal view. Evil Thought are the hearts first begotten which no sooner are they born but the Heart Incestuously beget on them again, Murthers, Adul [...]eries, [Page 75] Thefts, Blasphemies, what [...]ot? Thoughts you see lie next [...]he heart; and if we would judge [...]f a Fountain, we judge of it by [...]he waters that flow next and im­mediately from the spring head; Fountain to be judg'd by what flows most immediatly from it, go­ [...]ng farther, they may come to be [...]ltered from their natural tast or [...]ook. The waters of a salt spring [...]y being distreined and percolated [...]hrough the fresh earth may loose [...]heir brackishness. So that which [...]s hatred in the heart, and very Brine in the Thoughts may seem [...]weet in the mouth through the [...]ntermediation of the dissembling [...]ongue of him, whose hatred is [...]overed by deceipt: Pro: 26:24 he that hateth dissembleth with his lips, maketh his voice gracious, so the Hebrew,Verse 26 Hail Master! may be in the mouth, while Bloud and Treason are in the [...]houghts, and the very Devil and All in the Heart. Contrariwise, [...]he waters of a pure and wholsom [Page 76] Fountain may receive some othe [...] kind of tincture from the Chana [...] they pass through, and thus to often Holy thoughts springin [...] from an Heavenly heart, ma [...] seem lost as it were in the croud o [...] worldly occasions, temptat [...] ons and perturbations.Ger: 24:63 Thu [...] Isaack went out to MEDITATE i [...] the Field in the evening tide, an [...] behold the Camels. 'Tis not sai [...] he went out to meet the Camels and some good thought dropt in, (a a good Thought may now an [...] then fall in a wicked mans way as the Angel in Balaams.) But h [...] went out to meditate, and th [...] Camels fell in.Verse 65 Rebeckah, sh [...] thought (as she said) he came t [...] meet her; God eyes the hearts first setting out: but the Lord saith h [...] went out to meet God. God wil [...] take notice whether our heart [...] set rightly out with him,Jerem: 2:2 though [...] after in the journey we may fo [...] some season loose our way. Thu [...] saith the Lord, I remember thee [Page 77] [...]e kindness of thy youth, the love [...] thine Espousals, when thou went­ [...]st after me, &c.Psal: 110: [...] Christ hath a [...]ew of youth in a gracious heart, as [...]ell as Holy Church, and this Di­ [...]ine and pearly dew of pretious [...]houghts is fairest when freshest, as [...]rom the Womb of the morning. Coin fairest out of the Mint-house Gods Coin is brightest when it [...]irst comes out of the Mint-house [...]f mans heart (for such is mans Mind, a Mint house for thoughts) when it passeth farther, it comes [...]o be discoloured, to contract [...]lackness, especially by lying for [...]ome time in the Earth, and so [...]ometimes to grow suspicable to others, perhaps hardly discernable [...]o our selves, without much rub­ [...]ing, &c. Repentance and Re­ [...]ormation; yet if it were right for mettal and stamp at its first set­ [...]ing out, when we our selves dare hardly trust it, yet God (that knows its Original) will own it. [Page 78] It is said of the King of Asa tha [...] his heart was perfect all his days, 2 Chr: 15:17 perfect with the Lord, yet the poo [...] man took many a wrong an [...] wretched step, [...] Kin: 15:14 for a man of a righ [...] heart; yea how was Gods stam [...] sometimes, as it were, worne off; little left of his Image or Super-scription to be seen: for beside that the high places were not removed, which was a blot upon his Government; In the business o [...] Baasha, 2 Chron: 16: Ver: 8:19 he relyed on the King of Sy­ria, and relyed not on the Lord his God; And when he (that had eminent experience of God in the business of the Ethiopians and Lu­bims) had done thus foolishly, Verse 10 and Hanani the Seer had reproved him faithfully, he was wroth, yea in a rage with him, and put him in Prison: and oppressed some of the people at the same time; nay in the very evening of his days, and to­wards his very Exit, Verse 13 'tis said, that [Page 79] i [...] his Disease he sought not to the [...]ord, but to the Physitians; yet here was something found at bot­ [...]om notwithstanding all this. Contrariwise,2 Cht, 25, 2 Amazia did that [...]hich was right in the sight of the [...]ord, but (saith God) not with a [...]erfect heart. Like some counter­ [...]eit pieces now abroad that being [...]ased or plated over with Silver, are [...]bserved to have fewer cracks and laws in the Edges, perhaps than the Kings own Coin, and yet they are [...]ut Copper hearted.

The gratious soul is the Spouse of Christ,Cant: 6:8 who as she is attended with a number of Holy and Roy­ [...]l affections as so many Queens, so [...]lso with pure thoughts, as with Virgins without number; And our Heavenly Solomon eyes them most [...]hat wait next and immediatly, as [...]t were, upon his Queens person, [...]ow our thoughts as you have [...]eard, they lie next to our hearts.

Sect XIII.

Fifthly,

God judges as man can­not, there­fore by the thoughts:IT cannot but be granted, th [...] God judgeth as man cannot We look at each others outside and oftentimes are not deceived for ordinarily the abundance of t [...] heart will break out either som [...] time or other,Luke 6:45 by the tongu [...] clinking what the heart thinks, (a the Proverb hath it,) or som [...] way or other, so that the war observer may come to discern th [...] Potsheard, Pro: 26:23 notwithstanding th [...] covering of Silver dross: oft-time I say,1 Sam: 16:7 but not always, That's God Prerogative; for the Lord sect not as man seeth, How then? fo [...] man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on th [...] heart. Wee hear mens words, H [...] seeth their thoughts, Pro: 24:12 we weigh thei [...] Actions and Appearances, the Lor [...] ponders their hearts, chap: 16, 2 and weighet [...] their spirits (as the wise ma [...] speaks.

In the Levitical Law the Swan was pronounced unclean, Lev. 11.18 God judges most by what is in-most a Bird whose Feathers are exceeding white, but her Skin black. God judgeth most by what is In-most. God can easily discern the trans­formed Devil, 2 Cor 11 14 under the Angel of Light; the rotteness within, through the whited Tombe, Mat. 23, 27. and painted Sepulchre. We unto you Hypocrites, saith Christ,Verse 25 for ye make clean tho outside of the Cup and of the Platter, Verse 28 but within they are full of Extortion and Excess; Even so ye also appear outwardly righteous unto men, but within ye are full of Hypocrisy and Iniquity. Oh what horrid spectacles were [...]he most of men, even of many [...]hat desire to make a fair shew in the [...]lesh, as the Apostle speaks,Galat. 6, 1 [...] if [...]heir Insides were but turned out­side; But alas! They are all out­side to him that is All eye.

Sect. XIV.

Conscience Gods Depu­ty judgeth by our Tho­ughts Rom. 2, 13LAstly; That God sentence­eth and Dooms us by our Thoughts, is hereby evident, in that Conscience, that is, God [...] Vicegerent in mans breast, doth so which shew the work of the Law written in their hearts, their Con­science bearing witness, and their Thoughts the mean while accusing, or excusing one another: Verse 16 it follows, In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Iesus Christ ac­cording to my Gospel; God, and Christ, and the Gospel, they will judge men by their consciences and their Consciences they wil [...] judge them by their Thoughts i [...] the great day; Iudge we there­fore our selves now, as then w [...] must be judged.

CHAP. V. Discovers what those Right Thoughts are, that are the Righ­teous mans Evidence: and how to be known.

Sect. I.

BUt alas!Objection may some one say, Is not Mans heart a great deep, Psal, 64, 6 and desperately wicked, Jer. 17, [...] and deceipt­ful above all things? I am affraid of Judging my self by my Thoughts of my self, least I should Mis­judge of my self, finding my self so apt to think amiss; doth not the Apostle speak of some that measuring themselves by themselves are not, wise. 2 Co. 10, 12 There is so much Pride, Partiality, and Self-love, [Page 84] that almost every way of man will seem clean and right in his own eys, Prov. 16, 2 if his own Thoughts may but be his Iudges. and 21, 2

Solution Not what Thoughts we have of our selves, but in our selves,Why all this is true; yet all that hath been said before true al­so, We never said that every mans Case is, as his thoughts are of him­self, but yet by his thoughts that are In himself, he may come to discover his own state. For if a man Think himself to be something, (saith the Apostle) when he is no­thing, Gal. 6 3.4 he deceiveth himself. But yet let every man prove his own works and then he shall have rejoicing In himself alone, and not in ano­ther. This he speaks in respect of Sincerity, not of Righteousness, or Justification in the fight of God, for of the latter he saith we rejoyce onely in Iesus, and have no other Confidence; Philip. 3.3 But as to the former,2 Cor. 2, 12 this is our rejoycing, even the testimony of our Conscience, that [Page 85] in simplicity and godly sincerity, &c. so also he that believes on the son of God, hath the witness In himself.1 John 5, 10

Nay in as much as the Apostle condemns him for a self deceiver, who is in some respect the worst kind of deceiver (as self Murther is the worst kind of Murther, that thinks himself to be something when he is nothing; even this makes it evident, that his high thoughts of himself were evidences against himself, had he but right­ly considered them.

Sect. II.

VVHereas, Reader,Self suspiti­on a better sign than high thou­ghts of our selves on the other hand if thou be but honest in what [...]hou pretendest, and not Hypo­ [...]ritically humble tongued, as many men are, when thou complainest [...]f thy self, and declarest thy jea­ [...]ous thoughts that thou hast of [Page 86] thine own heart; Here is some­thing like a token for good; For even right jealousy falls much in with that Carefulness, Indignation; Fear, Cor. 7, 1 &c. that were approved signes of goldy sincerity. But and if it be thus with thee, right glad­ly wilt thou go along with me in the following particulers, and say as David, Psalm 139 1, 2, 23 O Lord thou hast searched me, and known me, and thou understandest my thoughts afar off; and yet again, search me O God, and know my heart, try me and know my thoughts; Search me, O search me, thou blessed word of God, that canst not lie; Thou Messenger of Christ that darest not flatter me, O try me and know my Thoughts. Thou wilt receive God spies with peace (as Rahab did) yea wilt willingly lend me the Candle of thine own Conscience to hold to thee,Hebr, 11, 31 Lend Gods servants the Lords can­dle. whilst we are together searching [Page 87] the secrets of thy own soul; for the spirit of man is the Candle of the Lord searching all the inward parts of the belly. Pro: 20.27 Conscience to search thee by: And the reason why so many Hearers and Readers of the most searching Books and Sermons, are yet ignorant of, or mistaken in themselves, is be­cause they deny the Lords servants the Lords Candle to do his work by.

I. Tryal of Right Thoughts.

Sect. I.

First,

THen let us begin with thy Thoughts in their Original,1 Tryal ofthoughts is by their ori­ginal. Good thou­ghts grow not in an e­vil heart: and so judge the streams, as near as we can to the Fountain head. Wouldest thou approve thy thoughts to be right Thoughts, such as indeed are the Righteous mans Evidence, let me ask thee plainly how thou camest to thy Thoughts? have they their Rise [Page 88] in thy self?Luke 24, 38 (why do Thoughts arise in your hearts?) then know they are but Carnal at best, for all that is born of flesh is flesh. John 3, 6 The heart I know is a Vine that is al­ways bearing, a Fountain that is ever springing up: and Thoughts are called the Fruit of the heart, as we saw before,Isaia. 10.12 & (as it were) the streams of the Heart, they pro­ceed from it, Matt, 15.19 saith Christ; but saith he,Matth 7.18 a corrupt tree cannot bring forth good fruit, not a Fountain yield, James 3 12 saith the Apostle Iames, salt water and fresh. Now every na­tural heart is a corrupt tree, a Vine of Sodom, and therefore its Crouds of thoughts naturally are but the Clusters of Gomorrah,Deu: 32 32 a troubled Spring or Sea rather, that cannot rest, but is ever casting up mire and dirt. Isaia 57.20 Amongst all the Unbelievers in the world, there is not one pure mind, therefore not one pure thought; Thus 1, 15 for who can [Page 89] bring a clean thing out of an unclean? Job 14 4 'Tis a vain and ignorant boasting that I have observed in some, that have thanked God that they were never troubled with evil thoughts in all their days: sayest thou so? then I dare tell thee that thou ne­ver yet wast owner of one good one, [...]uch as God will own and accept for such: That they think no body [...]ny hurt, who never truly [...]hought themselves or others any good: surely there are none great­er strangers to good thoughts, than [...]uch as brag most of their good meanings, nay that can tell you [...]hey hope to saved by them. And [...]ow came they by them? why, [...]hey thank God▪ they have had [...]hem ever since they can remember, God forbid else. They have as [...]ood hearts to God, and think as well [...]f Iesus Christ as the best of them, [...]hough they cannot speak so well. Yet do but ask these of the New-birth, [Page 90] and you are unto them as a Barbarian, and speak as it were in an unknown tongue, (as our Sa­viour to Nicodemus,) and shall onely receive a frump or a frown for your freedom;Jam, 3, 3, 4 what do you think they stand in need to be Cate­chized? if you do, they thank you, they do not think so meanly of themselves, and this is one of their good thoughts.

Sect. II.

No suffici­ency in our selves, for one right thought,BUt let me plead with thee, O man, thou that findest good Thoughts, as free as the Rode and as Common and easy as the high-way: Art thou greater th [...] the Apostle Paul, he saith expre [...] ly, that we are not sufficient of ou [...] selves to Think any thing of O [...] selves. Therefore we must b [...] taken off of Our selves before w [...] can possibly Think one Rig [...] [Page 91] [...]hought. But our sufficiency (saith [...]he Text) is of God. As we can­ [...]ot think at all Physically, not ex­ [...]rt one motion of the Mind in Thought, but by a sufficiency of God, working by Nature: so much less can we think Morally, 2 Cor, 3.5 Amongst all unbelievers not one pure thou­ght Thoughts good in a spiritual no­tion, in the account of God, but by his own sufficiency working by Grace. To the unbelieving, (saith the same Apostle,) there is nothing pure, but even their very Mind is defiled; And if their Mind drop its uncleaness and defilement upon all about it, Titus 1.15 surely much more upon the thoughts, that lie next unto it Some men think their thoughts are certainly good, Reason why their thou­ghts trouble them not. be­cause they never trouble them. They do not complain of blasphe­mous thoughts, and horrid injections as many do; And alas! the onely Reason why the thoughts, the Treasures of their Hearts, their [Page 92] goods are in peace, Luk. 11, 21 is because the strong Man Arm'd keeps the Palace, the Devil is Lord and Master there. But if ever that stronger one than he, Verse 22 the Lord Iesus Christ, (by the weapons of that warfare tha [...] are spiritual and mighty through God, 2 Cor. 10, 5) had come and prevailed upon thee, 'tis strange if all would have continued so quiet it thee; thou wouldest likely have seen troubles, and heard amazing noises in thy own Soul, for there would have been the pulling down of strong holds, and this would have awakened thee sure to pur­pose, and raised Commotions in thy Thoughts; for the very First motions of Grace, as I said before, and stirs, would have appeared there. The casting down of some, the bringing in others into captivity to the obedience of Christ, who is set as for the rising and falling of many in Israel, Luke 2, 24 so in the soul; the [Page 93] [...]houghts that thou wert best ac­ [...]ainted and pleased with, must [...]ave come tumbling down; and [...]e thoughts, whose faces thou [...]ver sawest before, would have sen up in their room, own [...]oughts must have been un­ [...]oughts, Old thoughts amongst [...]her things, must have past away, 2 Cor. 5.27 [...]d all things must have become new. [...]t the unrighteous forsake his [...]oughts, His Thoughts, that is,Isaiah 55 7 [...]houghts growing in corrupt na­ [...]es Garden, for Regeneration is [...]pecially called, a Renewing in [...] spirit of the Mind. Ephes. 4, 23 Search the [...]riptures, and if things be not [...]s, then blame me, and think as [...]l as ever thou didst of thy self, [...]d as ill as ever thou canst of the [...]thor, for giving thy calm and [...]et thoughts any needless trou­ [...]; But alas Reader! be not [...]eived, God is not mocked; Gal. 6, 7, 8 but if [...]an think himself to be something [Page 90] when he is nothing, he deceives him­self. Let me tell thee, thy think­ing well of thy own thoughts, will no more make them good, than thy thinking thy self such, will make God to think thee so. And ye [...] believe it I beseech thee, O Rea­der, that my end and design in all this is not to disturb but to direc [...] thee. The Apostle delighted no [...] in making the Corinthians sorry but that they sorr [...]wed after a godl [...] sort. 2 Cor. 7 9 It is no pleasure to me, to think that thy thoughts are wrong but desirous I am to set them right and to help thee how to judg [...] rightly of them, and of thy self b [...] them.

Sect. III.

Seing grace first stirres in thoughtsSEeing then, Reader, that [...] are now at the very root of [...] matter, and have tould th [...] once and again that the grace [Page 95] God first stirs in the Thoughts. Give me leave to lay before thee plain Scheme and Map of such Thoughts as Divine Grace, doth [...]sually work in true Penitents, of [...]uch Right Thoughts, as it doth [...]rst give in to those whom it will [...]ccept, and own as Righteous per­ [...]ons. And herein that I may the [...]ore distinctly proceed, I shall [...]remise something, (First,) Con­ [...]erning the Season and Occasion, [...]nd the Method, (Secondly,Premssed a two things, occasion & method of Gods work­ing them) Of Gods working such Thoughts as [...]hese in the Heart and Mind of [...]an. In all which if thou wilt [...]o along with me, I trust thou [...]ilt find both Scripture Evidence [...]nd Christian Experience to bear [...]hee Company.

Sect. IV.

Gods usual season to bring siners to Right thoughts (such as for mad men to right minds)FOr the Season that God take to bring Sinners to Righ [...] Thoughts, 'tis such as the Pa [...] sitian takes, to bring mad men t [...] Right Minds, (for even this gre [...] and Inward Change in Scriptu [...] is called [...], a coming [...] our Right minds, Acts 3, 31 Repentance a comming to, Right minds. so the word si [...] nifyes) when they have them u [...] der Chains, and in the dark. they be held in Cords of Afflictio [...] and bound in fetters; THEN sheweth them their work, &c. [...] openeth their ear to Discipline, & For God speaketh once, Job 3 68 yea twice, y [...] man perceiveth it not; But in­vision of the night, (when he is ch [...] stened with pain upon his bed, Verse 9, 10 as there follows,Job 33.14 15 &c.) then he ope [...] eth the ears of men, and sealeth th [...] instruction. Verse 19 In the day of adversi [...] saith God,Verse 16 Consider, when t [...] [Page 97] [...]atriarchs were reduced to a sore [...]rait, then they are brought to [...]hink seriously of their Sin against [...]heir Brother Ioseph;Eccle. 7 [...]8 And 'twas [...]e that brought them into it, for [...]hat very end; so doth our hea­ [...]enly Ioseph, Iesus Christ,Gen. 42.81 often [...]o for the very same purpose; [...]e sends troubles oft times on the [...]utward, for the reducing of the [...]ner man; and straitens the Gar­ [...]son, that he may take it in.1 Kin. 8 47. [...]he Israelites by their Captivity [...]ust be taught to Bethink them­ [...]lves,Luke. 15. [...]7. and so the Prodigal by his [...]amine. Or however, when the [...]ighty God takes the weapons of [...]e spiritual warfar into his own and, and hews men by his Prophets [...]d slays them by the words of his [...]outh, Hosea 6, 5 and his Iudgements are as [...]e light that came upon Saul (in [...]s full earear) and struck him the ground, Acts 9, 5 and a voice from [...]eaven with it, that strikes him [Page 98] to the heart; Verse 4, 5 Soul, soul, what dost thou mean by this hardening thy Heart against Heaven, and setting thy self against God? Are thy heels harder than his pricks? canst thou dwell with everlasting burn­ings? Rom. 7 9 The Commandment comes, Sin revives, the false conceit­ed Righteous person is struck dead (I dyed, saith Paul) knows not what to think, who art tho [...] Lord? nor what to do, Lord wha [...] wouldest thou have me to do? Acts 9, 5 such I say, is the season and occasion that God takes for reducing sin­ners to Right Thoughts.Verse 6

Grace not to be limit­ed,I know indeed that Grace is a Soveraign agent, and works as i [...] will: sometimes It slips the Loc [...] of the heart, Acts 16, 15 as Lydia's, with littl [...] noise, and so makes room fo [...] Right Thoughts there.Sometimes slips the lock of the heart with little noise It may may possibly steal into the heart if I may s y so, like Iosephs cup int [...] Benjamins sack, And he, tha [...] [Page 99] h [...]th i [...], wonders when, or how, I [...] first came thither. All women that do well too, have not the same troubles and pains in Child-bearing, that the most have; And so it is also in the new birth. And if thou be one that canst say indeed, that there is a Change in thee from what thou wast by Na­ture, one thing thou knowest that whereas thou wast born blind, now thou seest, John 9 25 (as the man in the Go­spel,) The grace of God hath brought thee to thy right sight, a Right mind, Right thoughts; but by what Sickness, Sermon, Canst thou say I was born blind but God has brought me to Right sight, mind, & thoughts with less ado Affliction, Conviction, it began with thee, thou canst not say; which is the case of some (especi­ally some such that have been all their lives, much under the pow­er of the restraining Grace of God,Bless God for the thing Repine not at the man­ner. and of a strict and holy education) let me exhort thee rather to mag­nify that Grace that hath appeared [Page 100] to thee, and (taught thee to deny un­godliness, &c.) then to repine be­cause thou dost not know, or by what means and gradations, the work of God hath grown up in thy heart, or to deny what God hath done for thy Soul. Gen. 44.13 But yet withal this I must adde, that as it is observed that the comming of the Cup into the Sack, in an un­known way, left them in the more trouble and perturbations after­wards, though it came from a friendly hand; And those women that have less fore-pains, then others, have many times greater After-paines, (as they call th [...]m) So they that have less signal Spiritual troubles pre­ceding their conversion, and have known least of the terrours of the Lord, 2 Cor: 5, 11 are by so much the more full of Anxiety many times al­most all their days, full of doubt­ful thoughts whether they were [Page 101] ever savingly wrough [...] upon, be­cause not wrought upon as such, and such; Haunted, many times with Hideous thoughts, and Tem­ptations to Atheism, Blasphemy. &c. which m [...]ke them even weary of life, and afraid of death, and yet may be very pretious in the sight of God, and dear to Iesus Christ.

Sect. V.

ANd as Gods usual Season is the time of trouble, of spi­ritual trouble, to bring men to Right Thoughts: To remem­ber God, to Consider the days of old, Psal: 77, 2▪ [...] Verse 16 to commune with their own hearts, to make dilige [...]t search into their own spirits, to take notice of their Infirmities, to Remember the years of the right hand of the most High; Verse 10 to Remember the works of the Lord, Verse 11 and to meditate of his doings, &c. [Page 102] (All which is Right-Thought-work, and which the Psalmist was set upon in the day of his Trouble. Psal: 77:2) So the Method that God ordinarily useth,Gods ordi­nary method to bring to right thou­ghts by set­ting home some parti­culer sin. Is, to bring to their thou­ghts some one particular S n, and to present it to their Souls view in all its ugly shape and monstrous deformity, with its heightening circumstances, and hellish horrour, that, like the tail of a Prodigious Comet, it draws after it; now as Ghosts are most terrible and con­founding when they appear in the Dark, so is Sin when it stares a man in the face in his time of trou­ble. Thus the Patriarchs were struck with the apaling thought of their savage cruelty to their inno­cent Brother when themselves were in Distress; Gen. 42.21 no doubt, they had other Sins to trouble them, but this first flew in their face. Saul, with the thought of his furi­ous persecuting of Jesus.Acts 9 4 Thus [Page 103] some for telling a known Lie, o­thers for some Theft, or known Fraud, others for pro [...]haning the Lords-Day, others for some pro­phane Oath, others for Disobedi­ence to Parents, And some, though few, like Mary Magdelene, for the foul fin that brings a wound and a dishonour, Prov: 6.33 and a reproach that is hardly wiped away. So that as men ordinarily single out some one special Sin to set their heart upon, though they entertain and pra­ctice all the rest, so God singles out some special Sin to fix their thoughts upon, Roma. 7 8 with 24, and thereby to bring them in due time to sight and sense of the whole Body of Death; nay sometimes when men (by a blameless appearance, and moral conversation) have got the good thoughts of other men, and their own much more, trusting (as Christ speaks) in themselves, Heb 3.1 Luke 18 6 that they are righteous, God suffers [Page 104] them to fall into some gross act of Sin,God some­times suffers civil men to fall into some foul act [...]o dis­ver to them the Plague of the heart perhaps Drunkeness, per­haps making a mock at Godliness to please vile company, perhaps Perjury, or some other palpable act of wickedness, that by such a rising in the flesh, he may bring them to know, and to bethink themselves of the Plague of the heart that Scripture speaks of.1 Kin. 8.38

Indeed I have sometimes ob­served,Sometimes thoughts ar in an up­roar, trou­bled, and distinctcaus not known: some persons troubled with a strange unusual throng and croud of Thoughts, Sermons troubled them, and Sins troubled them, but their Thoughts were like that confused concourse in the Acts, of which no distinct ac­count could be given, and the As­sembly knew not why they were come together. Acts 19.32 Verse 40 Yet God sometimes out of this chaos draws a new Crea­tion. As in Gen, And as such a croud of thoughts have been thus in an up­roar for some space of time, and they knew not distinctly why, so a little time hath brought it to [Page 105] they know not what, nothing for good hath come of it. And yet sometimes the Allwise and powerful grace of God, even out of such a Chaos of confusion,Reduceth thoughts to proper pla­ces and things to order. is pleased to draw a New Creation, reducing things to their proper places, and thoughts to their right order.

Sect. VI.

BUt Generally,Reve. 3.20: when Grace first knocks at the door of the heart,Pro 18.14 and finds the Sinner in distress,Acts [...]:37 wounded in Spirit that he cannot bear it,Psal. 38.4 prickt at the very heart, (the pressing sense of Sin lies upon him, and goes over him as a burthen too heavy for him;) [...]t brings him to speak within him­self; Or,the Scheme of a Con­verts first thought. Lamen. 3 1 (which is all one) to Think thus, or to this effect;

I am the man that have seen Affliction by the R [...]d of his anger; and now I stand here a miserable [Page 106] Malefactour before the Lord, who perfectly knows all my secrets, and infinitely hates all my Sins: My Conscience hales me to his Barre, for my sin ha [...] found me out, Num▪ 32:23 Gen 42:21 And I am veri [...] guilty concerning this thing should I then either hide my sin or harden my self against God who ever did either of these,Pro: 28:3 Job 9.4 an [...] prospered? This then is my proper station, though my feet l [...] hurt with fetters, and the Iro [...] enters into my very Soul, thoug [...] the chain of Gods Indignatio [...] be heavy upon me, Isica [...] ▪ 7, 9 yet I must bea [...] it, because (it is my own chain [...] I have sinned against him. Excus [...] my sin. Alas! I cannot; I kne [...] my Masters will, and knew it t [...] be Holy, Luk. 12:47 Rom. 7.12 Malac, 1, 6 Iust, and Good, and di [...] it not; I call'd him Lord, ye [...] fear'd him not; I knew he for [...] bad the thing I did, yet did it; I knew he looked on me [Page 107] [...]nd yet I did it; I knew he would call me to an account for it, [...]nd yet I did it. Accuse my Ma­ster, Alas! I dare not; No no,Ja. 1.13:14 He tempted me not, but I was drawn away of my own lust and en­ticed, my own lust, I may call [...]t so, as much as I may call my Heart my own; an Heart so vile, but yet my own; such a Fountain of Poyson, such a Cage of every unclean and hateful Bird; an heart, nay an Hell; yea and worse to me then all the Devils there, I should bely them, as bad as they be, should I say otherwise; an heart so desperately wicked, Jerem: 17.9 that if all the men of the world had told me that I had had such a heart, or should have done such a thing, I should with disdain have replyed (with Hazael) am I a dog? or a Devil?2 Kin, 8:13 that I should do such a thing; Nay, when Gods own word told me, [Page 108] till this cursed Sin told it me, could not have thought that carryed such a heart about m [...] Is this the heart I so long trusted? that I so often excused that I so much applauded? I this the honest, the good heart the heart full of good meanings the heart that thought no harm O mistery of iniquity! O H [...] of Hypocrisy! and unsearchable depth of deceipt! Well deep as thou art, God hath no [...] searched out thy deep things, O m [...] Soul! and now my Sin is eve [...] before me, Psalm 51, 3 and my punishmen [...] is following hard after me, S [...] lies at my door; My fatal moment is set, Gen 4 7 that I cannot pass it and yet secret, Job 14, 5 that I canno [...] know it, whether in the evening, Mal. 24:42 or at midnight, or at coc [...] crowing; Mar. 13 35 onely this I know that after death (come it wh [...] it will) comes Iudgement; Hebr. 9.27 Iudg­ment [Page 109] unavoidable, before a Iudge impa [...]tial and unexorable; The Crime naked;Hebr: 4.13 The Prisoner speechless; The Sentence speedy, The Executi [...]n certain; The Tor­ment intole [...]able,Mat. 22.12 yet must be born; without any ease, yet without all end; through mil­lions of millions of ages;Mar, 18:13 nay without help or hope of help to all Eternity; And this not a Phantasie, but a greater reality. [...]hen what I see with my out­ward eyes; nor a forrain con­ [...]ernment, but thy own case, O [...]y own Soul!

Sect. VII.

VNder such doleful thoughts as these, the pensive Sin­ners Life (for some part of more or less, even as it pleaseth [...]od) is spent with Grief; Psal. 31.1 [...] as Da­ [...]s, yea sometimes whole years [Page 110] with sighing, so that his very strength faileth because of his Ini­quity, and his very bones are con­sumed. But then the working thoughts do not thus leave the spiritual mourner, But in such lik [...] sort as this they do proceed.

Alas then! What shall do? Shall I think of giving m [...] overwhelmed Spirit, my akin [...] Heart some present ease b [...] breaking away from Gods Ba [...] But whither, O whither shall I g [...] shall I fly out again to my curse [...] courses, and riotous company? O [...] these have been my Bane alre [...] dy, and me thinks I still see u [...] on the wall, Daniel 5, 5 over against the pl [...] where I too lately sate among them, the Fingers of a mans ha [...] writing and drawing up a bloo [...] Indictment against me, I reme [...] ber the Wormwood and the Ga [...] the Dart, [...]am. 3, 19 that then and th [...] [Page 111] struck through my Liver, Prov, 7, 23 and the wound that hath been festring e­ver since because of my foolishness. Psal, [...]8, 5 Shall I turn me then to the harm­less creatures, and beg of them some relief? Alas! my Sins have engraven vanity there, with a pen of Iron, yea,Eccles. [...] 11 Vexation of Spirit, with the very point of a Diamond. Shall they ease my Servitude and cruel Bondage, who have wearyed them with mine Iniquities, Isaia [...]. [...] and made them serve with my Sins, yea, and God in them? shall they help my groaning, who have made them all groan under the bondage of my corruption? No, no,Rom. 8 21 and 22 If I say my bed shall comfort me, Job. 7.13, 14 or my Couch ease my complaint, then am I scar­red with visions, and terrifyed through dreams. Sometimes I forget, Psal. 102, 4 sometimes I fear to eat my bread, least the Morsel should prove a Messenger of Death to me, [Page 112] and hasten me away to the place from whence I shall not return. Sometimes God holdeth mine ey waking that I cannot sleep; Psalm 77 4 and sometimes I dare not, least I should awake no more, till Fire and Brimstone are about mine eares. In vain then do I think of running away from God, for whither shall I flee from his presence? Psal. 139 7 Shall I think then of fleeing to him, and of bowing the knee be­fore him? Alas! He is a consuming Fire, Heb. 12 29 and the Mountains smoak, and the Hills flow down at his pre­sence. Isaia 63, 3 Yet have I heard that the God of Israel is a merciful God, I will put a Rope upon my head, 1 Kin. 20.31 and make my Supplication to my Iudge. But Alas! wherewithal shall I come before him, Job 9 15 and bow my knee to the most High? Mic. 6, 6, 7 Shall I think of Pilgrimages or Penan­ces, of coming before him with burnt Offerings? to give him, If [Page 113] I had them, thousands of Rams, or ten thousands of Rivers of Oyl? or my first born for my transgres­sion, or the fruit of my body for the sin of my Soul? Psal. 9 50 Will he take any Bullock out of my House, or Hee Goats out of my Fold? No, no,Deut. 4.24 He is a Iealous God, and Iealously regards not any Ransom, Prov: 6.35 or many Gifts; He will by no means clear him that is guilty, Exod. 34 7 and I dare not plead Not Guilty, though I die for it. Shall I think then of stretching out my hand in the way of some Legal Righteousness and self-wrought Reformation, to take hold of the Tree of Life, Gen. 3:22 and 24 now that I have eaten of the for­bidden Tree? Alas! behold Che­rubims with a Flaming Sword, blocking up the way of the Co­venant of Works, Gal: 2:16 so that by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justifyed. Alas! my Sighs for Sin, are an Impure vapour; and [Page 114] my Tears for Sin, need washing! my Righteousnesses are filthy rags, and like the cloaths of a removed Woman; Isaia, 64, 6 If I should justify my self, Job 9, 20 my own mouth would con­demn me, and prove me perverse; And I have too long already ad­ded this sin of perverse Rebellion to my other wretchedness, that I have gone about to establish my own Righteousness, Rom, 10, 3 and have not submitted to the Righteousness of God.

But yet O thou pure God, hast not thou said that there is For­giveness with thee, Psa. 130.4 that thou may­est be feared? Is there no Balm in thy Gilead?Jer. 8, 22 is there no Physician there? But this very day there was a Messenger of thine with me,John 4.29 of a truth he was none but thine, for he told all that was in my heart, is not this the Interpre­ter? Job 33 23 the one of a thousand? He told me withal from thy own [Page 115] mouth, that though I could not, yet thou hadst found a Ran­som, and given a Name, Job 33.24 though but One under Heaven whereby men might be saved; Acts 4. [...]2 Who came not to call the Righteous, Matt. 9.13 and 18, 11 but Sinners to Repentance; to seek and to save that which was lost; That help was laid upon him, and that he is mighty, Psal. 19, 19 Hebr. 7, 25 even able to save to the utmost. That therefore there was hope in Israel concerning my soul, a possibility, nay a probability, nay a Certainty that if I would agree quickly even while I am in the way, Matt. 5 25 acquaint now my self with God, I should be at peace: Job 22, 21 That thou art not onely Reconcileable, but in Christ reconciling the world to thy self; 2 Cor. 5, 19 Verse 20 And therefore as though thou wert beseeching me by Him (thine Ambassadour) He did pray me in Christs stead, that I would be reconciled to God; And O my Soul was moved [Page 116] within me at that word; shall the Iudge, thought I (as it were) petition? and not I, the Offender entertain the motion? nay catch at the words (as Benhadads ser­vants, [...] Kin. 20.23) and put my mouth in the aust [...]f there may be hope. Lam. 3, 29

But then withal he told me, That Christ must be Lord as well as Iesus; Zach. 6.13 a Priest indeed, but a Priest upon his throne; Rom. 3, 27 That Faith was not Libertinisme, but a Law, Mat 13 45 and 46 and 19.21 That all must be sold, and not a farthing would be abated, if I would buy the Pearl of great price; chap 36, 24 That there was a dear self to be denyed; A daily Cross to be taken up, A Crucifyed lead­er to be followed, Hebr. 3, 15 and 10.30 a severe example to be imitated; No time to be delayed before I began, (to day if I would hear his voice, &c.) nor looking back (with Lots Wife)Luke 17 32 to be endured, after I had once be­gun. Wherefore he charged me [Page 117] in thy Name, before I went far­ther, to sit down, Luke 19, 28 and consider the Cost.

But O the consternation that this new Thought breeds in my perplexed Spirit! I had almost said in my heart, like Agag, Isa. 15 3 [...] the bitterness of death is over; Alas! my Sea sick soul would fain have been at shore any way, though she ventured a drowning for it; But now I see there is no reme­dy but I must out again into the tempestuous Ocean. But O the unexpressible torment of a divi­ded distracted mind! Alas the contrary struglings in my poor soul,Gen. 2 [...].22 as if there were two Nations there! One throng of Thoughts breaks in Impetuously, did not we tell thee from the very first,Isai. 57.10 silly soul,Luke 19 21 that there is no hope in God for thee? we knew that he was an austere Lord whatever o­thers might tell thee, that his [Page 118] sayings were hard, so that none could bear them; And shouldst thou set out, thou couldst never hold out, and so thy last end would would be worse than thy beginning; John 6, 60 2 Pet. 2.20 21 And now thou mayest find our words true; Come, come, there is no hope, Jerem. 2.25 no: but we will throw up all, Let us eat and drink, for to morrow we must die: Isai. 22, 13 did not we tell thee that these Micajahs though, at first, they might seem to sooth thee in some flat­tering hopes,1 Kin. 22, 8 yet would never prophesy good concerning thee?

But let not thy heart say so, saith a contrary thought, And so flies (with indignation) in the face of the former, And behold a Troop cometh after it, which when it hath forc't them to give some ground, This new Troop seiz­eth upon mine heart, and speaks thus to it.

Sect. VIII.

VNgrateful sinner,Rom. 5.8 is this thy kindness to thy friend (that herein commendeth his love to thee in that whilst thou wert an ene­my he dyed for thee) that thou art still listening to the cursed Off-spring of that old and evil heart of unbelief that ever was,Hebr. [...] 1. and ever will be, for departing from the living God? who, had he had a mind to destroy thee, might have done it,Judg. 13, 2. and never had shewn thee such things as these. He took upon himself the form of a servant; And he still waiteth, Phil. 2, 7 that he may be gracious; Isai, 30, 18 He stretcht forth his arms, to open thee a way to his Bosome love, upon the Cross; Isaia. 65, [...] and he stretcheth out his hands again to thee, in the Preaching of the word. It hath been said Ask, and have; 'tis now, Take, Matt. 26, 26 and have; Take, eat, this is my body [Page 120] broken for thee: Rev. 3, 20 Salvation knocks, 'tis but thy opening and the work is done.

A work indeed, saith the drooping soul; which before it be done, I am like for all this to be undone; 'tis but taking! but opening? a sad BUT, God knows, for me who am weak, and cannot: Vile, and dare not. Alas what have Dogs to do with Childrens bread? should I pre­sume,Mat: 25, 26 thinking to believe, and Blaspheme, thinking to pray; call Christ my Saviour,Revel: 2:9 and God my Father, and be rejected of both, O whither should I make my shame to go? No, no, had I an Hand fit to receive such a Guest, gladly would I go through Fire and Water to open the door to Jesus, and take him with ten thousand welcomes into my Soul.

And is it such presumption, [Page 121] saith a thought on the other hand, and such pride to be duti­ful and obedient (for this is Gods Commandment that thou believe on Iesus Christ) what pride,1 Joh 4:1 [...] what presumption then is it to be un­dutiful and disobedient? He that believeth not, the wrath of God a­bideth on him. And wilt thou needs be damned, that thou mayst have the credit of being modest, and going mannerly to Hell? Thou savest, depart from me, for I am a sinful man! Why,Luke 5, 8 he is the Physician, Matt: 9, 12 what should he do with thee, if thou wert not sick? chapt: 8, 8 Thou art not worthy Grace should come under thy Roof; neither would it be Grace if thou wert worthy, for if it were of works, (saith the Apostle) it were no more grace. Rom, 11, 6 But whilst thou speakest thy Fears and dis­mal dread of presumption, didst thou never hear of such a Sin [...] [Page 122] as despair? presumption indeed, were it so, might undo thee; but bold and blasphemous despair, (which thou thinkest modest and humble) labours to undo Iesus Christ. Other sins make work for Christ who came not to call the righ­teous but sinners to repentance; Matth. 9, 13 but black desperation shuts him out of work, chap. 13, 58 as 'tis said, he did not many works there, and 17, 20 (that is, in his own Countrey) because of their unbelief. And dost thou thus requite the Lord? foolish sin­ner, and unwise! as to spill the Wine of his precious bloud, in thy proud humility and Impudent Modesty (like water upon the ground,) and that for no other reason than this, that he offers it to thee that hast no money, Isaia: 55, 1 nor price: Job 15, 11 Must the Consolations of of God needs be small with thee, that thy modesty may be great? Thou hast no money, but hast [Page 123] [...]hou mind? thou hast no desert, [...]ut hast thou no desire? Christ [...]ath a healing hem in his gar­ [...]ent for thee,Matt, 9, 20 and 14, 36 be thy Issue never [...]o foul, so shameful,Mar: 5, 25 Verse 17 so invete­ [...]ate, If thy desires be creeping to­wards him, while that Issue of mine continues Running; Zach. 9, 11 Mar. [...] 27 Break [...]en, O prisoner of hope, through [...]he throng of all thy contradict­ [...]ng Thoughts, and steal at the [...]east one blessed touch, till thou [...]ind vertue going out of him. chapt: 9, 3 [...] Come, Come, The Spirit saith Come, and the Bride saith Come, [...]nd let him that heareth say come, And let him that is athirst come, [...]nd whosoever will, Rev. 22, 17 let him take [...]f the water of Life freely Now [...]e that thou refuse not him that [...]peaks from Heaven. Heb. 12, 25

But Alas thinks my Soul, [...]fter all this, I sadly fear, that [...]f Christ would indeed accept me, I should never be able to ac­cept [Page 124] Christ; I find now 'tis hard thing to be a Christian;Acts 26, 38 thought I had been almost per­suaded; Num: 13 28 [...]5, [...] but O the sons of Anak [...] The walled Towns in the way [...] the Cross! the Yoke! not a Lus [...] not a Thought, not a Word, n [...] a Look, in all the remainder [...] my life, but by Law? Alas who can bear it? I dread to beg [...] to draw, least I should dra [...] back, and better then I had nev [...] known the way of truth; Heb. 10 38 I kno [...] thy Soul hath no pleasure in such O Lord,Isai: 38, 4 I am now oppressed u [...] dertake for me! I would believ [...] my God, but cannot, help th [...] my unbelief! I would take thy yo [...] upon me, Mark 9, 24 but I dare not; for have been a Bullock unaccustom [...] to the Yoke, [...] [...]1:18 But turn thou me a [...] I shall be turned, and thou shalt [...] the Lord my God: I see, Lord, I must have my yoke which way soever I turn m [...] [Page 123] self; Sins and Satans I have too long born; And should I die un­der thine, I cannot bear the thought of going back to theirs; For I am sure to die, under theirs. I am indeed in a great straight; 2 Sam. [...] [...] let me now fall into the hand of the Lord for with the Lord there are mer­cyes, Pro: 12, [...] but as for Satan and Sin the mercyes of these are cruel.

Sect. IX.

CAst out then the She [...]e An­chor of thy hope O thou afflict­ed, tossed with tempest, Isaia. 54, [...] and not comforted; and cast [...]t O my soul, [...]s near as thou canst,Heb, 22, 19 into that within the Veil; If thou venture not on Jesus Christ, thou perish [...]st; And if thou dost, thou canst but perish; If he save thee alive, thou shalt live, 2 Kin: [...] And if he kill thee, thou canst but die;

There have been high and hain­ous [Page 126] and (in their own eyes) th [...] very chief of sinners, 1 Tim: 1, 15 washed, just [...] fyed, [...] Cor. 6, 1 [...] sanctifyed, in the name o [...] the Lord Iesus, and by the spirit [...] God, yea that have been set fort [...] even for a PATTERN to all th [...] should afterward believe on him who not onely ORDAINETH pe [...] for us, 1 Tim. 1, 16 Isai: 26:12 but also worketh all ou [...] Works in us; Wherefore [...] thou blessed Iesus, with fea [...] and with trembling, I cast an [...] roul my self upon thee, And [...] I perish, Hest: 4 16 I will perish at those fea [...] that were therefore pierced, tha [...] whilst I put my fingers into th [...] print of the Nailes, John 20.27 the wea [...] hand of my Faith may have th [...] better hold.

Sect. X.

LO here the Restless Mind o [...] Man toucht with the Loa [...] stone of Divine Grace, trembling [Page 127] [...] wavering, seeking rest but finding [...]one till the thoughts fix upon the [...]tar out of Iacob,Mum 24 17 the Lord Iesus [...]hrist! Lo here the Heavenly [...]onduct of Divine light (newly [...]risen in the mind of man)Matth [...] [...] bring­ [...]g his Thoughts from a far coun­ [...]ey, and never leaving them till [...] leave them in the very place [...]here the Holy Child lies, Verse 9 The [...]weet bosom of the Fathers love. [...]o here the Celestial Call, Isaiah 4 [...] [...] raising [...] the Righteous man from the East [...]is Native Countrey, or (if you [...]ill) natural condition) And [...]inging him to Gods foot, Acts 11 23 with full [...]rpose, Heb 11 19 and fixed Thought of [...]eart, (should opportunity of return­ [...]g into the old Countrey, The old [...]ate, The other Gods on the other [...]de of the Flood) serve never so [...]ir, yet) never by the Grace of [...]od, to return unto them more; [...]eaving to Christ for fear of [...]ving of him, or being left by [Page 128] him, Leaning on its beloved, th [...] it may not be lost any more in th [...] old Wilderness, Cant. 8 5 the perplexin [...] maze of its old unbelieving tho [...] ghts; fastening it self upon him that it may by no means be sh [...] ken off by him, with such me [...] tal speakings as these.

Ruth 2 14 Intreat me not to leave thee, to return from following aft [...] thee; neither say thou to m [...] let me go; Ah my Iesus, I wi [...] let all go, rather then let thee g [...] for I should let infinitely mo [...] than the Worlds All go, in lettin [...] thee go,Luke 9 25 I should loose my self loosing thee, and be cast awa [...] and that too in the very sight Harbour. No, no, my heart fixed, O Christ, my heart is fixe [...] whither thou goest I will go; b [...] to thy Crown, Ruth 2 16 17 or to thy Cros [...] and where thou lodgest I will lodg [...] be it a Paradise or a Prison: T [...] people shall be my people, (thoug [...] [Page 129] the world hate them.) And thy God shall be my God, (notwith­standing all the ungodliness that is in the world, and the world of ungodliness that is in my heart, where thou dyest I will die,Rom. 6 [...] and there will I be buryed;Verse 6 thy death shall mortify my members that are upon earth; My Lusts shall thy Cross kill, and thy Grave burie; Nay,Col. 3, 3. God forbid that death should part, but more closely, yea un­seperably, eternally unite thee and me, And so shall I ever be with the Lord.

And thus have you seen the re­turning Shulamite; Cant. 4:1 [...] and what will you see in the Shulamite, but as it were the company of two Armies? On the one hand the struglings of unbelief, on the other, the work of Faith with power, till at length the house of David grows stronger and stronger, 2 Thes. 1:1 [...] and the house [...] Saul grows weaker and weaker, [Page 130] Old thoughts pass away,Isai: 23 33 and new prevail,Gen. 32:2:28 the lame divides the spoil, the halting Iacob becomes a Prince with God, the mourner is comforted, the warfare accomplished, Isai. 40 1.2 the sin par­doned, Chap: 42, 3 the bruised reed lifts up its hanging head, the smoaking flax breaks out into a flame; In one word, In the multitude of the thoughts within, Gods comforts they delight the Soul. Psal. 94 19

And thus the soul falling into a place where, all this while, two contrary Seas have met, Acts 2:41 runs at length a ground on the land of up­rightness: Psa. 143.10 where the fore-part, the Thought that presseth forward to­ward the Lord Iesus Christ, sticks fast and remaines unremoveable, while the hinder part is broken with the violence of waves, O blessed Heart-breaking, O blessed storm, that drives the tumbling Thoughts upon this shore!Ps [...] 107, 30 well mayst thou be glad because [Page 131] thou art quiet, for God hath brought thee to thy desired Ha­ven.

O sweet serenity,1 Pet. 1.8 Phil. 4, 7 Ioy unspeak­able, peace passing all understand­ing, that now keeps the heart and mind! yea the heart, by the MIND; flowing down like the pretious ointment from the head of Aaron to the skirts of his garment, Lu 2.29 3 [...] perfuming and embalming, by the thoughts of the mind, all the inferior powers of the Soul and af­fections of the heart; That the former can now present unto the latter, even a deaths head without horrour, nay with amiableness in its Aspect, whilst the Soul can think with Simeon, Lord now let­test thou thy servant depart in peace, Psal. 133, [...] for mine eys have seen thy salvation. So that hardly could the Convert now be kept from impatient de­siring to be dissolved and to be with Christ, but that he THINKS withal [...] [Page 132] of something to be done for Christ before he die, Psal. 51.13 Luke 22, 32 of teaching transgres­sours Gods ways, that sinners may be converted: of strengthening Bre­thren: 2 Cor. 1, 4 of comforting others with the same consolations, Phil, 1.23 and so he hasteneth to be doing, that he may also hasten to be dying.

Sect. XI

BUt Alas! These Thoughts cannot always hold without interruption. This brood of Travailers dig up wells as they go, Psal: 84.5 And the Philistines follow after as fast as they can,Gen, 2 [...], 5 to stop them up a­gain with earth and stones: world­liness and earthliness, deadness and dulness return and repossesses the Mind and Thoughts of the eager Convert, and threaten to undo whatever Grace hath been a do­ing. So that the confident young Christian (who thought that if [Page 123] he had but once gotten the Red Sea on his back, his Saviours blood betwixt him and his soul oppres­sours, there would be but a few dayes direct and easy journey, through the Wilderness of the World, to the L [...]nd of Canaan, Deut 8.15) falling amongst many fierie Ser­pents, violent and virulent tem­ptations and lusts (not thought of at his first setting out) and being bitten by them, he proceeds as more heavily so more humbly; And his After-thoughts are such as these.

Now wo is me that I should ever put my hand unto Gods plough, Luke 9 62 and thus look back. O why was I not contented to have dwelt on the other side of Jordan, Nay,Josua 7, 7 to have stayed by the flesh pots of Ae­gypt,Exod. 16.2 rather than to die in this Wilderness? It had better sure for me not to have known the way of Righteousness, 2 Pet. 2, 3 then after I have [Page 124] known it, thus to turn from the holy Commandment. Gal. 4 15 Where is the [...] the blessedness that I spake of? The Scripture saith indeed that the righteous shall hold on in his way, Job 17, 9 But alas I have begun in the spirit, Gal. 3, 3 4 And after all must I foolishly end in the flesh? Have I suffered so ma­ny things in vain, if so be that it be yet in vain? Have I sustain­ed such corrections, and received such Convictions, and brought forth such purposes and resoluti­ons with so great pain and diffi­culty, Hos, 10, 12 and to so little purpose? I canot deny that the fallow ground of mine heart hath been indeed broken up, Isai. 28, 24 and Gods plowes have plowed all day to sow, & 'twas good seed that the sowers did sow, when they sowed the word, But alas I now find,Mark 4.14 to my Wo, that it was not sown in a good & honest heart, Luke 8:15 for no sooner was the blade sprung up, but early tempta­tion [Page 125] made it wither away, Mat. 13, 16 21 Luke 8:14 so that it brought no fruit to perfection; the cares of the world, Mark 4 19 the deceipt­fulness of riches, and the lusts of other things, these coming in have choaked the word, and it hath be­come unprofitable. And is this thy confidence, O my soul,Job 4 6 the uprightness of thy ways; and thy hope? O think then that the word will prove true to thee, though thou hast not been so to it,Prov. 14 14 for it tould thee that the backslider in heart should be filled with his own ways, and I am sure thou hast found it so. Thou art the ground that hast drunk in the rain that came oft upon it, Hebr. 6.7.8 and hast brought forth Thorns, and what can now be thy doom, but to be rejected of God, to be nigh unto cursing, and thine end, but to be burned? Thou art the House out of which the unclean Spirit went, Mat. 12, 33 44, 45. and into which He returned, taking others [Page 126] with him, which though he found empty, swept, and garnished, yet leaveth the last state worse than the first. Thou hast wearyed thy self with lyes, Ezek. 24, 12 13 and thy great scum wen [...] not forth of thee, what remain [...] but that thy scum shall be in th [...] fire? In thy filthiness is lewdness, because God hath purged thee, and thou wast not purged, therefore how canst thou hope to be purged from thy filthiness any more, th [...] he have caused his Fury to rest up­on thee? for if after Men have escaped the pollutions of the World, [...] Pet. 2 20 through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ, they are again entangled therein and over­come, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. Thou art that girdle marred by lying in the Babilonish waters of worldly Lusts,Jer. 13, 7, 11 and now profitable for no­thing, who didst sometime seem to cleave so closely to the Lord [Page 127] Iesus Christ, as the girdle cleaveth to the loins of a man. Ah!Jer, 6.28 29, 30 griev­ous Revolter! Reprobate sinner! the Bellows are burnt, the Lead is consumed in the Fre, the Foun­der hath melted thee in vain, for the wicked are not plucked away, thy wicked pride, and worldli­ness, and wantoness, &c. and now what canst thou think O my Soul, but that the Lord hath re­jected thee? Jerem: 2.5 But what Iniquity hast thou found in thy God, that thou art gone far from Him, and that thou hast walked after vanity and art become vain? Ah my Soul! What hath he done unto thee? Micha 6, 3 or wherein hath he wearyed thee? te­stify against him. No, no, I am sure thou canst not, thou darest not reprove him, But thine own wickedness shall correct thee, Jerem. 2, 19 and thy Backsldings shall reprove thee, know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and a bitter, that thou [Page 128] hast forsaken the Lord thy God, and therefore surely his fear is not in thee. Rom, 6, 21 What fruit hast thou then of this foul Apostacy whereof thou hast so great reason to be now ashamed? Galat. 5 7 Thou didst run well who did hinder thee? Hath a Nation changed their Gods, which yet are no Gods, Jer: 2, 11, 12, 13 but thou hast changed thy glory for that which doth not profit; Be astonyed at this, and be horribly afraid, yea, be very deso­late, O mine heart, For thou hast committed two Evils, Thou hast forsaken the Fountain of living wa­ters, and hewed thee broken Cist­erns that can hold no water. O prophane Heart,Heb. 12.16 17. that for a morsel of meat hast sold thy Birth-right! How fain wouldst thou now in­herit the blessing, couldst thou but find a place for repentance, though thou shouldest seek it never so care­fully with tears? But alas for thy part, Ezek, 37, 11 thine hope is cut off, thine [Page 129] hope hath God removed like a tree; Lam. 3, 18 Job 29.10 chap: 8.13 and indeed what else can be ex­pected but that the Hypocrites hope should perish? O false heart, and flattering hope! must I be thus deceived by you both which I so much trusted? I said (with Moses)Exod, 14, 13 of my strong cor­ruptions, when I thought I saw them drowned in the Red Sea of my Saviours Bloud, I shall see them again no more for ever, and (wi [...]h David in his prosperity,Psal, 30, 6) I shall never be moved; and must I now, like Capernaum, Luke 10, 15 after I have been thus lifted up to heaven, be thrown down to Hell? and so everlastingly seperated from the blessed presence of the dear Ie­sus, whom I fondly thought I had loved better then my life, but now find I did love him less than my laziness, and my lusts;Mat: 10 37 and indeed I am convinced that if any man loves any thing [Page 130] more than Christ, He is not wor­thy of him.

But, ah my dear and blessed Iesus, must thou & I thus par? part Eternally? Oh no! not for a World, no not for a World of Worlds.Psal. 88, 14 Why then, O Lord, castest thou off my soul? why hidest thou thy face from me? Yea rather, O Lord, why hast thou made me to erre from thy ways, Psal. 63 14 and harden­ed my heart from thy fear? yet will I leave my complaint upon my self, Job 10.1 and will speak in the bitterness of my soul, I know indeed that God cannot be tempted with evil, Jam, 11 13 14 neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and en­ticed. Therefore, O my God, my Soul is cast down within me, Psal. 42, 6, 7 and deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy water spouts; Verse 4 thy waves and thy billows are gone over me. When I remember these things I power out [Page 131] my soul in me; For I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise; Psal. 7 [...], 6 I call also to remem­brance my song in the night, and commune with mine own heart, and my spirit makes diligent search, I was at ease but God hath broken me asunder; Job 16, 1 [...] He hath also taken me by the neck, and shaken me in pieces, and set me up for his mark. Job 29, 3, 4 5 Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me, when his Candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness, when the secret of God was upon my Tabernacle, Psal. 42, [...] and when the Almighty was yet with me But now alas my tears are my meat day and night while my ret [...]rning Corruptions and prevailing Lusts say to me continually where is thy God? Verse [...] As with a Sword in my bones do they reproach me while they say daily to [Page 132] me where is thy God? But will the Lord cast off for ever? will he be favourable no more? Is his mercy clean gone for ever? and doth his promise fail for evermore? Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mer­cyes? 2 Sam. 23, 5, Surely this is my infirmity; but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High? Al­though my heart be not so with God, yet hath he made with me a Cove­nant, an everlasting Covenant, ordered in all things, and sure; I will therefore say unto God, my rock, Psal. 42.8, 9 why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the Enemy? Yet the Lord will command his loving kindness in the day-time, and in the night his song shall be with me and my prayer unto the God of my Life, Verse 11 Why art thou cast down, O my soul, and why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God [Page 133] for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my Countenance, and my God. O Lord though mine iniquities testifie against me, do thou for thy names sake, Jerem, 14, 7 for my backslidings are many, I have sinned against thee: Verse 20 But I acknowledge O Lord my wick­edness, Do not abhor me, and 21 for thy names sake, Remember, break not thy Covenant with me. For truly my Soul thirsteth for God, Psal. 42, 2 for the live­ing God, Psalm 63, [...] to see his Power and his Glory, so as I have seen him in the Sanctuarie.

Be watchful therefore, Rev. 3, 2 O mine heart, and strengthen the things that [...]main, and are readie to die, for here is yet a Pillar of Fire be­fore thee,Neh. 9.12 13 the token of a Divine presence with thee. Hath not God said,Jer: 3:24 Return ye backsliding Children, and I will heal your back­slidings? Behold I come unto thee for thou art the Lord my God.

[Page 134]

But surely if God will allow me to set mine hope on high, He will yet have me to keep mine Heart low, for though he be still saying,Hosea 14 4 I will heal thy backsliding, and love thee freely, and again Turn, Jerem. 3 14 O backsliding Child, for [...] am marryed unto thee; yet he stil [...] feeds me like the Israe ites in th [...] Wilderness, as it were, from han [...] to mouth; The water of hi [...] Rock, 1 Cor: 10, 4 not my Cistern, must supply me, and I be undone if it d [...] not follow me; I must fetch m [...] food by daily Faith, my Mann [...] out of the Heaven of his Promise not by Plowing, for it [...] in th [...] earth of my self Righteousness and legal performances; and m [...] Medicine too (for all venimo [...] bitings by all sorts of fiery Temptations) from him onely, wh [...] for that end was lifted up upo [...] the Cross,John 3 [...] 24 and still is on the p [...] of the Gospel, and still must [...] [Page 135] in the THOUGHTS of my heart, as my onely strength, my health, my life, my All; And if at any time he allow me but a touch or a tast of the hoped for Clusters, Num. 13 23 'tis to feed not my high, but my diligent Thoughts; and to mind me that I have not already attained either am already perfect, Ph. 3, 12, 13 but that I press forward, forgetting the things that are behind, towards the mark for the price of the high Call­ing of God which is in Christ Iesus. What shall I then say to these things? The Lord hath both spo­ken unto me, and himself hath done it, I will go (with him,Isai. 38, 1 [...] though I go but) softly all my years, even in the bitterness of my Soul.

So then the Thoughts of the Righteous pick up encourage­ment, as the Good Spies, from their very difficulties, They are Bread for us; Numb 14 [...] I will go with this man, saith Rebeckah; I will go [Page 136] with this Iesus, saith the fixed Thought of heart; Though I must go sadly, yet I will go, I will go though but softlie in my souls bitterness all my years; But yet O Lord, by these things man live, Isai 38 16 And in all these is the life of my spirit, so wilt thou recover me, and make me to live (so saith the gracious Heart.) And thus is the soul fed with Manna, and led about many years, it may b [...], in the Wilderness of Anxiety; And all this to humble, to prove, to know what is in the heart, and to do it good in the latter end. Deuter 8 2

The end of the dra [...]ght or scheme of Thoughts [...] wrought in conver­sion,And thus have I given you as briefly as I could, though more largely then I thought, a Scheme or draught, of such Thoughts in man as do ordinarily flow from the Grace of God, as I have re­ceived from that sure Word, that is a discerner of the Thoughts, and a discoverer as well as a discerner, [Page 137] and as I have known, and per­haps felt in some small experience, And the Holy-Ghost, that knows all hearts, saith expressly, As in water, face answers to face, Prov 27 19 so the heart of man to man.

Sect. XII.

NOw because as I have said,Regenerate mans thou­ghts flow­ing from a new nature agree with orher natu­ral motions in 3 things. The Regenerate mans tho­ughts are sparks from a new Fire, fruits of a new heart, stir­rings of a new Nature, Therefore It must needs be, that they par­take with all natural motions in these Three points.

I. Facility. 1 Facility, Good thou­ghts delightful, if from a right prin­ciple Natural Acts and motions, If Nature be not oppres­sed (as sometimes the New nature seems to be) are facile, yea pleas­ [...]ng and delightful, as to eat, to drink, to sleep, &c. So are right Thoughts to a Righteous person. When wisdom entereth into thy heart, Prov 2, [...] [Page 138] & knowledg is pleasant unto thy soul, &c, A naughty heart is like a vi­tious stomach, those very thoughts that are as an honey-combe, or as pleasant bread to others,Prov 27 7 do make it turn, as it were, at the very sight of them; Go thy way Paul, for this time, I have no stomack to think of Righteousness or Iudgement to come; Acts 24 25 No, no, Felix his Thou­ghts were another way, suitable to his Corruption; He thought (saith the text) there was money com­ing, Verse 26 and 'twas the thought of mo­ney that made musick in his Mind; But saith a David of his God, not of his Mammon, My meditation of HIM shall be SVVEET,Psal 124 34 I will be glad in the Lord. When the Miser [...] receives his Mammon, Oh how it glads him? nay he loves the Thought of it, when he canno [...] come at it; Nay, he can Thin [...] with delight of the Bills or Bonds he can lay them in his bosome [Page 139] that do but Name it, Money is his God, and Worldliness his Nature: So doth a gracious heart with sweetness entertain the Thought of his God,Psal 119 1 [...] nay hide his word in his very Heart; It goes down with him with delight, as his food when he is most hungry; Thy words were found and I did eat them, Jer 15 16 and they were to me the joy and re­joicing of mine Heart, The Ear drinks in words, but it is the heart that eats them, by setting the Thoughts to chew upon them. And as it is with a man that is in health, if he want his set meals, so is it with a good Heart, kept in good order, without many gripes and se­cret gnawings, it cannot want its set MEDITATIONS, And surely it would be better with most Christians then it is, were they but careful with Isaack, to set a part some little time of the day for Meditation, who are so little [Page 140] able to say with David, O how love I thy Law! Psal 119 67 It is my MEDITA­TION all the day. And this leads me to the

Sect XIII.

Frequency Davids tho­ughts good all the day.II. And that is Frequencie. A good pulse strikes many a good stroak in a day, and so doth a good heart, as you may see in David, when he was in good state of soul health; Psal 119 97 you cannot think that he thought of nothing but Gods Law in the whole day, when he says It was his Meditation all the day; his Crown was lined with cares, How to be understood, And his Head with Thoughts as other mens: But he would allow no Thought in the day contrary to the Law; He would order all his Thoughts in conformity and sub­ordination thereto, And his Thoughts thereof were better pleasing to him then all other o­ther [Page 141] Thoughts, He was in his Ele­ment when in such Meditations; and reckoned so much of the day lost, as wherein he was hurryed, by Temptations, to any contrary cogitations: If a Bird fall into the water, 'tis not her Element, she neither useth nor delighteth to be there; If a Mole get above ground, he is not where he would be, or is wont be.Tryal what thoughts thy element Ask thine heart se­riously what Element it is that thy Thoughts most use, and with most ease; Psalm 77 5 (My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness when I think up­on thee, when I remember thee upon my bed, & meditate upon thee, &c.) And thereby discern whether it be a Bird of Paradise, or a meer Mole, for to be carnally minded is death, Romans 8 6. but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. A bad man may have a Thought of God now and then, and a Thought for God (or the most are very much mistaken) [Page 142] But a David can say of his divine Thoughts, how great is the sum of them? Gods Thoughts of him, and his Thoughts of God, and the re­flection of his Thoughts upon Gods Thoughts, Psal 13, 17 for,

Sect. XIV.

3 perpetuityIII. There is Perpetuity as well as Facility and Frequency in Na­tural acts and motions. The pulse beats not onely all the day, but all a mans days: so do good thoughts in a Godly mind. What a blessed frame was holy David in when he could never awake, but he found his pulse beating Heaven-ward? when I awake I am still with thee. Psa 139 18 The blessed mans delight is in the Law of the Lord, Psal 1 12 and therein doth he me­ditate day and night. O happy He whose Thoughts are holy day and night, that is, continually.

I know Grace is lyable to its languishings, as well as Nature, Grace may languish, for pulse intermit, as the natural, But good Thoughts never quite die, and the souls pulse to its Intermissi­ons, as the bodyes is, whereof more hereafter; onely the Pulse of Nature may cease totally, nay it must, because Nature it self must expire; But Grace is a Coe­lestial, an Heaven-born principle, an Immortal Fire, which can never be extinguished, but burns bright­est when Nature goeth out, as in Iacob & Ioseph when they lay a dying: Psal 146 [...] so good thoughts do usually most flourish in that very day when o­ther Thoughts perish, Heb 11, 21 22 the day of Death, and after Death especial­ly. And thus much for the first Tryal of Thoughts, whether Right or no, from their Origi­nal.

II. Tryal.

Sect. I.

2 Tryal. Thoughts are to be known to be Right or no by their root Secondly,

THoughts are to be known to be right by their ROOT, as Plants are, especially in win­ter-season: now this is as it were the winter-state of Grace.

We have seen in the first Tryal that Right Thoughts are to be discerned by their Soil, They grow not in the Wild, or common Field of corrupt Nature, but in the Garden of Grace; so now, in this second Tryal, by the occult & inward manner of their growth, which I call their Radication. This I say then, if good Thoughts be thy DEEP Thoughts, If good thoughts be our deep thoughts if (as we say) the best be at bottom, thy thoughts are then Right, and thou are Righteous: for as the deep [Page 147] Thoughts of Worldlings are world­ly thoughts, & the deep Thoughts of wicked men are wicked thoughts, so the deep thoughts of good men are good Thoughts. 'Tis a notable observation of the Holy Ghosts concerning worldly men, That their INVVARD THOUGHT is that their Houses shall continue for ever, Psal 49 11 &c. Why? is there any Thought that is not an Inward Thought? No; But the meaning is that though they have some floating Thoughts of their mortalitie, and the vanity and transitoriness of all worldly things, swimming, as it were, on the top; yet they do not suffer such Thoughts to sink into their Hearts, or to go to the bot­tom, But the Thoughts that lodge there are such as His who is said, by our Saviour,Luke 12 17 to have thought within himself, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years, Take, Verse 19 thine ease, eat, drink and be merry. Note [Page 148] the phrase, he thought within himself There are other kind of thoughts that sometimes knock at the door of the worldlings Heart, Nay sometimes look in at his windows, as Pauls Sermon began to press in upon Felix his Heart, Acts 24 25 and to set him a Trembling, but there are other Thoughts within, which if they cannot keep good Thoughts quite out, they will keep them off from making any due or deep im­pression upon the Heart. Now these Thoughts that nestle them­selves, as it were, at the very Heart-roots, to keep others out from reaching thither, these deep thoughts are they which the Scri­ptures call the inward thoughts, according to that of the Psalmist, the inward thoughts of every one of them, Psalm 64 6 and the heart is deep. And so if thy inward Thoughts and deep Thoughts be good thoughts, 'tis a good signe. Rom 2 19 Thus He is a Iew [Page 149] that is one inwardly. When God has put wisdom in the inward parts, as it is in Ieremiah; Jer. 21 33 Psalm 5 9 as 'tis said of the wicked that their inward part is very wickedness, Luke 11 39 and that their inward part is full of Ravening and wickedness: Jerem 9 8 even when he speaketh peaceably with his mouth, yet in Heart he lays his wait.

Now the Reason of this Rule is this,Reason of the Rule because as corruption (like the Worm at Jona's Gourd) loves to lie at the Root to wither all; so Grace (to work out Corruption) loves to lie at the very Heart roots, as it were; and the work of Grace being to fix the Heart aright, (as David saith,Psal 108 [...] My Heart is fixed O God, my Heart is fixed) like a wise Master Builder, Grace goes to the bottom, and looks especially to that; the Foundation being that that fixeth all the building. The Latines do very elegantly express heighth and depth by the same [Page 148] word, thus, altaes radices agere, is to take deep Root, Good thou­ghts build high, there­fore must be bottomed low. and yet we call it the Altitude of a Star: He that will build high, must dig his Foundation deep and low; Now Grace, where it comes, never aims lower then the Raising of the Thoughts as high as Heaven, Sirs, what must I do to be saved (saith the Iayler.Acts 16 3 [...]) A Converts first thoughts are for no less than SALVATION; and therefore Grace layeth them in the very depth of the heart, Thus Gracious Thoughts are called the good treasure, not of the Head (for a Toad, they say, may have a Pearl there,) A wicked man may have excellent notions and specu­lations like Balaam, Num 24 3 4 whose Heart is full of Poyson.) But the good treasure of the Heart.

Our Saviour, comparing Gods Word to Seed, Matht 13 4 Verse 5 Mans Heart to Soil, Thoughts and purposes to a spring­ing up of that Seed in the Soil, [Page 149] [...]xpressly saith of the stony ground [...]n opposition to the good ground, Luke 8 1 [...] that is, the good and honest Heart, [...]s himself explains it) that there­ [...]ore it was that all came to no­ [...]hing, because there was no depth [...] earth for the Seed,Mat 13 56 and they [...]hat sprung up had no root, and [...]herefore they withered away. Matth 25 [...]

And in the Parable of the Vir­ [...]ins, where he designedly puts [...]he difference between the sound [...]eliever and the Hypocrite, He [...]enyes not the foolish to have [...]amps and Lights, and Oil in their [...]amps, to keep them burning for season; but denyes them to have [...]y Oil in their Vessels, as the Wise [...]ad. The Lamps were the Out­ [...]de and shallow appearances of [...]lendid Notions and Professions, [...]ut the Vessels are the very inwards [...]d depths of the Heart, & there­ [...]re its said,Prov 13 [...] The light of the righte­ [...]s rejoiceth, but the Lamp of the [Page 150] wicked shall be put out. The Light of the Righteous (which may be understood of their good Con­versation, according to that, Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good wrok,) hath a Vessel within full of Oyl, to keep it burning perpetually, and there­fore it rejoiceth, but the Lamp o [...] the wicked hath not so, & therefore time shall put it out.

And when he represents th [...] Grace that he gives, by a Well of Water in a man springing up to everlasting life; Iohn 4 14 Good thou­ghts a well- [...]pring, This Phrase is mos [...] accurately to be attended to ou [...] present purposes; We are no [...] in judgeing of a man so much t [...] consider what may be put into man, or what may for some tim [...] float at top, nay flow from a ma [...] but what the SPRINGINGS U [...] are that are IN A MAN. And [...] the Apostle Iames also puts th [...] Tryal upon what the FOUNTAI [...] Iames 3 11 [Page 151] yields, whether it be sweet water, Verse 14 or bitter, salt water or fresh; which expression he doth enough ex­plain when he saith If you have bitter envying, Verse 1 [...] or strife in your hearts, glory not and lie not against the truth; Mark that, IN YOUR HEARTS, that is, when these bit­ter waters are the springings up of the inward Fountain, glory not, and lie not: sweet words and pleas­sing professions, shews and appear­ [...]nces will be no good Testimony [...]or you when these BITTER [...]pringings up within you bear wit­ [...]ess against you.

In Nature, there are springs or Wells of diverse sorts, the diligent [...]bservation of which will much [...]ear the scope of these Texts of [...]cripture, and the thing in hand; [...] shall onely instance in such as I [...]ave seen. There is the salt spring [...] Nantwich, where the springings [...]p are naturally salt, Now let [Page 152] never so much fresh water be pour­ed into it, though it may for the present abate its saltness, and make its present waters the less brinish yet that which springs up will it some time work out all the fres [...] water, and will continue (as before) perfectly salt. Again ther [...] is the generous and famous sprin [...] called the HOLY WELL in Wales that is perpetually boiling u [...] with an admirable activity, s [...] that if never so much salt wate [...] should be poured into it, thoug [...] all the waters (for the present would tast salt or brackish, y [...] give it time and it would certain [...] work out all that Heterogeneo [...] mixture, and retain its sweetnes [...] and (as I may say) its Native e [...] cellencie and puritie.

This then is a grand Rule f [...] the tryal of Right Thoughts, [...] thy good thoughts be such as con [...] nually springing up, do work o [...] [Page 153] evil thoughts which sometimes do seem to defile and deprave thee, 'tis a good Scripture-Evidence both of thy thoughts and state: for this is that which the Apostle calls a clearing of our selves, which he saith expressly that Godly sor­row worketh where it worketh Re­pentance to salvation; 1 Cor 7 [...] 11 this self same thing, saith he, that ye sorrowed after a Godly sort, Behold what carefulness it wrought in you, yea what clearing of your selves, &c. Now this God­ly sorrow hath its spring in the Thoughts, as the Evangelist saith of Peter, Mark 14 7 [...]. when he thought thereon he wept. As the Jews in their Ca­ptivity, wept when they remembred Zion,Psal. 137 so Peter in his spiritual ca­ptivity wept when he remembred Sin: But a little before the floods of the ungodly had overwhelmed the good man and the waters of bit­ [...]erness had come into his soul; And had we but tasted of his spirit, [Page 154] by what came from him in the High Priests Hall, we should have been apt to have concluded him in the gall of bitterness, when with swearing & cursing he denyed that ever he knew Iesus: and all this issuing from the Thoughts and ap­prehensions of his imaginary dan­ger, that his sorry sinful slavish fear suggested to him in case He had held fast the profession of his Faith without wavering; these were the Thoughts that were up­permost, and so nearest his tongues end, to influence that under this surprise of Temptation; and little doubt but at that very time his deep and bottom Thoughts were full of real real kindness to his Lord and Master, which shortly a [...]ter (by their springing up) dis­cover themselves; For these Thoughts work him to Godly sor­row (as the Text affirmeth) and godly sorrow to a clearing of himself [Page 155] of that which had now so sadly stained the Glory of his Professi­on, so that we read after of his dying for Christ, but never more word of his denying him.

Sect. II.

AS this therefore is the grand trouble of many gracious Persons,Instances of good tho [...] ­ghts deepest that they find ma­ [...]y strong and boisterous and evil [...]houghts, like rugged Esau that [...]resent themselves first to view,Gen. 25.25 [...]nd seem to be strongest and most [...]mpetuous, yet this may be a [...]omfort if they can find good [...]houghts, like another Iacob,Verse 26 [...]king those other thoughts, as it [...]ere, by the heel, and continually [...]bouring to supplant them; for in­ [...]ance, [...] [Page 156] der Nabals provocation, you find all the waters, as it were, turned into bloud, and nothing meditated but cruelty and Revenge; But when Davids deep and bottom Thoughts are set on work, How quickly do they work out all that cruelty? The waters return to their proper nature and right colour; and now all becomes goodness, meekness, gentleness. And David said to Ab [...]gail, Verse 32 33 Blessed b [...] the Lord God of Israel who sent the [...] this day to me; and blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou, whic [...] hast kept me this day from coming t [...] shed bloud, and from avenging m [...] self with my own hand. So tha [...] whereas there was a Root of bitterness springing up, which woul [...] have brought trouble enough upon himself and others there [...] [Page 157] And by the way, the Reader may remark that they whose Thoughts are right & good,Note well. are very apt to Think well of those that set them right, (as any prudent serious Tra­vailer that hath been out of his way will be) O blessed Sermon, sick­ness, person, providence, will such a one say, that hath been an occasion or eans to set me clear of such a Temptation, or from such or such wicked, proud, or passionate or un­clean, or worldly Thoughts that have so disturbed and distempered me.

Take another instance in good King Hezekiah, Hezekiah whom when God had raised up, the Text saith, pre­sently his Heart was lifted up, 2 Chro: 3 [...] 25 so [...]hat there was wrath upon him, and upon Iudah and Ierusalem; His heart swells with proud & haughty [...]houghts; Notwithstanding, saith [...]he next Verse,Verse 26 Hezekiah hum­bled himself for the pride of his heart, so that the wrath of the Lord came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah. [...] [Page 160] tom thoughts of all, were lose thoughts, and his Root thoughts were rotten thoughts, for he thought it better for him to dis­please God than the Multitude, and to offend his Conscience rather than Caesar; for this was the hinge upon which the whole matter turned, the Iews cryed out, saying, if thou let this man go, Joh: 19 12, 13 2 [...] thou art not Caesars friend; When Pilat [...] there­fore heard that saying, He brought out Iesus, &c. and delivered him to them to be Crucifyed.

AgrippaThus Agrippa, no doubt, had many good Thoughts and moti­ons in his mind, when he cryes out to S. Paul, Acts 26 28 Almost thou per­suadest me to be a Christian. And many of Christs followers thought, Many fol­lowers of Christ no question, to have continued longer with him, at their first coming to him, and are therefore called his Disciples, from that time (saith the Text)Iohn 6, 66 Many of his Dis­ciples [Page 161] went back and walked no more with him. Young man Mar. 10 1 [...] And so that rich young man that came running to him with so much eagerness, and kneeled be­fore him with so much Devotion, thought (without all peradven­ture) that Christ was a most excel­ent person, and that is was a most desirable thing to be saved; But then his ultimate Thoughts were, that if He could not have Heaven and Earth too, it was best to ven­ture the first, and to hold to that which he had in his Hand, and these thoughts carryed him, (as the like Thoughts do thousands) away from Christ. And therefore the Antithesis to the Text is re­markable, The thoughts of the Righteous are right, but the Coun­sels of the wicked (that is, their Deep, Deliberate,Saints at worst of a more excel­lent Spirit then Hypo­crites at best Bottom thoughts) are deceipt.

So then by this Rule we may discern what an Excellent Spirit [Page 162] there is,Daniel 6 3 as 'twas said of Daniel, in the meanest Saint, take him at his very worst and lowest, that is not to be found in the most flou­rishing Hypocrite in the world when he is arrayed in all his Glory. A gra­cious heart, (like a faithful soulater) be it never so oppressed and trod­den down by its Enemy, yet its bottom thoughts are still working at a Holy Revenge (as the Apostle saith,1 Cor, 7.11 yea what Revenge?) contrive­ing how it may cast off its Enemy, and having cast it off, to cut it off; for it is to every upright person in the World that the Holy Ghost applyes that of the Prophet, thine heart shall MEDITATE TERROUR;Isai. 33 18 Thou shalt be thinking how to kill this corruption, and how to Conquer that Lust, How to mortify this uncleanness, that inordinate af­fection, this Evil Concupisence, that Covetousness, how to be re­venged of these uncircumcised Phi­ [...]stines [Page 163] for thy two eyes, Iude 16 28 for all that [...]ght of Holy Ioy and Peace, they [...]ve deprived thee of. Where­ [...] on the other hand the best Hy­ [...]crite, even whilst he seems to [...]ld out the Garrison with great­ [...]t Gallantry and Resolution for [...]od and Christ, yet even then [...]s secret thoughts, his inward, [...]eep, and bottom thoughts are [...]r trucking with the Enemy, to [...]etray and yield up all, when He [...]yeth His season, and pleasing [...]dvantage; Thus Esau resolves [...] carry it most demurely during [...]is Fathers life, but his De p [...]oughts are all along,Gen. 27, 41 (Esau said his heart saith the Text) the days of [...]ourning for my Father are at hand, [...]en will I slay my Brother. And [...]h! How many are there that [...]n palliate a foul and rotten heart, [...]ith the fairest pretences and ap [...]earances, whilst Godly Magi­ [...]rates, Ministers, Parents, Guar­dians, [Page 164] Governours, continue with them, that all the while have a months mind, as we say, to the license that other debauched o [...] vain persons take, and secretly please themselves with the thought thereof, which they purpose to themselves, when the Awe o [...] such, as at present hinder them, shall be removed and taken away? A kin to these are those, who (though they will not sell Whea [...] on the Sabbath day, yet) are still thinking when will the Sabbath b [...] over? Amos 8 5 So then the test of our Spi­rits is our Deep thoughts.

And thus also we have a reason of a Following Rule in this, for it cannot but be supposed that Righ [...] thoughts must needs be (not idl [...] or unactive but) operative and a­bounding in fruit that are so happy in their Root, Isaia. 37 32 they take root down­ward, and therefore will bear fruit upward.

Sect. III.

NOw a grand Reason why I have desired to speak so ful­ly and distinctly to this,Thoughts are to be considered with special respect to the Tempe­rament of the body is this, which I des re most heed­fully may be observed, The THOUGHTS of men (whereof the word of God is (as hath been said) the great discerner, Hebr: 4, [...] and to the touch whereof we have been bringing them in these tryals) I say THOUGHTS of mens minds which, in the manner of Exerting and putting forth their operations, do much depend upon the various Temperaments of those bodies wherein those operations are put forth, are to be considered with a special respect thereunto; for most certain it is that neither Grace nor Corruption, neither sin­ [...]erity nor Hypocrisy find all mens minds, be they good or bad, to [Page 166] work alike, but according as their diverse workings are influenced by the diversity of bodily constitution▪ Tempera­ments may help to more stabilitie of thoughts in some then in others. Now some temperatures (be it) naturally more heavy, lumpish and melancholick, more easily di [...] pose their minds to greater measures of Resolution, stability an [...] fixation of thoughts, when onc [...] the Thoughts are set, be the mind or matters good or bad; In worldly nay wicked things some are of on [...] mind, and who can turn them? truly none, but God Omnipo­tent; who, if God come once to set their Hearts aright, have a marvailous advantage in point of consistency, and as to the stability of their good thoughts even from their Natural temper; whereas some others in Constitution san­guine, and more symbolizing with the Air, their minds seem com­monly more volatile, and so their thoughts more fluid, and less fixed, [Page 167] be the habit of their Minds, or Objects of their Thoughts, good or evil:Difference of natural constitution may appear as in con­version, Now this difference of Na­tural constitution, occasions many mistakes in the spiritual judging of [...] Estates. A man may be very serious, yet not Religious, though Iohn Baptist was naturally 'tis probable) very austere, Iohn came (saith Christ)Mat. [...], 18 neither eating nor drinking: & another man may be very pleasant, and yet not vain; and it would seem our Saviours Natural bodily temper was differ­ [...]ng from the Baptists, and dispo­sed him to a complaisant conversa [...]ion, Verse 29 The Son of Man came eating [...]nd drinking (for even in that sence his delights were with the Sons [...]f Men) Prov. 8, 3 [...] Rejoicing in the habitable [...]arts of the Earth: The Hebrew word signifyes sporting, and so [...]he Margin reads it, and yet he was the pattern of all perfection. And as in Conversation, So in thou­ghts. so in [Page 168] Thoughts, the Natural temper may (if not attended) occasion danger­ous mistakes in judgeing the spiri­tual state. Take an instance in tw [...] whom I take to be Eminent Saints King Solomon, Instance in K. Solomon and S. Paul and the Apostl [...] Paul, concerning the latter nor doubt, nor dare I of the former (who was Gods Iedidiah, from whom God saith he will never tak [...] his mercy, A Pen-man of Holy Writ, and so numbred by the Apostle among the Holy men of God a grand Type of Christ, and on [...] of those Prophets of whom Chri [...] saith expressly that all the Prophe [...] are in the Kingdom of God, Luke 13 28) yet suppose a vast difference in th [...] Natural temper of these two exce [...] lent men: Paul, no doubt, w [...] of great natural resolution, and fixation, Acts 26 9 I verily thought (saith I of himself before his conversio [...] that I ought to do many things [...] gainst the Name of Iesus, Ver. 10, 11 whi [...] [Page 169] [...]hing also I did in every Synagogue; He never alters his mind (as we say,) never changeth his thoughts, never turns, nor ever would, had not God overturned him; but then when God called him by his Grace, and set the Watch right, Oh! this Natural temper of His was an Ex­cellent Ballance, and kept the mo­ [...]ion admirably right;Acts 21 13 What do [...]ou mean (saith he) to weep and [...]reak mine heart? I am ready not [...]nely to be bound, but to Die for [...]he Name of Iesus; 14 And when he [...]ould not be persuaded (say they) [...]e ceased, &c. You see He was [...]ixed before Conversion, and fix­ [...]d after; for Grace rather useth [...]hen altereth Nature, though it [...]ure its corruption. But now [...]olomon He was naturally (I que­ [...]tion not) of a more Airy Consti­ [...]ution, [...] Luke 1 [...] 39 and so of a more doubtful mind (as our Saviours Phrase is which He borrows from the Aery [Page 190] Meteors, which are now here, and now there, and you can hardly find them fixed any where,) and so His thoughts more fluid and vo­latile, flying up and down from one thing to a contrary thing, from wisdom, Eccles. 2 2 to Wine, to Women, to Madness, to Folly, yea from one thing to a thousand things, Even from the Cedar of Lebanon, to the Hyssop upon the Wall; and being naturally (like Reuben) un­stable (as water) 1 Kin. 11 4 his Wives turned away his heart, and the Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned away from the Lord God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice; and yet there was a well of Water after all this, spring­ing up in Him to Everlasting Life; for you may see what was in the bottom of his heart (what his deep­est thoughts were) by what you find in the bottom of his Book of Penitence and Recantation; Let [Page 171] us hear (saith He) the CONCLU­SION of the matter, FEAR GOD, and keep his Commandments, Eccle. 12:13 &c. Now All is well (We say) that ends well.

Sect. IV:

THis then (to shut up this scrutiny)Conclusion of the Rule is that which we are most accurately to ob­serve amongst all that variety not onely of Temptations, but of Tempers and consequently of Thoughts, Purposes, and Reso­lutions, if (as David saith in ano­ther respect)Psal 94 14 Several in­stances of good thou­ghts at bot­tom, work­ing out evil thoughts In the multitude of our thoughts within us, We can find Divine & gracious Thoughts to be deepest in our Soul. As to [...]d to the instance forementioned, when our slight Thoughts of God, and slavish fear of man, and thou­ghts of sinful securitie as to our selves, are wrought out by our [Page 172] sanctifying the Lord God in our hearts, Isaiah 8 13 and making him our FEAR, as the Prophet speaks,

When ones high thoughts of himself, who is ready to say in his heart, My power and the might of my hand hath gotten me this wealth, Deut. 8 17 are removed by remembrance of the Lord God, Verse 18 and that it is he that gives power to get wealth.

When our self-justifying, self exalting thoughts are taken down and let fall (as Iob's plumes were) by his thoughts of his black feet, Iob [...]0 4 behold I am vile, what shall I answer thee? &c.

When over-eager thoughts of the world are worn out by thinking on what He saith, who hath charged us to take no thought for to morrow; Luke 12 22 and over-valuing thoughts of the World, Matth 6 34 by thinking that the world was not Crucifyed for Us, cannot deliver, Prov. 11 4 or profit in the day of wrath, that labouring for the World, is [Page 173] but labouring for the wind; Eccles. 5 16 where­of the more a man grasps (for the most part) the greater are the gripes, that their end is Destruction that mind earthly things, but espe­cially by Thinking that the Lord hath said, Love not the world, nor the things of the world; 1 John 2 15 for if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

When Flesh-pleasing thoughts are supplanted by thinking that to be carnally minded is death; Roman: 8 6 that living in pleasures upon the Earth, James [...] [...] and being wanton, is but the nou­rishing of the heart as in the day of slaughter; that a S. Paul himself must [...], beat down his body, and bring it in subjection, 2 Cor. 9.17 [...]east he himself should be a cast-away; Philip. 3 8 or when thoughts of the Excellency [...]f the knowledge of Christ come to make a man think other things to [...]e but dogs meat, or dung, that he [...]ay win Christ; when the thoughts [Page 174] of the Rivers of pleasures, that are at Gods Right hand for evermore, do challenge the Heart, What hast thou to do in the way of Aegypt,Jerem. 2 18 to drink the waters of Silioi? what hast thou to do with the puddle plea­sures of Sin, Heb. 11, 25 that are but for a sea­son?

When our wandring thoughts take Heaven for their home,In a word, when the wandring Thoughts (like weary travailers,) take Heaven for their Home, and though they fetch too many a com­pass, yet still they ultimately are making thitherward: when they (like so many busie Bees have been flying about all day perhaps, yet never rest till they have housed themselves in God, as an Hive of sweetness, and there find satisfa­ctory Repast, and sweet Repose, Thou mayst well say Return to thy Rest O my Soul, Psal. 116 7 and that the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee; for this was it that the Church comforted her self in the thoughts [Page 175] of, that the desire of her soul was to the remembrance of Gods Name, Isai, 26 8 9 with her Soul she desired him in the night; Verse 13 even when other Lords had had dominion over her, &c. for though Temptations (which are called)Ephe. 6, 16 the fiery Darts of Satan may sometimes make thee black, Cantic. 1 6 like the Spouse in the Canticles, and real mixtures of darkness may be found in thee, in respect of which thou mayst fitly be compared to smoak, yet if thy Thoughts, like hers, Cant. 3 6 be like Pillars of smoak, still winding and working upward, Thou art black indeed, but yet beautiful in Christs account. As in the Levi­tical Law the creeping things going upon all four, were unclean, yet, Lev, 11 [...] 21 if they had legs above their feet to leap withal, as the Locust, or Grashopper, they were clean in the Laws ac­count.

III. Tryal.

Sect. I:

3. Tryal, Right thou­ghts have influence upon order­ing the con­versation aright. Thirdly,

COme we then to the Third Tryall of Thoughts, (viz) Right thoughts have a natural Energy & influence unto the ordering of the Conversation aright, as the Scripture speaks: Now the reason of this Rule is this, The Grace of God which (as we have seen)Psal 50 23 first stirs in Thoughts, is called in the Scripture the seed of God, [...] John 8.9 and therefore 'tis not pos­sible that it should prove abortive: for if the evil Spirit worketh effe­ctually in the Children of Disobe­dience, Ephes. 2 2 by working first upon their Thoughts (why hath Satan filled thine heart? Acts 5 3 &c. Satans work be­gins [Page 177] there.) And if Lust when it hath conceived in the Thought,Isaiah 1 15 brings forth sin in the life, which is an Anomy or Transgression of the Law, True Grace when it con­ceives in the Thought must ac­cordingly bring forth Newness in the Life, Rom, 6. [...] (as Scripture speaks) which is a conformity to the Rule of the new Creature, Gala. 6 16 the Law and the Tearms of the new Covenant, Hebr. 8, 8 which first saith I will put my spirit within them, and then they shall keep my judgements and do them, Eze. 36.2 [...] which is to be understood of E­vangelical obedience. First Grace works in us, and then it sets us a working; for after that it pleased God, who called me by his Grace, Ga. [...] 15, 16 to reveal his Son in me, immediately, saith Paul, Acts 9 6 I conferred not with flesh and bloud, &c. With whom then? why, Lord what wouldst thou have me to do? His thoughts were work­ing in the verse before, and they [Page 178] set him a work in the verse following.

Ephes. 1 11 The works of God, which we cal [...] Providence, are All pursuant to th [...] thoughts of God, which Scriptur [...] calls his Purpose. Jer. 23 20 Thus God i [...] said to perform all the thoughts an [...] intents of his heart. [...] Pet. 1, 4 Now Grac [...] is called a partaking of the Divin [...] nature, and therefore cannot spen [...] it self in bare thinking. In Natur [...] the motions of the hands and feet without the command or expres [...] dictate of the Tongue, do readily pursue the thoughts and motions o [...] the mind, Prov 16, 9 and therefore it is said that a mans heart deviseth his way A man thinketh to go such a way and goes it; He thinks to do suc [...] a thing, and does it. And it is so in corrupt Nature, Isaiah 65, 2 they walk in [...] way that is not good, after their own hearts; And it is as truly so i [...] Grace. I thought on my ways, sait [...] David, Psa, 119, 59 and turned my feet unto th [...] [Page 179] [...]estimonies. Right Thoughts indeed may we well call them,Right thou­ghts are re­ctifying thoughts: when [...]hey are Rectifying thoughts, when [...]hey make us to do Right; as, the [...]postle saith, He that doth Righte­ [...]usness, is Righteous. 1 John 3 7 'Tis said of [...]he Wicked, They conceive mis­ [...]hief, and bring forth Iniquity. Isaiah 59 4 [...]nd can We think it proper to [...]race onely to prove abortive? Wo to [...]hem, saith God,Micah 2 [...] that devise Ini­ [...]uity, and work evil upon their beds; [...]hen the morning is light they pra­ [...]ice it, because it is in the power of [...]eir hand. This is the Case and [...]haracter of the wicked, He, first [...]eviseth mischief upon his bed, Psalm 36 4 and [...]hen sets himself in a way that is not [...]od; And thus the Sincere Con­ [...]eit, what good he thinks to do, [...]hen God holds him down on [...]e Bed of sorrows (as Scripture [...]hrase is)Revel. 2 [...] and in the Night of af­ [...]ction, he will not therefore for­ [...]ar doing, because God lifts up the [Page 180] light of his Countenance upon him, so far as it is in the power of hi [...] hand; but will rather say with David, Psal: 66 11 12, 13 with a little vari tion, th [...] laidst affliction upon our Loins, bu [...] thou broughtest us out into a wealth [...] place, I will pay thee my vows, whic [...] my Heart hath purposed, and m [...] mouth spoken when I was in trouble 'Tis true indeed,purpose of­ten outgoes power, that in both cases the purpose of the Heart doth oftentimes outgo the power of th [...] hand; A wicked man thinks to do more mischief then he can possibly compass; Thus Esau purposed to kill Jacob,Gen, 27 42 and Saul though [...] to make David fall by the Philistine▪ [...] Sa. 18, 25 Neh. 6.2 It is said Sanballat and Geshem thought to do Nehemiah mischief yet they could not do it: So Child of God perhaps purposet [...] greater exactness, and more clos [...] walking with God, (in a sickness under a Sermon, or at a Sacrament then he can possibly attain unt [...] [Page 181] [...]fterwards, by reason of renew­ [...]ngs of Temptation, and remain­ [...]g corruption, and then (it may [...]e) he is ready to cry out, ‘Oh my thoughts were never right, my purposes were never sincere, for if they had, I had never fallen [...]o short in performance; I thought [...]n such a straight, if ever God brought me out of it, I should never forget my self, and God, and it, as (to my shame and con­fusion of face I may speak it) I I have since done; I thought under such a trouble of mind if God would ever speak pardon to my sin, and Peace to my soul,Job 15 [...] the Consolations of God should ne­ver more be small with me, I would never neglect my Evidences for Heaven,Ephes, 4 30 never grieve the Com­forter, as I (like a wretch) have since done; I would never return to folly, never indulge corruption,Psalm 85 8 never dally with Temptation [Page 182] any more; I thought I shoul [...] never have been so slight in hol [...] dutyes, in Closet or Family, neve [...] have past a day without som [...] soul-repast by sweet and solem [...] meditations; never have restrained prayer from the Almighty; Job 15 4 thought I should never ha [...] spent so many Lords days so [...] lesly, heard Sermons so unprofitably, read Gods word so unattentively, as I have since done I thought also I should have taug [...] Transgressours Gods way, Psal, 51, 13 and th [...] sinners should have been conver [...] unto him; that I should have o [...] pressed more Zeal for the glory [...] God,Hebr: 5 2 more compassion on the i [...] norant, and on them that are o [...] of the way; more Courage in i [...] proving Sin in others, and [...] in being exemplary unto othe [...] in my own Conversation: B [...] alas!Job 17 11 How may I complain, [...] Iob, that my purposes are brok [...] [Page 183] off, even the thoughts of my heart; that I went out (like Naomi)Ruth 1 21 full full of purposes, but Returned emptie of performances; I thought to have gone forth vi­ctorious like Sampson, but found my strength upon tryal,Judges 20 17 and 20 but like another mans; I thought like Peter, Mark 14 2 [...] that though all should have been offended in Christ, yet should not I; But, alas, I have found slender temptations too hard for me, as the Damosel was for him;Verse [...]6 and truly now the thing that I feared is come upon me, I thought this Tryal would find me out, that my thoughts and purposes were never right, for they have never reached their intended per­formance.’

Sect. II.

Right ap­plication of the Rule.BUt for the right application of this Rule, and that the bruised Reed may not be broken, as the leaf that is driven to and fro, Isaiah 42 3 you must know that the right ordered Conversation before mentioned,Job 13 25 as the genuine issue of Right Tho­ughts, is not to be estimated by Le­gal but by Evangelical measures; and so the Thoughts themselves, not so much by the successfulness of attainment, as by the sincerity of endeavour, for (what the Apostle saith in another case, [...] Cor. 8 12 is true here) if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what a man hath, not according to what he hath not: Now where this willing mind is, there will be reality of endea­vour to do what it can, though it cannot do what it would, as the A­postle Paul saith,Rom. 7 1 [...] The good that i [...] [Page 185] would do that I cannot; and again, not that I have already attained, ei­ther were already perfect, Phil. 3 12 but one thing I do, I press forward, &c. there will, and there must be a pressing forward. Grace is a War­fare rather, then a Triumph, and a Plowing rather then a Reaping, Phil. 2 [...] [...] and therefore the Holy Ghost to right Thoughts ads diligence, and to that a tending to plenteousness; if plenty do not presently attend them, yet they intend it, and tend towards it, We say, He that will shoot high must aim at a Star, though he cannot hit it He there­fore that purposeth Holiness, Good pur­poses h [...] seconded with Evan­gelical dis­obedience as God is Holy, whose careful and real endeavours in all holy means and ways are pursuant to his pur­poses; whose daily short comings are his daily burden and bitterness, who, (unfeignedly bewailing them) humbly rowls his Peni­tent Soul upon the perfect righte­ousness [Page 186] of Iesus Christ (which was the case and practice of the Apo­stle in the place before quoted) is a compleat man in Christ, Philip: 4 9 and a Conversation thus ordered is a Scripture Evidence that the Tho­ughts are Right, and that the man is Righteous.

Psal. 14 [...] 4 Thoughts without works dead thoughts:But then on the other hand, what the Scripture speaks of the day of Death, is fitly applicable to a state of spiritual Death, That all a mans Thoughts perish; for as faith without works is a dead faith, James 2 17 so Thoughts without works may be said to be dead thoughts; Nay these are sometimes the Evidence of one whom the Scripture calls twice dead, Jude 1 2 Twice dead how meant pluckt up by the roots, that is once dead as to his Natural sinful condition; and then again dead in regard of the motions and stirrings of thoughts and purposes which seemed to shew some spiri­tual life, and yet after all come to [Page 187] nothing. Therefore, saith Solo­mon, 1 Kin. 8 47 48 if they bethink themselves and return, &c. For a man to bethink himself, and not to return, is to ad an high aggravation to his former Impenitency; 'tis sin enough to cru­cify the son of God afresh, and not to bethink ones self what one is a doing; but to consider Iesus, and yet to trample his Bloud under feet, (As They said, Come this is the Heir, Mat 21 38 let us kill him) this leaves no room for that very Prayer of Christ, Father forgive them, they know not [...]hat they do: For a man to bethink himself of Heaven, as Esau of the Birthright, and yet to despise it, Gen. 25 32 or to bethink himself of Hell, and yet to rush into it as the Horse into [...]he Battle, This is as it were to deal cruely with Christ in cold bloud, to bid defyance to the God of Heaven upon Advice and set [...]ouncel, which too many do upon [...]nadvertency and non-considerati­on; [Page 188] or at least, like the vile Ga­darenes, when Christ comes into our Thoughts, as he came into their Coasts, for our Swines sake, our filthy Lusts sake, to beseech him to depart out of our Countrey; nay,Luke 8 37 with the wicked Jews, when conviction puts it upon our Tho­ughts (as Pilate did upon theirs, shall I crucify your King?) shall I Crucify the Lord Jesus, by con­tinued Impenitency, & unbelief? When Barabbas and Iesus lie both before our Thoughts, deliberately to deny the Holy One, Acts [...] 14 and to choose a Murderer. And Oh! how sad will it be to perish without Christ, under so many Thoughts of Christ? or to go to Hell with so many Tho­ughts and fruitless purposes of go­ing to Heaven.

Sect. III:

YEt alas,Folly of tru [...]ting to idle thou­ghts & pur­poses. how many are t [...]e e that have many co [...]fi [...]ent Thoughts of Heaven, because they have now and then a few co d, unact ve, unoperative though [...]s for Heaven; and carry these con [...]i­dent Thoughts with them to their very Graves, as the foolish Virgins, M [...] 25 11 12 that roundly knock at Christs door with a Lord, Lord, Open unto us, but the Answer is, I know you not. Foolish Ones, m [...]y I well say; for as in case where prudence might foresee the Evil of Event, or Con­sequence, to a Th [...]ught or pur­pose, we say, Stultum est dicere non putâram, 'tis a fool sh thing to say, I never thought that this woul [...] have come of it, or else I would never have engaged in it, so in [...]ll cases where we have the Highest assurances from Religion [Page 190] and Reason that the understanding of a man is capable of, that our Labour shall not be in vain in the Lord, 1 Cor. 15.58 stultum est dicere pu [...]â am, 'tis a foolish thing to say, I thought to have repented, and I thought to have believed, and to stick there and go no farther. What doth it profit my Brethren, saith the Apo­stle,Iames 2 14 If a man say he have faith, and hath not works, can faith save him? So I may say, if a man say he have Thoughts, and hath not works, can Thoughts save him? If a man think over night to be so far onwards of his journey by such an hour in the morning, and sleep out the time he should go it in, can Thoughts carry him? If a Prince command his Servant in the morning (on pain of Death) to do such a thing, of most high importance to his Crown and Dig­nity, and that must be done that day or not at all; and promise him [Page 191] withal a munificent Reward in case of performance; suppose this ser­vant goes forth of his Prince's Presence, full of many buisy Tho­ughts, and present purposes of go­ing about the business; but by the way falls into evil Company, or into some other bui­siness, trivial and vain in respect of his Great Masters, but more pleasing to the wicked and sloathful Servant; but returns at night,Mat. 25 26 and (with Confidence shall I say, or Impudence?) sues for his reward; shall the Princes bounty reward this mans vain purpose? or his just severity punish his inexcusable neg­ [...]ect of performance? Reader what thinkest thou? Even so saith God, Cast ye the unprofitable Servant into [...]tter darkness, Verse 3 [...] there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth; He saith not the Servant that never purposed, but the Servant that never did what he should have done, and so [Page 192] never profited. And on the other hand, it is not said, well thought, or well meant, or well purposed, or well intended, but WELL DONE thou good & faithful servant, Verse 21 thus David describing the Blessed man, sai h not onely that He meditates in the Law day and night, but also brings forth his fruit in his season; Psa. 1.2, 3, 4 But, saith he, the ungodly is not so.

Sect. IV.

thoughts no wayes right when wayes alway grie­vous Psalm 10 5THis then is a sure Rule. His Thoughts are no ways Right and Good, whose wayes are alwayes grievous, as the Scripture speaks. There is no such thing as GOOD MEANINGS, (a Delus ion that damns thousands) where there is no GOOD LIFE (as before ex­plained)saiah 32 8 The liberal saith the Pro­phet, deviseth liberal things, and by the liberal things he shall stand. 'Tis well when THOUGHTS [Page 193] and THINGS go together; other­wise the very Thoughts of GOOD or of doing GOOD, or of becom­ing GOOD, are not GOOD, be­cause they are vain, and Scripture reckons all VAIN THOUGHTS to [...]he wickedness of heart, and such a One as the continuance whereof excludes from Salvation; Wash [...]hine Heart from wickedness, Jerem, 4 14 that Thou mayst be saved, how long shall vain thoughts lodge within thee? Thoughts not onely vain when set upon vain objects but upon the best objects in vain, Now, Thoughts are VAIN, not [...]nely when set upon vain objects, [...]ut if they be placed upon the [...]est objects in vain, or to no pur­ [...]ose, as our Phrase is, when a [...]hing doth not reach its real or [...]ractical end, we say such a thing [...] to no purpose: and so pur­ [...]oses themselves may be said to be [...]o no purpose. How purpo­ses may be said to be to no purpose. They say in Philo­ [...]ophy, Frustra fit potentia quae nun­ [...]uam producitur in Actum, that [...]ower is vain that is never produced [Page 194] Act; so may I say in Divinity, Those Thoughts are vain that are never produced into Exercise or Operation, as the Drunkard who often thinks of amendment, but still turns like a Dog to his vomit, [...] Pet 2, 24 or the unclean Whoremonger, or Harlot in the Proverbs, that after her Vows and her peace offerings, Prov. 7, 14 re­turns with the Swine that was wash­ed to her wallowing in the mire, or as those in Malachy of whom the Holy Ghost thus complains,Mal. 2.13 and against whom he thus witnesseth, And this have ye DONE AGAIN, Covering the Altar of the Lord with Tears, with weeping and with cry­ing out, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, or receiv­eth it with good will at your hands. Not that we are therefore not to purpose, much less to purpose a­gainst purposing that which is good, but to take care to fulfil our purposes; for if they perish that [Page 195] go so far as this Text mentioneth, what shall be the end of those that come so far short of them, that come short of Heaven?

And so we come to

The IV. and Last Tryal.

WOuldst thou (Lastly)4 Tryal of Right thou­ghts by the Rule, know whether thy Thoughts be Right, Remember that RIGHT is a Relative word, and refers to proportion [...]nd Rule: As in THINGS so in THOUGHTS;

Est modus in rebus, sunt cert [...] enique fines,
Quos ultra, citràque, nequit [...]onsistere RECTUM.

THOUGHTS have their Mea­sures, SHORT, or OVER-LONG, cannot be RIGHT, but both ex­tremely WRONG.

Thy Thoughts are Right i [...] Regular, and conformed to Right measures: And here are two things to be presupposed to thy Right judgeing of thy Thoughts

Two things prerequired a Rule for Right thou­ghts.First, that thou think there i [...] a Rule for Thoughts; Secondly that thou have Right Thoughts o [...] the Rule.

Sect. I.

2. Right thoughts of the Rule.AS to the First, It was a so [...] spiritual Plague and Iudg [...] ment, A black vail upon t [...] heart, upon the Iewish Rabbin [...] and Expounders of the Law, th [...] they did not extend Its Rule [...] the Thoughts, but taught for D [...] ctrine, what we have in the Proverb, that Thoughts were FRE [...] [Page 197] (even in that sence) Mans Thou­ [...]hts from Gods Laws; Some of [...]hem are observed to have given [...]hat cursed gloss upon that Text, [...]f I regard Iniquity in my heart, Psal. 66, 1 [...] [...]od will not hear, God will not [...]ear; that is, say they,Rabbi Kim­chim loc. If it go [...]os [...] ther t [...]en my Thoughts, God [...]ill not mind, he will take no [...]otice thereof, nor call to any [...]ccount for it. And this made [...]hem think so w [...]ll of themselves, [...]e ar [...]se they thought no worse of [...]eir thoughts. Blessed Paul, Acts 22, 3 Paul brou­ght up at Gamaliels feet, Igno­rant of tho­ghts. [...]ough brought up at the feet of [...]amaliel a Doctor of the Law, [...]t was alive once, without the Law, [...]d gives this as the Reason, He [...]d nor by all their Doctrine, [...]w LUST;Rom, 7 9 He knew no that [...]ought sins were such sins unti [...]l [...] Commandment c [...]me in another [...]nner,Verse 9 and by another kind of [...]ching then ever he had from [...]m. For this was our Saviours [Page 198] great buisiness,till the Com­mandment came to him in Christs own teach­ing. Christs ex­position of the Law spi­ritual teach­ing thoughts Matth. 5 3 in that Incompa­rable Sermon upon the Mount, to vindicate the Spirituality of the Law, from their carnal and corrupt Dotages; they put the great stres [...] of the Rule upon the outward man He puts it upon the Heart also Poverty in spirit, he begins with that: He layes the breach of the Sixth and Seaventh Commandments in heart and though [...] as well as outward Act, Verse 8 Verse 22, 28 He condemns carking cares, Anxiety of thoughts. Chap 6, 25, 28, 31 'Tis strange indeed they should be so blinded, seeing th [...] very last of Gods Ten Words, Last Com­mandment goe [...] down to the very bottom of th [...] mind and thought, Rom 7, 7 Thou shalt no [...] COVET,Against evil Thoughts so that when the scale [...] were but fallen from the Apostle [...] eyes, He could easily see, in th [...] light of that Law, that THO [...] GHT was Sin;Rom. 7.14 He knew LUS [...] to be SIN then: He knows no [...] that the Law is Spiritual, Ye [...] [Page 199] and thus he Schools others [...],1 Cor. 4. [...] That ye might learn not to think above what is written. Gods write­ing is rule for mans thinking. Gods written WORD is the measure of mans Right THOUGHTS, yet e­ven some Heathens had some glimmerings of this, Deus est ani­mus, therefore mente colendus, God is a Spirit, and requires mental worship & conformity to his will: And this is indeed [...],Reasonable sence, Rom. 12, 1 what, Chap. 7, [...] our reasonable Service, when the Internal [...], THOUGHT and mind serve the Law of God.

Sect. I:

Secondly,

AS a man must have a Right Rule for his Thoughts so he must have Right Thoughts of [...]he Rule.Right thou­ghts of thy Rule: The Apostle speaks of [...]ome that Iudge the Law, James 4, 11 Take we [...]eed that we do not misjudge it. Therefore it is necessary that we [Page 200] look on the Spiritual Law with a Spiritual eye. 1 Cor. 2, 14 To carnal Thoughts the Right wayes of the Lord seem crooked and unequal, Gods right Rule why seems croo­ked to men, not that the Law is so, but because the medium is such through which it is looked upon; as if a man put part of a strait staff into the water, it appears crooked because of the inequality of the medium. All Gods Rule to Da­vid. But now a Right heart hath Right thoughts of the Rule, I esteem all thy precepts, con­cerning all things, to be Right. So we Read it,Ps. 119, 128 but the Text is, I esteem all thy precepts to be all right, All right, every one, and every way, Right. 'Tis true, There may be some kind of approving the things that are excellent, Rom. 2, 18 Some ap­prove some excellent things, And yet the Hear [...] not be Right; But if there be no [...] an approving of excellent thing the Heart cannot be Right; A bad Heart may think good of man [...] good ways as Herod, As Herod Mark 6 20 but a good hea [...] thinks good of every good way, [...] [Page 201] David. Then shall I not be ashamed when I have respect unto all thy Com­mandments. Psal. 119 6 But David all Gods Laws. Universal respect fair evidence, Men may have a fair respect to many of Gods Laws, yet have hard Thoughts of some. But an universal respect is a fair Evidence of Sincerity. For ALL SCRIPTURE is given by In­spiration of God, and is profitable for Doctrine, for Reproof, for Correction, 1 Tim 3.1 [...] for Instruction in Righteousness, &c.

THE Second Part.

Contents of the II. Part.

AN Introduction of particular Instances of Thoughts suited to their several Subjects according to Scripture Rule. 1. In thinking of Scripture it self. 2. Of Our Selves. 3 Of Others 4 Of Creature comforts. 5. Of Or­dinances. 6. Of Sin. 7. Of Holines [...] 8 Of Afflictions. 9. Of Temptation [...] 10. Of Persecutions. 11. Of the pre­sent Condition of Life. 12 Of th [...] present Time of Life. 13 Of Death 14 Of Judgement, 15 Of Eternitie 16. Of Angels, Evil, Good. 17 Abov [...] all in Thinking of GOD.

To have High Thoughts and Swee [...] Thoughts, but in all points Regular & Scriptural.

Of his Being, Highness, Holiness, Ʋnchangeableness, Unity, (yet Tri­nity in Unity,) Eternity, Omnipre­sence, Omniscience, Omnipotence, In­visibility, Terribleness and just Seve­rity, Truth and Verity, Loveliness and Goodness, not onely in his sparing Mercyes and means of Grace, but even in His Iudgements and Destruction of the ungodly; in the First Covenant, especially in the New; Covenant of Grace richest Theme for Thoughts. CHRIST the Object of Gods Eternall Thoughts, and of all good mens of Old, and of Angels, though Men otherwise concerned in Him than They. Imma­nuel, God with us, makes All in God Ours, Iustice, Holiness, Highness, &c. Gods Love in Christs Incarnation, Suf­ [...]ering. The Necessity and Excellent Vertue of Christs Death. Right Tho­ [...]ghts of Christs Righteousness Impu­ [...]ed. High Thoughts of Christ, sweet [...]houghts of Christ, Holy Thoughts [...]f Christ as the great Enemy of Sin, [...]hough friend of sinners Right thoughts [...]f God the Holy Ghost, High Tho­ [...]ghts of God the Spirit, in his Essence, [...] [Page 204] Subsistence, and Operations, Sweet Thoughts of Him and our high Obli­gations to Him, The finishing work in mans Salvation the Spirits, Holy Ghost the great Promise of the New Testament as Christ of the Old. Fruits of the Spirit sweet.

Thoughts For God must be Scriptu­ral as well as Of God.

Conclusion.

Exhorting to Self Reflection by and upon Our Thoughts.

Giving Motives and Rules for keep­ing Thoughts RIGHT.

THE Second Part. Which Contains an Induction of particular Instances of Thoughts suited to their several Subjects according to Scri­pture-Rule, and concludes with an Exhortation to self-Reflection, and Motives and Rules for keeping Thoughts Right.

NOw then suppo­sing a Man have a Right Rule for his Thoughts, & Right Thou­ghts of the Rule; The great inqui­ry for the Tryal of Thoughts is, whether they be suited to their several Subjects according to that Rule.

As for Example,

Sect. I.

Right thou­ghts of Scri­pture. Ador [...] Scri­ptura pleni­tudinem, Tertul cont. Hermog. See B. Taylor's Dissuasive from Popery 2 Tim. 3.15 16, 17 John 5.39IN Thinking of SCRIPTURE, that it is [...], All divine­ly inspired, and a sufficient Rule in all things pertaining to God and our Souls, Able to make the man of God perfect, throughly furnished to every good work, able to make wise to Salvation, and there­fore to be searched by every one that desires to be Saved; Search the Scriptures (saith our Saviour) for in them ye think to have Eter­nal Life, and they are They that te­stify of Me. Now to think other­wise of Scripture then we are taught by it, is to think strangely of it, which is a thing the great God takes strangely at their hands that do it, (a dishonour done to our Spiritual MAGNA CHARTA, the great Charter of our Salvati­on:) I have WRITTEN to Him [Page 207] (saith God) the GREAT THINGS of my Law, Hosea 8.12 but they counted them as a strange thing. Great things, in­deed must we needs think them, being sent from the Great God, confirmed by Great Works and Mi­racles, Many in Number, Exod. 8.19 Mighty [...]n Nature, John 11.74 uncontrollable and in­fallible in their Evidence, witnes­ [...]ed by Friends, confessed by Ene­mies, admired by All, in succes­ [...]ion of Ages attending the Holy Pen-men, and the Doctrine there­of.

And yet alas how strangely [...]ave these things of HOLY WRIT been thought of (even as [...]he Holy men themselves) as Troublers of States,Acts 24, 5, and movers [...]f Sedition throughout all the World, and as Ringleaders of all [...]ects and Schismes.) And there­ [...]ore 'tis the wisdom and the piety [...]f Poperie to take away this dan­ [...]erous Key of Knowledge from theLuk. 11, 52 [Page 208] Common People, and to per­suade that Ignorance is the Mother of Devotion, (they mean sure thei [...] own Devotion,) but God calls Ignorance the Mother of Destruction when he saith My People are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Hosea 4.6

Scriptures must be searched by All.But, thanks be to God, W [...] have not so learned Christ, as [...] dare to think that Book unfit fo [...] the study & reading of the meanest, which God hath ordaine [...] for making wise the simple, Psal. 119, 7 th [...] cryes to the simple turn in hither and declaredly puts it self (as may say)Magistrates into the Hands of a [...] sorts and sizes, conditions, age [...] and sexes,Deut. 17, 19 The Prince must re [...] in it all the dayes of his Life, a [...] think it his safety to take the T [...] stimonies thereof to be the M [...] of his Councel. Psa. 119, 24 Ministers, And the Office [...] in Gods House must be rea [...] Scribes in the Law of God, (as w [...] said of Ezrah, Ezra 7, 6) Yea, this is [...] [Page 209] Comfort of all the People of God to have this Word nigh them, People. Rom. 10, 8 even in their mouths, and in their Hearts, for saith the Apostle to Community of the People, Let [...]he word of Christ dwell in you richly, Col. 3, 16 that they through patience and com­fort of the SCRIPTVRES might have hope; Yea,Rom. 15, 4 this is their wis­dom (saith Moses) in the sight of all Nations. Deut. 3 6 Here none may think [...]hemselves too old to learn,Old, for David by this study came to un­derstand more then the Ancients; Ps, 115, 100 Nor too young neither,Young, for where­withall shall a young man cleanse his [...]ay? Psal. 119, 9 by taking heed thereto accord­ [...]ng to thy Word. Yea,Women, Children, and Women [...]nd Children are commended in [...]cripture, for their study and [...]nowledge of it;2 Tim: 3.15 Thus Timothy [...] commended for this that from a [...]hild he had known the Holy Scri­ [...]tures, continue in the things that [...]hou hast learned and been assured [Page 210] of (saith S. Paul)Chap. 1.5 knowing o [...] whom thou hast learned them (viz,) of Lois his Grandmother and his Mother, Acts 16.1 Eunice, which w [...] a Iewess and believed, but his Fathe [...] was a Greek.

And the truth is, for any on [...] to think that the Scripture is no [...] to be read by any but those tha [...] understand it perfectly, is t [...] think that it is to be read by non [...] till there will be no more need o [...] Reading it, for here the Able [...] and most knowing do know but i [...] part, Cor. 13.9 and do Prophesy but in part And therefore indeed it is that W [...] have this sure word of Prophecie [...] whereunto (we are to think that [...] [...] Pet. 1, 19 We do well to take heed as unto a ligh [...] shining in a dark place, until the d [...] of Glory dawn, and the Day. St [...] arise in our Hearts; the Interpret [...] tion and Explication of whic [...] word of Prophecie we are taugh [...] in the next Verses,Verse 20 not to seek ( [...] [Page 211] [...]ome do) from our own private [...]hansies,True mean­ing how to be sought, but by comparing the New Testament, with the Pro­ [...]hecies of the Old, Scripture with [...]cripture,1 Cor. 2.13 Spiritual things with Spi­ [...]tual, and in all our study and [...]ading most humbly to implore, [...]d believingly to wait for the [...]idance of that Spirit that in­ [...]ted and gave it forth, for as was [...]e Genesis, so must be the Analysis, 1 Pet. 1, 2 [...] [...]r it came not in old time by the will [...] Man, therefore may, by no [...]eans, be expounded by mans will, [...]t Holy men of God spake as they [...]re moved by the Holy Ghost. Acts 17.11 And [...]erefore the Bereans are highly [...]mmended in that they received [...]e word preached with all readiness [...] mind, and searched the Scriptures [...]ether those things were so.

He therefore that thinks rightly [...] SCRIPTURE, esteems it his [...]arling, to be laid in his Bosom, [...] be hid in his Heart (as the [Page 212] Psalmist speaks) the Incorruptible seed, Psa 119 11 whereby he was born again from the miserable state of Cor­rupt Nature;1 Pet 1.23 for the Law of the Lord, and the Testimonies of the Lord are they that convert the soul, and make wise the simple; Psal 1 17 the sin­cere milk, whereby he was nou­rished as soon as new born, and his strong meat when is grown up to be a strong man, for man lives not by Bread onely, He. 5, 13, 14 but by every word tha [...] proceedeth from the mouth of God▪ Ma th 4 4 Therefore when he finds thes [...] words, Jer. 15, 16 he eats them, as Ieremie Yea esteems them, as Iob, more the [...] his necessary food; Job 23:12 And as his fo [...] when he is well, so his Physic [...] when he is sick, 2 Tim. 1, 13 he holds fast th [...] form of sound words, [...], of healing words, so th [...] Greek; for God sends his word a [...] heals, and delivereth from destruc [...] ons; his Antidote against Inf [...] ction,Psalm 17, 4 for concerning the works [Page 213] [...]en (saith David) by the word of thy [...]ps I have kept me from the paths [...] the Destroyer; his weapon, when [...] warreth, for the Sword of the [...]irit is the word of God, Ephes. 6:17 and this as it that our Saviour foiled Sa­ [...]n with, and kept him off at the [...]oints end of, It is WRITTEN [...]aith Christ) thus and thus,Mat: 4, 4, [...], 10, 11 then [...]e Devil leaveth Him; his light [...]hen he walks or works by day, [...]d his Lamp or Lantern to his feet [...] night, his best friends Will and [...]estament, Heb: 9, 16 confirmed by the Death [...] the Testator; He takes Gods Te­ [...]monies as an Heritage for ever, Ps. 119, 111 [...]d thinks it less pernitious to the [...]orld to have the Sun plucked [...]t of the Firmament, then the [...]ble taken away from the sight of [...]e Sons of Men.

Sect. II.

Of our selves Rom. 12, 3 Low thou­ghts of our selves. 2 Co, 11, 11 With high thoughts of the Grace of God in & toward us. IN thinking of OUR SELVES for no man to think of Himself more highly then he ought to think but to think soberly, as God hath dealt to every man the measure o [...] Faith: not boasting beyond hi [...] measure, nor yet denying th [...] grace of God that is given to him The great Apostle speaks thus o [...] himself,1 Cor. 15.10 in Nothing am I behind th [...] very chiefest of the Apostles, thoug [...] I be nothing. He hath high thoughts of the Grace of God, yet [...] thoughts of Himself; Not I bu [...] the Grace of God with me.

Self Per­formances.And as we must think thus o [...] what we are at the best, so also o [...] the best that we can do, We ar [...] taught to say, and therefore t [...] think, that when we have done a [...] we are unprofitable servants. Luke 17, 10

And if we must think thus of [...]ur Regenerate self,Carnal self to be denyed what can we think of Carnal self, but that [...]t is to be denyed,Mat. 16.24 (if any man will [...]e my Disciple, let him deny himself) denyed in its Wisdom, in its wisdom 1 Co. 1 10 and 2, 14 which is Foolishness, for the Natural Men [...]eceiveth not the things of the Spirit [...]f God, neither can he know them; [...]nd therefore we must not think [...]f leaning to our own understandings: Prov. 3, 5 [...]n its Will, which is wickedness,Will. Galat. 5, 19 [...]nd perverse Rebellion, for the Flesh [...]asteth against the Spirit, and these [...]astings war against the Soul; 1 Pet. 2, 1 [...] Righteous­nesses, Isaiah 64, 6 in its [...]ighteousnesses, which are Rot­ [...]eness and filthy rags, for no Flesh [...]an be justifyed in the sight of God, [...]nd if we should say we are Righteous, Rom. 3, 20 [...]ur own lips would prove us perverse, [...]nd our own cloaths would abhor us; Job 10, 20 and ver. 3 [...] Strength [...]nd finally in its strength, which [...] weakness, for whilst we were [...]ngodly (saith the Apostle) at that [...]me we were without strength, Rom. 5, 6 and [Page 216] we have already seen, if we will think rightly of our selves, we must think that we are not sufficient, as of our selves, so much as to thin [...] one good thought. And there­fore we are to think in all this How is the Gold become Dross? Eccles. 7, 29 Man that was made upright, Rom. 3, 12 Oh how is He come short of the Glory of God and altogether become unprofitable His Destruction is of Himself, Verse 23 bu [...] his help of the mere Mercy, Hosea 13, 9 and Free Grace of God, for it is not of him that willeth, Rom, 9, 16 nor of him tha [...] runneth, but of God that sheweth Mercy.

Job 10, 3, 8But yet we are to think of our selves, as to our Natural Beings, that we are the works of Gods hands, though thus defiled and defaced by our sins; that Our Bodies are yet capable, [...] Cor. 6, 19 by Grace, to be made Temples of the Holy Ghost, and therefore that we are to possess these our Vessels in Honour and San­ctification; [...] Thes. 4, 4 [Page 217] And that our Souls are more worth then as many Worlds, Mat. 16.26 [...]or what shall a man give in ex­change for his Soul! That in neither are we our own, But in both bought with a price, and therefore that we are to glorify God both in our Bodyes and in our Souls, for both are Gods. 1 Cor. 6, 19 20 Self loue the standard of Love to others.

For certain it is there is a SELF that is to be tendred, as well as a Self that is to be denyed; nay the Love that we ow to It is made, both by Moses and Christ, Lev. 19 1 [...] the Rule or Standard of our loving our Neighbour, which is called the second great Commandment like unto the first, which is Love God,) Matt: 22 9 Thou shalt love thy Neigh­bour as thy SELF; First GOD, and [...]hen our SELF, and then our Neighbour as our Self; For the Rule hath a natural priority to [...]he thing Ruled; And therefore ye are to THINK thus of our [...]elves, 1 Cor: 6 18 that for a man to sin against [Page 218] HIS OVVN Body, (as the Apostle speaks) or to wrong HIS OVVN Soul (as it is in the Proverbs)Prov. 8 36 be­ing against that LOVE which Scri­pture makes the Standard of our loving one another,Sinning a­gainst our selves, greater then to sin aganst others is by so much greater then our sinning a­gainst, or wronging others; for Charity may & must begin at home, though it must not end there. And therefore as we have already in­timated that self deceipt is the worst deceipt, and self Murder the worst kind of Murder, so I might adde that in this (as in some other Respects, as is largely observed by Mr. Capel in his choice and rare Treatise of Temptations) SELF Pollution is a more hainous kind of pollution, then many perhaps are aware of, and so in other cases:

And therfore we are to THINK All those SELF-Tormentings used by IDOLATERS of an elder [...] Kin. 18, 28 [Page 219] Date (as was the manner of the Priests of Baal to cut themselves, till the blood gushed upon them) or by others of a later Edition, yea and All those SELF-Neglectings so much magnifyed by a new Sect of Self justitiaries sprung up lately a­mongst us, whose Religion lyes so much in Touch not, tast not, Co: 2:21:22 handle not, &c. after the Do­ctrines and Commandments of Men;Verse 20 as the Apostle concludes them to be unscriptural, when he calls them Worldly Rudiments, Verse 23 though he confesseth them to have a shew of wisdom in Will Wor­ship, and humility and NEGLECT­ING the Body, [...] (or not sparing the Body) not in any Honour to the sa­tisfying of the Flesh; so are we, I say (by the same Apostolical Authority) to think them UNNA­TURAL, for he expressly saith,Eph. 5, 28, 29 He that loves his Wife loves HIM­SELF, for no man ever yet hated [Page 220] his OVVN Flesh, but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the Church. So that we are to think these things so far from justifying us in the sight of God, as that he condemns them, and will con­demn all that trust unto them.

Sect. III:

Right thou­ghts of o­thers,IN Thinking of OTHERS, some are short in estimating some men,1 Cor. 4, 1 Let a man therefore (saith the Apostle) so account of us as of the Ministers of Christ, and Stew­ards of the mysteries of God. Some think too highly of some, (there­fore saith he again,Not under what was written.) Who then is Paul, or who is Apollo, but Mini­sters by whom ye believed? 1 Cor. 3:5 and this was spoken That they might learn in them not to think of Men above what was written, nor above, and not be puf­fed up for one against another. Chapter 4, 6 On [Page 221] both hands there are great Evils;Others bet­ter then our selves, Philip. 2, 3 We may think others better then our selves, but none better then the word declareth. 'Tis a great sin to cry up the Greatest, Acts 12, 22 as the people did Herod; And on the other hand to despise DOMINION,Jude 8 Eccl. 19, 20 or to Curse the KING in our very THOUGHT.

Sect. IV.

IN Thinking of CREATED COMFORTS,Of created comforts, as the Apostle Paul, 1 Tim 4, 4 All good every creature of God is good, &c. and of our selves in re­spect of them, as Iacob, I am not worthy of the least of all thy mercyes: Gen. 32, 10 Our selves unworthy of the least, yet the greatest not e­nough, Psalm 4, 6 without Christ, yet not to think them the chief good, or the best of them good enough for the pretious soul to sit down with. Many will say, who will shew us any good? But Lord lift thou up the light of thy countenance, &c. Yea doubtless, Phil, 3, 7, [...] and I account [Page 222] all things but loss, and do count them but [...], dogs meat, (not mans meat.) All things of all sorts, civil advantages, Church priviledges, &c. as nothing for the Soul without Christ) that I may win Christ. Happiness not in have­ing, but in having san­ctifyed, These, I say, were his thoughts of the highest hu­mane attainments, of Outward Church Priviledges, of Crea­ture Enjoyments in the World; And so not to think Him happy that hath them, but that hath a sanctifyed title to them,1 Tim. 4▪ 4 and san­ctifyed use of them, If they be san­ctifyed by the Word and Prayer. Job 31, 25 27 If I rejoiced because my Wealth was great, and because my Hand had gotten much, and my Hand hath been secretly enticed, or my Mouth kissed my hand; He did not think himself to be the better or the happyer, for being the wealthy­er; 'twas the gain of the heart,Heavenly [...] true not the Gettings of the Hand that [Page 223] Iob estimated to be true treasure. I have esteemed the words of his mouth, Job 23, 12 more then my appointed portion, so the Margin, then my necessary food, so the Text. No doubt he accounted that good too,Psal 49 85 but not the chief good, not a suffi­cient good for his Soul, for the Redemption of the Soul is pretious, It ceaseth for ever. And (Alas! thinkes a Man that knows the worth of a Soul,whole world not worth a Soul, Mat: 16, 26) what is a man profited if he gain the whole world, and loose his own Soul?

Sect. V.

IN thinking of ORDINANCES,Right thou­ghts of Ordinances what: as the good ways of God, to be gone in, not rested in: He thinks not so greatly of the Gift, as of the Altar sanctifying the Gift; Mat: 23: [...]9 of his attendances upon them, as they are performances of his own, but as appointments of God, for the [Page 224] Communication of Himself to the Soul.Good ways to be gone not rested in One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after, that I may dwell in the House of the Lord all the days of my life, to see the beauty of the Lord, Psal 27, 4 &c. not the beauty of the House (though that was very beautiful) and to inquire in his Temple; not onely the way to his Temple, but to the sight and fruition of him in his Temple.

Sect. VI.

Right thou­ghts of sin, What: greatest evilIN thinking of SIN, as the onely contrary to the Supream good: Therefore Iobs Friends would have fastened it on him, as a Brand of insincerity, that he had chosen Sin rather then affliction. Job 32, 21 The Inhabitants shall not say I am sick, Isai. 33, 24 for the people that dwell there shall be forgiven their Iniquitie, They shall think all well, when [Page 225] sin is done away. Sin, in a good mans Thoughts, is the very Gall of bitterness, the very core of all [...]roubles, the very sting of Death [...]t self, and the very Hell of Hell. 1 Co: 15, 56 And as he thinks Sin the worst of Evils,Heart sin worst, so Heart sin the worst of sins, that Root of bitterness, that Plague of the Heart, Hebr, 12:15 that desperate­ [...]y wicked thing, that cannot cease [...]o Sin, 1 Kin: 8, 38 that Law in the Members [...]hat wearyes them to commit I [...]i­ [...]uity, Jer: 17:9 yet it self is unweariable, [...]nd unsatiable as Death and Hell, Rom. 7:23 and therefore called the body of Death) which never saith it is [...]nough. Ierem: 9:5 Habak: 2:5 'Tis this evil that makes [...]ood men cry out of themselves [...]s of the chief of Sinners! Rom: 7:24 For [...]hatsoever they know of others, [...]s to other Evils, they know [...]ore of this by themselves then [...]y all the world. 'Tis this Evil [...]at makes many a man thought [...]umble by others, cry O my pride! [Page 226] count mortifyed by others, cry O my potent passion! Spiritual wickedness, my strong cor­ruption! my unruly Lusts! how many a man is there of unblemish [...] life that is weary at heart of his own Heart, yea of his very Lif [...] because of the evil of his Heart [...] his spiritual pride, fithiness o [...] Spirit, 1 Cor. 7 1 Earthly mindedness, Spirit [...] lusting to envy, James 4 1 with the spiritua [...] wickednesses abroad in the world as Hypocrisie, Heresie, &c.

Yet no sin so great an Evil as Christ a good.But yet though he think Si [...] (Root & branch) to be the greatest Evil, yet not so great an evi [...] as Jesus Christ is a Good; nor so mighty (though mighty) to destroy,Hebr 7 25 as He is (Almighty) ab [...] to save, He thinks Sins demerit great, Christs merits greater, whereby he is not onely secure [...] from Hell, but to be saved i [...] Heaven. And therefore He ma [...] plead even the greatness of his sin as an argument for his Pardon, Psal. 25 11 because [Page 227] He thinks the great Salvation to be so much the greater, that it triumphs most in the spoils of the proudest sinnes, in the thing wherein they have dealt proudly to be still above them. When Sin groweth up unto the Heavens, Ezek: [...] 6 Gods mercy (in his Son) is above the Heavens; Psal, 208 [...] As when the wicked one is great that is in the world, 1 John 4 [...] yet greater is he that is in the Saints than he that is in the world.

Sect. VII.

IN thinking of HOLINES,Of holiness Isaiah 25 8 not onely way to, but pa [...]t of hap­piness. not onely as the high way to (as the Prophet calls it,) but also [...] principal part of Happiness; the Duties of Holiness, to be the Beau­ [...]ies thereof; Its Practice, Psal. 1 Privi­ [...]edge, Its Performances great re­ [...]ards: Its inchoation,Philip. 3 2 [...] an Heaven [...]pon Earth; Its Consummation [...]nd perfection,1 John 5 3 the very Heaven [Page 228] of Heaven: And therefore Its Commandments not grievous, Mat 11 30 Its Yoke easie, Its Burthen light.

S [...]ct VIII.

of Affliction not so evil as sin.IN thinking of AFFLICTIONS, though Evil, not so Evil as Sin, and therefore their being Sanctifi­ed desireable,Good to the go d rather and more the [...] their removal: Evil in themselves yet good to the good, and for th [...] making of them Better; Psalm 119 67 71 Its goo [...] for me that I have been afflicted before, I went astray, but now I hav [...] learnt thy precepts: sharp and bitter twigs,Hebr 12 11 bearing sweet Fruit peaceable Fruits of Righteousness A Fathers Rod,Verse 10 profitable 1 Kin 17, 18 Monitors of our froward­ness, but Fruits of Gods Faith­fulness and Love not for his pleasure, but VERILY for our profit that we may be partakers of his holiness: Remembrancers of ou [...] Sin, yet not so much products o [...] his Iustice, Power, and Soveraignty, as Fruits of his Faithfulness [Page 229] (I know O Lord that thou in Faith­fulness hast afflicted me)Psa. 119 75Tokens of his Love (as many as I Love I cha­sten) Revel. 3 19 Payments of our Legacie left us by Our crucifyed Lord, a litt [...]e before his Death (in the World you shall have tribulation) John 16 33 and confirm­ [...]d thereby (For if they did so in [...]he green tree, Christ Le­gacie, Matt 10 25 If such things befal [...]he Master, 'tis sufficient for the [...]ervant to be as his Master, and as [...]is Lord) And all to make Man [...]ore humble in himself,For many good ends more aw­ [...]ul of God, more careful to please [...]m, more fearful to offend him, [...]ore conformable to Christs suf­ [...]ings, more contemplative of his [...]fferings, more compassionate and [...]ow feeling as to others, Sin [...]ore bitter, Christ more sweet, the [...]orld more contemptible, Death [...]ore desireable, Heaven more de­ [...]htful, and glorious Grace more [...]mirable in the Saints, thus trou­ [...]d on every side, yet not distressed; 2 Cor 4 8 9 [Page 230] Cast down, but not destroyed; a burning Bush, yet not consumed; in fiery Furnace, yet receiving n [...] hurt; nay more that the very fier [...] Chariot of affliction should be pre [...] for the service of carrying the [...] to Heaven, their very tribulatio [...] made the door for their entring i [...] to the Kingdom of God. Acts 14 22 And ther [...] fore the Scripture counts the happy which endure, James 5 11 and 1 2 and teache [...] us to count it all joy when we fall [...] to divers temptations.

Sect. IX.

Of Tempta­tions 1 Pet. 4, 12IN thinking of TEMPTATIO [...] not as strange (or as though so strange thing had happened) but common to men, 1 Cor: 10:13 yea the best men,Heb. 11:37 They were tempted (saith [...] Apostle)Best tempt­ed: yea the worst of th [...] to him that was more then M [...] who himself suffered being temp [...] Hebr: 3:18(and that in all points as we ar [...] [Page 231] that he might know how to succour [...]hem that are tempted. chap. 4, 15 Christ him­self in all points, Lust of the Flesh. Lust of the Eye. Mat. 4.2 3 Verse 9 pride of life In all points; To the Lusts of the Flesh, Thou art Hungry, Make these [...]ones Bread; To the lust of the Eys, [...]hou art poor, (Thou hast not a [...]ole where to lay thy head) All these [...]ill I give thee; To the Pride of [...]ife, Thou pretendest high, prove [...]hat thou pretendest; shew thine [...]uthority,Verse 3 Command Stones to be [...]ade Bread; If thou be a King, [...]t us see thy Court, Verse [...] thy Heavenly [...]uard, and that the Angels are deed but thy Ministers; If thou the Son of God, do something [...] other, that ordinary men ei­ [...]er cannot, or at least dare not do, [...]ver fear to die like a man, Cast [...] self down, and let us see whe­ [...]er Angels will bear thee up. Now [...]ll that is in the world is the Lust the Flesh, 1 John 2, 16 and of the Eye, and [...]de of Life. And as the wind of [...]mptation thus blew all the points [Page 232] of the World, Compass, so also also all the points of highest and most hideous aggravations;Christ tem­pted with temptations base & sor­did, most base and sordid, transgress for a morsel o [...] Bread, sell thy Birthright for a meal meat, break thy Faith with God, that thou mayest break thy Fas [...] with the Devil;Bloudy and unnatural. Most bloudy and unnatural, if thou wilt not brea [...] thy Fast, break thy Neck, Cas [...] thy self down; Most Hellish an [...] Horrid, Hellish and blasfemous, If thou wilt not, or cans [...] not prove thy self to be the So [...] of God, disown God, and ow [...] me for thy God, Fall down an [...] Worship me; Matth 4, 9 and is the Nature o [...] Man capable of any rhought mo [...] hideous, injections more bla [...] and blasphemous then such a [...] these?Highly sub­til and de­ceiptful. And yet for all this, A [...] points too of highest subtilty an [...] hellish deceipt that spiritual wic [...] ­edness could possibly hatch [...] imagine:Profit and pleasure. This Hell of Tempt­ [...]tions must not onely be covere [...] [Page 233] over with a Paradise of pleasures,Verse 8 the World and all the Glory of it, but also with an Heaven of Scripture-warranty, Cast thy self down, wrested Scri­pture, for It is written, &c.Verse 6 and so thou mayst shew thy Faith, without hazard of thy Life; nay of most High, Glorious, Good ends, Good ends pretended, the Manife­station of his Divinity, the Credit of his Ministry, the Glory of God in having such a Son, the Glory of Christ in having such a Father, (And all this in a seasonable point of time when all this was chal­lenged, and called boldly in que­stion by the great Goliah, that at the very first word, defyeth the Living God,Verse 3, 6) If thou be the Son of God, &c. which is as much as prove it if thou canst. Thus was Christ Tempted in all points, there­fore well may the Tempted think thus of his forest Temptations, ‘These are thornes in my Flesh, 2 Cor. 12.7 but no other then what were platted [Page 234] together by Satan, and worn as a Crown by my head and Saviour;Saints temp­ted onely if need be, And now ordered by his hand that they cannot touch me soon­er or longer then need is for the Pricking of my puffing pride, 1 Pet. 1.6 1 Cor. 12.7 the tryal of my Faith, the excercising of my Patience,1 Pet. 1.7 and experiencing of me by it; the exciting of my watchfulness, Revel. 3.10 the spirit of Prayer in my self, and the Spirit of meek­ness in the restoring of others (when they are overtaken in a fault, Rom. 5:4 1 Pet. 5.8 2 Cor. 12.8 consi­dering my self least I also be tempt­ed,) Gal, 6 1 The teaching of me to know more throughly both my self and my Saviour; and for ex­cellent ends both where my weakness, and where my strength lyeth; That I am but a Reed sha­ken with the wind, that Christ is the Rock, higher then I; yea high­er then the highest; that when the proudest Temptations dash a­gainst it, shall be car­ried through all. they are broken by it, that his Grace is onely sufficient for [Page 235] me, 2 Cor. 12:9 and that his strength shall be made perfect in my weakness, and that God is faithful who will not suffer me to be tempted above what I am able, 1 Co 10.13 but with the temptation will make a way to escape; For the Lord knowes how to deliver out of Temptations; 1 Pet: 2.9 And therefore,May tri­umph over all: though now in my minority, I may think of the day when I shal be at Age, the time appointed of the Father; Galat. 4, [...] Though now in my Apprentiship, that I shall be one day made Free from mine infir­mityes, and Temptations, and therefore I will even now Glory in mine Infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me; 2 Cor: 12.9 for when am I weak then am I strong, nay, in these things, Verse 10: I am more then Conquerer, through Christ strengthening me.’

Sect. X.

Of Persecu­ti [...]n, our Patrimony,In thinking of PERSECUTIONS for Christ, as part of a Chri­stians Patrimony (Ye shall re­ceive an hundred fold in this life with persecutions.) Mark 10, 30 Honour, An Honour to be counted worthy to suffer, a Gift to be able to suffer,Acts 5, 4 [...] as well as to be­lieve, Phil. 1.29 (to you it is given.) And therefore he is so far from think­ing that he merits by it,Gods gift, therefore cannot me­rit: as that he is but so much the more beholding to God and to Christ for it. He thinks losses for Christ and the Gospel to be gain, Loss, gain, the spoiling of his goods to be joyfully taken, Heb. 10, 34 A [...] knowing in himself that he hath in Heaven a better and more induring substance. Disgrace riches, He esteems disgrace for Christ, the highest Honour i [...] the world,Heb. 12.26 and the Reproach o [...] Christ greater Riches then the Treasures of Aegypt.Verse 24 He refuseth to [Page 237] dwell in the Tents of Wickedness, to have his portion in this life, Persecuted happy. Verse 25 He chooseth rather to suffer Affliction with the people of God, then to enjoy the pleasures of Sin for a easson. Mal. 3, 15 Those whom men think to be the happy men,Prosperous miserable. (who call the proud happy,) having ONLY their portion in this life, Those that prosper in the world, that increase in Riches, Psal. 73 12 that boast of their Wealth, Psal 4 9, 6 that say they are rich and possessed with goods, Verse 18 &c. Such He thinks Poor, and Wretched, and Miserable, and Blind and Naked. And those whom such men think the off scouring of the World, The dispised excellent, He thinks the Excellent of the Earth; And whom they think unworthy to live in the world,1 Cor. 4.13 He thinks that the World is not worthy of them. Psal. 16, 3 He thinks his Life not too much,Heb. 11.38 nor too dear for Christ, nay not enough if it want the sincerity of his Love, Acts 20, 24 and therefore labours as much [Page 238] that his heart and love be found flaming towards him,Persecution not enough without love 1 Cor. 13, 3 as (if he call for it) to give his body to be burnt for him.

Sect. IX.

Right thou­ghts of the outward condition of life.IN thinking of his present CON­DITION of Life, that his Lines are fallen in the best place for him, that his own food is most conveni­ent for him, Prov. 13.8 That Sauls Armour would not suit him, That ano­thers Condition would not fit him;As fittest for us, 2 Sam 15.4 not as Absolom, O that I were Iudge in the Land. He thinks it is his duty to be contented with such things as he hath, Hebr. 13.5 without co­veting anothers: And thinks it his Relief,Content­ment, with­out covet­ousness. that the less money he hath, he may go the more upon trust; The less he finds in his purse, Thinking of the promise seek the more in the promise of him that hath said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee; Psal. 23.5 The [Page 239] Lord is his Shepheard, and he thinks he shall not want; And therefore he will trust in the Lord and do good, For suply: And he thinks verily that he shall be fed, psal [...]7 3 or Truth shall be his feeding; (as some read) so that he thinks no man can take away his livelihood, unless he can first take away Gods truth.

Sect. XII.

IN thinking of his present TIME of life,Right thou­ghts of the present time of life: as the time of his sojourning here, and therefore to be passed in fear; in fear, least he should come short, 1 Pet. 1.17 nay or seem to come short, at his going out of the World of that which he came in­ [...]o it for,Hebr. 4.1 the working out of his [...]wn Salvation, and the saving of [...]thers, pulling them out of the Fire, To be past in fear that work may be done [...]nd both with fear; with fear [...]east his day be done, before his [...]ork be done; least his Glass be run,Phil. 2.12 [Page 240] before his race be run; least his accounts be required, Jude 23 before they be stated; with fear, and yet in hope, that though his time be lit­tle, and his work great, 1 Cor. 9.24 yet if he be up and doing, the Lord will be with him; Luke 16.2 And therefore as he that plows, Before time done Time, for work. plows in hope, so he when he prays, prays in hope, and repents in hope, &c. For to him that is joined to all the living, there is hope. therefore be up & doing 1 Chr. 22.16 So that his fear i [...] a spur to his hope, and his hope a bridle to his fear; That despair d [...] not run away with him,A time for every work and Cas [...] him quite down, so want of hope Nor presumption make him loiter and loose both his time, Eccles. 9, 4 and his sou [...] for want of Fear. He thinks ther [...] is a time for every purpose unde [...] Heaven; Therefore hope while time no roō for dispair, And therefore thinks h [...] can I find a time for Eating an [...] Drinking, and Sleeping, buy in and Selling,Eccles. 3.1 Building and Plan [...] ing, Marrying and giving in Ma [...] riage? [Page 241] and is there not a time,time for best purposes, Rom. 13.11 Hos. 10 12 2 Pet. 1.10 nay a high time to awake out of sleep? A time to seek the Lord, to make my calling and election sure, &c. surely there is a time, therefore there is hope; And no room for desperation; And but a time, But a time therefore no place for presumption there­fore no place for Presumption. But a time, and therefore that time is most pretious, (God measuring [...]t, to us onely by moments, Time preti­ous measu­red by mo­ments Ephes. 5.16 as we do pretious liquors by drops,) and therefore to be redeemed, and so imployed in looking out for a pre­tious Christ, and in looking after the pretious Soul.

Sect. XIII.

IN thinking of DEATH,Right thou­ghts of death to the Vnbelievers and Hypocrites, as a King of Terrors, Job 18, 14 a grave of their hopes, which will then be as the giving up of the Ghost, chap. 11.20 as the falling [Page 242] of the Tree (that must lie till judg­ment, as then it falls: Eccl. 11.3 No work there, Luke 16.16 nor devise, no wisdom, no calling upon God with hope of help, or promise of pardon; As the fixing of the gulf, (no passing, no returning, from a state of tor­ment, no means of Grace, no hope of Glory any more) as a cruel Jailor haling the Soul to the dreadful Tribunal of God, and then to the Tormenter & Execu­tioner, even to him that hath the power of Death, Hebr. 2, 14 the Devil: And alas, how many thousands of black, yea bloody self merthering mouths shall then come to have their woful wishes, before they thought of it, when God shall damn them, and the Devil take them.

Prov. 14 32But to the Righteous (that hath hope in his death) a King of terrors too, To the god­ly what but with a broken Scepter; A Serpent, but without a sting; A ghastly countenance with an open [Page 243] mouth, but without teeth; A sturdy Porter, yet standing onely to open [...]hem their Fathers door. The Saints Bed maker, hard-handed,Isai 52 10 [...]et that makes their beds soft and [...]asy:Hos: 13, 4 An Enemy frighted into a [...]riend by him that is the very [...]eath of Death, Col. 3, 41 but the believers [...]ife. So that their dying is but [...] entring into peace, a resting in [...]eir beds, and from their labours, Isaiah 57.2 [...] Sins, Sorrows, Cares, Fears, [...]emptations, Afflictions, Perse­ [...]tions, Sicknesses, Pains, wants, [...]eaknesses, wearinesses, doubts, [...]fficultyes; nay of Dutyes, of [...]stings, watchings, tears, which [...]ll then be wiped away, and done [...]ay, as to the labour, not rhe [...]ward, Rev. 14, 13 for so their works follow [...]m.

Sect. XIII:

Of judge­ment, Psal. 49 14IN thinking of JUDGEMENT▪ As that glorious morning where­in the upright shall have Domini­on, shall sit with Christ on Thrones, judging the World, Mat. 25 19, being openly justifyed themselves, and se [...] as Sheep on the right hand of God and Proclaimed by Christ th [...] Blessed of his Father; 2 Cor. 6, 2 As that glorious meeting of that spiritualize body with its blessed Soul, and s [...] with Christ, and with Abraha [...] and Isaack, Mat. 2, 34 to the sheep and Iacob, and all to Saints, to be dissolved, divorced divided, dissipated, dispersed n [...] more.

1 Cor. 15 44 Matth. 8, 11Mean while those Goats on t [...] left hand, that burned with Lus [...] shall burn with horrour inwardl [...] shall be accused,Mat. 35, 33 and 41 accursed, se [...] tenced and condemned openl [...] And, as they would not ind [...] [Page 245] the Sheep to live by them in the World,to the goats they shall go by them­selves, shall not come into the Con­gregation of the just, and as they [...]oved Cursing, It shall now come into their Souls, and like Oil into their bones. And so their miserable [...]odyes (made vessels of wrath, fitted to Destruction,Rom 9.22 wide to re­ [...]eive it (without spilling,) strong [...]o hold it (without breaking,) be­ [...]g reunited to their tormented Souls; shall together be parta­ [...]rs of Misery (as they formerly [...]ad been of Sin) unto all Eterni­ [...]

Sect. XV.

[...]N thinking of ETERNITY,Of Eterni [...]y Right thou­ghts of it, as that which is so shortly approach­ing, and nearly concerning every [...]e, that he thinks it strange that [...]y one should almost think of [...]y thing else, for thinking of E­ternity; [Page 246] But that he think a­gain of that World of Atheisme that is in the World, never fully to be confuted, But by death and Judgement; and oh, thinks he,Atheists in this world what a sad thing it is that they are [...], we read without God in the World, but th [...] word is, Atheists in the World yea but as soon as ever they go ou [...] of the World, Eph. 2, 12 No Atheists to Eternity, they continue Atheists no longer. Those tha [...] would not believe that there wa [...] a God, and a Christ, by his patience and providence, by his preserving them, and proffering t [...] save them,Shall see there is a God & Chr, shall then see th [...] there is a God, and a Christ to [...] (every eye shall see him) and fe [...] that there is a God by his terrou [...] taking hold upon them; Rev 1, 7 Mal 3, 19 Then sh [...] they return and discern (thou [...] they would not see the Lord when [...] hand was lifted up in his word a [...] works in the World) they shall [...] [Page 247] and be ashamed. Isai. 26, 11 Psal. 58, 11 So that a man shall say verily there is a GOD. And [...]hose that would not believe that [...]here was a Devil, by their daily [...]onversing with him, and his in­ [...]luencing them, by his filling their [...]earts, because they say they ne­ [...]er saw him,Feel there is a Devil, shall then certainly [...]now they are with him, as he [...]nows now that he is with them; [...]or,In hell share stake with him, as he shares stakes with them [...] sin, they have their part, and [...]e hath his part; so shall they [...]e forc't to share stakes with him [...] Hell,Mat. 25, 91 for they shall have their [...]rtion with the Devil and his An­ [...]ls. And Oh thinks he,As he with them here in sin, how [...]ill the dainty Dives, and the [...]eless and delicate Daughters, do [...] spend that Eternity? That must [...]ve so many devices and diver­ [...]ements, Playes and Pastimes, [...]h!Misery of the wicked wretched word that thinks [...]) and all to wear out the te­ [...]usness of a little time. To [Page 248] spend that Eternitie, when th [...] smoak of that bottomless pit, Rev. 14, 10 11 must be their onely Air, to breath in Fire, their Food; Brimstone▪ their Perfume, full Viols of Divine wrath, their Drink; Astonishment, their Wine; Bitter weeping, and flowing Fountains, an [...] ever Running Rivers of Tears, Mat. 22, 13 i [...] stead of their Rich Baths, and pleas [...]nt Springs,Luke 16, 28 and artificial Fountains; And wailing, yelling, and howling, their onely Musick; And so other mens torments an accessio [...] to their pains. Rom. 1, 32 As they had take [...] pleasure in other mens sins (whic [...] made Dives so loath of his Br [...] threns Company as we may we [...] think.) The Books must be opened in stead of their pleasing Pla [...] Books, Rev. 20, 12 and Romances, Gods Book and the Book of their Conscience [...] (that they never could endure i [...] all their lives to look into) mu [...] now be pored upon by them, b [...] [Page 249] the Fire of Hell, without inter­mission, recreation or other diver­sion; and the wanton Eye, that buisy and unsatisfyed Gazer upon every thing (but the Bible)Mat. 25, 30 must be (otherwise) imprisoned in ut­ter darkness for ever;Psalm 12, 4 And the Lordly tongue that must needs be their own, shall be their own to tor­ment them; as formerly set on Fire of Hell with a world of wicked­ness, so now of woes; James 3, [...] Red hot then with Rage against God, and re­vilings of his Saints, now burning with flames, Luke 16, 24 and not receiving so much as one single drop of cold [...]ater, that was wont to swim in Wine, and for that bewitching [...]nce of touch, its dalliances and de­ [...]ghts, there shall onely succed [...]ose hideous gnashings of teeth, and [...]awings at Heart, in the woe [...]at never ceaseth, and by the worm [...]at never dies. And thus, Ah [...]inks he,Josh. 8, 7, 16 as Joshua taught the men [Page 250] of Succoth with the Thornes and Bryars in the Wilderness,) The He­brew is, He made them to know; to know who he was, and to know what they had done, in de­spising his Messengers, in reject­ing his motions, &c.) so will Ie­sus teach the Atheistical World with tortures to Eternity, and make them to know who He is,2 Chr: 36, 16 whose Messengers they mocked, Psal. 50, 17 whose Laws they cast behind their backs, Prov. 1, 3 [...] whose Councels they hated, and would none of his Reproofs.

eternal hap­piness of the Saints,But thinks He on the other hand, of those in whose Hearts are the ways of them that are the holy Pilgrims, the true Travail­ers, that declare plainly that they seek a Countrey, (viz) an Heavenly, that can say of a good Sermon Lord evermore give us of this Bread of a lively stirring Sacrament,John 6, 34 a Soul-humbling Confession an [...] Prayer, an Heart raising Meditation, [Page 251] 'tis good to be here; that think the present time too short, and their Hearts too narrow, to hold enough of God and Christ; what a blessed state will they count that, when the perfecting of their holiness, and so of their spi­rits, and the changing of their vile bodies, Heb. 12, 23 Phil. 3, 21 and the fashioning them like unto Christs Glorious Body, shall wi­den them as much from the straits of their hearts, as Eternity shall do from the straits of time, And so they shall have as much of God and Christ as their heads & hearts can hold, and these shall hold as much as they can desire, without interruption, or Change, [...]or: 12, 7 or fear of Change for ever, [...]ev 10, 12 for they shall EVER be with the Lord.

Sect. XVI

Right thou­ghts of An­gels,IN thinking of ANGELS, The EVIL as many in Number, (though for the undividednes of their Kingdom) called the Devil and Satan; Evil, worlds God, As the Worlds God, yet Gods Slave; having sinners in his chain,1 Cor: 4.4 Sinners his Slaves 2 Tim: 2:26 Works in their Will, Ephes. 2, 2 Taken Captive by him at his will, yet cannot force their Will, though he work effectually in their Will, 'tis with their Will (for his Lusts will they do,) nay cannot so much as find out their Riddle, except he plow with their own Heifer, nor know their actual thought, but with it, (that's Gods Prerogative Royal I the Lord search the Reins, [...] 44) but (as the cunning Angler doth the nibling of the Fish at the Bait un­der water, John 6, not [...], by the motion of the Cork and Quill above water,) by some little outward indication o [...] the minds inward motion; as whe [...] [Page 253] Cains countenance was fallen, Gen 4, 5 Gen. 3, 3 He knew he was very wroth, and so hurryeth him to Murther; and by Eve's minceing the Threaten­ing (least ye die,) when God had said ye shall surely die) and by her eying the forbidden tree, Verse 6 He knew she had a months mind, as we say, to the Fruit. Thus when he seeth the eys of the Adulterer full ( [...]) of the Adulteress, 2 Pet: 2.14 he easily perceives how the Game goes; and so in other cases; yet that he is Himself much more in Gods chain, Gods slave in his chain Jude 6 and reserved & kept therein (ever since he left his first estate) and shall be to the Iudgement of the great day; 2 Pet. 2, 4 And therefore though he vex and disquiet, buffet and tempt, 2 Cor: 12, 7 and ac­cuse the Brethren before God night and day; Rev: 10, 12 and though he set his Cloven foot, the foot of his Pride, upon the greatest part of the World,1 John 5, 19 so that the whole World [...]eth (as it were) [...] in [Page 254] the very Maw, not jaw onely, of that wicked one; yet shall he never be able to hinder Christ, or to hurt the true Christian; but as a Lvon in the Grate, though his roaring be terrible, 1 Pet. 5, 8 yet his reach is but short; Rev. 12, 12 and he knows it, there­fore we may think it; Nay be­cause he is but a Slave in Gods Chain, therefore all his tugging at the Oar, shall but promote the purposes of Gods grace for his own Glory, and the good of his cho­sen; and 2, 2 and (as Ionah in the Whales belly was said to be as it were, in the belly of Hell, yet was afterward cast up alive upon dry ground) the Devil shall be forced to disgorge his Prey, and leave all Gods E­lect safe upon the shore. Shall the Prey be taken from the Mighty, Verse 10, o [...] the lawful Captive delivered? Bu [...] thus saith the Lord, Isai. 49, 24, 25 even the Cap­tives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the Prey of the terribl [...] [Page 255] shall be delivered, for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy Children. So that after longest and sorest Tem­ptations and Assaults of the great Red Dragon, the Old Serpent, Rev 12, 3, 9 the Deceiver of the World, the Lyer & Murtherer from the beginning, John 8, 4 with all his Policy and Power, Rage and Experience,James 4 7 He shall be forced to flee from those that resist him by Faith, as he left Christ; Then the Devil leaveth him, and the ANGELS,Matt. 4, 11 Good An­gels, (viz) the GOOD Angels, came and ministred unto him.

And such indeed even Ministring spirits, Hebr: 1, 14 ministring spirits to the Saints, in­numerable, must we think them [...]o be, even all of them sent forth for the good of those that shall be Heirs of Salvation. So that all the [...]nnumerable company of (Good) Angels, that ten thousand times ten [...]housand, and thousands of thou­sands, Chap. 12 12 are even all of them sent [Page 256] forth for the Good of them that are Good; to right their wrongs, and to relieve their necessityes, Rev: 5, 11 to Guard and Protect their Persons while they live, 2 Chr: 32 21 to attend their Souls when they Die, 1 Kin, 19, 5 Acts 12, 7 and to ga­ther their dust together at the day of Iudgement, Ps 91, 11:12 Luke 16.22 Mat. 21, 31 a comforta­ble thought and the Harvest of the end of the World. And there­fore it may be a comfortable though [...] to Believers, that they have in­numerable invisible friends, 2 Chr. 6, 17 Psal. 103, 20 to oppose to their visible and invisibl [...] Enemies, Angels of God excel­ling in strength, Heb: 1, 6, 14 Rev. 19, 10 worshipers o [...] Christ, not to be worshiped them­selves; and Servants of the Saints,& an awful thought, therefore called their An­gels; And an awful thought too, as one would not do any thing uncomely in the sight of an Ex­cellent person, Matt: 18, 10 so neither to admi [...] any thing unseemly for Saints, though no man should see them because of the Angels. 2 Cor: 11, 10

Sect. XVII.

ANd above all in thinking of GOD, to have High, Right thou­ghts of God Holy Reverend, yet withal De­lightful, Affectionate and Com­fortable thoughts, but in (all points) Regular and Scriptural. For thus saith the Scripture, Let him that gloryeth, glory in this, Ierem 5, 20 that he un­ [...]er standeth and knoweth me, that I AM THE LORD which exercise LO­VING KINDNES, JUDGEMENT and RIGHTEOUSNES in the Earth, for in these things I DE­LIGHT, saith the Lord. When [...]he mind is thus intent upon this most glorious Theme of Thou­ghts, the most Glorious LORD, [...]n his Essence, (I am the Lord,) in [...]is Atributes & Operations (which [...]xercise Loving kindness,Psal: 45, 13 Iudge­ment and Righteousness) then is his Kings Daughter All glorious [Page 258] within, 2 Cor: 3, 18 for We All with open face, beholding as in a Glass the Glory of the Lord, are changed into the same Image, from Glory to Glory, as by the spirit of the Lord.

The Heavenly mind is an Hea­ven-like mind; Right thoughts of Him whose Name is I AM,Exod: 3, 14 and whose Title is THE LORD, must needs resemble Heaven in pureness and clarity,Amos 4, 13 (for He declareth to man what is his THOUGHT, and must be thought of by Man just as He declareth, Ps: 113, 4, 5) yea rise above the Heavens in Celsitude and sublimity (for his Glory is above the Heavens) and be dapled, (like Heaven, with Love and Holy Ioy (because of his loving kind­ness,) and with Reverence an [...] Godly Fear (for his Iudgement & Righteousness,) and with deligh [...] in all these, the Exercise of al [...] which is his Delight. For though [...] the Lord be High, Psal: 138, 6 yet hath he respec [...] [Page 259] unto the Lowly, and as He conde­scends to think of us, so also (pro­vided we do it regularly) to be thought of by Vs.

To begin then at the beginning of all things, we are instructed by Scripture, to think that GOD Is,High thou­ghts. God most HIGH and that he is the MOST HIGH, and therefore to have high Thou­ghts of him as of the Holy one that inhabiteth Eternity; Hebr. 11, 6 HE is higher then the Highest, Gen. 14 18 To whom there is none like, no equal, Isai. 57, 15 none to be compared, That cuts off the Spirit of Princes, Eccles: 5, 8 Isaia. 40, 18 25 That is terrible to the Kings of the Earth, That doth whatsoe­ver pleaseth him in Heaven and in Earth, in Seas and all deep places; Psal. 76, 12 That giveth no account of any of his matters: Psal. 135, 6 That is high above the the Earth, and exalted far above all Gods; High above the Nations, Job 33, 13 yea His glory above the Heavens; High above our Services, Psalm 97, 9 for our Goodness extendeth not to him; Psal. 113.4 [Page 260] high above our Praises, Psalm 16, 2 nay above Blessing and Praise (Mens or An­gels,Neh: 9, 5) And therefore that we can never think high enough of God, but in Thinking that he is too high for our Thoughts. no [...] thought of G od high enough Canst thou by searching find out God? Canst thou find out the Almighty to perfection? Job▪ 1, 7, 8, 9 It is high as Heaven, What canst thou do? But that God is abov all thoughts Deeper then Hell, What canst thou know? The measure there­of is longer then the Earth, and broader then the Sea. And yet they think amiss that think Him, as some do,Yet minds the lowest & least things, too high to mind the low­est matters (non vacat exiguis.) Some think it a disparagement to his Highness that He should mind and order every minute action, motion, inconsiderable worm o [...] fly, the stirring of the hand, o [...] moving of the foot, &c. but al [...] these must be left without parti­cular providential concourse, and all in respect (as they think) to [Page 261] his Highness, But Scripture teach­eth us to think, that not onely in him we live, but move, Acts 17, 28 as well as have our being; Nay that He pre­serveth Man and Beast, Psalm 36, 6 that a Spar­row doth not fall without him, Mat. 10, 29 That he takes away their breath when they die, Psal. 104, 29 gives them their Food while they live; Nay that not onely our members book'd by Him,147, 9: and but even our Hairs, the very Hairs of our Head numbred, 139, 16 and all this no dif­ficulty nor diminution to him whose understanding is infinite. Matt 10, 30 Psal: 147, 5

Sect. XVIII.

TO have Holy and Reverend Thoughts of Him,Right and Reverend Thoughts, Psal. 111, 9 for HO­LY and REVEREND is his same, and therefore to Sanctify [...]e Lord God in our HEARTS,Isaiah 8, 13 that [...] be our Fear, and that He be our [...]ead, Gods eyes pure and pierceing, as He was the FEAR of [...]ack. To think Him a God of [Page 222] purer eyes then to behold Evil, H [...]b: 1, 13 or that He can look upon Iniquity, (viz) without loathing; And yet to think Him a God of such pierce­ing Eyes, as that he beholdeth the Evil and the good, Job 24 21 22: for his Eyes are upon the wayes of Man, and He se­eth all his goings, there is no da k­ness nor shaddow of death where the workers of Iniquity may hide them­selves; Dan: 10 6 for his Eyes are as Flames or Lamps of Fire, Psa 139 12 and unto him the night shineth as the day, Neither i [...] there any Creature that is not mani­fest in his sight: Hebr. 4 13 But all things a [...] naked and open in his sight with whom We have to do.

Sect. XIX.

God un­changeableTO think him God VNCHAN­GEABLE, without Passion Perturbation, Variableness or so much as shaddow of turning Though as a Vesture, Jam. 2, 17 he shall chang [...] [Page 263] both the Foundations of the Earth, Ordering all changes laid by himself of old, and the Hea­vens, the work of his hands, and they shall be changed; Psa, 106, 20 and mean while orders all Changes under the Heavens and in the Earth; He prevaileth against man for ever, Job 14, 2 and he ceaseth; He changeth his Countenance, and sendeth him away; chap. 23, 13 But as for Himself, He is of one mind, and who can turn him? Do Sinners provoke me to anger? Jerem. 7, 9 [...]ith the Lord, Do they not pro­ [...]oke themselves to the Confusion of [...]heir own faces? Job 35, 6 so that If thou sin­ [...]est, what dost thou against him? [...] if thy Transgressions be multi­ [...]yed, what dost thou unto him? [...]ough thy wickedness may hurt a [...]an as thou art, &c.

Yet withal to think him a God holy, Yet seems as moved with Sin, hating sin so infinitely, at He is said to be angred, to be [...]voked, to be grieved, Psal. 106, 32 and 43 to be [...]xed, to be made to serve, Heb 3, 10 to be [Page 264] wearyed, Isaia. 63, 10 to be burthened, nay even to be broken by it.and 43, 24 I am broken (saith God,Amos 2, 13) (with their whorish heart; yea, a God so Gracious, as that He repents himself for his Servants, Ezek. 6 9 Saints suf­ferings, Deut. 32, 36 Jer. 31, 20 Isaiah 62 9 His bowels are troubled for them, and in all their Afflictions he is Afflicted with them.

Sect. XX.

TO Think Him the ONELY true GOD,Onely God John 17, 3 2 Cor 16, 26 (and the Gods of the Heathen but vanity, Idols, and by Nature no Gods,) The Only Wise God; Gal. 4.8 Rom. 16 27 1 Tim. 6, 15 16 The hlessed and onely Poten­tate, who onely hath Immortality, who Alone is Holy, And there i [...] none good but HE, And therefor [...] no GOD hut HE;Levit 16, 4 Matt 19, 17 Deut. 6.4 Hear O Israel the Lord thy God is but ONE GOD

Unity yet TRINITYThat the Being is One, th [...] Substance undivided, and yet th [...] Subsistence distinguished;Psalm 2.7 so th [...] the Father is not the Son, but B [...] [Page 265] gets him; The Son is not the Fa­ther, but Begotten of him;Hebr. 1, 5 The Holy Ghost is neither the Father nor the Son, John 1, 14 but proceedeth from both,chap. 15, 26 (The Spirit that proceeds from the Father, whom I will send, saith Christ,) yet these three are God, 1 John 5, 7. and yet God is but One, for these three are One, without Division, Composition, or Confusion. And O how High, and Holy, High thou­ght. and Re­verend ought the Thought to be that receives this Mysterie? And therefore to help his weak Thou­ghts in this, The Believer per­haps fixeth his Thought on the Sun in the Firmament,Sun & Soul of man short shad­dows of this Mysterie, where he finds light, heat, and motion, yet but One Sun; or to come nearer both to the Thing and Himself, He thinks perhaps of the Soul in his Body, where he finds an Vn­derstanding, Will, and Memorie, yet but One Soul. But alas, thinks he, these are short shadows, and [Page 266] dark resemblances of so great and high a Mystery, for that light is not the Sun, though it be Sun­light, &c. and that Vnderstand­ing is not the Soul, but the Souls understanding power or facultie; But Jesus Christ is the LORD, and the Holy Spirit is GOD, and yet to us there is but One God, 2 Cor. 8, 6 and One Lord. But this He thinks, That All that is IN God (Eternally,All in God, GOD. Imminently, Unchangeably) must needs be God, As verily He thinks that GOD Is. And that God the Father hath a perfect KNOVVLEDGE of Himself in Him­self, God knows Himself This also He cannot but Think; and that this Knowledge, WISDOM,Wisdom or WORD is God, because it is IN the Father, who is God;Prov. 8, 22 23, 25 John 1:1 Word V. 30 Image of God: And further, that He cannot but LOVE Himself, whom He thus Knows, and seeth in tha [...] express Image of Himself, begot­ten in Himself; And this Imag [...] [Page 267] o [...] begotten WORD being in God, Hebr. 1, 3 Loves Him­self. and therefore being God, cannot love God again; And this Infinite, Mutual liking, Loving and good will Proceeding from Both, Fathers love to the Son declared by the H Ghost and being in Both, cannot but be, what Both are, (viz.) GOD Thus We see, when there was a visible manifestation of the Di­vine complacencie (with a loud voice from Heaven, saying, Verse 16, This is my beloved Son in whom I am mell pleased.) The Word being now made Flesh, It was made by the Descending of the Holy Ghost, like a Dove, from the Father, and rest­ing on the Son. But Alas, after all, thinks He of Himself,Mysterie ex­ceeding thought, who is he that hideth Counsel without knowledge? Therefore have I thought that I understood not, things too wonderful for me, which I knew not. Yet is to be thought, for God is able to do above thought. God hath indeed told me that THESE THREE are ONE, And [...]f I cannot tell how to think it, yet [Page 268] I will think it; Eph. 3.26 For seeing Scri­pture teacheth me to Think that he is able to Do exceeding abun­dantly above all that I can think, Therefore is above tho­ught. well may I Think that He Is a­bove All that I can Think;T [...]inity one in w [...]rking, yet each his peculiar work [...] And therefore though it be above my thought 'tis the fitter (seeing He saith it) to be thought of him, that is so much above me. These three thus gloriously but mysteriously, coequally, coessentially and co­eternally One, must be thought also to be One in Working as well as Being, John 5, 17 19, 20, 21 Phil. 1:19 compared with 4:19 and yet each one to have his own peculiar work. Thus Gods supplying by Iesus Christ, is called the supply of the Spirit.

Sect. XXI.

God onely properly E­ternal.THis God We must think a [...] ETERNAL Being, and nothin [...] properly Eternal but God; Created Spirits, Angels, and Souls o [...] [Page 269] men (and the bodyes of these raised Spiritual bodies at the last day) being Onely Ever-lasting; Psa. 106, 48 Psalm 90:2 But from Everlasting to Everlasting thou art God; Art not thou from Everlasting, O Lord my God? Hab. 1:12 And as if God were making answer to this Question, saith He, Hearken O Jacob, and Israel my Called, [...]sa ah 48 12 I am He, I am the First, I also am the Last, I am the First, I am the Last, chap. 44:6 and besides Me there is no God, Verse 8. (and after saith He,) Is there any? I know not any. There is no Eter­nal,Jerem. 2 32. no First and Last but God onely: And therefore Our First Thoughts and Our Last Thoughts, Hebr. 7. [...] yea and all Our Thoughts should be of Him, and for Him. Thoughts should be Lasting where the Theme is Everlasting. But O burning shame that We should forget him days without number who hath neither Beginning of Days, nor end of Life, but is Eternal.

Sect. XXII:

Gods Im­mense omni­presence fil­ling all thingsTHoughts also must be Holy and Reverend of the Infinite Immensity, as well as Eternity of this one true God, His OMNI­PRESENCE filling all things, Hell with his glorious Justice and Severity, Heaven with the glory of his Grace,Psalm 33:5 Earth with his Goodness, Patience, and Provi­dence; If I ascend up into heaven thou art there, Ps. 139, 8, 9 If I make my Bed in hell behold thou art there; If I dwel [...] in the utmost parts of the Sea, even there shall thy hand lead me. Je [...]. 23:23 24 Am I a God at hand saith the Lord, and not a God afar off? Can any hide himself in secret places that I shal [...] not see him? saith the Lord, do [...] not fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord. And 'tis repeated so, that the Lord saith this, because vain men do so little think of this▪ Thus [Page 271] doth he fill all things, but is con­tained of none; contained of none: But will God in very deed dwell with men on earth? be­hold heaven, and the heaven of hea­vens cannot contain thee. 2 Chr. 6:18 Alas! How should it? Can a Man be contained in his own Span,Isai: 48, 13 My right hand hath spanned the heavens, saith God. Alas how little can Our very Hearts hold, or Our Thoughts contain, of this Great God! now the less we can com­prehend, the more and the great­er should our Admiring Thoughts be.

Sect. XXIII.

HE is also to be Holily and Reverently remembred in the Immensity of his Wis­dom and OMNISCIENCE as well Omni-presence,God All-wise omnis­cient. That He is All Wise, as well as Onely-Wise, that knows us,knows Us▪ better then we know [Page 272] our own Hearts,1 John 3.20 who is greater then our hearts, and KNOVVS all things He knows whereof we are made, Our frame: his eyes did see our substance heing yet imperfect, Psa. 103, 14 Psa. 139, 16 He books our members; He knows wherein we have sinned,Our Sins he looks narrowly to al [...] our paths; and sets a print upon the heels, Job 13 27 (or as the Hebrew, upon the Roots) of our feet; And as he books our Members, so he bags ou [...] Sins;ch. 14 16, 17 Thou numbrest my steps dost thou not watch over my sin? my transgression is sealed up in a bag [...] and thou sowest up mine Iniquitie But then he knows our Sorrow [...] too as well as our Sins,Our sorrows thou te [...] lest my wandrings, Psalm 56:8 put thou my tear into thy Bottle. Thou seest how have Sinned, observe how [...] mourn; and indeed he doth so [...] I have heard Ephraim bemoanin [...] himself. Jer. 31.18 I saw him sinning, a [...] I hear him groaning. He th [...] hath a Book for our Members, [Page 273] Bag for our Sins, hath a Bottle also for our tears. He knows our Soul in sin, and he hath (saith David) known my Soul in adversity; Psal. 31 Our nee [...] [...] Matth. 6.8 So that he knows also whereof we have need, Our heavenly Father doth so, even before we ask, as he knows our sins before we confess. He knows the way that we take, Job 23 10 and [...]e knows what way to take with [...]s,2 Pet. 2 9 He knows how to deliver if we [...]e Righteous, All Man. And how to reserve [...]he wicked to the day of Iudgement [...]o be punished. 1 Co [...]. 3.20 He knows the [...]houghts of the wise, the way that [...]hey take (yea though they dig [...]eep to hide their Counsel from the [...]ord, Isaia. 2 5 15) and knows too how to [...]ke them in that way that they [...]ke, so that the Wisdom of the [...]orld is foolishness with God, 1 Co. 3; 19 as it is [...]itten, he taketh the wise in their [...]n craftiness, Be they Men,knows how to being good out of sin. or [...]evils. We must think him a God [...]holy as that he would never suf­fer [Page 274] Sin in the World, and so Pit­tiful and Gracious that he would never suffer sorrows and suffer­ings on his Saints,ufferings but that he is a God so WISE that he knows how to bring Glory to himself▪ and good to his Chosen, out o [...] All,Psal. 74 14 to break Leviathans heads, and to make it Food for his People As the Apothecary would neve [...] suffer so many Poisons in his shop but that he knows one way or other how to make them to conduce to the honour of his Art, An [...] good of his Patient; for known unt [...] God are all his works from the begining of the World: Acts 15:18 And his way [...] are higher then our wayes, becau [...] his Thoughts are also higher th [...] our Thoughts, as the heavens a [...] high above the earth; [...]aia. 15 18 So that the [...] is no searching out of his understan [...] ­ing. Isaiah 55 9 chap. 40 28 James 1:5 And therefore think, If a [...] man want wisdom, he is to ask it God; Would I know my Sins [Page 275] Lord make me to know my Trans­ [...]ression & my Sin! Job 13.23 Would I know [...]he measure of my days, how frail I [...]m, Lord make me to knew my end, Psalm 39 4 [...]o teach me to number my dayes as [...]hat I may apply my heart unto wis­ [...]om; Psal 9.12 would I know thy Path of Life, Lord shew it me; Psal 16 11 In thy light shall see light; O send out there­ [...]re, thy light and thy truth, Psalm 43, 3 let [...]hem lead me, and bring me to thy [...]oly hill, O thou Father of lights,James 1.5 [...] whom there is no darkness at all,

Seing therefore that we are [...]o light our Fire at this SVN, 1 John 1.5 All wisdom to be sought of God, but onely in means and measure prescribed, his Parent of Lights, who affords [...]s the Burning Glass of his Word [...]or our help herein, We are to [...]ink thus, surely, of his Wisdom, [...] we will think of it rightly, [...]hat as we are to be thankful for [...]e Means, so contented with [...]e Measures of KNOVVING that [...]e prescribes and allows, inas­ [...]uch as they are such as are able [Page 276] to make us WISE to Salvation; 2 Tim. 3.15 for he hath expressly cautioned us [...],Rom. 12.3 Nè quis sapeat supra quàm oportet, &c. (for so Beza, vulg. &c.) no [...] to be wise above what we ought, bu [...] to be wise unto sobrietie.

I know indeed that there is i [...] corrupted man a Natural desire to KNOW, Rom. 1.25 but it is to study th [...] Creature more then the Creator, wh [...] is blessed for ever; to pursue th [...] Science of other things, while [...] the EXCELLENCY of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord, Phil. 3 8 i [...] neglected, All which Natur [...] Knowledge should designedly b [...] made subservient to such a Spir [...] tual end as the holy Psalmist pu [...] sues in his ASTRONOMICAL ob­servations,Psal. 8 3, 4 When I consider (sait [...] he) THY heavens, the work of t [...] fingers, the Moon and Stars whic [...] thou hast ordained, What is M [...] [Page 277] [...]hat thou art mindful of him? &c. [...]ut when Solomon himself who [...]new more,1 Kin. 4 29 in Naturals,Eccles. 2 12 then any [...]eer Man, since Adam, casts up [...]e total sum, he tells you that [...]hat he did arrive at by all [...]is knowledge was to know [...]is, that the increase thereof is [...]e increase of sorrow, chap. 1.18 and most [...]otorious it is that ever since, [...]ho so comes nearest to him in [...]at point of knowledge, troublesom­ness & un­certainty of natural law­ful know­ledge. doth so [...]kewise in that part of experience. [...]las how long have some of us [...]een learning how ignorant we [...]e? And how great is his Wis­ [...]om that hath lock'd up from us, [...] the intricate labyrinths of vexati­ [...]s uncertainty, the knowledge of [...]at which he finds so apt to draw [...] from him, who make so little [...]ght use of so much that is clear­ [...] revealed, being sufficient in its [...]nd to draw us to him? Deut, 29:2 [...] We know [...]ere it is said that secret thing [Page 278] belong to God, but things that ar [...] revealed belong to us, and to ou [...] Children; Acts 1▪ 7 that it is not for VS to KNOW the times and seasons th [...] the Father hath put into his ow [...] power; 2 Pet. 2.18 But grow in Grace, and i [...] the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ, John 17, 3 for this is life Eternal, &c.

Sinfulness of affecting to know by familiar spi­rits, WizardsBut besides a natural and lawfu [...] (if duely moderated an [...] ordered) Desire of natural knowledge, there is a desire of knowin [...] such things, and by such means as we are to think sinful an [...] Satanical, being no way approved in the Word or the Wisdo [...] of God;Isaiah 8.19 such is theirs, who s [...] unto them that have familiar spiri [...] and unto Wizards that peep, a [...] that mutter (as 'tis expressed [...] the Prophet Isaiah) or that use [...] vination, Ezek. 21, 21 that consult with Te [...] phim, that look into the liver, (th [...] is, the intrals of Birds or Beast [Page 279] [...]s Ezek. speaks) to direct actions or [...]oretel future events thereby.Iudicial A­strolog [...]. So [...]lso we find a severe and black [...]r [...]nd fastened by the Scripture [...]pon ASTROLOGERS, Star gazers, Isa [...]. 47, [...] [...]d Mon [...]hly Progn [...]ticators, and [...]ch as are draw [...] by th [...]m from [...]heir sole D pendency [...]s upon God; for admit we forbear to [...]y that here is Science f [...]lsly so called, 1 Tim. 6, 2 [...] [...]s the Apostle speak [...], whose [...]rinciples and Co [...]clusions are [...]ertainly uncertain,Its unce [...] ­tainty and deluso [...]y [...]or the Conjunctions & Aspects [...]f the STARS being the same when [...]vers Children are c [...]nceived or [...]rn in thesame Place and instant [...]f Time, (as in some great and [...]pulous Cityes,) how come they [...] divers and contrary Fortu [...]e [...], to use their own phrase) some [...] live longer, others under the [...]me Stars to die sooner, some to [...]e and die in Wealth, H [...]no [...], [...]d Prosperity; Others born [...]n [Page 280] the same article of time, and und [...] as auspitious and benigne [...] H [...]n [...] to a [...]fe of Misery, and a death [...] Shame; or to adde, that undeny [...] ble experience frequently confu [...] the most positive Predictions fro [...] the most acurately erected Sc [...]en [...] and of the most confident Practi [...] ­ners and Masters in these curio [...] Arts;Pernitious­ness Curiosity of forbidden knowledge, Admit, I say that som [...] gratification might indeed be [...] pected to the curiosity and pri [...] of Knowing mo [...]e then others, [...] then otherwise we could possib [...] arrive unto,Our first Ruin, say the Tree were to desired to make one WISE,Gen. 3 6 yet [...] thinks the Burnt Children of E [...] should Dread that Five that G [...] will certainly make even of a [...] of KNOVVLEDGE if a Forbid Tree; Verse 17 and certainly were [...] BOOK of GOD admitted in [...] [...]owe [...] into the hearts and mi [...] of Men,Acts 19 19 it would bring [...] BOOKS OF [...]L [...]IOUS ARTS [Page 281] the prevailing Gospel sometimes did, to be burned in the Fire, in­stead of the Authors, and such as trust to them who are (except they repent) doom'd to the same Condemnation by the same;Isaia, 47, 13 14 Book of God, for of Astrologers, Star­gazers, and monthly Prognostica­tors saith God by the Prophet, BEHOLD, they shall be as Stubble, the Fire shall burn them, &c. read [...]lso Deut. 8 to 16.

Sect. XXIV.

TO have High, Holy,omnipoten [...] and Reverend Thoughts of Gods OMNIPOTENCE as well as Omnipresence, and Omnisci­ [...]nce, Job 42, [...] He fils all things, and knows [...]ll things, and saith Iob, I know, [...] Lord, that thou canst do every [...]hing, and that no thought can be [...]itholden from thee; or, (as it is [...]ad in the Margin) no thought of [Page 282] thine can be hindred; mine canno [...] be hid, thine cannot be hindred Seeing now, saith God, that I even I am he, and there is no Go [...] with me: Deut. 32, 39 I kill, and I make alive I wound, and I heal: neither [...] there any that can deliver out of min [...] hand, (and thinks the Believin [...] Soul further, neither is there an [...] that can hinder thy hand from del [...] vering. Isai 43, 10 11, 13) Ye are my Witnesses, I, eve [...] I, am the Lord, and besides me the [...] is no Saviour, Yea before the day w [...] I am he, and there is none that c [...] deliver out of my hand: I will [...] and who shall lett it? He, and H [...] onely hath power after the body [...] killed, to cast the Body and Soul i [...] hell, therefore we should fear hi [...] He also,Num He onely speaks in Righ [...] ousness, mighty to save, and the [...] fore we should trust in him. S [...] would hinder, the great guilt Sin, but saith Faith, let the p [...] of my Lord be great in pardon [Page 283] sin, Sin would hinder, the Domi­nion and prevailing power of sin; and O thinks the Soul; 'tis im­possible I should ever be rid of such strong Lusts, that my proud heart should be made humble, my froward heart be made pati­ent and meek, my filthy heart made clean, my worldly heart made H [...]a [...]enly; but thinks Faith▪ what things are impossible with men, Mat. 10, 26 [...]re possible with God, Rom. 6, 14 who hath [...]aid th [...]t Sin shall not have Domini­on over us, and that He subdueth our S [...]ns under us, Micah 7, 19 Jer. 32, 14 who hath great power, and a stretch [...]d out Arm, and t [...]ere is nothing too hard for him, Amos 5, 12 [...]o not an hard heart; In one word, it thinks Sin Mightie, but God Almighty; Satan,Gen. 17, 1 a Prin­ [...]ipalitie and a Pow [...]r, Ephes. 6, 2 [...] but the God [...]f Peace able to bruise Satan under [...]e weak feet of the Saints, Rom 16, 20 and to [...]o it shortly; Antichrist Rampant, [...]he Woman upon the scarlet BeastRevel 23, 3[Page 284] Triumphant, and 17:6 especially when All the World is wondring after the Beast, yea the Saints wondring, though with abhorrencie; and yet even then He thinks that in one hour he shall utterly fall, Revel. 18, 8 and be destroyed Everlastingly, because strong is the Lord GOD that judgeth her. He hath chosen the weak things of the World to confoun [...] the Mightie,1 Cor, 1, 26He calleth the things that are not, as though they were; can make a Worm to thresh the Mountains, Isaia. 41, 14 is able of stones to raise up Children to Abraham,Mat. 15 39 Ezek. 37, 3 to make dry bones live, dead witnesses revive; Rev. 11, 11 yea for this cause usually suffers a sentence of Death, 1 Cor. 2:9 and so will he recover and make to live: for as the foolishness of God is wiser then men, Isaia. 38, 16 so the weakness of God stronger then Men; 1 Cor. 1, 25 He can do what he will do, and by what means he will do, He can send a noise and trouble, and a word and heal; [...] Kin: 19:7 Stars in their courses [Page 285] to fight against Sisera,2 Kin. 19 7 Psa 107, 20 and th [...] dust of the Earth to Plague Pharaoh; Th [...] Hornet to chase the Amorite, Josh. 24.12. and Raven to feed the P opheth; 1 Ki. 17, 4 6 can dry up the Sea, and make a path for his pe ple, 1 Co 10 1, 4 and strike the Rock into a River, and make it both flow for [...]hem, and follow after them;2 Pet. 2 16 He c [...]n reprove a Prophets madness by [...]n Asses mouth; 1 Cor. [...] 22 and by the foolish­ness of Preaching convert a sinner, [...]nd save a Soul; He can silence [...]he Oracles by the crying of an Hebrew Child in a Manger;cessant Ora­c [...]ia d [...] [...]hi [...] Psalm 8▪ 2 and [...]ut of the mou [...]hs of Babes and Suck­ [...]ings ordain strength to still the Eue­ [...]y and Avenger; Hebr. 2 [...], 34 out of weakness [...]e makes strong, y [...]a to them that [...]ave no might he renews fl [...]ength; He makes the little one like Dav d,Isaia: 40, 29 [...]nd David as the Angel of the Lord.

Then lift up thine eyes on high, Isaia. 40 [...] O my Soul, and beh [...]ld wh [...] hath [...]reated all these, that b [...]ingeth out [Page 286] their host by number, He calleth them all by their names, by the greatness of his might, Psalm 8 5 [...] for that he [...]r [...]ng in pow r not one f [...]aleth. Speak thou al [...], O my Soul, of the glory [...]f his Kingdom, and ta [...]k thou of his P [...]w [...], to make he Sons of Men to know his mighty acts, Psalm 29, 1 and the glo­rious Majesty of h [...]s Kingdom. And Give unto the Lord ye mightie, give unto the Lord Glory and strength, Be w [...]se by the Wor [...]s that told h [...]m to his face,Acts 22, 23 that he was [...] their Brother, and should i [...]stantly die like Man, whom the shout of the people cryed up for a God; and learn (O thou Man of Sin) who opposest and exaltest thy self above all that is called God, [...] Th. 2.3, 4 [...]r that is wor­shiped, so that thou sittest in the Temple of God, shewing thy self that thou art God, Even learn in him that was once in the Chair, [...]ala [...] [...], 18 that there needs but Gods hissing for a fl [...]e to stop thy mouth of Blasphe­mies. [Page 287] B [...]hold he tak [...]s away, who can hinder him? Job 9 4 who will say unto h m what dost thou? He is wise in heart and mighty in strength; Verse 12 13 And if God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do st [...]op under him. But alas, Who can utter the mighty acts of the Lord? Psal 106, 2 who can sh [...]w f [...]rth all his praise? Indeed Great is the Lord, and greatly to be feared, Psal. 145▪ 3 but his greatness is unsearchab [...]. Go on, O my Soul, to admire what thou canst not utter; and think this at least of what God is able to do,Ephes. 3: [...] that he is able to do above that thou canst think.

Sect. XXV.

TO think also,God Invisi­ble but to think holily, and with awful Im­pressions upon our Hearts, [...]f thi INVISBLE Lord God, [...]welling in light which no man can [...]pproach vnto, [...] Tim: 6.16 whom no man hath [Page 288] seen, nor can see; No Image to be made of God of whom they saw no similitude in Horeb; There­fore saith God, take go [...]d heed to your selves, D [...] [...] [...] least ye corrupt your selves, & make you a graven Image, or the similitude of any figure, and 24, 24 &c. for the Lord thy God is a consuming Fire, even a jealous God. So th [...]t the making of any shape of God, though men may pretend they do it to advance God in their thoughts, Images no help to god­ly thoughts or to help them in their thoughts of God, whether it be by Hand or Heart, W [...]rk or Thought, IMAGE or IMAGINATION, doth nothing conduce to the making man Z [...]alous, but God jealous; nor to the stirring of the Fire of mans affection to his Maker, but of Gods Indignation against his Crea­ture; whom whilst vain man pre­sumes to measure by his vain mind, He denyes him to be God, for he is not God except he be greater then our hearts. And thus [Page 289] [...]he old Romans changing the glory of the incorruptible God into an Image, Rom. 1, 23 are charged not to like to [...]etain God in their knowledge; A [...] Text of Scripture that cuts off every Dagon by the very stumps; for whilst this is pretended as the great use of Images, Pictures, banish Gods knowledge▪ shapes and Figures, to help the ignorant, to keep God in their minds, to be Lay-mens Books, to help De­votion, to heighten Holy thoughts, The Text saith expressly that as these come in, God goes out; because when they knew God they glorifyed him not as God, Verse 22 24 but be­came vain in their IMAGINA­TIONS, their foolish heart was darkened, and that in this parti­cular, professing themselves to be wise, Verse 22 they became fools: so the Ido­ [...]atrous Israelites, make us Gods [...]hat may go before us, These be thy Gods, O Israel; Say they to the Golden Calf, Ex 32, 5, 4 and Aaron built an [Page 290] Altar before it, and made Proclaim­ation, and said to morrow is a Feast to Jehovah. (A Ghostly device to keep God in peoples minds,) those very Images that they made to be HELPS in Worship,Jehovah [...]ooked at [...]hro [...]gh the [...]iol. (for we see there was an Eye, through the Image to Iehovah exclude God out of their knowledge, and Con­clude them to be such as liked not to retain God in It; And seeing this comes in as a Charge upon Pagan Rome, [...]gan, [...] [...]ome ex­ [...]uded from [...]e know­ [...]dge of God [...] Images. when they wanted the discoveryes of this invisible God, & Glorious Christ, which they after received by this great Apostles Ministery, and other blessed helps; for even before this, saith God, you had better Books, then Pictures or Images, to have read me by, for the invi­visible things of God from the Crea­tion of the World are clearly seen, being unde [...]stood by the things that are made, [...]rse 20 even his Eternal Power [Page 291] and Godhead, so that they are with­out excuse; I say, After that Faith is come, (which is the Evi­dence of things not seen (that spiri­tual Eye that sees him that is invi­sible) for Rome called Christian, Hebr. 11, 1 Verse 27 having received the Light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, 2 Cor. 4, 4 who is THE IMAGE of God, to return to dumb Pictures, Images,Rome Papal censured, Doctrines of Doemons, &c. may give us occa­sion sadly to think and say,1 Tim. 4, 2 How is the faithful City become an harlot! come out of her ye People, Isaiah 1, [...] that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her Plagues; Rev. 18, 24 for saith the Holy Ghost, Confounded be all they that serve graven Images. Psalm 97 7

But may a man Think, if I love my Friend, I love his Picture, True Pi­ctures of God what Living Pi­ctures yea and love to have his Picture; And shall I love the Father, the Son, the Holy Gbost, and may I not have and love their Pictures? Yes, God forbid else; But then [Page 292] canst thou Think, if thou Think Rightly, Eph. 4, 24 Rationally, and Scri­pturally,Col. 3, 10 that the Living God will have any other but living Pictures? Grace in the heart is a true not a lying, Grace because not a dead but a living Picture of the Living and true God, which after God is crea­ted in Righteousness and true Holi­ness, have that and keep it:Christ Jesus Christ himself is an express or a lively (because he is a living) I­mage of the Father,Hebr. 1, 3 have him, and hold him, and much good may it do your very Hea [...]t with him:Saints, The Saints, the Excellent Ones in the Earth, Psalm 16, 3 these also are Gods own Pictures, They bea [...] the Image of the Heavenly; 1 Cor: 15, 44 50 love them, and like them, and admire God in them (for of these it may be said, God is in you of [...] truth, 1 Cor. 14, 25) make much of them, and learn as much as you can by them, for these are good Books indeed, [Page 293] as well as Living Pictures, being but transcripts of Gods Book, Living Epistles, 2 Cor. 3, [...] as well as living Pictures, known and read of all men. But alas, Th [...]se true Pictures of the living and true G [...]d are as much befriended by [...]he curious Pictures, that blind Devotion & Superstition have drawn for God in all Ages, as mans Native Fire is by the Feaver, or the Natural heat of the Stom [...]ch by the praeter-natural.

But may not Pictures be made of the Trinity, The Father, Whether Images of God may be made for History or Ornament The Holy Ghost, and of Christ especi­ally (se [...]ing he took Flesh, and was seen in humane sh [...]pe) for ORNAMENT, and help in the Hi­story, and such like ends,Bp. Taylors Dissuasive from p [...]pery Ch 1 Sect 8 9 See pag 58 The Historical use of Images did quickly pass int [...] Su [...]er­stition. though not for Worship? What saith [...]he Doctrine of the CHURCH of ENGLAND?

Hom [...]ly a­gainst the peril of Ido­latry, 3 [...]. part, pag. 41, [...]di [...] Lond 1 [...]40 Condemnes [...] [...]ictures [...]f God [...], &c. They be convict of foolishnes [...] and wickedness in making Imag [...] of God or the Trinity; yea and on [...] to desire an Im ge of God com [...] of Infidelity, thinking not God [...] be present, exc [...]pt the [...] might s [...] some sign or Image of him, as appea e h by the Heb [...]ews in the W [...] de [...]ness, w lling Aaron to ma [...] them Gods whom they might see g [...] before them, &c.

Thus it goes on,

Ref [...]ges the g e t argument of de­scriptions in the Old Testament, Where they object, that seeing i [...] Esaias and Daniel be certain d [...] scriptions of God, as sitting on [...] High seat, &c. Why may no [...] Painter likewise, &c. seeing th [...] Scripture, or writing, and Pictu [...] d ffer but a little? F rst, It is to [...] answered, that things forbidden [...] Gods w [...]rd, as Painting of Imag [...] of God, and things permitted [...] God, as such descriptions used of t [...] Prophets, be not all one; nei [...]h [...] ought, nor can, mans reason ( [...] [Page 295] (Although it shew never so good­ly) prevail any thing against Gods express Word and Statute-Law. Furthermore the Scripture, al­though it have certain descriptions of God, yet if thou read [...]n forth,Endanger the b [...]i [...]ging in [...]he Here­sy of the An­th [...]opomor­phites. it expoundeth it self, declaring that God is a Spirit, Infinite, who replenisheth Heaven and Earth, which the Picture doth not, nor ex­poundeth it se [...]f, but rather, when it hath set forth God in a bodily si­militude▪ leaveth a man there, and will easily bring a man into the He­resie of the Anthropomorphites, thinking God to have Hands and feet, and to sit as a man doth, which they [...]hat do (saith S. Augustine in his book de fi [...] & Symbol [...], cap 7.) fall into t [...]at Sacri [...]edge,Sacril [...]gious wick [...]d [...]ess which the Apostle detesteth in those who have changed the Glory of the incorruptible God, into the simili­litude of a corruptible man. For it is wickedness for a Christian to [Page 296] erect such a one in his heart by be­lieving it. But to this they reply that this reason notwithstanding, Images of Christ may be made for that he took upon him Flesh and be­came man,Argument from Christ ta [...]ing flesh refused &c. The answer is easy. For in Gods word, and Religion, 'tis not onely required whether [...] thing may be done or no, but whe­ther it be lawful and agreeable to Gods word to be done,Hom [...] against peril of Ido­latry 3. part Images of Christ lying Images &c. and ye [...] it appears no Image of Christ can be made, but a lying Image (as the Scripture peculiarly calls Image [...] lies) for Christ is God and Man, see­ing therefore for the Godhead, which is the most excellent, no Image can be made, It is falsly called the Imag [...] of Christ; wherefore Images of Chris [...] be not onely defects, but also lyes, &c. wherefore as soon as an Imag [...] of Christ is made, by and by is a [...] made of him, &c. and now if [...] should he admitted and grante [...] that an Image of Christ could tru [...] be made,Unlawful, yet it is unlawful that [...] should be made.

And so it proceeds to urge the unavoidable danger of Idolatry, Unavoidable danger of Idolatry page 43, and the Iudgement of Irenaeus, Epipha­nius, Lactantius, Augustine, af­firming that they make the Soul more crooked, rather then teach it, crook the Soul▪ And therefore it addes that as it is written, Sap. 14.page 44 that Images were not from the beginning, neither shall they continue to the end: so were they not in the beginning of the Pri­mitive Church, God Grant (saith the Homilie) they may in the end be destroyed. And further, that,page 4 [...] Truth it is, that Iews and Turks,hinder con­version of Jews and Turks,who abhor Images and Idols, as di­rectly forbidden by Gods word, will never come to the truth of our Religi­on, whilst the stumbling blocks of Images remain amongst us and lie in their way. Thus the Homilie. So then as Pictures in windows do darken the light with a fine shew, so such representations of Divine things in the wisdom of [Page 298] Humane Imag [...]nation doth hinder, I [...]st [...]d of h [...]ping, our sight of God and Christ; who in this (as in other respects) is called the SUN of Righteousness, Mal. 4 2 because as that glorious luminary is onely to b [...] seen in its own light,God and Christ onely to be seen in their own l [...]g [...]t. so will God and Christ manifest them­selves onely in that way of dis­covery, which themselves have sanctifyed through the Holy-Ghost. So that while the World by wisdom knows not God, 1 Cor. 2, 11 chap 1, 21 In Gods own light the Saints of God do see light. And O that God would help the blinded world to see the difference between fancy & faith, the Ones being affected in a carnal manner,Psalm 36, 9 Difference between Faith and Fancy; 1 Cor. 2.14 and by carnal means, and the others being acted upon that which is onely spiritual [...]y dis­cerned, by spiritual means, and in a spiritual manner; So that whilst one man being gr [...]ss in his Imagination, and made the more [Page 299] s [...] by [...]is Images, embraceth a Crucifix for a Christ, a piece of Wood, Stone, Metall, or paint­ed Cloath, and Printed Paper for God, like him in the Fable embracing the Cloud for the Goddess; Matth. 5, [...] Another being pure in heart is bless [...]d with a true sight of God, so far as Faith can reach, and the present state bear: for no Man hath seen God at any time; the onely begot [...]en Son wh [...]ch is in the bosom of the Father, John 1, 11 he hath declared him; and this of him, that not the car­nal mind, or by carnal means,1 Cor 2, 1 [...] not the gross-hearted, but the pure hearted, the sublimated soul, the spiritualized mind, such and such onely have the blessed sight of God here and hereafter. Therefore let us not think of bringing God down to us, shaping his invisible and incomprehensi­ble Excellencyes by our foolish phantasies and vain thoughts, but [Page 300] rather by Faith let us say with David, Psal. [...]5.6 unto thee O Lord do I lift up my Soul.

Sect. XXVI.

God terribleTO think also, but with all awfulness, of the Lord our God as God of Gods, and Lord of Lords, Deut. 10, 17 a great God, a Mighty and terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh Rewards, Heb. 12, 29 for even our God is a consuming Fire, whose Name is DREADFUL among the very Heathen; Mal 1.14 who maketh even the ends, Psalm 65 8 or uttermost parts of the earth affraid at his Tokens; who is terrible to the Kings thereof; Psal 76, 12 who putteth no trust in his Servants, Job 4, 18 and his Angels he chargeth with folly; who putteth no trust in his Saints, Job 15, 15 ye [...] the Heavens are not clean in his sight, Before whom the holy Seraphims do cover both their feet and their faces, Isaiah 6, 2 (as coverings of old were [Page 301] used in token of Reverence and Subjection) They cover their feet,Gen. 24▪ 65 in token perhaps of their ut­ter unworthiness to be lookt upon by him, to whom it is a kind of hum­bling to behold even the things that are in Heaven; Psal. 113, 6 and their faces as unable to look upon him; Angels stand [...]aw of God as the Stars in a morning do carry their Lights, as it were in dark Lant­horns, upon the Suns appearing,Job 38 [...] So also do these Morning Stars (as Scripture stiles them) though of excellent glory themselves,Though ter­rible to men and such as is terrifying to the Children of Men, to the best, as to Zechariah, to the worst and most obdurate, as th [...] Keepers of the Watch upon the Sepulchre, Lu 1, 11▪ 12 who for fear of one Angel did shake and became as dead men; Mat. 28▪ 3, 4 And no won­der, for he maketh his Angels Spi­rits, Hebr. 1, 7 and his Ministers a flaming Fire. So that one of them is able to turn 185000 armed Men toIsaiah 37, 36 [Page 302] ashes in a night. And yet as the very beams of the far distant Sun in the Firmament do bafflle, as it were, and non plus the Fire that flames on your hea [...]ths, (which, Oh how frightful is it to you, when it steals but a little out of its place, and begins to reach the bones of your buildings, and ride triumphantly on the tops of your houses?) so, and infinitely more then so, doth the Dreadful Majesty of GOD apale the Excel­cellency of all Angelical glory. Job 15 15 And if he Heavens (that were ne­ver stained) thinks the serious Soul,chap. 26 1 [...] be not clean in his sight, but the pillars thereof tremble, and are astonished at his reproof; If the Angels that never sinned are so af­fraid,Devils af­fraid of God How terrible is his presence to that wicked one that is such a terrour to poor miserable man­kind that some Nations worship Him (as 'tis said of the Indians) [Page 303] that he may do them no harm, whose very Apparition (though in a vi­sible shape) is so confounding to poor Man, that he becomes like Saul before the W [...]ch of Endor,1 Sam. 28.2 [...] or like Eliphaz when fear and trem­bling came upon him, wh [...]ch made all his bones to shake, a Spir [...]t [...]assed before his face, Job 4, 14, 15 and the hair of his flesh stood up. I is not needful to present purpose to determine what sorts of Spirits those were. This is certain that who shall not fear thee, O Lord? Rev. 15, 3 4 is an Heavenly Ode, as Scripture calls it; [...] and as true, that as Saints and Angels do fear before him, so the Devils also believe and tremble. And therefore when the Soul thinks O I dare not pray, for the Devil tells me, that if I go alone, James [...], 19 Job 1 [...], 4 or retire my self to pray, he will appear to me and affright me; It thinks again, O I dare less restrain Prayer from the Almighty, Job 33, 7 for then his Terri­bleness [Page 304] will make me affraid: And if his slave be so terrible, how dread­ful is he that hath him in his chain? who can restrain him if I go, God terrible to his Saints and will sooner or later let him loose upon me for not going. De­struction from God was a terrour un­to me (saith Holy Iob) and by rea­son of his Highness I could not en­dure; Job 31, 23 Therefore I am troubled at his presence, when I consider, I am affraid of him, cap. 23, 15, 16, for God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty trou­bleth me; When I CONSIDER, &c. Oh what high and awful Thoughts had this Holy Person of God!Jerem: 10 7 And indeed who woul [...] not fear thee, O thou King of Nati­ons? For to thee doth it appertain [...] as the Prophet speaks. Woulds [...] thou then be made soft, O mine heart, as Iob's was under rhe aw­ful impressions of the most High? Wouldst thou serve the Lord with fear, Psalm 2, 11 and converse before him [Page 305] with tremhling? Go but to his Water-works, or Fire works, for many hard things are made soft by Fire & Water; And think of them a little seriously.God terrible in his Water works. ASK of them of Old times, when the Fountains of the great Deep were broken up, Ge [...] 7, 11 and the Floud gates of Heaven opened in the same day, and let them tell thee if God be not terrible. Or if that be too far off, let them that go down into the Seas in Ships, Psal 107, 23 25, 26 that do business in the great waters, declare unto thee, when he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up [...]he waves thereof, they mount up to the Heaven, they go down again to [...]he depths, their Soul is melted be­ [...]ause of trouble, 27 they reel to and fro [...]nd stagger like a drunken man, and [...]re at their wits ends. Fireworks Or let Sodom [...]y if God be not terrible,Gen. 19, 24 26 and [...]hat Pillar of Salt that was set like [...] Hand in the Margin of that [Page 306] Dreadful Text. Ask also of the trembling Israelites who saw the Mountain that burned with Fire; Deut. 10 16 18 and so terrible was the sight, that Moses said I exceedingly fear and quake. Heb. 12, 21 Sport thy self on the top of flaming AETNA, or lay thy hand upon the hole of raging Vesu [...]i [...] ▪ Bath thy self in the melted M [...]ne­rals that flow in the bowels o [...] [...]he cold Earth; Cool thy skin with Cantharides, or with the cold leaves of that Plant in which one may feel so much of him that cal [...]s himself a Consuming Fire, that the touch thereof doth blister the ski [...], and burn the flesh: Harden also thy Eye sight against the lightening and strengthen thine ears against the voice of Gods Thunder. Thunder Ask the Heathen why he ran under hi [...] Bed,Psalm 29, 3 and that his Imperial Crow [...] was not thought by him a sufficient security to his Head. A [...] Lebanon what it ails to skip like [...], 8, 9 [Page 307] Calf, and Syrion like a young Vni­corn? The Wilderness of Kadesh why [...]t shakes, and the Hindes why they [...]ast their Calves b [...]f [...]re their time? or why men more wild then the Wilderness, and Brui [...]ish then [...]h Be sts, do tremble when the God of glory Thundreth: [...]specially wh [...] h [...] makes his Fire works and [...]ater works meet in One, when [...]e L [...]rd is upon many waters, Psal, 29, 3, 7 that [...], the Ocean, And there the voice [...] the Lord divideth the flames of [...]ire, that is, the Lightenings; lightenings [...]hich Seafaring men find to be [...]ost terrible in Nocturnal Tem­ [...]sts. N [...]y ask Men why they [...]emble without Thunderings, [...]he still voice of a poor despised [...]? Na [...] a Faelix, on the Bench,Faelix, Acts 24, 25 [...]ore a Pr [...]soner at the Bar? Nay Bold Belshazzar without any [...]se or whisper to affright him [...]he midst of Merriment, Beishazzar Daniel [...], [...] and [...]dless security, and that upon [Page 308] the first appearing (not of an Hand with a sword in it) but the Fingers of a Mans Hand silently in­scribing a few words on the wall? Pashur Nay why so many are Magor Mis­sabibs, Jerem 20:3 fear round about, withou [...] voice or vision, save what is with­in?Spira Ask poor Spira what he ailed and why he refused to be comforted▪ And the many of the present Ag [...] that have been hung up in Chain of the Spirit of Bondage, an [...] made terrours to themselves, Verse 4 Others un­der the Spi­rit of bond­age, an [...] spectacles to all about them, A [...] one Dales Wife of Chelmesford i [...] Essex, that lived many years i [...] perpetual horrour to her self and those that saw her; and o [...] Maud a man that (through te [...] rours of Conscience) starved him self to death, See also Mr. Brewers ser­mon on Mr. Vere of He­ [...]eningham. being otherwise pr [...] ­vented in destroying himself b [...] Hanging and Drowning which [...] attempted, and in accusing hi [...] self that he might have be [...] [Page 309] dispatcht out of the way by the hand of publick Justice, for an old Murther which he pretended, but intended it as a plot upon his own Life, which not taking, he never would admit any sustenance down his throat (though forced [...]nto his mouth) till utterly fam­ [...]shed; both recent instances and within little more then twenty Miles each of other, and of both which I have been an eye witness; [...]nd other like might be added.

And now ask such as these,Heb. 10.3 [...] if [...] be not a fearful thing to fall into [...]he hands of the living God. Terrible it praises He in­ [...]eed is fearful in his very praises, [...]nd his Goodness to be feared: His [...]race by no means to be turned into [...]antoness, Exod. 15, [...] but the forgiveness that [...] with him is that he may be feared. [...]e that spared not the Angels that [...]oned, but cast them down into hell, Goodness [...]at spared not the old World, Hosea 35 Forgiveness bring­ [...]g in the Flond upon the World of [Page 310] the ungodly, Psal 130, 4 S ar [...]d not [...]ng [...]ls 2 [...] 2 4 Old [...]orld Verse 5 Sodom V, 6 Natural branches and turning the City [...] of Sodom & Gomor [...]h [...] into Ash [...] condemning them with an overthro [...] making them an Example un [...]o thos [...] that should live ungo [...]ly; that spare [...] not the Natural Branches, O tak [...] heed least he also spare n [...]t thee. [...] by terrible things in Righteousnes [...] God will answer them to whom he is God of Salvation; Rom. 11.21 Surely his J [...] stice will be very terrible to th [...] Sons of Perdition; If God spare not his own Son, his own Son but it ple [...]sed th [...] Lord to bruise him, Isaia. 53, 10 and to put hi [...] to grief who knew no sin, but had s [...] onely imputed to him;Rejoicing in the de­struction of the wicked. Isaaah 1, 24 O ho [...] terrible, thinks the Soul, is G [...] when he cryes out Ah I will e [...] me of mine Adversaryes, and [...] venge me of mine Enemyes; I w [...] rejoyce over you to destroy you, Deut 38, 63 a [...] to bring you to naught; I will laug [...] at your Calamity, P [...] 1, 26, 27 and mock whe [...] your fear cometh, when your fe [...] cometh as desolation, and your D [...] struction [Page 311] cometh as a Whirlwind, when distress and anguish cometh up­on you; Thus shall mine anger be accomplished, and I will cause my fury to rest upon them, Ezek. 5, 1 [...] and I will be comforted. And oh how awful a thought it is that it should be both easing and pleasing to God to de­stroy sinners?2 Cor. 1, 3 That the God of all comforts, as Scripture calls him, should be Comforted in the Perdi­tion of ungodly Men? and laugh at their fear, Job 6.14 who forsake the fear of the Almighty? And Oh how fearful is He in his punishments, who is so in his praises? How ter­rible in his Righteousness, who is to be feared for his Goodness? 1 Pet 1, 1 [...] If they that Call on the Father must pass their time in fear, because without respect of persons, he judge­eth every one according to his works, Isaia. 33, 14 O how may the Sinners in Zion be affraid, what fearfulness may sur­prize the Hypocrites? If they be [Page 312] unable to Contend with his burn­ing Agues, God terrible in present punishment, Plagues and Feavers, How will they dwell with Everlast­ing burnings? Oh what will they do in the swellings of Jordan?Jerem 12, 5 when the breath of the Lord as a River of Brimstone shall kindle upon them those Eternal Flames that none shall be able to quench? Isaia 30, 33 for the Lord is jealous an [...] Revengeth; chap. 66, 24 The Lord Revengeth and is furious; The Lord will take vengeance on his Adversa­ryes, Nahum 1, 2 and he Reserveth wrath for his Enemy [...]s. Reserves of wrath terri­ble. O those RESERVES of Wrath, how dreadful are they? That, when Millions of Ages are expired, they remain unexhaust­ed; There is still a certain fearful expectation, and looking for, of Iudgement and Fiery Indignation still, Hebr. 10, 27 still. Ah Lord! who knows the power of thine Anger?Psalm 90, 11accord­ing to thy fear so is thy wrath. God corrects who [...] he loves. Thou Correctest whom thou lovest, what wilt thou do with them thou ha­test? [Page 313] If Iudgement must begin at the House of God, what, Hebr. 12, 6 O what shall be the end of them that obey not the Gospel of God? 1 Pet: 17.18 and If the Righteous scarcely be saved, What the [...] shall be the end of the wicked where shall the un­godly and sinner appear? thou ga­therest a Rod for every Son thou Receivest, nay the Holy Child Iesus was not excepted, nor exempted, who though he were a Son, Zech, 13.7 thine E­qual, a Man thy fellow, yet did thy Sword awake against him, Hebr, 5, 8 and He [...]earnt obedience by the things that he suffered. Luke 23 32 And if these things were done in the Green Tree, O what shall become of the Drie? What Scorpi­ons are prepared to be scour [...]es for the wicked?Psalm [...] 23 surely God hath prepared for him the instruments of death, and ordained his Arr [...]ws a­gainst the persecutors. Vpon the Wicked he shall Rain snares, Psalm 8 [...], 6 Fire and Brimstone, and an horrible tempest, this shall be the portion of their Cu [...] ▪ Wherefore, O God, My Flesh [Page 314] trembleth for fear of thee, Ps. 119, 120 and I am affraid of thy Iudgements, for all the ways of the Lord are Iudgement, a God of Truth, Deut. 32, 4 and without Iniqui­tie, just and Right is he; with Him is terrible Majesty, He is excellent in power, Job 37.22 23, 24 and in Iudgement, and in plenty of Iustice, Men do therefore fear him, and well they may. Be thou therefore in the fear of the Lord, Prov. 23, 14 Neh. 5, 15 O my Soul, all the day long; and however others may dare to presume upon him, yet so do not thou, because of the fear of the Lord.

Sect. XXVII.

THe Lord thou hearest, O my Soul!God of truth is a God of TRUTH as well as Righteousness, O Tremble at his word as well as works, Isaiah 66, 5 and be thou affraid of the Iudge­ments of his mouth as well as of his Hands, For the Lord confirmeth the word of his Servants, Isaiah 64, 26 and performeth [Page 315] the Counsels of his Messen­gers, Matth. 5 18 neither is there any Iota of his Threatenings any more then of his Promises, that shall pass a­way untill all be fulfilled; for the strength of Israel will not lie nor Re­pent, 1 Sam. 15 29 Isaiah 11, 5 for he is not as Man that he should Repent. The truth is, Gods TRUTH is as the Girdle of his Loins. What ever God is,In all He is He is in TRUTH. As God is TRUE saith the Apostle,1 Tim. 1, 18 Our word towards you was not yea and nay, The Lord is the true God, saith Ieremiah, Jerem 10 10 the God of TRUTH (saith the Margin with the Hebrew) at his Wrath shall the Earth tremble, &c. What­ever God saith, He saith in Truth,In all he saith Thy Word is true (saith David) from the beginning, Ps [...]. 19, 160 and every one of thy Righteous Iudgements endu­reth for ever. Psalm 19 9 The Iudgements of the Lord are truth (saith the He­brew) These are the true sayings of God. Whatever God doth.Revel: 19, 9 In all he doth He [Page 316] doth it in Truth, All his work; are done in Truth, Psalm 33 4 The works of his hands are verity and Iudgement, they stand fast for ever and ever, Psa. 111 7, 8 and are done in truth and uprightness. Psal. 80, 7, 8 Therefore God is greatly to be feared in the Assembly of the Saints, and to be had in Revere [...]ce of all them that are about him, It follows, O Lord God of Hosts who is like unto thee, or to thy FAITHFVLNES round a­bout thee? So that as the Girdle goes round about All, and encom­p [...]sseth and encloseth All, so Gods Truth & Faithfulness doth surround all the rest of his Excel­lencyes, and therefore if our Thoughts of God be Right, We shall have most awful and Reverend Impressions on our Hearts, not onely from the SEVERITY but from the VERITY of God, not onely from his Iustice and Righte­ousness, but also from his TRUTH and Faithfulness.

Sect. XXVIII.

BUT then again if our THOU­GHTS of GOD be Right and Scriptural,Thoughts of God must be they must be CHEER­FUL as well as FEARFUL, There must be a Rejoycing with our Trem­bling; Psalm 2, 11 Divine Thoughts must be awful but delightful, as a Son thinks of his Father, Cheerful as well as fear­ful: not as a slave thinks of his Taskmaster, or a Condemned Prisoner of his Exe­cutioner; for God is LOVE; and how can LOVE be Rightly thought of, unless it be thought LOVELY?1 Joh 4, 8.16 or how can this precious box of rich perfume the love of God be shed abroad in the heart, Rom 5 5 and the thoughts thereof not be sweet-sented? our fear not a fear of tor­ment, and indeed the sweeter (as perfumes are) for being held to the Fire of holy Fear; There is a Fear that hath TORMENT, which Love labours to cast out; 1 John 4, 11 [Page 318] but again there is a Fear that gives temper to true LOVE of God, and strips it self of its All, as it were, to the service of it (as Ionathan did by David) even to its Sword, 1 Sam. 18, 4 and to its Girdle, and to its Bow Our God is a CONSUMING FIRE,Heb. 12, 29 Here is Trembling, and good cause why; but this God is OUR GOD (as the Psalmist speaks) for ever and ever, Psal 48, 14 He will be OUR GUIDE, even unto death, here is rejoycing with our trembling. And O how amiable is this Chequer-Work of Mans thoughts in the sight of God? surely things are not as they should be with us when we Remember God and are troubled: Psalm 77, 3 what? Harbour hard thoughts of the Father of Mercyes? 2 Cor. 1, 3 Think evil of the Fountain of all Goodness? Good thou­ghts of God ah wherein hath God deserved this at mans hands?Ezek 18.32 and 33, 1 [...] Is it because he swears as he lives that he hath no pleasure in the death of [Page 319] him that dies, But that the wicked turn from his way and live, that is, but rather that sinners should Re­pent and live? Is it because he cryes out to you, turn ye, c [...]p 33, 11 turn y [...] from your evil ways▪ for why will ye die? or because he cryes out of you, John 5, 40 ye will not come to me that ye might h [...]ve life? or because he cryes out [...]ver you, how shall I give thee up? how shall I make thee as Admah, and [...]et thee as Zebo [...]?Hosea 11, 8 O sinners what shall I do unto you? or because he [...]ryes out for you, chap. 6, 4 Psal 8 [...] 13 Isaia 48 18 Luke 19, 42 when it is too [...]re, O that ye had hearkened unto [...]y voice, that thou hadst known at [...]ast in this thy day the things that [...]elong unto thy peace, but now they [...]re hid from thine eyes? Wretched Miscreant! Wilt thou go on to [...]ate Wisdom, and to love Death, Prov. 8.35 as [...]deed thou dost, and then think [...]at God is an Enemie to mankind; [...]d takes delight in making Crea­ [...]res meerly to destroy them? O [Page 320] spit out thy Gall and Venim, and and clear thy Thought: of preju­dice against thy faithful Creatour, and most merciful Preserver, and account his long-suffering to be Salvation; [...] Pet 3:15 that he, that reprieves thee, would pardon thee, didst thou sue for his pardon, as thou wouldst beg for thy Life; for he is so Gracious th [...]t he waits that he may be gracious, Isaia. 30, 18 Therefore turn th [...] to thy God, Hosea 12, 6 and wait on thy G [...] continually. Gods thou­ghts not to be measured by ours And think not to measure his pardoning Mercyes by thine which are crueltyes, no [...] by thy frowardness and passions, nor by thy hard Thoughts and evil surmises,Prov. 12, 10 as if God were alto­gether such a one as thy self, till thou canst measure the space betwixt the Heavens and the Earth (for so high are his thoughts above thy thoughts) Isaiah 55, 7 8, 9 or till thou canst find in thy hea [...] to follow thine Enemy, momen [...] by moment, all the days of his [Page 321] life with thine unwearyed care for his safety, and providence for his supply, and by that time that [...]hou hast done for thine Enemy as God hath taught thee by what he hath done for thee, 'tis like that thou wilt have better thoughts of thy God; Gods chal­le [...]ge to man or if thou have not, come and testify against him, If thou darest, or if thou canst; for [...]is a challenge of Gods own ma­ing, O my people, Micah [...], 3 what have I done [...] thee? testifie against me; and I as his Herauld, proclaim this his [...]hallenge to thee.

But if thou keep silence, let [...]he speak, and tell thee plainly what he hath done unto thee. He [...]ade thee a Man, that might [...]ave made thee a Brute, and gave [...]ee a Soul endued with Reason, Jer. 38, 1 [...] [...]mproveable by Grace, and so [...]pable of Salvation. Psalm 13 [...], 14, 15 He gave [...]ee thy shape, that might have [...]ade thee a Monster, and made [Page 322] thee desirable to others, who might have made thee a burthen to thy self, The Hand of his Providence took thee out of thy Mothers womb, and hath ever since suf­fered thee to hang upon it, Psalm 22, 9 though thy teeth so deep in it that thy venimous biting hath often gone, as it were, to his very heart, and he, with more ease, might have shaken thee off into the Fire of his wrath.Acts 28, 5 He kept thee from ten thousand Deaths and Dangers in thy fearless Infancy, Psalm 71, 6 careless Child­hood, hardy and adventrous youth, and troublesome Manhood to the very moment that thou art read­ing this.Psalm 41, 3 He made thy Bed in thy last sickness, bare thee up in his Everlasting Armes the last time that thou fellest from thy Horse,Psalm 36, 6 and saved both Man and Beast, Psa. 107, 50 brought thee safe to shore the las [...] time that thou gavest thy self fo [...] [Page 323] lost at Sea. He gave thee thy Possess [...]ons, Thy Promotions, Thy comfortable Relations, thy loving Wife, thy lovely Children, thy health, strength, limbs, libertie, credit, Comforts of all sorts; even every good gift, James 1, 17 And if these had been too little, 2 Sam. 12, 8 as was said to David he would have given thee more and greater things then these, hadst thou not been wanting to thy self. How often would he have gathered thee as a Hen gathered her Chickens under her wings? Mat. 23, 3 [...] How often would he have convinced, con­verted, humbled thee, healed thee, given thee his Son, and gi­ven thee his Spirit;Isaiah 5, [...] And now Iudge, I pray thee, between God and thy own Soul, what could he have done for thee more then that which he hath done? Thou needest a Christ, and all the day long, Isaiah 65, [...] he stretcheth out his hand to tender his Christ unto thee; and why did he give [Page 324] thee thy Reason but to lead thee to close with his goodness, for thy good?

But besides the Lord is GREAT as well as GOOD,God great as well as good. else he were not GOD; And hath done more then he owes thee in spread­ing a table, Mat. 21, 34 37 wirhout compelling thy appetite, that is more then thou expectest from thy best friend thou hast, that is but thine equal. He hath sent forth his Servants, 1 Pet. 3, 19 and with them his Son, and in them his Spirit, Matth. 22, 4 And all these say to thee Come, All things are ready, O tast then, Psalm 34, 8 and see how GOOD the LORD is. Away then for shame with all thy sour and harsh thoughts of God, Gen. 3.4, 5 and purge out thy old Leaven whereby the old Ser­pent first soured the whole lump of mankind with a hard opinion of God, as if he were not enough enclined to mans good. Right thou­ghts of G [...]d must be sweet thou­ghts. Ou [...] thoughts of God if they be Right thoughts must be SVVEET Thoughts [Page 325] as Davids were; Bones of marrow, and not bags of Gall; our Souls must be satisfied with them (as his was) as with marrow and with fatness. Psal. 104 34 Yea even for them that were never yet brought into his ban­queting house (to tast of those dain­ties, Psal. 65.5, 6 Cantic. 214 Psal. 106, 5 which Scriptures call the good of his chosen, that hidden Man­ [...]a, the meat and drink wbich the World knows not of, Revel. 2, 17 the sweet re­ [...]st of the hi [...]den ones) there is a Goodness, God good to all, yea Riches of g [...]odness to [...]e thought of by them, and not [...]o be despised,Psal. 83 3 but Improved by [...]ff [...]ctionate meditation till it lead them to Repentance. Rom. 2, 4 For he leaves [...]ot himself without witness, Acts 14.17 even as [...]o these, in that he doth good, and [...]ives them Rain from Heaven, and [...]urtful seasons, f [...]lling their hearts [...]ith food and gladness: And if he [...]ave not himself without witness, [...]ke heed he leave not thee without [...]xcuse. Think with thy self there­fore [Page 326] a little seriously O man, of this Riches both of the goodness, and long suffering & forbearance of God. H [...]st thou not found that there are sparing Mercies, Sparing mercyes an evi [...]ence thereof, and canst thou not think that there are pardoning mercyes with the Lord? He that hath laid it upon thee to Regard the life of thy Beast, Prov, 12, 10 and hath him­self had so continual a regard to the life of thy bodie, (which in­deed is as thy Beast or bruitish part) but stiles himself the Fathe [...] of our Spirits, Hebr. 12, 9 whilest he calls o­thers the Fathers of our Flesh, cans [...] thou find in thy heart to thin [...] that he hath no regard for the lif [...] of thy Soul? Jer. 2, 31 Hath God indee [...] been a Barren Wilderness to thee that hath given thee so many fruitful seasons? or hath he bee [...] onely so to thy Soul? surely what ever he is to other Nations he hath not been so to us:so the means of Grace. mean of Grace have not been wanti [...] [Page 327] to thee, nor would his Grace have been wanting to thee in the hum­ble and diligent use of those means: Thou hast not been strait­ned in the Lord surely,2 Cor. 6, 12 whatever thou hast been in thy own bowels, Hath He been a Land of darkness to thee, who hath caused his Sun to arise upon thee,Matth 5, 44 though thou art Evil? Or hath he been onely so to thy Soul?Mal: 24▪ 2 Hast thou not also heard of a Sun of Righteousness [...]hat he maketh to arise with heal­ [...]ng in his wings upon those that [...]elieve in him that justifyeth the un­ [...]odly? Romans 4 5 And if all other thy un­ [...]odliness be no Barre, O why [...]hould thy unbelief or hard thou­ [...]hts of this good God be so.

Objection But some one may think, Micah 3, 6 is [...]ere any evil in the Citie and the [...]ord hath not done it? nay doth [...]e not own it? where is then the [...]oodness you spake of?God the au­thor of evil, Out of [...]e mouth of the most high proceed­eth [Page 328] not evil and good? Lam 3▪ 38 is not He said to frame Evil? Jerem. 18:21 to devise evil, to create Evil? And can this con­sist with so great Goodness? But think again O Man that the Scri­pture saith,Micah 2, 3 the Almighty will not afflict willingly, Isaiah 45:7 nor grieve the chil­dren of Men. Answer. As a good Parent doth not correct willingly, yet he were not a good Parent should he not correct.Job 37:23 He hath shewed thee O Man, what is good, to do Iustice, and to love Mercie; Lam: 2, 33: And cannot God be good though he do Iustice, God good in correcting whilest he loves Mercy? for Mercy pleaseth him, or he delighteth in Mercy, but Iudgement he calleth his strange work. Micah 6:8 chap: 7:18 Isaia: 28:21 But go thou and first offer this to thy Governour, be­fore thou presumest to reply a­gainst God,Malac. 1:8 and tell thy Prince, if thou darest,Rom: 9:20 that His Govern­ment is not good, because He hath Bethlehems for Mad Folks, & punishing and Houses of Correction for Rogues [Page 329] and Vagabonds, and places of Exe­cution, Punishment of the wick­ed good for the good and instruments of Death for Traitors & Capital Malefactors But how should the Government be good to the Good, if it should not restr [...]in and punish the Evil? Nay surely the Lords goodness is never more orient in the eyes of his people,So of their own sins Psal: 99:8 then when he takes vengeance (not onely of their Ene­mies but) of their inventions, and yet pardons their sins, and saves their Souls. And oh how shall he come to be glorified in his Saints, and admired in them that believe, 2 Thes: 1:10 Even when the Lord Iesus shall shew himse [...]f from Heaven with his mighty Angels, in flaming Fire, Verse 8 rendring vengeance to them that know not God, and obey not his Gospel? So that the Goodness of God is never the less conspicuous, but indeed so much the more Glorious, being beheld (as the Apostle speaks) together with his Severity, Rom. 11:22 as [Page 330] bright colours are the most resplen­dent when they are heightened from the darkest shaddows; Behold, saith He, the GOODNES and the SEVERITY of God. Goodness of God no less conspicuu­ous for his severity, Lo here a Right Theme for Thoughts. Behold his Goodness, btt Remember his Severity; Think of his Severitie but forget not his Goodness; Th [...]t the Thought of Severity without Goodness, may not make th [...]e de­sperate, nor of Goodness without Severity make thee Malepart and wanton, but that both together may make thee humble and hearty, and dutiful and diligent, fearful and yet cheerful in all ways of Ho­liness and new Obedience.

But mayest thou think again, if the Lord be so Good, Objection He might have made all Mens condition to be such? If God be so good why did he not make all mens condi­tion such? 'Tis true indeed, He might do so, and He did so, And I may challenge thee yet again in His Name, what Iniquity did thy first [Page 331] Father (and all his Posterity in him) find in God, Jerem. 2:5 that he went far from him (and they with him) and walked after vanity, Answer, God did so, Eccles. 7:31 and became vain? Did not God make man up­right, and give Him a Right Law, Rom. 7, 12 a Commandment that was Holy, Iust and Good? was it not Iust, Gen. 2:16 that He that gave man all the rest of the Trees of the Garden should keep One to himself, and that,Verse 17 He that put all things under mans feet, Psalm 8 [...] should appoint him a test for his obedience to His Supream Lord? And was it not Good, Gods goodness in the first COVE­NANT, that He gave Him a Law that He might keep, and a Principle and Power that might keep it, if he would; that He forbad Him and forwarn'd Him what would hurt Him; and promised Him Life in keeping a practicable Law, a Commandment that was fair and that was facile, proper for Him, and profitable for all mankind in Him. Must [Page 332] the great God to shew his Good­ness to p [...]or man, Gen. 1, to 26 first build a world as a well furnished House, Verse 26:27 chap. 2:17 before He brings in his Guest, and then call a Councel as it were, in Heaven, about molding a clod of Earth into an Excellent shape, and breathing therein a living Spirit, and Im­print thereon a Divine similitude, and place Him as his Vice-Roy up­on Earth, and to hold all, as it were, but by (the payment of a Pepper-Corn) the Forbearing of one Tree; And when miserable Man after all this, hath not made good his Allegiance, but broken Faith with his Maker, selling Himself and his Posterity for an Apple, or some such like thing, to the evil first of Sin, and so of Suffering, shall mans Impudent Po­sterity p esume in their Hearts af­ter all this to call in Question the Goodness of God, for no other rea­son but his making his Word good, [Page 331] his Threatning good, and so his Commandment good in the penal part of it, which was that part which he undertook to make good, if Man failed to make good the o­ther part of Obedience? Ah how truly may it here be said, that the foolishness of man perverteth his way, Prov. 19: [...] and his Heart fretteth against the Lord? When He that transgres­seth a good Law, judgeth that Law, and pronounceth it Evil by His disobedience; How can He that made that Law, vindicate that Law, or be good in his place, with­out making of it good, by pun­ishing the Transgressor; Think therefore (vain Man) what thou wilt, but know that the Lord is well pleased for his Righteousness sake, Isaia. 42, 21 and (if a man vilify) He will magnify his Law and make it ho­nourable. Gods goodn [...]ss in rewarding the least [...] good in the wick­ed, Thou wilt grant him to be a good Master that rewardeth the Good though He Punish the [Page 334] Evil Servant: produce therefore thy Cause, and bring forth thy strong Reasons; If thou do well shalt thou not be accepted? But and if thou do evil, Is it Gods fault that Sin lyeth at thy door? Gen, 4.7 An Ahabs Humiliation (so good a Master is God, though the Man was but an Hypocrite) shall have a temporal Reward; As far as he is capable The Lord is so good that He will not set a Nebuchad­nezzar a poor Heathen,1 Kin 21 29 a work, but He shall have his wages. A cup of cold water given in his Name shall not want its Reward. Ezek. 29, 18 20 If any one perform any Spiritual good,Rewards spi­ritual good, the good God shall give him a spi­ritual Reward, Mat. 10.42 yea will take great notice even of the least good thing, [...] spiritual ble [...]sing as in the case of young Abi­ [...] in whom was sound some good thing towards the Lord God of Isreal,1 Kin 14 1 [...] in the wicked house of Ieroboam; and will renumerate the perform­ances, of outwardly good things, with [Page 335] compensations suitable to the persons and performances, as the re­moval of outward Evils, and the Donation of outward blessings: The Ninevites they Repent them of their S [...]ns (though it were but af­ter a fashion,Nah: 11. &c as appears after by the Burthen of Nineveh in Nahums Prophesy? And this good God,Jon: 3, 10 He presently Repents him of the Evil that he had said he would do unto them, and did it not, till they Repented them again of their Re­pentance. Potiphar and Pharaoh make much of Gods Ioseph, Gen. 39 [...] and God blesseth their houses for Josephs sake. And must God pervert Iudg­ment, and not punish the wicked, [...]hat he may have thy good word, Justice not derogatory to goodnes in a Judge or be well thought of by thee? Is [...]is Iustice derogatory to his Good­ness? Thou canst applaud the sen­ [...]ence of a Iudge in Condemning [...]he Injuries that have been done [...]nto thee; why canst thou not as [Page 336] well say unto God with the Psal­mist,Psal 119, 39 thy Iudgements are good? Yea with many, He is the best Man that will least bear an Injury, but is most vindictive, and must not vengeance be the Lords, and may not he repay,Hebr. 1 [...]:30 without incurring thy evil thoughts?

A wrong thought of Gods good­ness to think He will de­stroy none'Tis an evil Thought of Gods Goodness that some Ignorant Ones have, or at least would fain have, that he that made them will never destroy them, nor indeed ever would he had they continued what he made them; But this good God saith expressly, and He knows what he hath to do, It is a People of no understanding, Isaia. 27.11 therefore he that made them will have no mercy on them, and he that formed them will shew them no fa­vour.

Sect. XXIX.

BUt and if thou thinkest hardly of Gods Dealing with Men fallen under the first Covenant, Gods good­ness in the NEVV CO­VENANT, [...]he Covenant of Works, O buisy [...]hy thoughts so much the more [...]n the New Covenant, and surely [...]hou canst not but cry, Grace, Hebr. 8:8 of GRACE Grace unto it. O this is that where one are excluded, but self-exclu­ [...]ers, nor counted unworthy, Zech: 4:7 but [...]hose that are unwilling; where [...]he worst are invited,Matth 22, 8 and the most [...]eavy laden best welcomed: chap. 11, 28 1 Kin: 21:16 where [...]inks of Sin (as Manasseh an Ido­ [...]ter and a Conjurer who filled Jeru­ [...]lem with bloud) are made vessels [...]f mercy prepared unto glory: Verse 6 where [...]ansion Houses of Devils (as Mary Magdalen) become Tem­ [...]es of the Holy-Ghost, Mark 16:9 Habitations God through the Spirit; Acts 9, 1 [...] where [...]ersecutors (as Saul) become Preach­ers [Page 338] of Righteouness, Isaiah 11:6 and the Wolf dwells with the Lamb, and the Leo­pard lies down with the Kid, and the Calf with the Lyon, and the little Child doth lead them, &c. Where cruel Iews are saved by the Blood rhat they shed, Acts 2:23 and by putting forth an hand of Faith to take hold on him whom themselves had taken before,1 Co. 6.9, 10 11 and by wicked hands had Crucifyed and slain: And where Sinners of the Gentiles, Fornicators Idolaters, Adulterers, Effeminate persons, Abusers of themselves with Mankind, Theeves, Covetous, Drunkards, Raylers, Extortioners, are washed, are sanctifytd, are Iusti­fyed in the Name of the Lord Iesus, and by the Spirit of our God. Where blemishes are no bar to admission to the Marriage Supper of the King, Luke 1 [...], 21 Verse 23 but the Poor and the the Maimed▪ and the Halt and the Blind are en­tertained, yea the very Hedge­rows are searched, and the very [Page 325] Vagabonds, and High way-men are compelled to come in. Where the eyes of the Blind see out of ob­scurity, Isaia, 35:5, 6 8 and the ears of the Deaf are opened, and the Lame Man leaps as an Hart, and the tongue of the dumb doth sing; Wh [...]re the way­fering Man though a fool doth not erre; Isaia: 29.24 and they that erred in spirit come to understanding, and they that murmured to learn Doctrine▪ Where God looketh upon men, and if any say I have sinned, Job 33.27 28 and perverted that which was Right and it pro­fited me not, He will deliver him from going down into the pit, and his Life shall see the light. Luke 1 7 [...] Where Light is given to them that sit in Darkness, and in the shaddow of Death; Hebr, 8 12 and where Iniquity is for­given, and Sin is Remembred no more. Free Grace In the First Covenant God was good to Mans Righteousness; [...]n this New Covenant He is merci­ful to his unrighteousness; In that He [Page 342] from Eternity to Eternity; Ephes. 3, 11 and Height of Love, bearing sinners up from Hell to Heaven, 1 Cor. 15, 45 47 and to a more blessed and glorious state in the second Adam, than they fell from in the first. And O what a Theme for Thoughts is here? Here is Height for the Highest; Covenant of GRACE the amplest Theme for thoughts Depth for the Profoundest. Breadth for the largest; Length for the longest Thoughts Man can possi­bly have, and indeed Thoughts are the largest things in the World.

Sect. XXX.

THis, this was that, tha [...] took up Gods own Thought from all Eternity,Ephes. 1, 9 this good pleasure of his goodness, with 3, 11 which H [...] purposed in Himself. The Lord possessed me (saith Christ) in the beginning of his way, CHRIST before his work of old, or ever the Depths or th [...] [Page 343] Fountains, Prov. 8, 2 [...] or the Mountains or Hills were settled, or the Earth made, The object of Gods E­ternal Th [...] ­ [...]ghts, or the Clouds confirmed, or the Hea­vens prepared; Then was He with God as one brought up with him, [...]ejoycing always before him, and was daily his Delight, even he whose Rejoycing is in the habitable parts of the Earth, Verse 30, 3 [...] and his delights are with the Children of men, that is to say, with Fallen Man; or, as it is [...]xpressed in the Psalmist, even [...]he Rebellious, Psal▪ 68, 1 [...] that God might dwell [...]mong them. The Lord possessed [...]e, saith Christ; Now the [...]houghts as we have formerly [...]id, are the possessions of the heart.

This, was that, that took up [...]e Thoughts of all the best in the [...]st Ages of the World,And of good men the first of the when [...]ey had but a little hole to see day [...] when this Infant Covenant of [...]ace was wrapt in the Swadling- [...] [...] short and single Pro­ [...]se [...] of the Woman shall [Page 344] break the Serpents head; Gen. 3, 15 Wherefore when that Son was born, O [...] whom Christ was to come, E [...] calls him Seth, Gen. 4 [...] 25 a FOUNDATION and how glad were they whe [...] God did but never so little fu [...] ther open it, and make a way fo [...] their further Thoughts about i [...] 'Twas a little plainer to Abraham In thy seed shall all the Nations of t [...] world be blessed; [...]raham [...] 12, 3 And saith Chri [...] of Abraham, He saw my day an [...] was glad. Joh 8, 56 How buisy was Hol [...] Iob about the Thoughts of his R [...] deemer, Job 19, 25, 26, 27 of his standing upon t [...] Earth, and his seeing of him wi [...] those very eyes of his at the last day And gracious Elihu; about th [...] way of Gods dealing with pen [...] tent Sinners on the account o [...] Saviour, [...] Deliver him from goi [...] down into the Pit, I have found RANSOM.24 CHRIST When Agur [...] discoursing with IN [...]. V [...] you may see where [...] [Page 345] were by his Question, What is his Name, Prov. 30, 4 and what is his SONS Name if thou canst tell.

And as for David to whom,Of David especially Psalms a lit­tle New Te­stament. as to a special favorite, so large and glorious discoveryes were made, O how enlarged and affe­ctionate were his Meditations, So that David and the Book of the Psalms is quoted by Christ him­self as most clear and copious con­cerning Him,Luke 24, 44 All things (saith he) must be fulfilled that were written in the Law of Moses, and the Pro­phets, and the PSALMS concern­ing MEE;Acts 1, 16 and 20, 2 25 29.34 & 4, 21, &c. and 13, 33 And so in the Acts and elsewhere, as if the PSALMS were a little New Testament in the middle of the Old.

How full were Davids Tho­ughts of this great and glorious name the LORD JESUS CHRIST.Davids tho­ughts buisy­ed aboue Christs name, [...] Psal. [...] comp [...] [...] with [...] 43 He calls him LORD in spirit, when he saith, The Lord said unto my LORD sit thou on my right hand, [Page 346] &c. He calls him Gods Annointed, Psalm 2, 2 which, in the Greek tongue, is CHRIST, Yea the Annointed of God above his Fellows, Psalm 45, 7 which is as much as THE CHRIST (as she asked, [...]ohn 4, 29 Is not this THE CHRIST▪ that is Christ above all Christs for though there were many Christ [...] they were taught to expect ON [...] Christ above All.) And he call [...] Him his Saviour, 2 Sam. 22, 3 and his Salvation most frequently, which in th [...] Hebrew tongue is JESUS.Psa 118, 14 and 21 So th [...] that saying of the Blessed Virgin My Spirit Rejoyceth in God M [...] SAVIOUR,Luke 1, 47 and that of the Apostle,Philip. 3, 3 We rejoyce in JESUS, see [...] clearly to be taken from that o [...] David, Psalm 3 [...], 9 My Soul shall be joyful [...] the Lord, it shall Rejoice in his S [...] vation, or (as it may be read [...] the letter in the Hebrew Text My Soul shall Rejoice in his JESU [...]

Concerning his Person; [...] Thoughts were clear; He exho [...] [Page 347] [...]he Kings of the Earth to kiss the SON,Verse 7 and tells you plainly that he means the onely BEGOTTEN of God, when he saith the LORD hath said thou art MY SON, this day have I BEGOTTEN Thee; Psal. 89, 26 compared with Hebr. 1, 5 and again, I will be to him a Father, and He shall be to me a Son.

So also concerning his distinct Natures, in one Subsistence,Natures He calls him LORD in Spirit, because he knew him to be GOD, who she knew) was to be his SON after the Flesh, as MAN,Psa. 4 5, 6 7 yet saith expressly to him, Thy Throne, O GOD, is for ever and ever, &c. Thou lovest Righte­ousness, &c. therefore GOD thy GOD hath Annointed thee, &c. He knew that Christ, the annoint­ed of God, was GOD, for (saith the Apostle) It is unto the SON that he saith thy Throne, O GOD is for ever and ever, &c. Yet H [...] also distinctly and certainly knew [Page 348] that God had sworn that of the frui [...] of his Loins He would raise up Chris [...] (as concerning the Flesh) to sit upo [...] his Throne (as the Apostle speaks▪ Acts 2, 30 So that he may be thought to mean this when he saith Trut [...] shall spring out of the Earth, Psal. 85, 1 [...] an [...] Righteousness shall look down from Heaven. He might well call him TRUTH, as he was the Promise [...] Messiah, for in this respect h [...] was to spring out of the Earth, to be born of a Woman in the Citi [...] of David; And he might c [...]l [...] him RIGHTEOUSNES, who i [...] called elsewhere (Iehovah Tzid­kenu, Jer. 33, 16) The LORD Our Righteousness, Malac. 4, 2 and the SUN of Righteousnes [...] (as another Prophet calls h m) now 'tis proper for the SUN t [...] look down from Heaven.

IncarnationConcerning his Incarnation and Birth, which he calls th [...] budding of the Horn of David,Psa. 142, 17 Luke 1, 69 o [...] (which is all one) the raising up [...] [Page 349] mighty Salvation, or a Horn of Sal­vation for his people in the house of his Servant David, he brings in Christ plainly thus speaking, Sa­crifice and Offering, Ps [...]0.6, 7, 8 Hebr. 10, 5 and burnt Offer­ings thou wouldest not, but a Bodie hast thou prepared me, So the holy Ghost in the Hebrews renders that of the Psalmist, Mine eares hast thou opened, or pierced through, [...]nd applyes it to Christs Coming into the World in the Flesh, Then said I, Lo I come, in the Volume of the Book it is written of Me, I delight to do thy will, O my God, &c.

He had also most clear con­ceptions concerning Christs bitter Sufferings.Passion

By the Raging Combination of the Heathen (that is the Gentiles) and the People, (that is the Iews) and Consultation of the Kings of the Earth, and the Rulers (that is, He­rod, and Pontius Pilate) against the Lord and his CHRIST, as it is expounded in the Acts,

Psa 118, 22 1 Pet. 2, 7By the Malice of the Priests and Elders (that should have been Builders of the People in the Faith and acceptation of this Promised Messiah) Refusing that stone which God hath designed to be the Head of the Corner.

Psalm 41, 9 Jo. 13, 18, 21By the Treason of Iudas that did eat of his Bread, yet lifted up his heel against him. By the scoffs of Spe­ctators, and cruel mocking of passers by, Psal 22, 7, 8 Mat. 27, 43 wagging their heads at him and saying, He trusted in the Lord let him deliver him, if he will have him, and let him save him, seeing he delighted in him.

By the Faintheartedness of his Followers and Cowardise of his Friends,Psal. 31, 11 Mat. 26, 56 I was a Reproach among mine Enemyes, and a fear to mine acquaintance, they that saw me without fled from me; All this was done (saith the Evangelist) that the Scriptures might be fulfilled, then all his Discipies forsook him and fled.

By the Cruelty of his Inhumane Persecutors,Psal. 69, 21 Mat. 27, 48 that in his thirst gave him Vineger to drink, and gall in his Meat.

By the Savage Souldiers that parted his Garments, Psa. 22, 16, 17, 18 Mat. 27, 2 [...] and cast lots upon his Vesture, and Bloody Ex­ecutioners that pierced his Hands and his Feet, and so distended his Body upon the cruel Cross that one might tell all his bones.

And most of all by Divine Dereliction, Psal. 22, [...] which made him to cry out, My God, Mat. 27, 46 my God why hast thou forsaken me? And yet in all this not casting away his Confi­dence, Psalm 31, [...] Luk: 23, 46 or loosing himself by Im­patience, but committing himself and his Cause to God, and crying out with a loud voice, into thy hands I commit my Spirit, and when he had so said (saith the Evan­gelist) He gave up the Ghost.

And as David was thus copi­ous in the Thoughts of Christs Pas­sion, Resurrectiō [Page 352] he leaves him not there, but pursues him with lively and comfortable Meditations of his Resur­rection, Thou wilt not suffer thine holy one to see Corruption, Psal. 16, 10 from which the Apostle undenyably concludes the Resurrection of Christ from the Dead, Acts 2, 26 nay even from those words in the Second Psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee, Psalm 2, 7 This God hath fu [...]fil­led, Acts 13, 33 saith the Apostle Paul, in that he raised up Iesus, &c. He shall drink of the brook in the way, Psal. 110.7 may be meant of his Passion (for Christ calls it a Drinking) the Cup which my Father hath put into mine hand (saith he) shall I not drink? John 18, 11 and therefore shall he lift up the head, in his Resurrection.

And as his Thoughts ran of his Resurrection, so also of his As­cention, Ascention When he Ascended up on high, Psal. 68, 18 and led Captivity Captive, he received gifts for men, yea even the [...], Ephes. 4.8 that God might dwell a­mongst [Page 353] them, expounded by the Apostle as meant of Christ by the Psalmist.

So also of Christs Session at the Right hand of God, Session and Intercession and Intercession as an High Priest for ever after the Order of Melchizedeck;Ps. 110, 1, 4 All ex­pounded of in Christ in the He­brews.Hebr. 7, 21

Of his Kingdom, Throne,Kingdom and Scepter; Thy THRONE, O God, Psalm 45, 6 [...]s for ever and ever, the Scepter of thy KINGDOM is a Right SCE­PTER.

Of his Prophetical Office in Declaring the Decree, prophetical Office, in Instruct­ing the Church,Psalm 2, 7 and 45, 10 Hearken O Daugh­ter, and consider, and encline thine [...]ar, &c. And the wonderful glo­rious success of his Gospel Mini­sters.Success of his Ministry Thy people shall be a willing people in the day of thy power, Psalm 110.5 &c. and that not onely as to the Ele­ction among the Iews, but also the fulness of the Gentiles, Psalm 18, 4 [...] the Calling [Page 354] and Conversion of them by the Grace of the Gospel, I will confess thee among the Gentiles. Rom, 15, 9 And again he saith, Praise the Lord all ye Gen­tiles, Ps. 1 [...]7, 1, 2 and laud him all ye People, &c, for great is his loving kindness to­wards us (us Iews,Rom, 15, 11 and you Gen­tiles) therefore praise ye the Lord.

second com­ing to judg­mentAnd finally his Powerful and certain second coming to Iudge­ment for the compleating of the work of his Grace in bringing ma­ny Sons unto Glory, and in gather­ing his people together, his Saints and his Covenanted ones, Psal. 50, 1, 5 even from the rising of the Sun unto the going down thereof. And O how he tri­umpheth (and brings in other Creatures exulting as it were) at the thought of this his coming, for he cometh, Psalm 96 for he cometh to judge the Earth: with Righteousness will he Iudge the World, and the People in his truth; [...], 12, 13 for in all this it is evident that his thoughts ran of [Page 355] Christ when he saith He hath Re­membred his Mercy and his Truth [...]wards the house of Israel, and all [...]he ends of the Earth have seen the Salvation of our God; Verse [...], 9 and then it [...]ollows, let the Floods clap their hands, and the Mountains rejoyce [...]ogether, before the Lord, for he [...]ometh to Iudge the Earth; with Righteousness shall he Iudge the world, and the people with Equity.

In a word, as blessed Maryes [...]ul did magnify the Lord, though [...]he were his Mother, so Davids Spirit did rejoyce in God his Saviour, though as to the Flesh, he were his Father; and O how precious was that thought unto David, which is, as it were, the sum and quintessence of all the rest. Thou [...]pokest in a vision to thy holy one, Psal. [...], [...] [...]hou saidst I have laid help upon one [...]hat is mighty, that is to say (in New Testament language) He is [...]ble to save to the uttermost, Hebr. [...]. [...] all that [...]me unto God by him.

'Tis proved that David understood and thought of Christ in all thi [...]. Act. [...].30, 31But some one may say, was David indeed so well studyed in a Covenant of Grace, and did he think of a Christ in all this? The Apostle Peter saith he did, because he was a Prophet and knew what God had sworn, that of the fruit of his loins he would raise up Christ con­cerning the Flesh, to sit upon his Throne, and that knowing this be­fore, he spake of his Resurrection, &c: So that David did not Prophes [...] (like wicked Caiphas the High Priest) of he knew not what, John 11, 50 [...]. but understood what he Prophesyed, and thought of what he Prophe­syed, and was in this respect a man after Gods own heart, 1 Sam. 13, 14 because his heart was so much upon wha [...] Gods heart was upon, the Mystery of Grace in the Lord Iesus Christ so that as Christ saith that he wa [...] always before God, Prov. 8, 30 so David sait [...] of Christ, I foresaw the Lord alway [...] before my face, [...] 2, 25 Christ was everi [...] [Page 357] his eye. But O how great is the advantage that our Thoughts may have of his? His was but a fore-seeing and a fore-knowing ( [...]) and therefore but a fore-thinking of a Christ that was to come,Verse 31 but ours is a seeing (before whose eyes Iesus Christ is evidently set forth, Galat. 3, [...] even as if he were Crucifyed amongst us) and a knowing and a thinking of that which is already, and ful­filled to a tittle in all that he fore­spake, and forethought even eight and twenty Generations before it was accomplished; for from Da­vid,Mat. 1, 25 until they were carryed away into Babylon, w fourteen Gene­rations; and from the Captivity to Christ were fourteen Generations.

What shall I say now? the time would be too short (as the Apostle speaks) to tell you of Moses, Hebr. 1, 32 and all the rest of the Pro­phets, of the Apostles, and parti­ [...]larly of S. Paul, whose heart was [Page 358] so full of a Christ, and his thoughts so big of him, that they deliver themselves almost in every other Verse, of his very Name, and croud it in many times as if it were an ease to that Abundance that was in his heart, to have his mouth speaking, or his pen dropping that sweet-smelling Name of THE LORD IESUS CHRIST.

Sect. XXXI.

1 Pet. 1, 12. Christ the Theme of Angelical ThoughtsTHis, this is also that, which the Angels desire to pry into, for you may know what all their Thoughts run on, by what their Tongues run of, when they take to them tongues (saith the Evangelist) there was with the An­gels a multitude of the Heavenly Host, Luke 1, 13 14 Praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, on earth PEACE, and GOOD WILL to­wards men. On Earth Peace, no [Page 359] Peace for Hell; Goodwill to­wards Men, but not Devils; Yet Christ Is for fallen men, not Angels Hebr. 2, 16 for Christ took not on him the Nature of Angels, but the seed of Abra­ham. O this is that, the thought whereof is such matter of Admi­ration to the good Angels, and such horrour and Confusion to the fallen Angels, whose eye towards us is so much the more Evil, be­cause Gods hath been so good. And shall not all this procute God thy good Thought of him? Why, were there no more but this, that Salvation is Possible for Thee but not so for Them, this were some­thing to be thought of; But now that Salvation is Proffered and laid in thy very way, that thou canst not, if thou wouldest, step to­wards Hell, without trampling upon Gods bowels (of Mercy,) and treading under foot the Son of God, Heb. 10, 2 [...] and bloud of the Covenant; where all is Free to Thee, how ever dear [Page 360] to Christ, and the Yoke easie, the Covenant being GRACE,Covenant of Grace gives what it requires Re­quiring onely what it hath to give, and giving what it requires; saying, Wash you, and make you clean, Isaiah 1:16 &c and again, I will powre clean water upon you, Eze 35, 25 and you shall be clean, and from all your filthiness will I cleanse you, and 18 31 &c. Saying, make you a new Heart & a new Spirit, with 13:26 &c. and again, a new heart also will I give you, and a new Spirit will I put within you, and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and give you a heart of flesh, and I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my Statutes, and ye shall keep my Iudgements and do them, Slighting of Gospel Graece a sin of Men not Devil: &c. Having such Grace, I say, proffered us as the Devil never had, let us think what will become of us, if we sin such a SIN as the Devil never did, who never had a pardon tendered him to fling it back into Gods face; [Page 361] who never had a Christ, or a Co­venant of Grace preached unto him, but was forced to speak truth in that (though he be a lyar) that he hath nothing to do with Iesus, except it be to his Torment. Matth. 8, 29 But, saith the Scripture,Isaiah 9, [...] To us is the Child born, to us is the Son given; It saith not to Ang [...]ls, but to us; Though we may well think that Elect Angels, 1 Tim. 5, 21 as the Apostle calls them, are so in Him; but if Christ be their Head, yet not so as he is Ours. Men other­wise con­cerned in Christ then Angels A head of Confirmation to them, of Re [...]emption to us; and so born to us; And shall He be so much thought of by Angels, and not thought of by us? Nay 'tis our Concernment, 1 Pet: 1, 12 that the Apostle saith, the Angels do so much de­sire to prie into; and They are ad­vantaged herein by the Church (as the Angel Gabriel by Daniels pray­er)Dan: 9, 23 To the intent (saith the Apo­stle) that now unto the Principali­tyes Ephes: 3, 1 [...] [Page 362] and Powers in Heavenly places might be known by the Church the manifold wisdom of God.

Sect. XXXII.

our concern COncernment is wont to be the greatest Conducement to tho­ughts; Men will mind their own Buisiness, when anothers shall be out of their Thoughts,) and this is our great, nay our onely Concernment,Luke 11, 42 for there is but One thing needful: for thus we may think,Christ Our if Christ be not Ours, there is nothing Ours, for Christ is Heir of all things, Hebr. 1, 12 nay We have lost our selves, Luke 9:25 and are cast away; But if Christ be Ours, All is [...], for h [...] Name is Immanuel, Matth: 1, 23 Immanuel which is, by interpretation, God with us; God with us and if God be with us, well may our Thoughts be with God; and surely they cannot but be well,make all ours. if they be with God. Gods [Page 363] Greatness is amazing,Greatness but when his Goodness hath made it Ours, how comforting? I go, saith Christ, John 20, 17. to my Father and your Father, and to My God, and Your God.

Gods JUSTICE is terrible,Justice but his Iustice paid off, satisfyed, attoned, reconciled, Justice be­friending, how amiable? God is Faithful and JUST to forgive us our sins, 1 John 1, [...] and to cleanse us from un­righteousness, if we confess our sins, what a word is there? If we burthen our selves with them, as the matter is ordere in the Co­venant of Grace, Justice it self will befriend us by discharging us of them; if we be but so honest and candid as to own them, and to own him that hath owned them, and paid for them (who is menti­oned there by the Apostle but a verse or two before) God is so Just as to pardon them, Deliver him, 1 John 1: [...] saith God, I have found a Ransom, Job 33, 24. [Page 364] Iustice disclaims a double pay­ment.

Holines [...]:The Holiness of God, what a dreadful thought is it? and how may it make a poor sinful man to cry out as the men of Beth shemesh Who is able to stand before this Holy Lord God? 1 Sam. 6, 20 Rom. 8, 3 B [...]t then to think a­gain that this Holy God is become Man, and in the likeness of sinful Flesh, and for Sin, that he might condemn Sin in the Flesh, and that He is made unto us of God, 1 Cor. 1.30 not onely Righteousness, but Sanctification, this may make us to give thank [...] at the Remembrance of his Holiness, Psalm 30:4 as it is in the Psalmist.

HighnessGods HIGHNES, what an awf [...]l thought is it to Us, that are at such an infinite distance from Him? But to think withal, that though the Lord be High, yet He hath respect to the lowly, Psal: 138 6 and 136.23 and re­gard to our low estate, and hath so far humbled himself, as to em­brace [Page 365] our dunghil, to cloath him­self with our Flesh, to lodge in a Womb without abhorrence, in a Manger, in a Grave, nay by his Spirit in a Sinners Heart, so that We may say with the Psalmist,Psalm 113 5, 6, 7 Who is like unto our God, who dwel­leth on high, [...]et HUMBLETH him­self, to raise up the Poor out of the Dust, and the needy out of the dung­hil; for Christs HUMILIATION and Condescention is our Ex [...]lta­tion, O what cause is here to Re­joyce in his Highness, as the Pro­phet speaks? And if Greatness, Isaiah [...]3:2 and Ho [...]iness, and Iustice, are made such Repast, by a Covenant of Gr [...]c [...], to our Thoughts; well may We Remember his LOVE more then Wine. Here, O here,Cant. 1:3 We should muster up our Thoughts, and bring them into a Full Body, and lay Gods commands upon them to stand to their colours, for the BANNER over us is LOVE.Cant. 2:4

Sect. XXXIII.

ANd here let me charge thee, O Reader,LOVE to think seriously of this, if the Apostle cry out,1 John 3, 1 as he doth, Beloved what manner of Love is this that the Fa­ther hath bestowed upon us, that We should be called The Sons of God? O think then what manner of love is this,In Christs Incarnation that GOD should be called The Son of Man? Nay bec [...]me Man? for the WORD was with GOD,John 1, 1 & Verse 14 and the WORD was GOD, and the WORD was made FLESH: For to think that Christ was one­ly [...] a Divine Man, and not GOD-MAN, is a thought both beneath a Christ, and below a Christian. John 5, 20 But (thanks be to God) We know that the Son of God is come, Christ true God. and He hath given us under­standing, that We may know him that is True, and We are in Him [Page 367] that is True, even in his Son Iesus Christ, This is the True GOD, and the Life Eternal.

This is He of whom it was said of Old, To us a Child is born, Isaiah 9, 6 and yet his Name shall be called The MIGHTY GOD. By whom, Hebrew 1, 2 saith the Apostle, God made the World, and he that built all things is GOD;chap 3, 3, 4. and to him it is expressly said, Thou Lord in the beginning hast established the Earth, Hebr. 1, 10 Verse 3 and the Hea­vens are the works of thine Hands. He was in the World, John 1, 10 and the World was made by him, and the World knew him not. And that He uphold­eth all things by the word of his power, who by himself purged our Sins, and sate down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. Christ suf­fering was God satisfy­ing himself, So that CHRIST Suffering, was but GOD Satifying Himself, and therefore He cannot chuse but have full payment, for the Purchase Blood was the Blood of GOD, Feed the Church of GOD,Acts 20, 2 [...] [Page 368] saith the Apostle) which He pur­chased with his Own Blood. And God did Suffer, though He could not Suffer As GOD, the Nature assuming, adding infinite value & vertue to the Nature assumed, both being one Person; [...] Tim. 3, 16 for God mani­fested in the Flesh; must needs be justifyed in the Spirit, (viz.) that Eternal Spirit, or Godhead of Christ,Hebr 9, 14 through which, or upon which, as the Altar, this [...], this middle Person (as the Apo­stle calls him) betwixt God and Man (God-Man) as Priest, of­fers up himself Suffering (as true Man) to Himself,1 Tim. 2, 5 as One true God with the Father and the Holy-Ghost.

1 Tim. 3, 16This is that great Mysterie look'd into by the Angels, Preach­ed to the Gentiles, Believed in the World, Lord I believe it, help thou mine unbelief.

Sect. XXIV.

BUt though I dare not but Think with Scripture that the blood of Christ (that is,Mistake to think one drop of Christ blood sufficient, the Death of Christ, for so the Scri­pture is to be understood when it speaks of his blood) is of Infinite [...]lue and vertue, Acts 20, 28. being Gods own blood, yet dare I not think with those who (without Scripture) affirm that One drop of Christs blood was sufficient to save the World, The Death of Christ necessary: for the Apostle saith expressly, that He is Mediatour of the New Testa­ment through DEATH,Hebr. 9, 15 [...],Verse 16, to Redemption (no Redem­ption without Death) for where a Testament is (saith He) there Must be the Death of Him that made the Testament. as Testato [...] And He proves it by the killing of the Sacrifices in the Law,Verse 22, 23 That without shedding of blood (he means dying) there is no [Page 370] Remission; And that it was Ne­cessary Christ should enter by his own Blood, that is, (for so he explains it) by the Sacrifice (not of a drop or few drops but) of Himself, and that no otherwise than by Death; Verse 26 Verse 27, 28 for as it was appointed unto Men once to die, So Christ must be Once offered. Surety For the Debt that We ow to the Covenant of Works is Death, In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt Die: Gen. 2, 17 This Debt must Our Surety under the New-Covenant pay,Hebr. 7, 22 though a Cove­nant of Graee,Rom. 5, 21 for GRACE must reign by Righteousness; for Christ was not onely for Our Good, Ch ist suf­fered in our stead, but in our stead, (like the Ram in the stead or room of Isaack) for the Chastisement of our Peace was upon Him. Gen. 22, 13 And therefore (not one drop of his Blood onely but) his Soul must be made the Offering for Sin, Ias. 53, 5, 10 Verse 12. and He must powre out his Soul to the Death, verse 4 for He was to bear [Page 371] Our Sorrows, which were the sor­rows of Death, as you have seen: which Text though a learned [...]an,Grot. in lo [...] who somtimes had written worthily for Christs satisfaction, falling afterwards off by Tempta­tion, would fain distort, by ex­pounding it of the Prophet Iere­miah, yet two great Apostles, Philip and Peter, Act 8, 34, 35 do understand and expound it of Christ and no other, by whose alone stripes we are healed. So Christ himself also, who knew what would serve the [...]urn, tells his Disciples plainly, [...]ha [...] there was no way but one, He must go away, He must depart, John 16, 7 yet he had long before this even [...]t eight days old, lost more than a drop of blood for them in his Cir­cumcision, but still for all that,Luke 2, 2 [...] the Son of man must go to Jerusa­lem,Mat. 16, 2 [...] and must suffer many things▪ and be killed: and it was His Life and no less that He must give for a Ransom for many. chap. 20, [...]

'Tis true indeed, this One Life of His was worth Thousands of Ours, The preci­o [...]sness of Christs Death: Acts 2, 24 as Davids Men said of Da­vids, and his Suffering Death (though it were not possible He should be held of it,)2 Sam. 18, 3 gave Infinite Iustice that Satisfaction and full Payment, because He that Suf­fered was an Infinite Person, that Millions of D [...]mned ones, (Men and Angels) in Hell cannot give or make in Millions of Ages, Christ fully Satisfyed, wa [...] lawfuly discharged, but the subjects of the Sufffering being Finite, the duration or Term of the Suffering must be in s [...]me sort Infinite, that is to say, without End; But now God sends His Angel, Matt. 28, 2 as a publick Minister, to roul away the Stone from Christs Se­pulchre (not that Christ needed an Angels help to further his Re­surrection, for He that had power to take up his life again, John 10, 18 could not want strength like another Sam­pson, Ju 16, 9, 12 to shake off those sorry shackles [Page 373] of his Sepulchre, but) I say the Key must be turned by Gods own [...]fficer, and the Prison door set [...]pen, to declare to All the world [...]hat Our Debt, by His Death, was fully paid, in that Our Sure­ty did not Break Prison, but was [...]et at Liberty, which the damned [...]hall never be, because they can [...]ever pay the uttermost Farthing.

But still We must take heed while We pretend High Thoughts [...]f Christ, We must not pretend [...]igh Thou­ghts of Christ to harbour hard thou­ghts of God that we harbour not [...]ard thoughts of God, as if He would exact of Our Surety more [...]han was due, or were indeed pro­ [...]se or prodigal of the Blood of his [...]on; No, no, God counted it as [...]recious sure as thou canst do for [...]hine Heart, and if Men be loath [...]o be lavish of corruptible things, 1 Pet. 1, [...] [...]uch as Silver and Gold, sure God [...]ould never have been so of the [...]recious blood of Christ, 19, as a Lamb [...]ithout spot,; for if a drop would [Page 374] have done it, Circumcision might have excused the Passion, and the Propathia, or Bloody Sweat in the Garden, the Bloody Death upon the CROSS: and so Christ have dyed in vain, Galat. 2, 21 a thought which the Apostle so much abhors; for as He there reasons concerning the Law, I may argue in this pre­sent case, if Righteousness could have been by a drop of his Blood, then Christ dyed [...], as one would say, Gratis, in a comple­ment, and for a meer flourish of his kindness, which the Apostle will by no means admit. No, no, The Temple of his body must be de­stroyed, Joh. 2, 19, 21 which the loss of a Drop of his blood would not do; He must be made SIN for Vs; now the wages of Sin (for he knew no sin, Rom. 6, 23 as to the work of Sin, but He must be made Sin, as to the wages of Sin which) is Death; That W [...] might be made the Righteousness of 2 Cor 5, 21 [Page 375] God in Him. And that He might Redeem us from the Curse of the L [...]w, He must be made a Curse for Us, that is, He must hang upon the Tree till he be dead, for in that sence it is that the Apostle quotes that in the Law of Moses where it is written,Deut. 21, 22 23 Cursed is He that hangeth upon a Tree.

And the truth is,Scripture thoughts of Christ our onely right and high Thoughts. Luk. 24, 25 26 as our Scri­ptural Thoughts of Christ are our onely Right Thoughts, (O fools & slow of heart, ought not Christ to have suffered these things? &c) so are they also our High Thoughts; for herein God commended his Love to us (not that Christ was Circumcised for us, though that were Love,Rom. 5, 8 Not Christ bleeding, but his dying the grand commenda­tion of his Love. to loose a few drops of his precious Blood for Us, but this is the high commendation of his Love) that He Dyed for Vs; for many there are that would wllingly enough loose a little Blood for a Friend, that would not die for their Friend, [...]ut this was Love, that though [Page 376] We were Enemies, He not onely Bled for Us, but Dyed for Vs. For suppose you had been ear-witnes­ses of the great Councel of Peace between the Father and the Son,Hebr: 10, 3 4, 5 (whereof we have such plain Inti­mations in Scripture) saith God, Loyonder are a multitude of Sin­ners, and a multitude of Sacri­fices, but I can have no pleasure in the One or the Other, but if Thou, my Son, wilt but come in the Room of both, I shall be sa­tisfyed,Mat. 3, 17 In whom, as well as with whom, I shall be well pleased; But know then, that there must be Dying; Hebr. 9, 12 or there can be no Do­ing; for the Sinners should Die; and the Sacrifices they do Die, and thou must Die, or else my Wrath can not be appeased, the Sinner can not be acquitted; and then that you had heard Christ thus making answer, If it must be so,Heb. 10, 5, 7 Lo I come, Lord, in the Volume of thy Book it is written of Me, even [Page 377] to do this thy Will O God; Verse 5 if this be the way, Let it be so; a Body hast thou prepared me, Isaia. 50, 5, 6 and mine Ears hast thou opened, and I was not Rebellious, neither turned I away back, Lo here is my Back to the smiters, and my cheeks for them that pull off the hair, and my Face for shame and spitting; And if all this be not sufficient, here is my Soul too for a Sacrifice,Isaia: 53, 10 for an Offering for Sin, and if Thou be but satis­fyed, I am Satisfyed, for as ne­ver had Mother sorrow in her Birth-pangs for a Son; like my Sorrow, so never was Mother sa­tisfyed in a Son as I am in my Seed. When thou shalt make his Soul an Offering for Sin, Isaia. 53:1 [...] He shall see his Seed, and the Pleasure of the Lord prosper in his hand: Verse 1 [...] He shall see of the Travail of his Soul and be Satisfyed. And therefore well mayest Thou be satisfyed, O my Soul, as with Marrow and with Fat­ness, [Page 378] to think of all this. If it pleased the Lord to bruise him, Vere 10 that He might spare thee, and if the Son were satisfyed to be so served to justify thee, and to bear thine Ini­quities; Verse 11 shall this Thought not be pleasing to thee? That He should not onely be Cut (as in his Cir­cumcision) but Cut off out of the Land of the Living (as in his Passion) even Messiah the Prince, Verse 8 be cut off for thee, to finish thy Trans­gression, Dan. 5, 24, 25 to make an end of Sin, to make Reconciliation for the Trans­gression, and to bring in Everlasting Righteousness That He should be delivered for thine Offences, Rom, 4, 25 an [...] raised again for thy Iustification, without thy desert or desire, o [...] thy care or thy Thought before all this was done for thee; doth it not deserve now thy Love, and thy joy, and thy Care, and thy Thoughts, Jer. 23, 6 to be laid out upon it▪ nay to be taken up with it? Tha [...] [Page 379] The Lord should be Thy Righteous­ness; Isaiah 32, 2 and this Man thine hiding place, and thy Peace, and that by Blood onely, so making Peace; That thine Acceptation should be in Him, Ep [...] 2, 13, 15 and thy Redemption through his Blood, Eph 1, 6, 7, and neither the One nor the other by Doing, nor by thy Dying, but thy Reconciliation by His Death, Rom. 5:10 and thy Salvation by His Life; Oh how dear should the Thought of this Dying Rising Lord be to thee, who once suffer­ed for Sins, 1 Pet. 3, 1 [...] the IUST for the Vnjust, that he might bring us to God, put to Death in the Flesh, or Man­hood, but quickened in, or through the Spirit, that is, the God-head▪

Sect. XXXVI.

High thou­ghts [...]f im­puted R [...]gh­teousnessANd how Highly Reputed should that Imputed Righte­ousness be by Thee, which the Apostle counts a Gain, for which He willingly Suffered the les [...] of All, Rom, 4, 24 nay for the working out of which Christ Himself became poor, that We by his povertie might b [...] made rich. Phil. 3, 8 9 'Twas this Righte­ousness that was look'd at in th [...] Sacrifices, 2 Cor, 8, 9 and through the Sprink­lings of the Law, for saith th [...] Holy-Ghost, If the Blood of Bul [...] and Goats, He. 9, 14, 15 and the sprinkling th [...] that are unclean, Sanctify as to th [...] purifying of the Flesh, how mu [...] more shall the Blood of Christ, & [...] purge your Conscience? &c. A [...] that the Thoughts of the Old T [...] stament-Believers ran so muc [...] upon, Davids especially, his ver [...] Dying Thoughts ran of this [...] [...] Sam. 23, 1 [Page 381] appears by his last words, Al­though mine House be not so with God, yet God hath made a Cove­nant with me, Ordered in all things and sure, Verse 5 this is All my Salvation and All my desire, &c. Blessed be God what ever is out of Order, the Covenant of Grace is Ordered in All things and sure; my help and my hope is not in my self, or in any thing of my own, 'tis laid up elsewhere in better keeping, One shall say, IN the Lord I have strength, Isaia. 45, 24 and I have Righteous­ness: and IN the Lord, Verse 25 the whole House of Israel (that is all that e­ver shall have Peace) shall he Iu­stifyed and shall Glory; thus Isaiah; So Ieremy speaking of the Church,Jere. 33, 16 He that shall call her is The Lord Our Righteousness; So Daniel, Dan. 9, 17 Now therefore, O our God, hear the Prayer of thy Servant, &c. and cause thy face to shine, &c.Eze. 14, 14 for the Lords Sake. You see Daniel, [Page 382] who is reckon'd by the Holy-Ghost with Noah and Iob, one of the best men that ever was, hath not a Thought of any Acceptance or Audience from any Righteous­ness or Works of his Own; but onely for Christs sake, 2 Co. 12, 12 Lord do it saith he for the Lords sake. Nay S. Paul that came behind no Man, and Laboured more abundantly than All, 1 Co. 15, 10 that exercised himself always to have a Conscience void of Offence, Acts 24.16 both towards God and towards all Men, that Beat down his Body to bring it in Subjection, 1 Cor. 9, 27 &c, In a word, Wherein­soever any might seem to have any thing to boast, 2 Cor. 11, 22 to the end He had more, yet you find no man more triumph­ing in an Imputed Righteousness, Rom. 4 cha. Rom. 5 cha. by FAITH, GRACE, FREE GIFT; No man more abasing, nay abhorring the very Thought of all self-wrought Righteous­ness (not of Works saith He,Ephes. 2, 9 least any man should boast) but sweep­ing [Page 383] down, throughout his write­ings (especially the Epistles to the Romans, Ga [...]atians, Rom [...]ap. 5 and 6 Ephesians) the Spiders Webbe, as the Holy Ghost calls all that Hope & Con­fidence which Man Spins, Gala chap: 2 a [...] 3 as it were, out of his own Bowels; Eph [...] [...]ap, 2 Job 8▪ 14 nay disclaiming all compoundings and blendings in the business of Iusti­fication, He will have nothing there but a Christ apprehended & received through Faith,Ephes 2 8. and that too not of our selves but the Gift of God; for saith He,Rom. 11.6 If it be of Grace it is no more of Works, or else Grace were no more Grace; but if it be of Works it is no more of Grace, else Work were no more Work.

And how plain, and indeed terrible is that Text?Rom 9 30 What shall We say then? that the Gentiles which followed not Righteousness, have at [...] tained unto Righteousness, even the Righteousness which is of Faith: Ver 31, 32 But Israel which followed after the Law [Page 384] of Righteousness, hath not attained to the Law of Righteousness. Where­fore? because they sought it not By Faith, but as it were, by the works of the Law, for they have stumbled at the stumbling stone, Verse 33 [...] as it written, Behold I will lay in Sion a stumbling stone, and a Rock of Offence; And every one that Believeth in Him shall not be ashamed. Let Papists then mock on, and call this Imputed Righ­teousness a Putative (or an ima­ginary) Righteousness, yet what is to them Foolishness, 1 Pet. 2, 6 and to ma­ny a stumbling stone, let it be to thee,Philip. 3, 3 O my Soul, a Foundation; Rejoice thou in Iesus, and have thou no Confidence in the Flesh.

Sect. XXXVII.

Phi 2 6, 7, 8 High thou­ghts of ChristBVt then as God hath Highly exalted Him that was Hum­bled, being equal with God, yet in shape of a Man, even to the Death of the Cross: so think, [Page 385] that if ever thou hope for benefit by Him, thy Life and thy Lips must exalt Him, and thine Heart and thy Thoughts above all, not that thou canst adde to, but must own his Greatness and his Glory, nay though thou hadst known Christ after the Flesh, yet hence­forth know him so no more- 2 Cor. 5, 16 A­way with low Thoughts, carnal conceptions of Iesus Christ, who though He were Crucifyed through weakness, yet is raised in Power, 1 Cor. 14 4 yea in the greatness of his strength became weak, Isaia. 63, 1 that out of weakness thou mightest be made strong: Hebr. 11, 34 for if the Christian can say by believ­ing in Christ, when I am weak then am I strong, and can Glory in his Infirmities, 2 Corin. 12 9, 10 that the power of Christ may rest upon him, well may he Glory in Christ, whose Glory, in the very days of his infirmity, they that saw him, beheld as the Glory of the onely begotten Son of God, John 1, 4 [...] for [Page 386] whilst he dwelt among Men in the body of his Flesh, The Fulness of the God head dwelt in him bodily. Colos. 2, 9 And O how awful and stupendious a thought it is,Roman 9, 5 that Gods Benja­min should be this Ben-oni, Nay the Blessed God himself. This man of Sorrows; The Eternal Father, the Son of his Hand maid,Isaia. 53, 3 made of a Woman; and 9 6 The Mightie God, a Child born, Galat. 4, 4 so saith Scripture, but who shall declare his Generation? The Law-Maker,Isaia. 53, 8 made under the Law that He might make satisfa­ction to the Law,Galat: 4.4 and Fulfil all Righteousness, both by Doing and by Dying, Matth. 3, 15 by Serving and Suffer­ing; Rev. 19, 16 The Lord of Lords come to Minister, And He that gives Life to All, to give his Life a Ransom for many. Mat. 20, 29 Stupendious Thought may I well call it, that my GOD should become GOEL, my near Kinsman, by Incarnation, and gain Right of Redemption as to those in [Page 365] whom he had a Right of Creation, for which Cause He is not ashamed to call them Brethren; Hebr. 2, 1 [...] That the the Infinite should be Confined; and Content in the Womb, though not Contained in the World;

(Pellibus exiguis Ingens arctatur JESUS.)

That a strait low-roof'd Virgin-Cell.

Should lodge th' Incomprehen­sible;

That the Eternal God should be Born, Isaiah 9, 6 Matth 28, 6 Luke 2, 7. and the Immortal God bury­ed, after a Life of Sorrow, and a Death of Shame; That the Ma­jesty of God should take up with a Stable, for a Presence-Chamber, and a Manger for a Throne, where Wise-men must come and Worship Him,Matt 2, 11 and 27, 29 Verse [...] a wreath of Thornes for a Crown, a Cross for a Scepter, and for a Royal-Robe, the onely Crim­son [Page 384] [...] [Page 385] [...] [Page 386] [...] [Page 365] [...] [Page 384] [...] [Page 385] [...] [Page 386] [...] [Page 365] [...] [Page 388] of a Bloody Passion lined with the Ermine of white Innocency, but spotted with the Contradiction of Sinners. Hebr. 11:3 That the Ancient of days should become an Infant, The thundering God a Crying Babe; Heb. 11:2 The Heir of All things be born to Banishment as soon as Born,Matth. 2, 13 and He that fills Heaven to be, as it were, a Fugitive in the Earth at his first coming into it; That God Our Refuge should be forc't to Flee, John 12, 46 yea to Run for his Life before he could Go, and to hide his Head in AEGYPT, who was the Light of the World; John 6:41 That the Bread of Heaven should be laid a­mongst Oats and Hay for the food of Man,Psal. 49:12 that was now become (by his Sin) Like the Beasts that pe­rish; Acts 3:15 That the Prince of Life should begin to Die from his very begin­ing to Live, Luke 21 24 and the early shed­ding of his Precious Blood from the first weeks sucking of his Mothers [Page 389] Milk; That He should be re­puted the Carpenters Son, John 1:3 by whom all things were made; That He before whom the Devils tremble, Matth. 4: [...] should be lead into the Wilder­ness to be Tempted of the Devil; That the Living Bread should fuf­fer Hunger, and the Fountain thirst; Verse [...] That He that gives Rest to Our Souls should Himself suffer Weari­ness, John 19:28 and He that gives us all things richly to enjoy, John 4:6 Luke 9:5 [...] not have a hole him­self where to lay his head; That He that Iustifyes the ungodly, Isaia. 53, 12 should himself be Numbred among the Transgressours; That God the Iudge of All should be tryed for his Life at Mans Bar, And He that did All things Well should himself suf­fer among Malefactors; That the WAY should be Forsaken, John 14:6 as He was by his Friends and Fol­lowers;Matt. 26:5 [...] That the TRUTH should be Betrayed, as He was by Iudas; Luke 22, 2 [...] That the LIFE should be Killed [Page 390] as He was by the Iews; That the Great God should be Sold, to Re­deem Man; Acts 3 15 And the Living God die, that dead Man might Live; And be shut up in the Grave, to set Man at Liberty; In a word, That the most High God should humble himself to so sad a Life, and the Lord of Glory to so base a death, spending and ending his Doleful days betwixt Perils & Pains, L [...]ke 22 28 and Temptations, Heb [...]ew 4, 7 and Persecutions, and Wants, and Wearyness, and Fears, and Tears, Luke 22.44 and Sweat, and Blood, till at length his tender body was extended to the utmost torture that a cruel Cross could stretch it, and his meek and Innocent Soul stretched to the utmost extremity of sorrow that it could possibly be extended to, and all for poor Man that never deserved it, that never desired it, that never one [...] Thought of it, before he heard of it, ready rather to cry out with [Page 391] Nicodemus? John 3:9 How can these things be? (so slow of heart to believe it, Luke 24, 25 chap. 6.5 8 having heard of it) crying out with the Iews, How can this man give us his Flesh to eat? But oh the Folly of mans Wit, and the unreasonableness of their rea­sonings that have not Faith? 2 Thes. 3: [...] for why should it be thought an incredi­ble thing that the Condescention of Divine Grace should surmount all Humane Comprehension, Philip. 4:7 1 Tim. 3:16 the Effect of which Grace is peace that passeth all Vnderstanding? that the Mystery of Godliness should be GREAT, The first Principle whereof is GOD manifest in the FLESH!Isaiah 9. [...] or that He should be an object of our admiring thoughts in all his Story, the very first let­ter of whose Name is WONDER­FVL?Rom [...] 3: [...] But thanks be to God that the unbelief of man cannot make the Faith of God without Effect.

Sect. XXXVII.

ANd Oh how Ioyful as well as Awful, Delightful thoughts of Christ: and truely Amiable as well as highly Admirable a Thought it is, that it was TRUE MAN as well as very GOD that was engaged in all this; 'Twas the Star proceeding out of Iacob that was ushered into the world by that Star in the East, Num. 24:17 Matth 2, 2 'twas the Seed of Abraham that was waited upon by the Multitude of the Heavenly host, Hebr. 2 16 and to whom it was said at his bringing into the World, Let all the Angels of God Worship him; Rom: 8, 5 for of the Fathers concerning the Flesh Christ came, who is over all God blessed for ever, Amen. For since man had Fallen, by aspiring to be like God, there was no way for his rising again, but by Gods Cond [...]scending to become like one of Vs. O comfortable thought to [Page 393] poor Man! that it was MAN that fulfilled all Righteousness, Math 3:15 that wrought Miracles, that overcame the World, that satisfyed Iustice, John 16, 33 that appeased wrath, that subdued Sin, that destroyed Death, and him that had the power of it, that is the Devil, Hebr. 2, 14 And having spoiled Prin­cipalityes and Powers, triumphed over them, Collos 3, 15 and having risen from the dead in that very Body wherein he suffered, Acts 31, [...] and shewed himself alive after his Passion by many infallible proofs, being seen on Earth for the space of 40 dayes, He afterwards in open sight ascended into Heaven, and sate down on the Right hand of the Majestie on high, Hebr. 1, [...] from thenceforth expecting till his Enemies be made his Footstool. O this is Bone of our Bone, and Flesh of our Flesh; chap. 10:13 this is our beloved, and this is our friend; Cant. 5:16 This is the Man that is Gods fellow; the Man whom God hath appointed to judge the World, Zech: 13:7 Acts 17:3 [...] and happy We [Page 394] whose Suretie is to be Our Iudge; this is the High Priest taken from among Men to bring us to God, Hebrew. 5, 1 the Ladder reaching Heaven, and touching Earth, that he might ga­ther together in one All things that are in Heaven, Ephes 1:10 and that are on Earth; This is Our Fore-Runner that is for us entered, Hebr: [...]:20 and hath taken possession in that very Nature wherein He paid the Price, and made the pur­chase, who entered first into our Sorrow, Matth 25, 3 and acquainted himself with our Griefs, that We might enter into the Ioy of our Lord, John 17, 24 and be where he is, that We might behold his Glo­ry.

And Oh methinks the Divine Thought of this Immanuel the In­carnate GOD, notwithstanding All the Magick that the World can use to bewitch our affections, or to Ch [...]rm our Thoughts to the things below,Exod. 7.12 should be like the Rod of Aaron among the Rods of [Page 395] the Magicians, even a Thought swallowing up every other thought! A Thought so Great and so good, so admirable and so acceptable, even worthy of all acceptation; A Thought so dearly engaging us; and so nearly concerning us; a Thought without which All other Thoughts can be but a mere Chaos of Confusion, and will prove in the Issue a very Hell of Horrour; and a Thought with which the thought of Death is without a Sting, 1 Cor: 15 55 and the very Thought of Iudgment [...] doth lift up the head and fill the heart with Ioy unspeakable and full of Glory. L [...]ke 21:28 1 Peter 1, 8 In a word, a Thought that by mutual entercourses between Love on Gods part, and Faith on Mans part, doth bring Heaven down to Vs, and will, if We follow it home, raise Vs up to Heaven, for whilst We with open face behold (as in a Glass) the Glory of the Lord, 2 Cor. 3 [...]8 We are changed into the same Image [Page 396] from Glory to Glory, as by the Spi­rit of the Lord, For as Gods wayes are above our wayes, as high as his Thoughts are above our Thoughts, so our wayes will be above other mens wayes, Isaia, 55▪ 8 above the Corrupt way of Nature, the bruitish way of sense and Carnal Reason, as high as our thoughts are above their thoughts; for whilst their God is their belly, and they glory in their shame, Phi. 3:19, 20 who mind Earthly things; Our Conversation shall be in Heaven, from whence we look for the Saviour the Lord Iesus Christ.

Christ de­seruesO welcom then the dear and precious Thoughts of the blessed Iesus! who thought of thee, O my Soul,Psat 136, 23 in thy low estate, and there­fore deserves thy Thoughts; and puts himself purposely in thy way, which way soever thou turnest thy self,and desires our thou­ghts, Luke 22, 44 and therefore sure desires thy thoughts; for as there was never a pore in his Body [Page 397] but He did sweat out his Blood at it for thee, and thy Good, so is there never a door even of thine Exterior sences but He knocks at it to be let in to thy Thoughts; Knock: at the do [...]r of euery sense, Canst thou hear, or see, or feel? why, that which We have seen and heard, 1 John 1 1 saith the Apostle, declare we unto you, and our hands have handled the word of life. Or canst thou tast?and ve [...] 3 and hast thou not tasted that the Lord is gracious? 1 Pet. 2:3 Cantic. 2, 1 or is the Rose of Sharon the onely Flower that cannot please thy smell? The bundle of Myrrhe, the Cluster of Camphire, chap. 1.13 Verse 14 And puts hi [...]self in the way of o [...] thoughts by every good thing about us, &c. are there no sweets in All these? Methinks my Saviour d [...]es even court my Thoughts, meeting them and me at every turn, in every thing that is excellent & obvious. If I shut my eyes He is my Rest, and this Rest is Glorious; If I o­pen them, He is my Light, Isaia. 11 10 and truly this Light is pleasant; Eccles. 6.11 If Night fall, He is the bright and [Page 398] fixed Star; Rev. 22:16 Malac. 4, 3 If Day dawn, 'tis writ with a Sun-beam upon my wall that He is my Sun of Righte­ousness: when I get up, can I for­get my Cloaths, to put on the Lord Iesus? Rom. 13, 14 Can I go forth, and not think of Him that is the Way? or come in again,John 14, 6 and not think of Him that is the Door? chap. 10:9 Can I sit down to Eat, and forget Him that is the Bread of Life? and take a turn in my Garden among all my pleasant Plants, and forget the Tree of Life? Revel: 22:2 or refresh my sweating brow amongst Rivers, Shades and Fountains, and not mind him that is the River of Life, Verse 1 the shaddow of a great Rock in a wea­ry Land, Isaiah. 32:2 the Fountain set open for Sin, Zecha. 13:1 and for uncleanness? Can I gaze upon Gold or Silver the Mammon of unrighteousness, and forget him whose very Re­proach is greater Riches then the Treasures of Aegypt? or please [Page 399] mine Eye with the Brisk and [...]prightly Diamond, or beautiful Emerauld, and not call to mind that Pearl of great Price, for the sake of which the wise Merchant sells all he hath to buy the Field in which He finds it? Matt 13, 46 Do I see the welcom Officer bringing a dis­charge to his weary Prisoner, and forget him that hath the Key of David,Revel. 3:7 who openeth & no man can shut, and shutteth & none can open? do I see the Mariner drop his An­chor, and forget Him in whom alone Hope, H [...]. 6, 18:1 [...] (which is the Anchor of the Soul) is sure and stedfast? Do I see the Souldier run to his Co­lours,chapt. 2:10 and forget the Captain of my Salvation? Do I see the watch­ful Shepheard [...]pose himself (as Iacob) to Sun [...] Shour,Gen: 31:40 to wind and weather, and forget him that laid down his Life for his Sheep? John 10:11 Or the painful Harvest-Man, and for­get him that is the Lord of the Harvest? Matth. 5:33 [Page 400] Or the careful Father setling his Estate by Will, and lear [...] ing it to his little ones that h [...] leaves behind him, and can I fo [...] bear to call to mind my Saviou [...] Testament confirmed by the Death [...] the Testator? Hebr. 9 16 Do I see the Virgi [...] preparing to receive the Bridegroom or the Countrey going out to m [...] the Iudge of Assize, Matt. 25.31 and not [...] Thoughts run out to meet my S [...] viour.1 Thes 4:17 In a word, can I think o [...] any thing & not think of Chris [...] who is every good thing; If I b [...] well,Psal: 42:11 'tis He that is the health o [...] my countenance; and if I be sick He is my Physician; Matth. 9 12 and if I live Christ is my Life; Philip. 1:21 and if I die, H [...] is the Resurrestion as well as Life So that as there is a strange diseas [...] that takes some in their Head [...] who live many years,John 11.25 but so strangely loose their Memory, tha [...] they forget their own Name, it is much more a monstrous disease [Page 401] that takes Us in our Heart [...], that makes us forget the Name of Christ; [...]hat We should be so strange, and [...]o sottish, and so stupid to the [...]houghts of Christ which of all [...]he things in the World, ought in [...]uty, and might in Reason, be [...]ost ready, frequent, and fami­ [...]iar to Us, since God hath made [...]very good thing about us, a plain [...]rompter to our weak memoryes, [...] spelling out the Name of his Son [...]nd our Saviour Jesus Christ. We [...]eed no sorry Crucifixes, dumb [...]ictures, or dead Images to be [...]ur Remembrancers (blessed be our God) to put us in mind of Him,especially by the Lords Supper inst­tuted for his Remem­brance. 1 Cor. 11, 26 [...]ho hath drunk to us in his own [...]ood, and commanded us to [...]edge Him at His Table, and as [...]ften as we do it, to do it in Remem­ [...]ance of Him: O there do thou [...]use O my Soul, till the Fire burn! [...] there let thine Eye, and thy [...]ouch, and thy Tast affect thy [Page 402] Thoughts, and let thy Thought enflame thy Affections, that th [...] more thou think of Christ, tho [...] mayest love him better; and th [...] better thou lovest him, thou mayest think of Him more; for ther [...] the Bread of life is broken, that i [...] may be Eaten; and this Eat [...] Bread is never to be forgotten; the [...] the Blood of Christ is broach [...] that it may be drunk, and bein [...] drunk that his love may be remembred more then Wine; Cant. 1, 4 for the [...] is Christ before mine eyes evident [...] set forth, Galat. 3:1 even as if He were Cruc [...] fyed among us. There the Kin [...] both sits at his Table, Cant: 1:12 and is s [...] upon the Table; for Christ is bot [...] the Master of the Feast, and th [...] Matter of the Feast; both my E [...] tertainer▪ and Entertainment; an [...] whilst I thus see him, and feel him and tast him, How can I but thin [...] of him? and whilst the Bread th [...] strengtheneth mine heart, strength­eneth [Page 403] also my Faith, & so Christ [...]eals into my Soul, as it were, by [...]y Sense, and becomes the very [...]ourishment thereof, as the Out­ward Elements (Bread and Wine) [...]re of the Outward man, How can [...] forget my Saviour, whilst I Re­member my self? or shut him out of the thoughts of mine Heart, Psal. 73.26 who [...]s the strength of mine heart? John 6, 5 [...] whose Flesh is my meat indeed, and whose [...]lood is my drink indeed: whose Death is my life and my Reconcili­ [...]tion, and whose life is my Glory [...]nd my Salvation; who, by his [...]ontinual Intercession, Hebr. 9, 28 ever bears [...]ne upon his heart, before his Fa­ [...]her in Heaven (even as Aaron was to bear the Names of the Tribes [...]f Israel upon his Breast-plate into [...]he most holy place) till He appear [...]he second time unto Salvation, Exod. 28:2 [...] and [...]ome again to take me to himself, John 12, 26 [...]hat where my Lord is, there may also his Servant be.

Sect. XXXVIII.

ANd as we must away wit [...] all sour thoughts of Christ and All low thoughts of Christ so much more with all unsavo [...] and loose thoughts of Christ.Holy Thou­ghts of Christ O [...] Thoughts of Him must be Holy as well as High; and Fearful, a [...] well as Cheerful; Rom: 6, 1, 2 The Apostl [...] puts an absit upon the least Thought as if the coming of Grace wer [...] for the countenancing of Sin [...] What saith Moses concernin [...] Christ?Exo: 23:21 Beware of him and ob [...] his voice, provoke him not, for [...] wil [...] not pardon your Transgressions for my Name is in Him. What sait [...] David? Psalm 2:12 Kiss the SON least he b [...] angry, and ye perish from the way when his wrath is kindled but a li [...] tle. The Prophet Isaiah tells u [...] that he comes to give Law (a [...] well as Liberty) the Isles shall wa [...] for his Law, Isai. 42 4 the Prophecy of ou [...] [Page 405] Conversion, who are Island­ [...]rs in the Sea) and that this Branch out of the Root of Jesse shall [...]mite the Earth with the Rod of his Mouth, Isai. 11, 1, [...] and with the breath of his [...]ips he shall slay the wicked. The Angel saith of Christ, that his Name should be called JESUS,Malac. 1, 21 be­ [...]ause He was to save his People (not [...]N their Sins, but) FROM their [...]ins. Christ,Acts 2, 2 [...] when he was a Child, was the Holy Child JESUS;Mal. 5:1 [...] [...]nd when he was a Man, He tells [...]s that He came not to destroy the Law, but to fulfil it; And as Iohn [...]aptist told the People, that his [...]an was in his hand, Mat. 3, 12 and he would [...]hroughly purge his Floor, they [...]ound it so, for He went into the Temple, chap 21, 21 and scourged out the Buy­ [...]rs and Sellers, &c. in token that [...]o unclean or prophane thing must [...]xpect admittance by Him into [...]he Kingdom of God. No, no, [...]he Baptisme of Christ is a Bap­tisme Mat, 3, 11 [Page 406] with Fire, and [...]he Spir [...]t of Christ is a Reprover of Sin, John 16:8 the ex­ample of Christ a pattern of Obedience, Hebr, 10, 2 and the Doctrine of Chri [...] is a Doctrine of Self denyal, Mat. 16 24 th [...] Truth of Christ a Sanctifying Truth, John 17, 17 and the Faith of Christ an [...] heart-purifying Faith, Act [...] 25 9 and the Peace of Christ is a War with Sin, for it keeps the heart, Phi ip, 4, 7 and rules i [...] the heart, Col. 3 27 Galat: 6, 16 and 'tis onely unto them that walk according to Rule that th [...] Gospel of Christ saith Peace b [...] upon them; but Tribulation an [...] Anguish, Rom. 2, 8, 9 Indignation and Wrat [...] upon every Soul of Man that do [...] evil, of the Jew first, and also o [...] the Gentile.

Take We heed then of thinking basely of Christ,Matt 11, 19 as the frien [...] of Sinners in their vile sense, wh [...] indeed thought him to be altoghe [...] such a one as themselves; Psal 50, 21 but D [...] vids▪ Psal, 45, 7 Thoughts were otherwise thou lovest Righteousness and hate [Page 407] Iniquity, therefore God, even thy God, hath annointed thee with the Oyl of Gladness above thy fellows. A Friend indeed of Sinners, for He Dyed to save them, 1 Tim. [...].15 yea the chief of them, but yet an Enemy to Sin, for He came to make an end of Sin (saith the Apostle St. Iohn)1 John 3, [...] to Redeem us from our vain Conver­sation (saith S. Peter)1 Pet 1, 18 and to purify to himself a peculiar people zealous of good works, Titus 2, 14 to sanctify and cleanse us with the washing of water, by the Word, that we might be holy and without blemish (saith S. Paul. Ep. 5.26, 27)

And now tell me, O Reader, is there any shelter for Sin, or li­cense for Lust in all this? O be not deceived, God is not mocked, Gal. 6, 7, 8 for whatsoever a Man Soweth, that shall he also Reap, for he that soweth to his Flesh shall of the Flesh reap Cor­ruption, but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life E­verlasting. 2 Tit. 11, 12 For the GRACE of [Page 408] God that hath appeared bringing SALVATION, teacheth to deny un­godliness, and worldly Lusts, &c. For Christ is KING as well as PRIEST,Psalm 45, 6 and LORD as well as IESUS, and the Scepter of his King­dom is a RIGHT SCEPTER, and We cannot THINK RIGHTLY of it, except we think it so. And O how terrible is this THOUGHT, that if We slight this way, neg­lecting so great Salvationi, Hebr. 2, 3 [...] by Sin­ing wilfully against this Sacrifice, there remains no (other) SACRI­FICE for Sin, chap. 10, 26 Acts 4 12 for there is no other Name given but the Name JESV [...] And if He that sinned against Mo­ses's Law dyed without Mercy, Heb. 10, 28.29 how much sorer must his punishment be, that trampleth under foot the SON of GOD?

Then think this of Christ, that if He be not thy Foundation-Stone, 1 Pet. 2, 6 Mat. 21, 14 Elect and precious to thee, if thou be not built upon Him, [Page 409] He will fall upon thee, and grinde thee to powder; Rev. 5 5, 6 for the Lamb of God is a LYON too,John 5, 22 and God hath com­mitted all Iudgement to the SON, and the WRATH of the LAMB shall one day be found intolera­ble to the proudest of Men, when the Kings of the Earth, Revel 6, 15 16▪ 17 and the great men, and the Rich men, and the chief Captains, and the mighty Men, and every Bond man, and e­very Free man shall call to the Rocks and the Mountains to fall on them, to hide them from the face of Him that sitteth upon the Throne, and from the WRATH of the LAMB, for when the great day of his Wrath is come, O who shall be able to stand?

O think of this ye Loose, Li­centious,Caution to loose Chri­stians Rom. 2, 24 (Sacrilegiously so cal­led) CHRISTIANS, through whom the Sacred Name of Christ is blasphemed among the Gentiles, what thanks will He give you that a TURK should say (as they [...] [Page 410] ordinarily observ'd to do) What? do you think I am a CHRISTI­AN that I should break my Oath, or falsifie my Faith? &c. Or that an HEATHEN should say, as that Indi­an Prince did to the Spaniards, who being about to put him cruelly to death, but in (Ghostly Charity) persuaded him to turn Christian before his death; He asked them, what he should get by that? they told him he should go to Heaven with the Christians, He demand­ed whither went Indians, when they dyed? They said, to Hell; He shortly replyed, He would die as he was; for he had rather go to the Indians Hell, then to the cruel Spaniards Heaven? 'Twas severely said by one, Aut hic non est Christus,—pudet haec oppro­bria nobl [...] & dici potuisse, & non potu­isse refelli. aut hi non sunt Christiani; Either He, (whom you profess) is not the CHRIST, or You are not the CHRISTIANS. Men and Brethren, let me freely [Page 411] speak to you, if CHRISTS coming into the World be signalized by Bacchanalian Rites and Revellings, what shall a Iew or Infidel think either of Christ, or else of Vs? 'Twas truly said peccatis nostris fortes sunt Barbari. Christians sins make Barbarians more barbarous, Turks more Turkish, Homil. a­gainst the peril of Ido­latry 3 p. pag: 45 Iews more Iewish, as our Homilie hath ob­served that Popish Idolatry gives the great fixation to Turkish and Iewish Infidelity.

But as of old God sent the old Iews to Shilo, where He first set his Name, to see what he did to it, Jerem: 7, 12 for the wickedness of his people Israel, so may I send the now Christan World to the once seaven flourish­ing Churches of Asia,Revel. 1, 11 for if Christ be not glorifyed by Vs, He will glorify Himself upon us, and therefore let every one that thinks of a Christ, think of this, Let E­very One that nameth the Name of Christ depart from Iniquity. 2 Tim: 2:1 [...]

Sect. XXXIX.

ANd as our Thoughts of the Father and the Son are onely Right when Regulated by Scripture,Right thou­ghts of God the Holy-Ghost. so also of the Blessed SPIRIT; For as the Sun is not to be seen (as we have said) but in its own light, (which yet is but a finite Created Emanation from God the Father of lights) much less can we conceive aright of the Holy-Ghost, must be Scri­ptural. but by Conceipts congruous & harmonious to that Word which holy Men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy-Ghos [...] ▪ 2 Pet: 1, 21 For if the Natural man cannot re­ceive the things of the Spirit, 1 Cor. 2, 14 He cannot surely conceive aright of the Spirit himself without both a spiritual light to discover,Thoughts of the H. Ghost strange to the carnal mind. and eye to discern him; Otherwise He must needs be both out of his sight and out of mind; For Scripture [Page 413] saith that such a mans very Mind is carnal, 1 Cor. 2, 12 and speaks of the Spirit of this World as directly opposite to the Spirit which is of God, we are great strangers to our own Spirits. Alas what strangers are We to our own Spirits? (How little is our know­ledge, and how few are our Tho­ughts of them?) How strange then must the Knowledge and Thoughts of the Holy Spirit of God be unto Us?John 14 This is that Spirit whom the World cannot re­cause it seeth him not, neither knoweth him. Thoughts of God the Fa­ther The Thoughts of God the Father do more easily occur to the natural mind, for Heathen Poets, and even the light of Nature teach us that We are All his Ofspring, A rat. [...] as the Apostle speaks out of the Poet, and so to seek the Lord, if happily we may feel after him, and find him, Acts 17, 128 (though the light that Adams Fall hath left in us is little less then Darkness, so our searching after God our [Page 414] Father is called a Feeling as blind men use,Verse 27 a Gropeing as they that have much darkness and but little light,)and of God, The Son more obvi­ous then of God the H. Ghost. And as God the Father is not very far from every one of us (as 'tis there said) so the Thoughts of God the Son are the more ob­vicus to us, because by his Incar­nation he is come so near us, and there is a true Humane Nature in his Blessed Person for humane Thoughts to employ themselves upon; [...] Cor. 12, 3 And yet it is said that no man can say that Iesus is the Lord, (that is, make any right acknow­ledgement of the Son) but by the Holy-Ghost; How then can any man have any Right Knowledge or Thoughts of the Spirit, Right thou­ghts of the H. Ghost, but by the Spirit, who speaks by the Scri­ptures? And here as before, we are taught to Rejoyce with trem­bling,Acts 9, 31 walking in the fear of the Lord, and the comfort of the Holy-Ghost. are Rever­end For who can but Rejoyce [Page 415] in the Thoughts of Him whom the Scriptures call the COMFORTER?John 16.7 and who can but tremble before the SPIRIT?The Holy-Ghost GOD who as He is One with the Father and the Son, (for there are three that bear Record in Heaven, the Father, the Word, 1 John 5, 7 and the Holy-Ghost, and these three are One) so is He to be considered and Thought upon with one and the same Ioyful Reverence, and awful Rejoycing. As to his Essence, A SPIRIT in his Es­sence, the Scriptures declare Him to be a Spirit in declaring Him to be God (for God is a Spirit) and declare [...]im to be God, in declaring [...]hemselves to be the Word of God; John 4:24 [...]or whilest one Text saith, that All Scripture (or the whole Scri­ [...]ture▪ 2 Tim. 3, 17. [...]) is [...]iven by Inspiration of God, 2 Pet. 1, 21 (or God [...]nspired) and another, that Holy [...]en of God spake as they were moved [...] the Holy-Ghost, the Natural Conclusion from the premisses is [Page 416] this, Therefore the Holy-Ghost is God. Isaiah 62, 2 And if we ought to tremble at the Word, how much more be­fore him that inspired and gave it forth? Agreeable hereunto it is that when the Prophet Esaias in that tremendous Text describes the Lord sitting upon a throne high and lifted up, Isaia▪ 6.1, 2 3, 5, 8, 9 and Seraphims cry­ing one to another, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God of Hosts; which made the Holy Man cry out Wo is me, I am undone because I am a man of unclean lips, &c. and mine eyes have seen the King, The Lord of Hosts; The Apostle Paul ex­pressly saith that this Holy Lord God was God the Holy-Ghost; I heard the voice of the Lord, saith the Prophet, and he said go and tell this people▪ hear ye indeed but understand not, &c. now saith the Apostle,Acts 28, 25 26, 27 well spake the Holy-Ghost by Esaias the Prophet, unto our Fa­thers saying, Go unto this people and [Page 417] say, hearing ye shall hear and not un­derstand, &c. So one while 'tis said the Holy-Ghost spake by the mouth of David; Another while 'tis said Lord thou art God which hast made Heaven and Earth, Acts 1, 16 cha 4, 24, 25 and the Sa, and all that is in them, who by the mouth of thy Servant David hast said, &c. and so Ananias his lying to the Holy-Ghost is called a lying unto God; Therefore the Holy Ghost is God.Acts 5.3, [...] Again Scri­pture (and Reason saith) that He that built all things is God. Hebr 3, 4 Now the Spirit of God hath made me saith Elihu, and if he made man,Job 33, 9 the Master piece, Man, the Micro­cosme, well may it be said that by him were the Heavens garnished, Job 26, 13 and by the sending forth of Him All things else were Created; which Text by the after clause of renew­ing the Face of the Earth refers to works of Providence.Psa. 104, 30 Therefore the Holy-Ghost is God. And as [Page 418] He made All things,1 Cor. 2, 10 He knows All things; The Spirit searcheth All things, yea the deep things of God, Isaia, 40, 13 for who hath directed the Spi­rit of the Lord, or being his Coun­sellour hath taught him? And as He is Omniscient, he is Omnipresent; Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? saith David, Psal: 139, 7 or whither shall I flee from thy presence? In a word, He that prepared Christ a Body at his coming into the World is God, for saith Christ, a Body hast THOU prepared me, then said I Lo, Hebr. 10, 5 I come to do thy will, O GOD. But saith the Angel to the blessed Virgin, The HOLY GHOST shall come upon thee, Verse 7 and the power of the highest shall overshaddow thee; Therefore also (the Inference is most full to our purpose) That Holy thing that shall be born of thee, Luke 1, 35 shall be called the SON OF GOD. Therefore the Holy-Ghost is God.

Sect. XL.

ANd as the Holy-Ghost is a SPIRIT in respect of his Es­sence, The Holy-Ghost call­ed the SPI­RIT as to his subsist­ence. Jo. 4, 23, 24 being One glorious God with the Father and the Son; (for as God the Father is said to be a Spirit, the Father secketh such to worship him as may do it in Spirit. (& then it follows,Hebr. 1, 3 God is a Spirit) and God the Son (who is ex­pressly said to be the express Image of his Fathers Person,)Heb. 9, 14 through the Eternal Spirit, (that is to say) his God-head) offered up himself;) So the Holy Ghost is The Spirit in [...]espect of his wonderful Subsistence [...]n the blessed Trinity by way of [...]neffable Spiration between the Fa­ [...]her and the Son,Mat. 316, 17 betwixt whom He carryeth and re-carryeth the mutual and Eternal expressions of Divine delight and complacency which the Father and the Son [...] [Page 420] have naturally, necessarily, and unchangeably each in other;Galat. 4, 6 who therefore said both to proceed from the Father, Job 33, 4 and yet to be the Spi­rit of his Son, and called in the Old Testament,Rom. 8, 9 the Breath of the Almighty, and in the New, the Spirit of Christ; His Mysterious Subsistence being most nearly shad­dowed out to our weak apprehen­sions by our breathing, which is the Going and Coming, Efflux and Reflux of our Breath,John 3, 8 (and so he is compared to the three fluid and moving Elements of Air, Mat. 3, 11 Fire, and Water, Isaiah 44, 3 but never to the dull fixed Element of Earth) for as the personal property of the Father, is to Beget; of the Son to be Be­gotten; John 15, 26 so of the Holy Ghost, to Proceed. And now how awful should the Thoughts of Him be unto us who is a SPIRIT in his ESSENCE, THE SPIIRT in his SUBSISTENCE; in both, Vn­created, [Page 421] Infinite, and Eternal; who dictated & Indited the Word, built the Wo [...]ld, garnisheth Heaven, fur­nisheth and reneweth the Face of the Erth, made Man, Knows all things, Col. 2, 2 [...] fills all Places, and is every where present at all times; whose peculi­ar and stupendious Work it was to Sanctify the Womb, Mat. 28, [...] the Fruit whereof was to be the Saviour of the World, and prepare him a Bodie in whom the fulness of the God-head was to dwell bodily; in whose Name, 2 Cor: 15, [...] together with the Fathers and the Sons we are Baptized, and whose Communion, together with the Grace of Our Lord Iesus Christ, and the Love of God, we do Implore;Hebr: 7, [...] Of whom therefore I may say (as the Apostle of Melchisedec, Now Consider how great this man was) Consider how great this Spirit is.

Sect. XLI.

ANd yet Wo is Us! What slight, The high Reverence we ow to the Holy Spirit and low, and mean Thoughts are the Carnal Minds of Men apt to have of the holy Spirit of God, which the Scri­pture foreseeing in Deep wisdom (as in Parental Relation, the Mo­thers fear to be most easily & usually neglected and forgotten by Chil­dren; It sets a special Guard upon it, saying, Ye shall fear every Man his Mother and his Father, though her Order be Last, Levit. 19, 3 because the Fear of the Mother is ordinarily too much the least) so in the case of the Third Person, whose Order of Subsisting is after the Father and the Son, though in Honour he be Co-equal, and in Essence Co-Eternal, Sin-against the H. Ghost I say, It (sets a most dreadful Guard upon that Awe and holy Fear that We owe to the [...] [Page 423] Holy Spirit, when it saith All man­ner of Sin and Blasphemy shall be for­given unto men, Mat. 12, 31 32 but THE BLAS­PHEMY against the HOLY-GHOST shall NOT be forgiven unto Men, And whosoever shall speak a word against the son of man it shall be for­given him, But whosoever speaketh against the Holy-Ghost it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this World, neither in the World to come; which last words are no Indication that there is any Forgiveness of any Sin in another world that is not pardoned in this, But a vehement assertion that there is no forgiveness for this Sin in any World, Luke 12, 10 There­fore where S. Luke saith plainly It shall not be Forgiven, Mark 3, 29 S. Mark explains this Phrase of S. Mat­thews, saying, It hath never For­giveness; And so in the mouths of 3 Evangelists you have this dreadful Word established, and this Guard set (like that terrible [Page 424] Cherubim and Flaming Sword) to preserve that High Reverence that Mortals owe to the Holy-Ghost. All other Blasphemies (saith Christ) wherewithsoever they shall Blaspheme shall be Forgiven, Mark [...]3, 28 and indeed have been so;1 Tim: 1, 13 I was a Blasphemer, saith S. Paul, But I obtained mercy; But whosoever shall (wittingly, wilfully and malitiously (Reproath the Ho­ly Ghost (as the Pharisees here did,Mark 3, 30 they said (of Jesus) He hath an unclean Spirit, whose works did testify of him, That he cast out De­vils by the SPIRIT of GOD,Luke 11, 47 and that the Kingdom of God was come unto them (as himself speaks) Ten Thousand Woes shall be the Portion of such an One.Matt. 8, 12

Sect. XLII.

Caution a­gainst Revi­ling the Spi­ritANd here once for ever let me caution this Impious Age of coming near unto any thing [Page 425] that looks like, or comes near the Sin that is unto Death, Num. 26, 16 even as Moses charged the Congregation of Israel concerning Corah and his Complices, that they should come near those wicked persons, 1 John 5.16 Let me charge thee, O Man, whoso­ever thou art, in the fear of God, that thou entertain not a Contem­tuous thought much less utter a word against the written Word of God, in Scripture for it is (as you have seen) the Dictate of the Holy Ghost. And here I cannot but make an Ho­nourable mention of that Honour­able Person who hath made Him­self truely so by that most serious and ingenious complaint of his of the Prodigious fol [...]y of the Times whose onely wit seems to lie in a Pro­phane and scurrilous abuse of Holy Scriptures. Mr. R. Boyl in his late piece of Scripture style But it may be observed as of Our Saviours, so of these Scripture-scoffers, that as they were part of our Saviours proof [Page 426] that He was the Prophecyed Mes­siah, for even those scoffs, as we have seen, were part of what was fore spoken concerning him Eight and twenty Generations before he was born; so are these part of the accomplishment of the Pro­phecies of that Book which told the World of these Men (sixteen hun­dred years almost) before they came unto it, Be mindful (saith the Apostle) of the Words which were spoken before by the Holy Pro­phets and of the Commandment of Vs the Apostles of the Lord and Sa­viour: 2 Pet 3, 2, 3 knowing this first, that there shall Come in the Last days Scoffers. Wherefore We revere in our Tho­ughts what they revile with their tongues, and so much the more Because They do so. Matth. 18, 7 But as Our Lord saith Offences must needs come, yet they bring their Wo with them, so let me say to these Men in the Prophets words,Isaia, 28, 22 Be not [Page 427] Mockers lest your Bands be made strong.

Further, Take we heed that our THOUGHTS despise not any of the Operations of this Holy Spirit, 2 Sam. 6.16 as prophane Michal did holy Da­vid in her heart:In Prayer Jude 20 S. Iude speaks of Praying in the HOLY-GHOST; and S. Paul of Praying always with all Prayer and supplication in the Spirit.Eph. 6.16 Zech 12, 10 The Old Testament speaks of a spirit of supplication, and the New of a spirit of Adoption, Rom, 8 15 cry­ing or whereby we cry Abba, Galat. 4, 6 Fa­ther. The spirit helpeth our Infir­mities, Rom: 8, 26 for We know not what to pray for (there's matter) as we ought (there's the manner) but the spirit it self maketh Intercession for us with Groanings which cannot be uttered: Verse 27, And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the spirit, &c.

Preaching Rom▪ 12, 6So likewise saith the Apostle, having gifts differing according to the Grace that is given us, whether Prophesie, Verse 7, 8 let us Prophesie according to the proportion of Faith, or Mini­stry, let us wait on Our Ministring, or he that teacheth, on teaching, or he that exhorteth on exhortation; Now the manifestation of the Spirit (saith he) is given to every man to profit withal, 1 Cor. 12, 7 so that where there's no manifestation of the Spirit in the Preacher, there can be no pro­fit to the Hearer, Verse 8 [...] for to One is gi­ven by the Spirit the word of wisdom to apply, to another the word of knowledge to explain, (some excel in one thing some in another: but all) by the same Spirit, And (saith he) I give You to understand, Verse 3 that no man speaking by the spirit calleth Iesus accursed: Now there are di­versities of gifts but the same spirit. 'Tis the Spirit when we meditate,Verse [...] John 15, 26 that must take of Christs and shew it [Page 429] unto us; and▪ 16 14 And when we speak 'tis the Spirit that must give us utter­ance, Acts 2, 4 and Preaching must be not in the inticing words of Mans wisdom, 1 Cor. 2, 4 but in the demonstration of the Spi­rit.

Sanctification, moreover,Sanctificati­on, 1 Pet: 1, 2 Rom. 8, 9 Every true Christian is a Saint. is a peculiar work of the Spirit in eve­ry true Christian; For if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, the same is none of his. The Corinthi­ans were made Saints, when they were Converted and made Chri­stians. 1 Cor. 1, 2 To the Church of God which is at Corinth, &c called to be Saints; And such were some of You (saith the Apostle to them) but now you are Sanctifyed by the Spirit of our God, 2 Cor. 1, 1 chap 6, 11 Eph. 1, 1, 15 so the Apostle salutes the Saints in Achaia, Rome, Ephesus, Rom. 1 7. mock Saints &c. We have known indeed the Blasphemy of too many who have said they are Saints and are not, Revel: 2, 9 and 3 9 No ground for reviling the True but do lie, but are of the Synagogue of Sa­tan (like those Brethren in Iniquity, [Page 430] who troubled Israel,Gen. 34, 30 and made him stink among the Inhabitants of the Land,) who shall bear their own judgement, yet this shall no more excuse those Ishmaels, Galat. 4, 29 who perse­cute those that are truly born after the Spirit, Dan▪ 7 and Revile the very Saints of the most High (as the Prophet calls them) then it doth the Indignityes done to the True Christ, Matt. 24, 24 because (as was Prophe­syed) False Christs do arise.

all the godly have Gods Spirit, Rom. 8, 15The Scripture saith expressly That the Children of God, are led by the Spirit, do mind the things of the Spirit, are after the Spirit, Verse 5, 9 do walk after the Spirit, are in the Spirit, Ga. 5, 16, 25 must walk in the Spi­rit, and 6, 18 do sow the Spirit, do reap the Spirit, have received the Spirit, who is in them, Rom. 18, 15 whom they have of God as Fruit-bearer, 1 Cor: 6, 19 Law giver, yet a Li­berty giver and Life-giver, as a Builder, Galat. 5, 22 Rom. 8, 2 Ephes. 21 22 and as an In-dweller, to mortify and to quicken, to Convince [Page 431] and to Comfort, to teach and to bring to remembrance, 1 Co [...]. 3, 16 to guide into the way, to uphold in the way, Ro. 8, 9 11 13 John 16.7, 8 & 14.26 and 16, 13 Psalm [...]1:18 and 143, 10 Ep. 1, 13, 16 and lead to the end, to be the earnest of their Inheritance, and the Witness of their Son ship, the seal and the seal­er, wherewith and whereby they are sealed unto the day of Redemption, by whom they have an access to the Father, Rom. 8, 14 who are also an habitation of God through the spirit. Ephes 4, 3 & 2, 18, 22 Such are the undoubted Operations of the Spirit in those that shall be saved, for hereby We know that We dwell in Him, and He in us, 1 John 4, 13 because He hath given us his Spirit.

And therefore take heed, good Reader, of reviling any of these workings, or of scoffing at the words (for surely we cannot but think that the Holy-Ghost knows best how to express his own work­ings) O think of this,Hebr. 10:62 that despight done to the SPIRIT of Grace sup­poseth a Trampling under foot the [Page 432] Son of God; And truly one would think one might say in this Case as Ahasuerus did in another, Who is He, and where is He that durst presume in his heart to do so? Hester 7, 5 O Tremble, good Christian at the very Thought of such a thing, that the Holy Spirit of God should be grieved or vexed by the sons of Men,Ephes. 4, 30 Isaia. 63, 10 but especially that any should presume to Blaspheme him. And let this serious thought dwell with thee, That it is the Sin against the Spirit of Grace that excludes from Grace to Repent of SIN: Thou therefore that bow­est the knee at Our Father, and at the Name Iesus, Remember that there is a Third, who together with the Father and the son, is to be Wor­shiped and Glorifyed.

Sect. XLIII.

TO proceed, He that hath Right Thoughts of the Spirit thinks himself alike behold­ing to the spirit, High thou­ghts of our Obligati ns to the Spirit as to the Father and the Son, in the buisiness of his salvation, for to the working of the Father and the Son, both which are Great and Glorious in mans salvation, there must be ad­ded the supply of the spirit, For God hath chosen us to salvation, Phil. 1, 19 as well through sanctification of the spirit, 2 Thes. 1, 13: as through the Belief of the Truth. And therefore (saith Christ) I will pray the Father, John 14.16 and he shall give you another Comforter that He may abide with you for ever, even the spirit of Truth, &c. And again, It is expedient for you that I go away that I may send Him to you. and 16.7

It is Expedient; that's a great word, He saith not onely, it will [Page 434] be as well for you if He come to you, as if I had stayed with you; but it is expedient for you that I go, that He may come; As in works that must pass through more hands then one, it is Expedient that the First hand be taken off, that the Finishing hand may come. And therefore the Finishing Work is the Spirits work.the finishing work in mans Salva­tion the Spi­rits work The Father (by his Mercy,) The Son (by his Merit and Mediation) and the Spirit (of the Father and the Son) by his In-dwelling,) as these Three are One in themselves, so in Mans salvation,1 John 5, 11 which (Scripture saith) is in the son, given us by the Father, but sent us home by the spirit. When the Comforter is come (saith Christ) whom I will send to you from the Father, John [...]3, 16 John 15:21 even the spirit of Truth, He shall testify of Me. The Grace of Our Lord Iesus Christ, 2 Cor. 13, 14 and the Love of God is brought home to us, and We to it, by the Commu­nion [Page 435] of the Holy-Ghost. The Son by his Incarnation (which was the Work which his Father gave him to do) brought Heaven Down to us,John 17, [...] and the spirit in our Regeneration (wherein we are said to be Born of the spirit) makes us his Temples and Gods Habitations,John 3, [...] Ep. 2, 21, 22 and builds as up to Heaven.Hebr. 9, 14 The Son Offers up Himself, and makes us accepta­ble to a Iust God, Ephes. 1, 6 through his com­liness, that is to say, his Righte­ousness, put upon us; And there is also an Offering up of us, a making of us amiable to an Holy God by the Holy Spirit, That the Offering up of the Gentiles (saith the Apostle) might be Acceptable being sanctifyed by the Holy-Ghost.Rom 15.16 The Maker of the New Cove­nant is the Father, 2 Cor, 6:8 Hebr. 8, 6 The Mediator of it is the Son; And the great Matter of it is the Spirit, for this is the sum of All,Exek. 36, 22 I will put my spirit within You, who is therefore [Page 436] called the Holy spirit of Promise. Ephes. 1:13 Holy Spirit the great New Testa­ment pro­mise. Luke 2, 25 For as the Coming of the Messiah was the Great Hope and Expecta­tion of the Fathers of the Old Te­stament, which is therefore called a waiting for the Consolation of Isra­el, so the coming of the Holy-Ghost in the New, and therefore called a waiting for the Promise of the Fa­ther; Acts 1, 4 [...] And therefore when the Primitive Disciples were curious­ly inquisitive, and desirous of the Knowledge of the Times and seasons, Verse 7, 8 Our Gracious Saviour who best knew what was best for them, confines them to and comforts them with this Expectation that the Holy-Ghost should come upon them. And Oh that many whose vehement Desires run out that way, (viz.) after knowledge of times and seasons, would endea­vour more for the sweet Influen­ces and Incomes of the Holy-Ghost,Fruits of the Spirit whose Fruits (saith the [Page 437] Apostle) are Love, Ioy, Peace, Long-suffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Galat. 5, 22 23 Faith, Meekness, Temperance, a­gainst which there is no Law.

Sect. XLIV.

O Blessed Fruit of the thrice-Blessed Spirit (for this was the Blessing of Abraham come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ,Blessed fruit Galat: 3:14 even that We might receive the promise of the Spirit through Faith. The Fruit that undid us was Forbidden Fruit, Gen: 3:17 Fruit against Law, but against such there is no Law: chap. 2:17 Man Eating of that Fruit was to die the Death, Rom. 8:2 but this Spi­rit of Life makes us free from the Law of Death, and 6, 22▪ so that now We have our Fruit unto Holiness, and the end Everlasting Life.

Sweet Fruit, may I well say,Sweet Fruit 2 Cor. 3:17, if Life be sweet or Liberty (for where the Spirit of the Lord is there [Page 438] is Liberty) or if Peace be sweet, or Love lovely, or Joy joyous: Or if these be not enough, here is Tem­perance, Meekness, Faith, Good­ness, &c. We may say here (as 'tis said in the Canticles) at our good are all manner of pleasant fruits Here,Cantic. 7, 13 I am sure, I may say, and not beguile my Reader, are fruits pleasant to the Eye, Gen. 3:6 and good for Food (for the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink, Rom [...] 14:17 but Righteous­ness, 1 Cor. 2:11 and Peace, and Peace, and Ioy in the Holy-Ghost) and truly to be desired to make one Wise, for the things of God knoweth no man but the Spirit of God, now we have re­ceived not the Spirit of this World, Verse 12:13 but the Spirit which is of God, that we may know the things that are free­ly given to Vs of God, which things also we speak not in the words which mans wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy-Ghost teacheeth, comparing spiritual things with spiritual; and [Page 493] therefore He is called the spirit of Wisdom and Revelation, Ep. 1, 17, 18 that We might know the Hope of his Calling, and the Riches of the Glory of his Inheritance in the Saints:

The Fruit forementioned was of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, Genes. 2 [...] Ephes: 5. [...] but the Fruit of the Spirit is in all GOODNES, Righteousness, In all good­ness & truth and TRVTH. Here is ALL Good and No Guile. So then if Goodness it self be Good, if Righteousness be Desirable (for We through the Spirit wait for the hope of Righteous­n [...]ss by Faith,)Galat. [...] [...] if Truth be amia­ble, for He is also called the Spi­rit of Truth, John 15:6 and 16.13 and said to guide into All Truth.) In a word, if according to the Riches of the Glory of God, E [...]hes. 3 6 We are strengthened with might in the inner man by the Spirit, 2 Cor: 3 [...] [...] changed into the same Image from Glory to glory by the same Spirit; If there be any Consolation in Christ▪Philip. 2: [...]or com­fort of Love joyned with the fellow­ship of the Spirit; If God be a [Page 440] good Guest, (for Ye are the Tem­ple of God if the Spirit of God dwell in you,)1 Cor: 3, 16 Or if Heaven be worth having, or that it be good for us that dwell in this Tabernacle, to be cloathed upon, 2 Cor. [...]5:4 that Mortality might be swallowed up of Life, the Earnest where f is the Spirit, Surely well m [...]y the Fruit of the Spirit be said to be in All Goodness.Verse 5 As Money answers All things, Eccl. 1 [...], 19 Spirit answers all good things in temporal Respe [...]ts, so where one Evange­list saith, how much more shall your Father give good Things, &c. The other reads, How much more shall he give the ho y Spirit to them that ask Him, Mar. 7▪ 11 Luke 11, 13 so that the Holy Spirit an­swers All good Things.

Drunkards qu nch this Spirit Isaiah 28.1And here I cannot but lamen [...] the Drunkeness of our Ephraim who by abusing good things, si [...] away the Best Thing, quenchin [...] the Spirit with strong Drink which as it takes away mans heart so it keeps away Gods Spirit,2 The, 5, 19 H sea 4, 11 a Scripture saith,Ephe: 5▪ 18 be not drunk wit [...] [Page 407] Wine, wherein inexcess, but be filled with the Spirit, for th [...]t clean Spi­rit can not dwell in an H [...]art (es­pecially) overcharged with surfeit­ing, drunkeness, and odious excess.Luke 21.38

Sect. XLV.

VVHerefore, good Read­er, say as David, Thy Spirit is good, Pray for the Spirit and Pray as David, O take not thy holy Spirit from me, Psa. 143.10. & 51, 11, 12 but uphold me with thy free Spirit, Pray and wait for the Spirit having put the Promises in suit by Prayer. Acts 1, 4 Survey his daily workings,Survey his Workings and work thou with him, for the Word himself useth as to his helping our Infir­ [...]yes [...] is a Me­ [...]aphor taken from two that lift together one over against another at [...]he same stone or piece of timber [...]o lay it in the Building.Rom. 8, 24

Moreover, prize his Evidence,Prize his Witnessings [...]or as he worketh,Verse 16, 17 so he witnesseth with our Spirit that We are the chil­dren [Page 442] of God, Act [...] [...], and if Children, then He rs, &c. wa k in the comfort of the Holy-Ghost (as Scripture speaks) even of his Evidence who is both Earnest, Seal, and Witness.

Listen to the Spirit, who ne­ver bids us to our hurt,Listens to his motion. the spirit sai h come, take of the water of Life freely▪ Rev: 22, [...]0 His Charmings are Wise, his Reproofs an excellent Oyl, his Convictions, Kindness; and all his motions,James 3 17 Rev: 2 7, 2, [...]9 dictates and Coun­sels are first pure, and then peaceable, He that hath an Ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the Church­es, ch [...] 3, 6.13 [...]2 'tis 6 time over in 2 Chapters; it seems We are dull of hearing when Our best friend is spe [...]king▪ We could hear the S [...]pents first l ssi [...]g, listen to Satan when he d [...]th but whisper to us, but whe [...] the Spirit spe [...]ks so loud that Al [...] should hear, even to the Churches He finds deaf ears growing upo [...] o [...]r Hearts; a [...]d when h [...] [...] [...]so us by his sweet insin [...]ation [Page 443] we tr [...]t this Heavenly Messenger, as Hanun did King Davids, cutting of his motions in the middle, 2 Sam [...], 4 and so we send him grieved back, to the high provocation of God that sends him. But the Spirit is (as his Finit is) Long suff ring, or else He would not so long strive with Man, with frow [...]d and stubborn m [...]n, but yet think He will not alwayes do it, as God roundly tould the Old World. But Wo, Wo unto thee if thou Sin away the Spirit, for casting away from Gods presence is insepe­rably annexed so the taking away his holy Spirit,, Psal. 5 [...]. [...] (as it is in the Psal­mist) and those Spirits are sad proofs of it, to whom God went and Preached by this Spirit in the dayes of Noah,1 Pet. 3 18 [...]9, 20 for being then disobedient, ther are now in Prison; And sure We cannot but think [...]t just and reasonable that we care­fully hearken to him, whenever he comes on Gods errand to us, [Page 444] Who (if ever we would speed) must go on Our Errand to God, and make Intercession for us. Rom. 8.26

Grieve not the Spirit.And oh how disingenuous and injurious must we needs think it, on the other hand, to grieve him that Comforts us, which the A­postle saith we do, when we put not off, Ephes. 4, 22 to 25, 26 concerning the former Con­versation, the Old Man which is cor­rupt according to deceiptful Lusts, & put not on the new Man, How that may be &c. when we put not away lying, corrupt Com­munication, By Commis­sions, undue courses for a Livelyhood (instead of diligence in our lawful Calling,) anger, bitter­ness, Evil speaking, and all Malice; even by All such undue Affecti­ons, Words and Actions; Nay that We should Vex, yea Resist him,Isaia, 63, 10 as the uncircumcised in Heart & Ears; Acts 7, 51 nay quench the Spirit, with excess of Wine, &c. as is said be­fore, put him quite out (as Saul said, [...] Sa. 28, 15 God is departed from me and [Page 445] answereth me no more) now Fire is put out as effectually by not put­ting on of Fuel, Omissions as by putting on of Water, and the holy Spirit quenched by Sins of Omission as of Commission, by Contempt and wilful neglecting of holy Duties, Means and Ordinances; and therefore Pray without ceasing, give thanks in every thing is put into the front, and Despise not Prophesyings comes up in the rear,1 Thes. 5, 17 18, 19 of that Apostolical grant Caveat Quench not the Spirit. Rather let us (as made by Christ Priests unto God) keep alwayes burning upon our Hearts this holy Fire; Revel 5, 10 and stir it up by meditation,How to che­rish the Spirit Psalm 39:3 while I was musing saith David, the Fire burn­ed; and blow it up by Prayer, Teach me to do thy will, O God, Psa. 143, 10 thy Spirit is good, &c. Especially let us Pray and watch and wait (as the Primitive Disciples) for the Lords Spirit on the Lords day; Revel. 1.10 And [Page 446] let us adde the Fewel of diligent and industrious Observation to all his fervent motions, when we hear the sound of his goi [...]gs then l [...]t us besti [...] our selves; [...]am 5:24 When the Ho­ly-Ghost saith to day if ye will hear his voice, Hebr 3, 8 let us not harden our hearts, nor put him off till to morrow, for the Spirit (is as the Wind that) bloweth where and when he listeth; John 3 [...] when the Spirit saith Come let the Bride sa [...] Come, Rev 22, 17 and let him that heareth say Come. Let us not harbour any Ca [...]nal Low,Harbour no base thou­ght of the Spirit. Act. 8.19, 20 base Thoughts of this glorious Spi­rit, this was Simon Magus his sin. Especially let us not by close Hy­pocrisie or secret dissimulation a­gree to lie to the Holy-Ghost. and so to tempt the Spirit of the Lord, Acts 5▪ [...] this was Ananias & Saphira's sin, and it cost them dear, and they are peculiarly said to tempt the Spirit, because it is his peculiar work to search All things, [...] Cor. [...] 10

Sect. XLVI.

ANd now to shut up all, what Holy Fe r and Love of this Holy Spirit may at once fill Our THOUGHTS when we consider th [...]t alth [...]ugh HOLINES▪ The won­derful con­descention of the Holy spirit in e work of salva­tion, be the peculiar Attribute of the Spi­rit, from which he receives his Denomination (even as Greatness is peculiarly ascribed to the Father (who is therefore said to be in Heaven, and Kingd m, Power, Mat. 6.9 3 Rom. 16 24 and Glory to be his) and Grace to be the Son) in respect of which spe­cial property of the Spirit,1 Co. 16 23 Gala, 6, 13 All sin agai st God is said,Phil. 4 [...]3 na special manner, to [...]ex the Spirit, 2 Thes 3, [...] yet such is the rich Me cy of this Holy Spirit in Cond [...]cention to poor mans Salvation, that He under­takes it (as his p [...]culiar Office & work) to come into mans H art unfitted, and unfurnished, when [Page 448] Zijm, Ochim, and I [...]m have dwelt there, when vain Thought, have lodged there, into a very sink of sin, a house without windows, a heap without order, a very Hell of cursed Confusion and of every hateful and hurtful lust, and that when there was none to go before him, or to prepare for him, Whereas though herein God commended his love to us in that while We were Enemyes Christ dyed for us, yet would not the Son be born to die, or lodge in a Womb, or come into the world, till this Spirit went before him, to prepare a p [...]ce for him, and to fit a Body to him, Hebr. 10, 5 Avi [...] the Marg [...] for so may the word be rendred, a Body hast thou prepared me, or a Body hast thou fitted me.

O sweet Spirit! what tongue can praise, or heart prize thee ac­cording to thy glorious Grace to poor sinners? When God first breathed into man the breath of Life, Genesis 2, 7 [Page 449] He was a lump of inn [...]cent Clay; but when thou comest to breath the breath of New Life into sinful man, thou breathest into a noy­some Carkase,1 Kin. 8, 28 an heart full of Rot­teness, and takest up thy Dwel­ling in that very part where his Plague sore runs.2 Chro. 6, 29 And now seeing Thou dost not shun those that have the Plague of the Heart, come in, thou blessed of the Lord, to this Heart of mine, Thou art a Fire that can purge my Dross,Mat: 3, 11 Isaia: 44, 3 and not be impaired; a Water that can wash away all my filth, and not be defiled; Now to thee, Blessed Spirit, with the Father & the Son, be Glory for ever. Amen

Sect. XLVII.

FINALLY,Thoughts for God must be by scripture rule As our Tho­ughts of God, so our Thou­ghts For God are onely Right when agreeable to Scripture Rules, [Page 450] For as the second Commandment forbids all IMAGES, [...]ee Bp. An­drews on the second Com­mandment so also [...]ll IMAGINATIONS in the things of God that are not warrantable by the word of God.Imago & I­maginatio, [...] C gaa [...] The Hebrews express both by one word, [...]or Thoughts are the Images of things in our minds. What the Apostle calls Will Worship, Col. [...] 23 Our Saviour c [...]lls Vain Worship, Mat. 25.9 S [...]e Bishop Tailors Dif­f [...]ive, p. 48 I. 2 [...], 3 [...]4 though the things may have a shew of wisdo [...] and humility, w [...]re the fear to­wards God is taught (as in Popery) by the Precepts of Men.

When David took up thoughts of Building God an Ho [...]se, [...] Sam. 7, 2 h [...] con­sulted Nathan the Prophet, which when Solomon was allowed to accomplish, it is said, Now these are the things wherein Solomon was instructed for the Buildi [...]g of the House of God; 2 Chro. 3, 3 and 29, 25 which when Heze­kiah did restore, 'tis said also, he set the Levites in the house of the Lord with Cymbals, with Psal­teryes, [Page 451] and with Ha [...]ps accord­ing to the Commandment of Da­vid, and of Gad the Kings S [...]er, and of Nathan the Prophet, for so was the COMMANDMENT of the LORD by his Prophets.

Zeal without Knowledge is Heat without Light, Rom. 10, [...] which is so like Hell that it c nnot be pleasing to the God of H [...]aven; for Hell is a Fire that never goes out, and yet Outer Darkness. Wherefore, Reader,Mark 9, 4 [...] Mat. 25, [...]0 whenever thou thinkest to do any thing for God, Ask his Word first, whether it will be w ll taken. How lamentable is it to think how perniciously Our Thoughts for God may mi [...]carry for want of this. Some kill Gods Saints, yet think they do God good service, and s [...]ith Paul, John 16, 2 Acts 26, 7 I verily thought with my self that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Iesus of N zareth. Poor Vzzah, 2 Sam. 6, 6, 7 no doubt, thought to do God a [Page 452] good piece of service when He put forth his hand to stay the Ark, Pp. Taylors Preface to his Dissua­sive, The Roman Church can never justi­fy her self from Idola­try, yet if it were but suspitious, God is jealous & will not en­dure any causes of suspition or motives of jealo s [...]. Things like Idolatry can no ways be excused, Bp· Taylors Dissuasive from Popery pag. 57 Levit, 20, [...] when the Oxen shook it, but God smote him for his Errour that he dy­ed; A severe punishment, may some man think, and a slender er­rour, especially considering that the Man meant well; But when we consider that of all the Deca­logue, the mention of Gods jea­lousy is onely annexed to the second Commandment, (now jea­lousy hath a sharp Eye not onely upon the down right Act, but also upon every thing that comes near it, or leads to it, or looks like it,) We cannot wonder at the formidable instances of Gods se­verity recorded in Scripture, such as Vzzah here, and Nadab and Abihu were, who offered ('tis not said Forbidden Fire, but) strange Fire before the Lord, which he com­manded them not, and there went out a Fire from the Lord and de­voured [Page 453] them. Onely just in the Verse before there was Holy Fire upon the Altar, chapt: 9.24 which God sent down from Heaven in the sight of the People, and God would have this Fire preserved, Lev. 6, 13, 5 and (it seems) onely made use of in the case of holy Offerings. I shall shut up this head with that remarkable Text of Scripture, Shew them (saith God to the Prophet Ezek.)Ezek. 43, [...] the form of the House and the fashion thereof, and the goings out thereof, and the comings In thereof, and, all the forms thereof, and all the Ordi­nances thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the Laws thereof; and write it in their sight, that they may keep the whole form and all the Ordinances theoref, and do them.

THE CONCLUSION Of the VVhole, With Motives & Rules for the keeping of Thoughts RIGHT.

S [...]ct. I.

Exhort [...] [...]to self re [...] ­ [...]ion by and [...]pon our ThoughtsANd thus having given Rules for the Tryal or [...]houghts, and certain Schewes of such Thoughts as are according to Rule; Let me earnestly Exhort Thee, O Reader, to think seri­ously of thy Thought, That Thou mayest know what to think of thy Self, and what God thinks of Th [...]e.

For as man Excel [...]s not other Creatures in seeing, hearing,For, No [...] Aper Audi­tu, Sphynx visu, fimia gustu, &c. Pro. 12, 26 Verse 5 tast­ing, &c. but in Thinking; So therefore is the Righteous said to be more Excellent then his Neighbour, in this same Chapter where the Thoughts of the Righteous are said to be Right; for [...]herein a Good man excells Another, more then another excells a Beast, For even man th t is in honour and considereth not, is like the Beasts that perish, Psal. 49, 29 saith the Psalmist. Therefore saith he to God Consider my Meditation, and if God consider our Thoughts, Psalm 2, [...] it concerns us sure to Consider them; And therefore saith also of Himself, The Meditation of my Heart shall be consideration, Psal. 49, 2 or Anim-adversion (for so the word signifies as well as understanding) and so may refer to the Reflex Acts of the mind upon it self,ab eâdem Rad. as well as its direct Acts upon other Things.

Sect. II.

ANd yet alas such is the Cor­ruption of mans Mind by Na­ture, that few can be found free to think of their Thoughts, except it be corruptly to think them FREE:

But yet They that are Partakers [...] of a Divine Nature, (to speak with Scripture) will bear some Resemblance of the Divine Mind which begets in it self the express Image of it self (as the Apostle speaks) by self-Re­flexion.2 Pet 1 4 Hebr: 1 3 And as the Internal be­gotten WORD was the Eternal Delight of the DIVINE MIND,Prov. 8:30 (I was daily his DELIGHT.) So if Thou make it thy Daily Business conscientiously to converse with the hidden man of thine Heart, 1 Pet. 3, 4 in this Excellent way of self Reflexi­on;Levit. 11, 3 This will be not onely as the Chewing of the Cuà in the Levi­tical [Page 457] Law, a signe unto thee of a clean Heart, but will also embalm thy Soul, as it were, with a cer­tain Divine delight, a Caelestial serenity and satisfaction.

Sure I am that the best Chri­stians do find themselves shortest fed with Spiritual Ioy, when through Sin, Sloth, or Dissuetude they are least Wont or willing to turn in to themselves by this self-R flexion.

The hidden Manna is meat for the hidden Man, Revel. 2 1 [...] and thou must turn in there if thou wouldest tast of Gods Daintyes. Christ will not sup with Thee, except He find thee at home,Revel: 3.20 I will come in to Him (saith Christ) and sup with him; And therefore if Thou wouldest sup with Christ, Thou must also turn in to Thy self. The stranger (to God and the stranger to himself) doth not intermeddle with this Ioy. Prov. 14, 1 [...]

And now hopeing, good Reader, that this little Treatise will find thee thus at home, and All well there; I shall onely adde a few helps for the keeping Thoughts Right, (for it is not enough that the Watch be well set, but it must be well kept.)

1. In some moving Notional Considerations.

2. In some practical Rules.

Of each of these very briefly, and so we shall shut up all.

I. Motive to Right Thoughts.

1. Motive to Right Thoughts Psal. 146 3COnsider that as thy Pulse so thy Thoughts will be always Stirring to thy Dying D [...]y. Now what is alwayes in Motion had need be well Ordered.Thought [...] will be always stiring If thy Thoughts boyl not up with a good matter, Psalm 57, 21 as the Psalmists did, they will be as the Raging Sea that can­not rest, Isaia. 57, 20 but is still [...]asting up Mire [Page 459] and Dirt. Isaia 57 20 Though Thou canst not always [...] waking, yet thou canst Sin sleeping, because thou canst Think sleeping, and we have seen that the very thought of foolishness is sin. As in the Law,Prov: 24, 9 a Man might be unclean by that which happened in the Night, Deut. 23:10 so our Thoughts may drop defilement up­on our Consciences when we are asleep in our beds: And Oh let this Consideration awaken us to Re­pentance even for Thought-sins of our sleep!

'Tis the Policie of Princes to keep working HEADS well im­ployed, and so must we deal with our working HEARTS.

II. Motive.

NExt Consider what a Clo­rious Theme for thy Thoughts,2. Motiv [...] Gl [...]rious Theme for thy Thou­ghts God hath provided (even All GOOD in One) in that [Page 460] short and sweet Rule, Heb: 12, 2, 3 CONSIDER JESUS (in whom are hid all the Treasures of Wisdom and Know­ledge. Colos. 2, 3

Astronomy doth but survey a Dung-hil, for Stars are but Dirty Clods in comparison of that Glory that lyes within Reach of the ASTROLABE of thy Thoughts if thou do but Rightly consider JESVS.

Truth is, 'tis a wonder a Chri­stian can much think of any thing for thinking of his Christ, but that we are so much Corruption, and so little Christian. Saint Paul could hardly do it; perhaps He forgat his Cloak at Troas, when he left it behind him; yet he had not, good man, much else to think of but the Cloaths to his back. But however, we are sure that we find him wrapping himself up, almost every other line, in the warm Thoughts of a JESUS. Blessed [Page 461] Soul! strip him to the Back, or rip up his Bosom,Gal. 6, 17 there you still find the marks of the Lord JESUS. And here me­thinks I could even forget my self, As 'tis said Cal [...]is might have been read in Qu. Ma [...]yes heart if it had it been ript up and run along in my Thoughts with this sweet Apostle, but that I must not forget my Reader, for 'tis time to be hastening towards a Conclusion.

III: Motive.

AGain▪ Consider that to keep thy Thoughts Right,3 Motive Ke [...]p Right Th [...]ugh [...]s & they will keep thee right: is the way to keep Thee so. My Life for thine, He that keeps his Tho­ughts Right, shall never die Traitour to God or the King. Not to the King; for Curse not the King no not in thy Thought, saith the Rule of Righteousness. Not to God, for Right Thoughts will yield the Fruits of Righteous­ness. Fruits of the Lips, My Heart is Inditing a good matter, Psal. 45, 1 I [Page 462] will speak of the things I have made touching the King, my Tongue is the Pen of a ready Writer, Psa: 119, 15 so saith the Psalmist. And the Fruit of good living; I will meditate (saith He▪ in thy Precepts, and have Re­spect unto thy Wayes. and again, I have remembred thy Name, Verse 55, and have kept thy Law.

IIII. Motive.

4. Motive Right Tho­ughts will yield peace­able FruitANd lastly Consider, That Right Thoughts will yield as the Fruits, so the Peaceable Fruits of Righteousness. For these are thy fair Evidences that thou art in Gods Books (as we say proverbial­ly of One highly favoured) that Thou art one of his Iewels; Mal. 3, 16 for a Book of Remembrance was written before him for them that Thought upon his Name; And they shall be mine, Verse 17 saith the Lord of Hosts, in that day when I make up my Jewel [...]. [Page 463] And how should We count and ke [...]p that as Our peculiar Treasure, in respect of which God counts Us so.

And therefore in the II. place to Direct thee.

I. Practical Rule.

THe First Practical Rule for the Keeping of Right Tho­ughts,1. Practical Rule. is Diligent and daily R [...]pentance of Evil Thoughts,Repent of evil Thou­ghts, what saith the Apostle? Repent & pray God if perhaps the Tho [...]ghts of thine heart may be forgiven Thee, Acts 8, 22 And O what cause of deep Humi­liation for our Thought sins is here, that the very Thought of a mans Heart may bring a Man to a peradventure or a Perhaps whether ever He may be forgiven.

What saith Iohn Baptist? Bring forth therefore Fruits meet for Repentance, Matth. 3, 8 and think not to say within [Page 464] your selves, &c. Hence thus much is Evident, that where Fruits mee [...] for Repentance are brought forth, Evil Thoughts are expelled and cast forth. Now as nothing can banish Darkness but Light, so can nothing expell Evil Thoughts but Good Thoughts.

And as the Ablaqucation and laying of the Roots bare in the time of year, is the way to make Trees bring forth Fruit well in their season; so the laying Our Hearts bare in the sight of God by Con­fession, Compunction, Contrition, deep Humiliation for our Evil Thoughts is one way to be fruitful and abounding in Good ones.

II. Practical Rule:

2 Practical Rule 2 Sa. 13, 20 Make the evil of thine heart sub­servient to thy good thoughtsNExt, as the Israelites went down to the Philistines to sharpen every man his Share, and his Colter, and his Axe, and his [Page 465] Mattock, because they would not suf­fer a Smith in Israel; So deal with the Corruption of thy Nature, that would not suffer One goo Thought in thy Soul. Whet thy Thoughts for good by that very Contrariety that is in thee to good, For instance.

Thou complainest that such is the corruption of thy Nature, that thou canst not of thy self think one Good Thought; Why, Think then of the Corruption of thy Nature, and even this Thought well followed, shall be a Good Thought in Thee, and a Good Thought for thee.

Thou complainest that thou canst not think of Heaven for the thoughts of Earth, and of things below; why, think of these things, onely think of them aright (viz;) as Gods Word, and thy Reason and thy Sense tell thee,Psalm 8, 6 as what God hath placed under thy fe [...]t (as [Page 466] the Psalmist speaks) Let me tell thee that Right Thoughts of Earth, and of things below, may help not hinder thy thoughts of Hea­ven.

In Nature, the ambient Winter-cold makes Springs in the Bowels of the Earth, (they say) the hot­ter. Mans Heart is a Spring, and Thoughts are its flowings, and thus David (we have seen) waxed hot with musing, Psa. 39, 1, 3 while the wicked were before him. God can make Corruption of Nature sub­servient to Grace; as Ioshua said of the Canaanites, they are Bread for us, Num: 14, 9 God can make the very Evil of our Hearts to be Food and Fewel to our Good Thoughts.

III: Practical Rule.

NExt,3 Practical Rule Heave at thine h [...]art Num. 15, 20 Heave daily at thine Heart, for our Thoughts are our Heave Offerings. Lift at thine Heart as they do at a great Stone or piece of Timber which is, by raising, to be laid into the Buildi [...] Vnto thee O Lord, do I lift [...] Soul saith holy David.)Psal. 25, 5

But then still Remember that of thy self thou art not sufficient to think any thing (aright) as of thy self Therefore Pray in aid of the Spirit, But not in thine own strength, pray for the Spirit to help thee to right Thou­ghts whose work it is (as in Prayer so) in Meditation [...] to lift with us, and to help us to lift. And Pray in Faith of that Promise, the Holy-Ghost, John 14 2 [...] whom the Father will send in my Name, shall bring All things to your Remembrance, that is, Good Thoughts to your minds. And here let me desire thee carefully to [Page 468] Remember this, That, if Gods Spirit do not,Acts 5 3 Satan will be fil­ling thine Heart.

The very First Petition in the Lords Prayer teacheth us to pray for Right Thoughts, for by these we sanctify the Lord God in our Hearts. Isaia. 8.13 1 Pet. 3:15 And therein also to pray for the Sanctifying Spirit, whom God hath promised to give to them that ask him. Lu [...]e 11, 13

be thankful for right thoughtsAnd further, be sure to be thankful to God, when he helps thee to be thoughtful of that which is Good; in this sense, Give thanks at the Remembrance of his Holiness, Psalm 30, 4 even when he helps thee to Re­member it. Humble thankfulness for what we have is a cleanly way of begging for more.

And that thou mayest always be full of good thoughts, Labo [...]r for holy a fect­ions Implore Gods Grace to fill thee with those sanctifyed Affections that carry the Key, and command of the [Page 469] Thoughts, (viz.) Holy Fear and Love.

For the First of these,Fear even slavish Fear can carry the thoughts before it (the Mariners in a storm can easily think of their Danger) And shall not an holy and Filial fea [...]? they feared the Lord, Jonah 1, 5 Malac. 3, 16 and (saith the Text) they thought upon his Name.

And as for Love, and Love as the Holy Fire under the Frying pan made the Oyl of the Oblation to bubble and boyl up, Levit 2.7 Cacabus à Rad. Hebr. ebullivit, (which is the Psalmists very word) Holy Love is this Fire that makes Thoughts boyl up, for the very first word of that Psalm which is entitled a Song of Love, Psalm 45, [...] is this, My heart boileth up with a good matter.

Experience tells us that the af­fectionate and tender Mother can leave her thoughts behind her at home with her sucking Child when she goes abroad.Animus est non ubi ani­mat, sed ubi amat. Thus [Page 470] worldly Love will have worldly thoughts, and Gracious Love will have Gracious thoughts. Oh how I love thy Law! Ps [...].19, 97 it is my Meditation all the day. And 'tis a signe Holy Love is but weak and feeble, when holy thoughts are but faint and few. Deut [...]. 6, 5

And here let the Reader most carefully observe, that where Moses layes down the First and great Commandment, thou shalt Love the Lord thy God, onely in three words, with all thy Heart, and with all thy Soul, and with all thy Might (or strength.) Our Saviour (repeating the Law) ads a Fourth,Mat 22, 37 Mark 17 30 Luke 10, 27 (viz.) [...], ex omni Cogitatione (so Bez. & vulg. &c.) with all thy Thought or Mind, plainly enough suggest­ing unto us, that the Strength of the Heart cannot be reckoned as engaged to the Love of God, where the Thoughts of the Heart are not drawn Out by it.

And therefore labour to as­certain and to clear up thine In­terest in God, and Christ,Mark 12.30 and Heavenly things daily more, and more, for Christ saith not where Anothers, but where your treasure is, there will your heart be also, Luke 10. [...]7 for as Interest raiseth Love, Love hath power to leavy Thoughts, and to keep them in readiness for its use and service,Luke 12, 34 so that if thy Trea­sure be in Heaven, there will thine heart be also.

IIII. Last Practical Rule,

Lastly,4 Practical Rule, Begin thy Dayes and Weeks with Right thou­ghts Exod. 12, 1 As the Israelites were to reckon their Beginning of Months from the time of their Deliverance, so let the Thoughts of thy DELIVERER still begin both thy Weeks and thy Dayes; John 20 [...] for it was both upon the First of the Week, and of the Day, that our Blessed Lord Rose again [Page 472] from the Dead, and We must imp [...]our Thoughts, if we would help their flight,Collos. 3, 1 upon the wing of Our Saviours Resurrection.

Revel. 1, 10S. Iohn was in the Spirit on the LORDS-DAY, that is, on the First of the Week, for it is gene­rally confest that the First day of the Week was as well known, by the Primitive Christians in the Apostolical Age, by the Name of the Lords-Day, as any other day was or is, by Iews or Gen­tiles, known and distinguished by any other Name.

Thus did the dear Disciple be­gin the Week, and thus did Holy David still begin the day, whose constant course was to take his flight for Heaven on the wings of the Morning, (when I was awake (saith he to God) I am still with thee.)Psa. 139, 18 And thus should the First- [...]ings of the flock of our Thoughts befor God still,Genes 4, 4 still; First seek the [Page 473] Kingdom of God, that is, not onely above All, but also every Week,Matth 6, 33 and every Day, first of All.

Of all the Ten there is but One Commandment that begins with a REMEMBER, O forget not t [...]at.Exod. 20.8 Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. This is the stand­ing Law, commanding one Day, or Seaventh part of the Week, (blessed of God above all the rest) to be set a part for God, for so also the Commandment ends, the Lord Blessed the Sabbath Day, Verse 11 and hallowed it. The Perpetual obligatoriness of which Law is strongly asserted by the Learned Hooker, Hookers ecclesi [...]st [...]al Policie▪ and declaredly owned by the Church of England, there being subjoyned to the publick reading of this fourth Command­ment, as well as of the rest,See also the Hom. of [...]e Place and Time, &c. a Lord have mercy upon us, and encline our Hearts to keep this Law. And if in Words we confess this Law, O let not our Works deny it. Titus 1, 16

Now as the SON of God, being Maker both of the First Cre­ation and Sabbath, for by Him were All things made, John 1, 3 and without Him was nothing made that was made, (as we have already seen) First Blessed that Day wherein He first Rested, for the Commemoration of that First and Glorious work of his; So after that He became the SON of MAN, being still LORD of the SABBATH,Mark 2, 28 He hath digni­fyed the First Day of the Week with the glorious Title of the LORDS-DAY, having Rested therein from a greater work (viz.) the Suffering and state of Death, which was the last and Finishing Work of his state of Humiliation, and therein blessed & hallowed it for our Commemoration of the more glo­rious work of Redemption. For as the glory of the latter Temple, Mag [...] 2, 9 was greater then that of the former, be­cause Christ was more manifestly [Page 475] to appear in it, it may be (as truly & for the same reason) said of Gods Wormanship, Ephe [...]: 2, 10 created in CHRIST IESUS unto good works, that the glory of the New Creature excells that of the Old, for the more ma­nifestation of Christ, still the more Glory, till at last He shall come to be perfectly glorifyed in his Saints, and admired in all them that believe; 2 Thes, 1, [...]0 For herein hath he obsignated, and given an undubi­table pledge of that REST or SABBATISM,Hebr: 4, 9 that remains for the People of God, when (upon the general Resurrection of their Bo­dyes) they shall Eternally rest from Sin and Death, for Christ is Risen as the First Fruits of them that sleep, 1 Cor 15, 20 and therefore (saith He) thy Dead Men shall live, Isaia. 26, 19 together with my Dead Body shall they arise, for because I LIVE,John 14, 10 Ye shall live also.

To allude then to that Word of our Saviour,John 12, 32 When I am lifted up, I will draw all men to me (and in­deed when the King is up & gone, 'tis not for the Courtiers to loyter and lag behind) O methinks this Resurrection of Christ should DRAVV All our Hearts & thoughts to him. Colos. 3, 1 If we then be Risen with Christ (saith the Apostle) Let us seek those things that are above, Psalm 24, 7 and then especially when He arose Then Lift up your heads, O ye gates, Psal. 110, 7 and be ye lift up ye Everlasting Doors, for this day did your dear­est Lord lift up that head from the Conquered Grave,Iohn 19.30 which He bowed before upon that bitter Cross, that as his Death was the Death of our Sins, so his Resurrection might be the life of our Souls. This, this is the day that Our Lord hath made, Psal 118, 24 We will Rejoyce and be glad in it; Every other Sun-Rising can make another Day, [...]lac. 4, 1 but it is onely the [Page 477] Rising of the Sun of Righteousness, with healing in his wings, that made the Day we stile the LORDS DAY, and therefore when the Burthen of the Week (for sufficient to every day is the Evil thereof) hath made our sh [...]ulders sh [...]ink,Mala 16, 3 and gall'd our back, this blessed Day takes off the Burthen, and layes on the Balm, heals the aking Heart, Relieves the weary Thoughts, and (in a word) it brings Heaven half down to us, and takes us half up to Hea­ven.

Wherefore, good Reader, let thine Early Thoughts and Spicie Meditations begin every morning of this blessed Day (as the good Women in the Gospel) with a gra­cious and holy visit of thy Savi­ours Sepulchre, Luke 24.1, 6 till the Heavenly Ordinances of that Day proclaim to thee, as the Angels to them, He is not here, but is risen, John 14, [...] and is gone before thee, to prepare a place for thee, [Page 478] that he may come again and receive thee, that where He is, there mayest thou he also.

And as the First day of each Week thus employed will sanctify unto thee the rest of the Week, so will the First of each day, the rest of the Day; When by a Sun-beam thou canst climbe to God, We bert in Temple, as Divine Herbert most sweetly expresseth it.

And now having found thee with Him and Holy David in the Morning,Close thy dayes with good thou­ghts I would chuse to leave thee with Isaak in the Evening, who was wont at that time to go out to MEDITATE, That as God is Alpha and Omega of all things, He may be the Beginning and the End of thy Thoughts, for with Him it is that this little Book both de­signes and desires to leave Thee.

Amen, Amen.

FINIS.

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