Chap. 3 t. An Expofitiost upon the loslee of J o B. Verf. t. like the devills fins , fo they render us moR like the devil! in fin- ning. Evils thoughts are called by fome, TheFirdt-borne of the devil! , they have compared them to the Vipers brood which Bate out and deftroy their owne mother, to burning coalcs or fire carried in the bofome, which quickly scorch, and will at !aft, confumc him that carrieth them; as allo to the little ones of Babjlon (fpoken of?faints 137. 9. ) which 'cis our happinefl'e to take and dash again!} the Rones. Thefe evitl thoughts are in- deed worfe then thofe Idols put into a fecret place, the makers whereof the Lord pronounced] curfed (Deut. 2.7.15. ) Evill thoughts, like Idols, are molten and graven, formed and fashio- ned in the heart, and then layd up or put into that fecret place ; There are the chambers of this imagery. Fifthly , Evill thoughts, as they are very finfull, and in force cafes more finfull then other fins ; fo in all cafes they are more dangerous, then other fans. And that upon a twofold ground. Firft, the multiplicityof them ; many flyes and graf e- hoppers { fmailcreatures) fpoyled Egypt, a Great Kingdome; many lice ease up anddeftroyed Heroda great King ; many twine threeds will make a coardbigge enough robind the árongeft Giant, yea a cable bigge enough to hold the greateft Ship ; A huge multi- tudeof little lands will endanger a veffel at Sea as much as the mightieft.rocke. While we confider, whatjnaltitudes, what my- riads ofevil! thoughts are moving in us, or paflìng through us, how (horrid we tremble at :he danger ? And yet there is a fecor.d thing confiderable in evill thoughts, which endangers us more then the multitude ofthem,and that is,our infenciblenes of them. We quickly take notice of and poßìbly , are fta-rled a: evil! words, or eviti as but as forevil! thoughts, they f.varme in us, and yet scarce fall under any obfervation, much leffeare they ta- ken into any foletnneor ferious examination. Now, howdange- rous it is to have many unfeene enemies nacre about us, every man canconclude. Yet fuch areour evil! thoughts. How wifely then and how holyly did 'ob, who Cooke fo much care to keeps his thoughts in compafTe, and ferioufly fayd , Why then fhculd I thinke upon amaíde ? Hence note ; Sixthly. e4 gracious, heart is as careful/ not to fin by evill thoughts as by evil! ails. R e And 305
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