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 Hoseâ— 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 Jerem. 7.44 Chap. 9.14 Chap. 11.8 and 13.10 and his Lusts will ye do so the Prophet saith in many places that in and after the imaginations of their own hearts they do and will walk So that as Christ saith the Devil is the Father the Apostle makes mans heart to be the Mother which receives the Temptation and Thought the Womb that Conceiveth and Hatcheth it when he saith James 1.15 Lust when it hath conceived brought forth sin whereas were there a Cordial crying out as by the forced Damosel in the Law Deut. 22.24 25. Rom. 7.24 or the Apostle in the Gospel Oh wretched man that I am 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 and when they break into our hearts which are such unruly and untamed Evils let us serve them as the People of a Country Village would a ravenous Wolf or cruel Bear that should break into thâ—â—r Town all the Town would be after them either to kill them in or to force them out of it Prov. 23.26 And since the heare is the thing that God Principally requires and that out of it are the Issues of Life Let us keep the heart with all keeping Prov. 4.23 Mal. 3.16 17. and be choice of our Thoughts as of Gods Crown-Jewels Phil. 4.8 And now finally Brethren whatsoever things are true whatsoever things are honest whatsoever things are just whatsoever things are pâ—â—e whatsoever things are lovely whatsoever things are of good report if there be any vertue 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 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 Romans 10.6 7 8. even in thy mouth so the Thoughts are nigh thee even in thy mind for what Christ saith of thy words I may say of thy Thoughts Mat. 12.37 Verse 34. By thy words saith the text and by thy thoughts saith the reason of the text Thou shalt be justified and 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 'T is a Laudable fairness in our Law Thoughts our Neighbourhood that it puts All Tryals for Life and Death upon God and the countrey that is the Neighbourhood This little Book allowes thee the Birth-right of thy Native Law in thy greatest tryal more Important then for Life and Death 'T is for Salvation or Damnation Tryal by them fair Thy Thoughts are thy Neighbourhood they walk and talk with thee they know thy lying down and thy rising up Put thy Soul tryal upon God and them and God send thee a good deliverance Sect. II. Instances of churlishness 1 Sam. 25 26. Isaiah 32.5 Isaiah 32.5 Isaiah 31.8 Liberality A Nabal-like Heart may seem sometimes to put forth a liberal hand and make a Feast like a Prince yet shall not a Churl be the more called liberal The liberal man deviseth liberall things He onely is the liberall man that hath the liberall mind whose thoughts are free in a better sence then the old saying hath it T is not the drawing of the Purse to the Poor though that must be too where there is a Purse but the drawing out the Soul to the Hungry that is true Charity Isaiah 58.10 Mark 12.21 Two mites bestowed with one truly Generous and Liberal thought is a righter Almesgiving then the giving of the two Hemispheres of the whole world would be without it Sect. III. Envy Prov. 26.25 Psal 55.21 THe Envious may carry smooth and speak fair yet never a whit the more to be trusted if there be seven abominations in the heart The Oyl of smooth words may float at top whilst Waters of strife are at bottome war in his heart His words kind his thoughts Cruel now He is what his thoughts are 'T is 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 Gen 50.20 as in Josephs case Ye thought Evil against me saith He But God turned it to good and to His own Glory Isaiah 10.7 to whom they intend dishonour as in the Assyrians howbeit He meaneth not so neither doth He think so Goodness He was what his thoughts were on the other hand Joseph 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 Isaiâ—h â—0 3 when He sheweth his People hard things and it may be incurs their hard thoughts yet then he approves himself to be a merciful Father and a tender Friend by his gracious thoughts and tender purposes I know the thoughts that think towards you Jer. 29.11 thoughts of peace And as He thinks in His Heart so is he though they think hardly of him his thoughts are of Peace and He is the God of Peace Rom. 15.33 Sect. IV. THe Impatient are not alwayes Clamorous Impatience but sometimes like froward Children that declare their doggedness by not speaking at all Job 36.19 Prov. 23.39 as well as by speaking doggedly 'T is said of the Hypocrites in Heart they cry not when God bindeth them He strikes them yet they will not be thought sick and beats them yet they seem not to feel they have not grieved Jerem. 5. â— they make their face harder then a Rock yet are never the more quiet never the more patient for mean while Habak 2.4 their minds fret their thoughts boil within them their Hearts are lifted up therefore
Peters for his former distemper Thus saith he Verse 24. my heart was grieved and I was pricked in my reins but also with sweet serenity and Coelestial satisfaction for you instantly find him in the mount of contemplation which becomes to him a Mount of Transfiguration when he thus saith Verse 23.24 Nevertheless I am still with thee thou shalt guide me with thy Councel and afterwards receive me to glory Verse 26. Whom have I in Heaven but thee and there is none in Earth that I desire besides thee And thus you see in gracious Hearts that gracious Thoughts are still the bottom thoughts Instances of evil thoughts deepest Pilate On the contrary How many are there that have many good thoughts as to the matter of them floating at top but there is still some Evil wicked thoughts at the Bottom to worm and work them out Thus Pilate had many thoughts that were good in themselves He thought Jesus was a just person and he thought it just in Himself to acquit and justifie the innocent and he had many thoughts and contrivances how to set him at liberty but then the bottom thoughts of all were base 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 John 19.12 13 17. the Jews cryed out saying if thou let this man go thou art not Caesars friend When Pilate therefore heard that saying He brought out Jesus c. and delivered him to them to be Crucified Agrippa Thus Agrippa no doubt had many good Thoughts and motions in his mind when he cryes out to St. Paul Acts 26.28 Many followers of Christ Almost thou perswadest me to be a Christian And many of Christs followers thought 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 Many of his Disciples went back John 6.66 and walked no more with him And so that rich young man that came running to him with so much eagerness Young man Math. 10.17 and kneeled before him with so much Devotion thought without all peradventure that Christ was a most excellent person and that it 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 Bottom thoughts are deceipt Saints at worst of a more excellent Spirit then Hypocrites at best Daniel 6.3 So then by this Rule we may discern what an Excellent Spirit there is as 't was 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 Souldier 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 yet what Revenge 1 Cor. 7.11 contriving 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 Isaiah 33.18 Thou shalt be thinking how to kill this corruption and how to Conquer that Lust How to mortifie this uncleanness that inordinate affection this Evil Concupisence that Covetousness how to be revenged of these uncircumcised Philistines for thy two eyes Jud. 16.28 for all that light of Holy Joy and Peace they have deprived thee of Whereas on the other hand the best Hypocrite even whilst he seems to hold out the Garrison with greatest Gallantry and Resolution for God and Christ yet even then his secret thoughts his inward deep and bottom thoughts are trucking with the Enemy to betray and yield up all when He spyeth His season and pleasing advantage Thus Esau resolves to carry it most demurely during His Fathers life but his Deep thoughts are all along Gen. 27 41. Esau said in his heart saith the Text the dayes of mourning for my Father are at hand then will I stay my Brother And Oh! How many are there that can palliate a foul and rotten heart with the fairest pretences and appearances whilst Godly Magistrates Ministers Parents Guardians Governours continue with them that all the while have a months mind as we say to the license that other debauched or vain persons take and secretly please themselves with the thoughts thereof which they purpose to themselves when the Awe of such as at present hinder them shall be removed and taken away A kin to these are those who though they will not sell Wheat on the Sabbath day Amos 8.5 yet are still thinking when will the Sabbath be over 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 Right thoughts must needs be not idle or unactive but operative and abounding in fruit that are so happy in their Root Isaiah 37.32 they take root downward and therefore will bear fruit upward Sect. III. Thoughts are to be considered with special respect to the Temperament of the body Hebr. 4.12 NOw a grand Reason why I have desired to speak so fully and distinctly to this is this which I desire most heedfully may be observed The THOUGHTS of men whereof the word of God is as hath been said the great discerner 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 Temperaments may help to more stability of thoughts in some then in others neither Sincerity nor Hypocrisie find all mens minds be they good or bad to work alike but according as their diverse workings are influenced by the diversity of bodily constitutions Now some temperatures being naturally more heavy lumpish and melancholick more easily dispose their minds to greater measures of Resolution stability and fixation of thoughts when once the Thoughts are set be the minds or matters good or bad In worldly nay wicked things some are of one mind and who can turn them truly none but God Omnipotent who if God come once to
in respect of them as Jacob I am not worthy of the least of all thy mercies yet not to think them the chief good or the best of them good enough for the precious 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 and I account 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 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 sanctified title to them and sanctified use of them If they be sanctified by the Word and Prayer If I rejoyced 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 happier for being the wealthier 't was the gain of the heart Heavenly treasure true Job 23.12 not the Gettings of the Hand that Job estimated to be true treasure I have esteemed the words of his mouth more then my appointed portion so the Margin then my necessary Food so the Text. No doubt he accounted that good too but not the chief good Psal 49.8 not a sufficiâ—nt good for his Soul for the Redemption of the Soul is precious It ceaseth for ever And Alas Whole world not worth a Soul Mat. 16.26 thinks a Man that knows the worth of a Soul what is a man profited if he gain the whole world and loose his own Soul Sect. V. Right thoughts of Ordinances what Mat. 23.19 IN thinking of ORDINANCES as the good wayes of God to be gone in not rested in He thinks not so greatly of the Gift as of the Altar sanctifying the Gift of his attendances upon them as they are performances of his own but as appointments of God for the Communication of Himself to the Soul One thing have I desired of the Lord Good wayes to be gone not rested in Psal 27.4 that will I seek after that I may dwell in the House of the Lord all the dayes of my life to see the beauty of the Lord 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 evil Job 32.21 Isaiah 33.24 IN thinking of SIN as the only contrary to the Supream good Therefore Jobs Friends would have fastened it on him as a Brand of in-sincerity that he had chosen Sin rather then Affliction The inhabitants shall not say I am sick for the people that dwell there shall be forgiven their Iniquity They shall think all well when sin is done away Sin in a good mans Thoughts is the very Gall of bitterness the very core of all troubles the very sting of Death it self 1 Cor. 15.56 Heart-sin worst Heb. 12.15 1 King 8.38 Jer. 17.9 Rom. 7.23 â—â—rom 9.5 Hibaâ— 2.5 and the very Hell of Hell And as he thinks Sin the worst of Evils so Heart-sin the worst of sins that Root of bitterness that Plague of the heart that desperately wicked thing that cannot cease to Sin that Law in the Members that wearies them to commit Iniquity yet it self is unweariable and unsatiable as Death and Hell and therefore called the Body of death which never saith it is enough 'T is this evil that makes good men cry out of themselvs as of the chief of Sinners Rom. 7.24 For whatsoever they know of others as to other Evils they know more of this by themselves then by all the World 'T is this Evil that makes many a man thought humble by others cry O my pride counted mortified by others Spiritual wickedness cry O my potent passion my strong corruption my unruly Lusts how many a man is there of unblemisht life that is weary at heart of his own Heart yea of his very Life because of the evil of his Heart his spiritual pride filthiness of Spirit Earthly-mindedness 2 Cor. 7 â—1 James 4.1 Spirits lusting to envy with the spiritual wickednesses abroad in the world as Hypocrisie Heresie c. But yet though he think Sin Root and Branch to be the greatest Evil Yet no sin so great an Evil as Christ a good Heb. 7.25 yet not so great an evil as Jesus Christ is a Good nor so mighty though mighty to destroy as He is Almighty able to save He thinks Sins demerits great Christs merits greater whereby he is not only secured from Hell but to be saved in Heaven And therefore He may plead even the greatness of his sin as an argument for his Pardon Psal 25.11 because He thinks the great Salvation to be so much the greater that it triumphs most in the spoils of the proudest sins in the thing wherein they have dealt proudly to be still above them When Sin groweth up unto the Heavens Ezek. 9.6 Psal â—08 4 1 John 4.4 Gods mercy in his Son is above the Heavens As when the wicked one is great that is in World yet greater is he that is in the Saints than he that is in the World Sect. VII IN thinking of HOLINESS Of holiness Isaiah 2.8 not only way to but part of happiness Psal 119.11 Philip. 3.20 1 John 5.3 Mat. 11.30 not only as the high way to as the Prophet calls it but also a principal part of Happiness the Duties of holiness to be the Beauties thereof Its Practise Priviledge Its Performances great Rewards Its inchoation an Heaven upon Earth Its Consummation and perfection the very Heaven of Heaven And therefore Its Commandments not grievous Its Yoke easie It s Burden light Of Affliction not so evil as sâ—â— Good to the good Ps lm 119.67 71. Hâ—bâ— 1.12.11 Verse 10. Profitable 1 King 17.18 Monitors of our frowardness but Fruits of Gods Faithfulness and Love Psal 119.75 Rev. 3.19 John 16.33 Christs Legacy Mat. 10.25 For many good ends Sect. VIII IN thinking of AFFLICTIONS though Evil not so Evil as Sin and therefore their being Sanctified desirable rather and more then their removal Evil in themselves yet good to the good and for the making of them Better It s good for me that I have been afflicted before I went astray but now I have learnt thy Precepts sharp and bitter twigs bearing sweet Fruit peaceable Fruits of Righteousness A Fathers Rod not for his Pleasure but VERILY for our Profit that we may be partakers of his holiness Remembrancers of our Sin yet not so much products of his Justice Power and soveraignty as Fruits of his Faithfulness I know O
Lord JESUS Gal. 6.17 As 't is said Callis might have been read in Queen Maries heart if it had been ript up And here methinks I could even forget my self and run along in my Thoughts with this sweet Apostle but that I must not forget my Reader for 't is time to be hastening towards a Conclusion III. Motive AGain 3. Motive Keep Right Thoughts and they will keep thee right Consider that to keep thy Thoughts Right is the way to keep Thee so My Life for thine He that keeps his Thoughts Right shall never die Traytour 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 Psalm 45.1 My heart is Inditing a good matter I will speak of the things I have made touching the King Psalm 119.15 my Tongue is the Pen of a ready Writer 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 and have kept thy Law Verse 55. IV. Motive 4. Motive Right Thoughts will yield peaceable Fruit. Mal. 3.16 Verse 17. ANd 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 Jewels for a Book of Remembrance was written before him for them that Thought upon his Name And they shall be mine saith the Lord of Hosts in that day when I make up my Jewels And how should We count and keep 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 1. Practical Rule Repent of evil Thoughts Acts 8.22 THe First Practical Rule for the Keeping of Right Thoughts is Diligent and daily Repentance of Evil Thoughts what saith the Apostle Repent and pray God if perhaps the Thoughts of thine heart may be forgiven Thee 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 Matth. 3.8 What saith John Baptist Bring forth therefore Fruits meet for Repentance and think not to say within your selves c. Hence thus much is Evident that where Fruits meet for Repentance are brought forth Evil Thoughts are expelled and cast forth Now as nothing can banish Darkness but Light so can nothing expel Evil Thoughts but Good Thoughts And as the Ablaqueation 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 Sam. 13.20 Make the evil of thine heart subservient to thy good thoughts NExt as the Israelites went down to the Philistines to sharpen every man his Share and his Colter and his Axe and his Mattock because they would not suffer a Smith in Israel So deal with the Corruption of thy Nature that would not suffer One good Thought in thy Soul Whee 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 as what God hath placed under thy feet as the Psalmist speaks Let me tell thee Psalm 8.6 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 while the wicked were before him Psalm 39.1 3. God can make Corruption of Nature subservient to Grace as Joshua said of the Canaanites Numb 14.9 they are Bread for us God can make the very Evil of our hearts to be Food and Fewel to our Good Thoughts III. Practical Rule 3. Practical Rule Heave at thine heart Numb 15.20 NExt 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 Building Unto thee Psalm 25.1 O Lord do I lift up my Soul saith holy David But not in thine own strength Pray for the Spirit to help thee to right Thoughts John 14.26 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 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 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 Remember this That if Gods Spirit do not Satan will be filling thy heart Acts 5.3 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 Isaiah 8.13 1 Pet. 3.15 Luke 11.13 And therein also to pray for the Sanctifying Spirit whom God hath promised to give to them that aâ—k him Be thankful for right thoughts Psalm 30.4 And 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 even when he helps thee to Remember it Humble thankefulness for what we have is a cleanly way of begging for more Labour for holy affections And that thou mayest alwayes be full of good thoughts Implore Gods Grace to fill thee with those sanctified Affections that carry the Key and command of the thoughts viz. Holy Fear and Love Fear For the first of these even slavish Fear can carry the thoughts before it the Mariners in a storm can easily think of their Danger Jonah 1.5 And shall not an holy and Filial fear they feared the Lord Mal. 3.16 and
all the week as St. Paul saith to me to live is Christ Phil. 1.21 for 't is 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 Christ speaking in us as the Apostle speaks as to find a proof of Christ living in our selves least while we preach to others 1 Cor. 13.3 Chap. 9.22 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 only to all Scripture but to all Right Reason Sect. III. Evil thoughts like Devils LEt me freely tell thee O Reader whosoever thou art whose thoughts are not right thine heart is but an hell and thy thoughts are but so many Devils and worse then Devils to thee for First In their Original As Angels the most Excellent of Gods Creatures became odious Devils by departing from God so that our Thoughts that in their own nature are the Off-spring of the noble and most excellent Mind of man should become Iniquity to us Isa 59.7 Prov. 15.26 Hebr. 3.12 and an abomination to God This is from our evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God Nature spiritual wickedness Eph. 6.12 Luke 22.3 Ezek. 18.10 Mat. 23.27 In high places And as Devils for their nature are called spiritual wickednesses can enter into men 't is said Satan entered into Judas and fill their hearts as in Ananias his case why hath Satan filled thy heart so also Evil thoughts are said to come into mens minds and fill their hearts Inwardly they are full of rottenness saith Christ And as Devils for their pride and power are called spiritual wickednesses in high places so also evil thoughts are said to be those high things that exalt themselves against God 2 Cor. 10.5 and against Christ Casting down Imaginations and every high thing c. and bringing into captivity every thought of the heart c. Number Legions Mark 5.9 Luke 8.30 Mat. 17.34 And as Devils for their number made the possessed man cry out My name is Legion for we are many so may Evil thoughts say for these are called the abundance of the heart Like the swarmes of Flyes in Aegypt 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 whence comest thou From going in the Earth to and fro Job 1.7 and from walking up and down in it Just so may evil Thoughts say for the wandring of the desire is by the Thoughts they go where we cannot Israelites in the Wilderness Eccles 6.9 Acts 7.39 yet in heart went back to Aegypt And as Devils for their Vigilancy Vigilancy 1 Pet. 1.8 Psal 104.20 21. are said to walk about as roaring Lyons which are stirring when we are sleeping as the Psalmist observes Therefore saith the Apostle be vigilant so the worldlings thoughts are at work while himself is asleep for as his dayes are sorrow so his heart taketh not rest in the Night Eccles 2.23 Chap. 5.8 for a dream comes through the multitude of business And oh how often cause have we to be troubled when we awake for the Thoughts of our sleep Daniel 4.1 as Nebuchadnezzar was with his Thoughts in his sleep And Devils for disturbing in good Duties Disturbing in Good Mat. 13.4 1 Sam. 1.13 are called the Fowls of the Air that steal away the word such are evil thoughts and so do they 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 should have been minding what Christ was a saying his Thoughts were wandring He said within himself Luke 3.37 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 so for tempting to evil Tempting to evil Math. 4.3 James 1.14 therefore Satan is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Tempter so every man is tempted saith the Apostle when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed 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 Hoseâ— 7.6 saith the Prophet What though Satan bring the Fewel yet men put it into the 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 't is 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 accusing And 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 Mat. 18.34 Luke 16.25 And 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 remember c. saith Abraham to Dives that is bethink thy self c. And thus have we seen that Evil Thoughts are as bad as Devils Yea worse then Devils 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 In themselves First 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 Psalm 14.1 For saith the Psalmist The Fool hath said in his heart that there is no God whereas the Apostle saith expresly James 2.10 that the Devils believe and tremble 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 II. As to those whose thoughts they are And to us For these are the Heifers wherewith Satan Ploweth whose Temptations could only diâ—turbâ—
Neighbor if thou couldst If anothers thoughts lay as fair to thine eye as his words do sound to thine ears thou wouldest try his thoughts towards thee before thou wouldst too much trust his words for the wise man observes these too may be very wide each from other Eat and drink saith he to thee and yet his heart is not with thee But God hath purposely lockt up thy Neighbours thoughts from thee Prov. 23.7 to correct thy curiosity and over eager propension to Censoriousness abroad and hath said Iudg not that ye be not Iudged Math. 7.1 1 Cor. 11.32 but hath made thee Turâ—-kâ—y to thy own because its best for the to turn often in at thine own door for if we woâ—â—â— judge our selves we should not be judged Mans Law doth what it can in the triall of those that are under Inquest for discovery not onely nor chiefly of the Act but the Mens â—â—a the Intent and thought of the Heart in the Act whether a Traiterors Malitious Feloâ—ious Intent and of Mâ—lice fore-thought 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 Acts 8.12 Verse 22. but as soon as the Apostle Peter came to discern his thought Repent and pray God saith he if perhaps this thought of thine may be forgiven thee he presently perceives that his heart was not right and that his state was nought for he saith not I perceive that the â—aâ—â— of bitterness is in thee only but that thou art in it aâ—d in thâ— bond of Iniquity Verse 23. Sect. X. IN one word as the Pulse so the Thoughts derive immedia eâ—y from the heart both as to Temper and Distemper the one in a Physiâ—al the other in a moral notion respect and wert thou but as careful and Sâ—iâ—fu to observe thy flowing thoughts as thy Physitian is to examine thy gliding pulse thy Thouâ—hs would â—sâ—â—steâ— deceive thee then thy Pulse him and thou needest not be so much at a loss as the most are for the knowledg of thy spiritual and everlasting state haveing so fair as Index to Eternity so near at hand Commune then with thine own heaâ—t upon thy b d and be still Psalm 4.4 'T is 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 is none but God and thou and they together Thy faculty will be true to thee if thou be so to it thy Thought 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 Judgment that God passeth upon Men is by their Thoughts Sect. I. WOuldst thou then O Man Try thy self by the same M asures that God will try thee and judge of the state as He judgeth of thee who judgeth not according to the appra aâ—â—â— but judgeth righteous judgment Let me trie thy thoughts and thee together again For the Lord search th thâ— hâ—a t and tâ—yâ—th the reins Jer. 17.10 and 11.20 Psal 16.7 those reins the Psamist speakes of My reinâ—s iest uct me in the night season His solemn thoughts and setious self-reflections Those are they that God tryed and thee by them Psal 139.1.2 O Lord thou hast searched me and known me thou understandest my thoughts afar of As Christ said to Nathaniel John 1.48 I may say to others in other cases before that Philip called thâ—e I saw thâ—e when thou wast under the Fig-tree so before others called thee to the Ale-Bench or into the â—hore-hoâ—se he saw thee he knew the prâ—pâ—â—sions of thy Thoughts the motions in thy mind the tendency of thine heart He understaâ—deth the thoughts afaâ— off and by these He dooms sentenceth and judgeth thee though to speak strictly God judgeth of us or knows us by pure and simple intuitionâ— abstractly as well from thought as from words and actions that is He needs no more any thought or thing then he doth any man to testify of man for He knows John 2.25 as what is in man so what man is by a more perfect way then discursive inference or argumentation He knows all things in their prinâ—iples before they operate For known unto the Lord are all his workes fâ—oâ— the beginning Acts 15.18 Sect. II. THoughts have feet they have a tendency be they good or evil Thoughts have feet Prov. 21.5 can go Eph. 4.17 Jer. 7.24 Tongues Math. 3.9 Lam. 3 60. The thoughts of the diligent tend to plenteousness the Lord takes notice of the tendency of thy thoughts and counts thee goâ—e the same way that they go The Gentiles are said to walk not onely after but in the vanity of their mind And the wicked Jewes not onely after but in the imaginations of their evil Hearts Thoughts can speak as well as go Think not to say within your selves c. and God hears them thou hast heard all their imaginations against me saith the Church when the voice is not hard Hannah prayed in her heart and her lipes moved Can pray 1 Sam. 1.13 Verse 14. But her voice was not heard Old Eli that measured her by the bare moving of her lipes misjudged her but God had an eye to the Motion of her Heaâ—t Thoughts can Curse too Curse not the King no not in thy thought And curse Eccl. 10.20 19 Prov. 23 33. And lie Acts 5.3 4. The Heart of the wicked is said to utter perverse things The Holy Ghost heard Anâ—â—â—as thoughts tell the he before Peter and the rest heard his tongue do so Why hath Satan filled thine Heaâ—t to lie unto the Holy Ghost thou hast not lyed unto men but unto God Thoughts have Haâ—â—s too as well as Tongues and Feet in Gods account And hands The heaâ—t of the vile peâ—son is said to work Iniquity Isa 22.6 can work and to praâ—tice hypoâ—risy 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 at House and thus God reckons Deut. 19.19 1 Kings 2.26 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 Gen. 27.41 the dayes of mourning for my Father are at hand then will I slay my Brother Jacob 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 1 Chro. 28.9 for the Lord searcheth all hearts and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts Sect. III. Thought Adultery Mat. 5.28 Prophaness Psal 50.21 IF a man looking on a woman do but send after her an Impure thought God writes down Adultery committed
youth So when the Heart is full of good Thoughts God calls that the good treasure if of evil Thoughts the evil treasure of the heart Math. 12 35. and we value Men to be as their treasures and possessions are Sect. VIII WE Judge men by their constant Companions We judge men by their companions Our thoughts are so Noscitur ex socio qui non dignoscitur ex se Now our thoughts are our eonstant Company They are ever with us at Bed and Board Company draws out answers from us sometimes when we have no great mind to speak so do our Thoughts Therefore do my thoughts cause me to answer said Zophar Job 2.2 1 Kings 12.8 These are as Rehoboams Councellours that were brought up with him from his youth so the Imaginations of mans heart are said to be Gen. 9.21 Jer. 4.14 These are our Inmates and Intimates be they good or evil Divine or vain They lodgâ— with us nay within us these are guests that never part with us till we bid adue to our selves 'T is not till that very day Psal 146.4 that our thoughts perish no nor then neither in some sence but they go with us into another World and there God will judge them and us by them Prov. 13.20 He that walketh with the wise the word Men is not in the Hebrew shall be wise He that walks with God who gives wisdom and he that walks with the word of God which is able to make a man wise to Salvation 2 Tim. 3.15 He that hath that dwelling richly in him and dwells upon it by wise and holy Thoughts and Meditations as the Psalmist saith I have more understanding then all my teachers Psal 119.9 Good thoughts good company Prov. 6.21 22. for thy testimonies are my meditation as well as he that converseth with wise and holy persons shall be wise If thou bind them continually upon thine heart when thou goest it shall lead thee when thou sleepest it shall keep thee and when thou awakest it shall talk with thee that is wisdom shall Under God thou canst not have better Company then good thoughts God cannot be had without Theirs nay thou canst not have His without theirs Thou mayst have his Company when thou canst not have good mens but thou canst not have His except thou have good thoughts But the companion of fools saith another Proverb shall be destroyed Prov. 24.9 of foolish sinners without us of foolish thoughts within us for even the thought of foolishness is sin If we choose either for our Companions especially the later they will undo us and bring us under that doom of Destruction This made holy David choice of his Company Psal 26.4 but curious of his Thoughts I have not satâ— with vain persons saith he but I hate vain thoughts when his Company was bad his thoughts were good Even while the wicked was before him â—sal 39.1 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 of cursed Contrariety that was about it When the careful Magistrates or Officers of a City break into a suspected house in the Night time the great question is what Company have you here so when God breaks in upon our dark hearts the Inquiry is what Thoughts have you here Gods inquiry in mans heart What thoughts have you here Luke 24.38 James 2 4. why do Thoughts arise in your Minds Are ye not become Judges of evil thoughts Sect. IX FIrst God made Man to think of his Maker Remember thy Creatour God made man to think of his maker Eccles 12 1. We value things as they suit their ends there is Mans end and duty sumd up in short God gave man a mind higher then othâ—r Animals that he might mind highâ—r then they a mind above other things that he might mind things above An Heathen could say Os ho nini sublime dedit Caelâ—mque tuâ—ri jussit We chiefly estimate things as they suite their Ch if 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 â—urn 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 words like Men And is it possible that for a little professions sake God should have good 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 'T is a dismal Charge and Challenge that Isaiah 1.5 But my people do not consider They call themselves Mine but they MIND not Mo Deut. 32.18 19. 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 his Daughters Alas how little do Names Titles Priviledges Professions stand for in Gods Account where God Himself is not minded Jud. 16.15 As she said How sayest thou that thou lovest me seeing thy heart is not with me how is it that thou pretendest to God seeing thy mind is not with him Psal 10.4 God is not in all thy thoughts Gods good will to us set out by his thoughts Psalm 115.12 Psalm 111.5 Neh. 5.19 and 13.22 Luke 23.4 Psalm 4â— 9 Cant. 1.4 Psalm 44.17 18 20 21. Isaiah 64.5 So ours to God As 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 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! We will remember thy love more then Wine â—f we have forgotten thy Name shall not God search this out All this is come upon us yet have we not forgotten thee our heart is not turned back Therefore it is said thou meet st them that remember thee 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 man to be regarded by him that is forgotten by thee or that God should have any good thoughts of thee who never harbourest any good thoughts in thee And our evil will by our not thinking of him Psalm 9.17 and 50 22. or that God should mind
yet was alive once without the Law and gives this as the Reason He did not by all their Doctrine know LUST He knew not that thought-sins were such sins untill the Commandment came in another manner and by another kind of teaching then ever he had from them For this was our Saviours great business in that Incomparable Sermon upon the Mount to vindicate the Spirituality of the Law from their carnal and corrupt Dotages they put the great stress 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 Seventh Commandments in heart and thought as well as outward Act He condemns carking cares Anxiety of Thoughts 'T is strange indeed they should be so blinded seeing the very last of Gods Ten Words goes down to the very bottom of the mind and thought Thou shalt not COVET so that when the scales were but fallen from the Apostles eyes He could easily-see in the light of that Law that THOUGHT was Sin He knew LUST to be SIN then He knows now that the Law is Spiritual Yea and thus he Schools others 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That ye might learn not to think above what is written Gods written WORD is the measure of mans Right THOUGHTS yet even some Heathens had some glimmerings of this Deut est animus therefore mente colendus God it a Spirit and requires mental worship and conformity to his will And this is indeed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 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 Right thoughts of the Rule James 4.11 1 Cor. 2.14 so he must have Right Thoughts of the Rule The Apostle speaks of some that Judge the Law Take we heed that we do not misjudge it Therefore it is necessary that we look on the Spiritual Law with a Spiritual eye 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 Psal 119.228 All right 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 but the Text is I esteem all thy Precepts to be all right every one and every way Right 'T is true There may be some kind of approving the things that are excellent Rom. 2.18 Some approve some excellent things As Herod Mark 6.20 And yet the Heart not be Right But if there be not an approving of excellent things the Heart cannot be Right A bad Heart may think good of many good wayes as Herod but a good heart thinks good of every good way as 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 1 Tim. 3.16 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 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 Holiness 8. Of Afflictions 9. Of Temptations 10. Of Persecutions 11. Of the present Condition of Life 12. Of the present Time of Life 13. Of Death 14. Of Judgment 15. Of Eternity 16. Of Angels Evil Good 17. Above all in Thinking of GOD. To have High Thoughts and Sweet Thoughts but in all points Regular and Scriptural Of his Being Highness Holiness Unshangeableness Unity yet Trinity in Unity Eternity Omnipresence Omniscience Omnipotence Invisibility Terribleness and just Severity Truth Verity Loveliness and Goodness not only in his sparing Mercies and means of Grace but even in His Judgments and Destruction of the ungodly in the First Covenant especially in the New Covenant of Grace richest Theme for thoughts CHRIST the Objeâ—t of Gods Eternal 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 Justice Holiness Highness c. Gods Love in Christs Incarnation Suffering The Necessity and Excellent Vertue of Christs Death Right thoughts of Christs righteousness Imputed High thoughts of Christ sweet thoughts of Christ Holy thoughts of Christ as tho great Enemy of Sin though Friend of Sinners right thoughts of God the Holy Ghost High thoughts of God the Spirit in his Essence 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 and 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 Right thoughts of Scripture Adoro Scripturae plenitudinem Tertul. cont Hermog See B. Tayler's Dissuasive from Popery 2 Tim. 3.15 16 17. John 5.39 As for Example Sect. I. IN 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 testifie 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 Charrer of our Salvation I have WRITTEN to Him saith God the GREAT THINGS of my Law Hosea 8.12 but they counted them as a strange thing Great things indeed
from thy Horse and saved both man and beast brought thee safe to shore the last time that thou gavest thy self for lost at Sea He gave thee thy Possessions Thy Promotions Thy comfortable Relations thy loving Wife thy lovely Children thy health strength limbs liberty credit Comforts of all sorts even every good gift James 1.17 2 Sam. 12.8 And if these had been too little as was said to David he would have given thee more and greater things then these hadst thou not been wanting to thy self Mat. 23.37 How often would he have gathered thee as a Hen gathereth her Chickens under her wings How often would he have convinced converted humbled thee healed thee given thee his Son and given thee his Spirit And now judge I pray thee between God and thy own Soul Isaiah 5.3 what could he have done for thee more then that which he hath done Thou needest a Christ and all the day long Isaiah 65.2 he stretcheth out his hand to tender his Christ unto thee and why did he give 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 Mat. 21.34 37. else he were not GOD And hath done more then he owes thee in spreading a Table without compelling thy appetite that is more then thou expectest from thy best friend thou hast that is but thine equal 2 Pet. 3.19 Matth. 22.4 He hath sent forth his Servants and with them his Son and in them his Spirit 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 God must be sweet thoughts Our thoughts of God if they be Right thoughts must be SWEET Thoughts 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 Yea even for them that were never yet brought into his Psal 104.34 banqueting house to tast of those dainties Psal 65.5 6. Cantic 2.4 Psal 106.5 Revel 2.17 God good to all Psal 83.3 Rom. 2.4 Acts 14.17 which Scriptures call the good of his chosen that hidden Manna the meat and drink which the World knows not of the sweet repast of the hidden ones there is a Goodness yea Riches of goodness to be thought of by them and not to be despised but Improved by affectionate meditation till it lead them to Repentance For he leaves not himself without witnesse even as to these in that he doth good and gives them Rain from Heaven and fruitful seasons filling their hearts with food and gladness And if he leave not himself without witness take heed he leave not thee without excuse Think with thy self therefore a little seriously O man of this Riches both of the goodness and long-suffering and forbearance of God Sparing mercies an evidence thereof Prov. 12.10 Hast thou not found that there are sparing Mercies and canst thou not think that there are pardoning mercies with the Lord He that hath laid it upon thee to Regard the life of thy Beast and hath himself had so continual a regard to the life of thy body which indeed is as thy Beast or bruitish part but stiles himself the Father of our Spirits Heb. 12.9 whilest he calls others the Fathers of our Flesh canst thou find in thy heart to think that he hath no regard for the life of thy Soul Jer. 2.31 Hath God indeed been a Barren Wilderness to thee that hath given thee so many fruitful seasons or hath he been only so to thy Soul surely what ever he is to other Nations he hath not been so to us means of Grace have not been wanting to thee So the means of Grace not 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 Hast thou not also heard of a Sun of Righteousness that he maketh to arise with healing in his wings upon those that believe in him that justifieth the ungodly Mal. 2.4 Romans 4.9 And if all other thy ungodliness be no bar O why should thy unbelief or hard thoughts of this good God be so But some one may think Objection Micah 3.6 is there any evil in the City and the Lord hath not done it nay doth he not own it where is then the Goodness you spake of Out of the mouth of the most high proceedeth not evil and good is not He said to frame Evil to devise evil God the Author or evil Lam. 3.38 Jerem. 18.11 Micah 2.3 Isaiah 45.7 Answer Joh 37.23 Lam. 2.33 God good in correcting Micah 6.8 Chap. 7.18 Isaiah 28.21 Mal. 1.8 Rom. 9.20 And punishing Punishment of the wicked good to the good to create Evil And can this consist with so great Goodness But think again O Man that the Scripture saith the Almighty will not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of Men. As a good Parent doth not correct willingly yet he were not a good Parent should he not correct He hath shewed thee O man what is good to do Justice and to love Mercy And cannot God be good though he do Justice whilest he love Mercy for Mercy pleaseth him or he delighteth in Mercy but Judgment he calleth his strange work But go thou and first offer this to thy Governour before thou presumest to reply against God and tell thy Prince if thou darest that His Government is not good because He hath Bethlehems for Mad-Folks and Houses of Correction for Rogues and Vagabonds and places of Execution and instruments of Death for Traytors and Capital Malefactors But how should the Government be good to the Good if it should not restrain and punish the Evil Nay surely the Lords goodness is never more orient in the eyes of his people then when he takes vengeance not onely of their Enemies but of their inventions and yet pardons their sins So of their own sins Psal 991.18 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 Verse 8. Even when the Lord Jesus shall shew himself from Heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming Fire rendring vengeance to them that know not God and obey not his Gospel So that the Goodness of