....<!1... • '· <. '".~ ~ ' ~-· ' T · H E;· .·v A .. N I ]; ·Y .. ·. . ' ~ . ···~ . '" ~ .._,_. ·o F .. , ..... ---~ .... ,.. r nora n:rs· ' . . ( . . ~ ., _,· · _·.. LONDOr"N, ·.~· · · Printedby M. F. for lt.'.D~:W!mt~n, and · L. F~itlne, at the ftgne ofthe brazen Serpent in lDa~tls Chnrch-yard.tcSJ7· ' . . JQ .· ~• •
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.the Cwents t{the rBGOke•. He Heartcompared ta a J/<Jufo tJfcom-· . 11J014·refart, · · pag.r,i The Heart muft bew~t{ht;notfweptonly3,t Wee mull: not lye downe wich uncle4J1e· Thoughts, . 5)~ rhe 'vanity ofour Thoughts, _ v,s h~t is mean~by Thought~, 8,,,I:z.,.!3' t > e1r Frame>or now concet.ved, 1 r,r6 henours.,&net the l)evils,_·'J6, r7,18,r9 \V evillT.~or:tghts oft-tin1es are punifh– ments0f the qegleOt ofdur Tboughti'J . I2.I9,&C. Vanity what) 3D~ boWdiverfly taken, . !C) x. For un~riJfittthlenejJ~. t<D-;:z.r '• F&r !Jghtneffe, 22.,13 3 FerPoi!J, ~· ·· .. .·'-3 4· For in~pnfltincyand .fr.ttil!J; 13,14 1. ·For wiek!dnelfe and ftnfulne./Je, . 2 4 '!houghts arejJns; . : ~) ; . f r-,.The LawJUdg~t!h them fo,} · 1 ~ ·hey are c~pa~le efpar~o. :&) 3. Theyareto he tepcnfed.of, '1' · r.l~eafons · 4 .T~ey defil~_ th.e n1ao, · · 16/1..1 for it. .r.'Phey are ab~minable to the . I.o1~d, .- 2.1 . d. Theyhinder all geod'; 2-7,28 • 7. Theyareth~ firAmotieners of {. all evill, ' 18,t9 ::==- .... ,.....,..,..._ -·-=-.......-. ..:..:A:~ . A 7 I
The Contents. '·AHeart fantti#ed, will ( Q\tt of all objetl:s . that are put into the Thoughts) difiill hri !J an~ ufefull m.edit~ttions, . 3. I ,32. ~; Thevanity and 1infwlnelfe of th! min(:i ap- . peares ir. anunwillingrtelfe eo cntettaiqe !Jo.!ymeditations, . .· , . 37 · Whatahardnes there is to holy meditattons, , 39,40 Hew littlewhile Yie ate in~en~ .. in th~m,. 4~ Notftedfaft, but hkeone leok1ngorr a Star: . thorow an C>ptique glafi'e ' held with a / pA/jie hand) . . , .43 We mutl watch;and th_at chiefly in Prlljer, ' 4f,4~ Tkevanity ofminde in good things, is, T~ · thinke ofthem unfeafona6{y, 4~,4'1, 48 rhedifftrence ofC hr ift s and..Adams, .and . our Tpouthts, - , · .49. Ofthepojitivevanityofour thoughts, aad· whereby it difcovereth it felfe, io,5r · - r.Tn its Foslijhneffe, ... · .. rr .2..In its l~tdependency, , · 1 · 14 And this . 3.l~ its CurtoJi~, , ~z. is feen in -.4.In its taking thought-to fulfill --' 1.things. the lufts ofthe flefli , 71 .5.1n its r.~pre[enting; &acfing vcrfins 1nour thoughts, A • • • · , • • This t..' . • .,
The Contents~ . , I T_h_i_s ~r-ep_r_e-fe-n-ta-tt-. o-n-. o-f-ou-. F- - -fi-. n-n---es_t....,.o_o_u-~·1 ,thoughts doth. I x.It maketh .the heart ~ of man ·vttineand empty, .· 76 ..L. 2..It maketh 0~1~ ~efires _impa~i- _ 3.sul~gs. ·ent · 78 ' , . I . _s.Itmaketh themjinfull andcor- ) - .' rupt~ · · · 19 -.1 The(eemiagco~forts whichmen have ·in l fpeculative emjQying of~1eafutes, appear i • c {·I· In thtngsprefent. So ! ~Q three things 1.. In th_ings paft. 83 f 3· In thtngsfuture. 88 1 A~ure :way.whereby to know our ntttu,-Ail j ,-tnclmattons, . xor.,xo~ 1 /t' I 4 .The yfes eftheDifcovery.of the vanityof l our·ThougiJts, ' pag.xo2., xxo 1 Yfe r. To 'be humbled for thetn, p;roz.,&e, TheReafo-ns whywee .fhould bee humbled · · for them, · · Io+, 1Of Y[e %.• • Toma~e confcierice ofthen1, I 1 o_, r I r TheReafons why, · p.xxx,rri,&c. Remedies againftvaincth~ughts, tl ~p. xrS, ad finem-. · · .. ) .. . . . .. The
1 --------~~----------·~· ~- \The Scri!~ure~. that ~re inlightnetl . 1n thu Treatifo. . qen 6. 1: pa:".IO... EccleAI I,1,3 ·pag lo • 40,14• . p.IO 9.10· pag.13:. . ' I Exod.l8·18~ pag.135 ]Jay 3~ 7· pag.7i 7J 56 rt; pag Sf :P eut.6.6,7.p.I:z.x,&c ,6. 18. pag. 9 lo!J ~. 3. p I08 ltr. 3I · 19· pag~ro3 Mt~tth. I3·3S'· pa.1 IS 'I$ 18)pa 171 · 17.1r. p 41 Mark._7. zt . pa•:t.3.1:1 ;.o.z~3· P· 1 Zr I3 ·33· pag.4r . 2.I· 14· P-38 . . . I . Lulze 1o·4o. pag.13~· pfa/. 39·~· p. Il4.I1f . .. so IB· p.96 97 Acts I7· 2.I· pag 68 6a..9. · . P· :z. ' ,z..I,'Z,r,~, p 34 .1 Rom. 3· r9. page 103 t38,t7· · p .:t t 13 ult. ,. - p.7r ·. l 1 3 'J.I 7 · Pnt5J x Cor •H· pig rt~ t . 144,+· p.1J Pro. e;.. r4. pag l).11 9 Ephe[-4· ~d. pag.; j , 6 : 2"· pa.g. 1 3 I Tim·r I3--;j 'pag.132. I6·3· pagr3() · Ib·30· pag.4z. Hc6r .. 12. 1 3· pag !3 .I r7.t~ .. pag )x.;r. 3ozr . p -10l·I03 lam.4 13· _ psy.S>
I T H .E VANI'TlE ·,o F · · ~ ' . ' ~· T~O~GHTS... ·~ ' · -----:--' '<) } E RE M! 4• If. ' . H,,., l1ngJb~tli thy vAine._; .. th1ughts l1dge within I • . thee? I r N thefe· wordS · · h_ee . compares . ~-. the heart unto . . ~ · fome houfe .of . ·· .· eommon refort, ·made as . 0 . . B . .tt
.. . _,.."- ----. '1'.~ . h_ . ;v:nitie_ . . ~ ', it were )witH many and 1 la·rge roo.roes f :entertain. and lodge multitudes of Gqeftsin; intowhich,be– fore canverfion , all the vaine,light, wanton, .prot phane,diffolutcthoughts, - t'hat ;pofie up and downe the World ( as yout~ ,._ . , thoughts doe) ~ad rurine :· ryot all the day,havefree, · , . , ,open acceffe ~ the heart keeps openhoufetothem, gives ~hen1 willillg,cheer– '" ·fulJ :\velcome, and ehrer– tainment ; a_ccompanies~ them, travels o' re all .the " wor!q . for tl1e --daiatiefi pleafur~s to feed"' them 'witrl; L1dgeth:J harbours -~ : tllen1, an,d:tbere they, _like .. u-nruly _Gallants, ·and ·~-toyI fl:et~, t~Jge' and revcli -~t , ::· · · - · · day '.. . I 3 I unw 1 - . -·- iliililiililll -- .a~~ - -~ ... •• . a ;. && ~ s w :eea_-::-..£1tj&¥!i.h#J.::W.C.-~.• sa_,..._ ..
of thoughts. t __ _ 3 , \ . ..-da-.-y-an-d-night, an? defile.~ , .... , I ~ thofe roo111es they lodge, -. in,~ with their loa~hfome · filth andvon1its.Iiow long, fayes the Lord ,_fbaU they lodge 'therein ? Wkiljl _~ · withmy Spirit, n1y ·S_?n, · and traineof graces,fltmd r _ At the doore ·and·knock,Rev. ~ 3-.· 2 o. . and cannot finde admittance·; :. of ·allvvhich filthineife~ &'c. _the 'He~trt .. this houfe mull: be w~fhetd; wajh thy he,ttr~.fromwicked- ~ · ,neffi. Wajht, not fvvept ~, ondy of gro!fereyills(as _\~ ·tJU~ttth! I~·43· theb()N{t; '·~ (the unclealte ·f}irit t:e-en- · ters int'l) is faid to bee f,vept 0f evills that lay loofe·an·d pppeim~ft) but -·wajh-t,and clenfed ofthofe tiefi1.en1et;ts~ \v hic·h -· fticke ~ B2 more - I .
' I ' I . ?:"' .I " I •• . . - 'Ihe 'thtnitie · morc-clofe., an.d are incor ... , poratcd, and 'Yrou·ght in, · into the -Spirit ~ And · z~ thofc ·v4int and . unrtlly gueft:smuft be tur~ed· out n:f cloores , without any war~ing, they have fi~id there long tRougb ; too long ; H, l111g ?.and the timtpAjl111AJ fufftce,as the Apo_file fp~aks, th~ymufl: ,lodge ~here no-more. .The · houfe the foule is not in . ' · converfion ' to bee puld downc, but onely thcfe guefts turned out .; ·and thoughkept out theycan– not be, theywill ftill enter whilft \VC~ are in thefe . I houfes of clay, yet lodge . · theymuft not: ifthoughts of ang~r and revecge come in,in·the morning or day ..t I .... ., : . ·-·-· iA QOQ 43 ($ $& .. .
day time, tl;tey mull bee turnedo~ e'-re night, Let. 11ot t!Je SN»Ne1,11 d1~ne up~ . '"J8Nr'Wrttth, Ephe. 4.26~ · ·~. · .For fe youmaycome·to . odge yet a worfer gueft in 'your heart·with t·h·e·m: Give nltJlttceIIth~ Devil, (for it follow~) who will bringfive• wor[ewitkhirn e I ' . t If uncleane thoughts offer . to:ceme to bed to. the~~ · · when thou!ic:ft down·e,let · th~mnot lodge with thee.. Te concluce, it is not · what thoughts are inyour hearts, ana paffethrougb · them, as what lodging · t.heyhav.e, that dothdiffe.. · , rcnce your repentance : . many good thoughts and motions· may paife , as, d 1Strangers thorow a bad ' ·\ · · B.3 man! '"''- .. f I q J . I I i \ .,. I
· 1·_- _6__ _ __r.ht vdniti_e_· ....;;.....__ ! mans he<,1rt ; and fo like- · , -,vife muLt itud~s bf vaine_ ~ i thoughts may make a thorovv-.fare of · a belee- , .-. r . - -vers l1eart, and difiurbe · hin1 in good_duties , by ·knockings and interrupti.. ons) and breakings in up- · on the heart of a good - -n1an ; but frill ,they lodge - 1 -not there; are not t9fiere_d, harboured. · My fcope in our ordi~ · nary-courfe is, to,difcover · the \vickedneffe and vani- . ,tie of the heart by nature: in the.heart we areyet but in the upper parts Qfir,the · underfianding,and the de~ filcments-~ thereo.f, wh-ich are t<?,b·ee. wailit out of it, and _the next defilement, which in my broken or- ( · . der
~ - Df thoughts. der I n1eaneto handle, -is -, tha~ which .is h~re fpeci!i- - ed , ·· the . vaniti~ -ef yo~r thoughts: ·for ~be difcove– ry fake ofwhic1h onely, I chofe this .~ext ; as my ground_;7bat is it, ther~for~, which I 'vill chiefly infifi upon. A ·Jtthjec1 - which, I confeffe ,_ \vould - ~ prove ofall-elfe the vafl·- . eft. ·To ·n1ake at1 ·· exa& palticulat:- -difc<Dvery- of - tfle ··vanities · in - · our -~ thoughts, -to tra-vell over tl1e 'r~v ho~e Creation, and -to ta.ke·a rurvcy~ and give · :an account of a-ll that va~ nitie ~bounds in ·all. the __creatur~s, ' vvas ,(as · you . kno\v ) the taske of the w-if~ft of 1nen, So-lomon; - the flovvre of his fl:udies -\ · -- -· . B 4 and 7 . . -
8 The vanilie · and labours: Butth~vAni-. I J • tie 1[1ur thotJgbtJ, arc as 1nultiplyed much ·in us, this littlt wlr/J.affoords/· · more "arietiesof vanities., than the Great. · Our thoughts made the rreac· . tNrts fohjeEI to ~lJ-~tnitie, 'Rom. 8. ~~:p· . therforethem~ -'fclves ate fubjeet to vanicr ty much more. In hand.~ lin~ of them I will !hew you, 1 •. what is meant by Thl»gkts. ~- · WhAt ·byv4-. niiy. 3· ·,ThAt Du, t~'ughti •re. vllise. /4· Wherein that vanity doth confifi> ~ · both in th~ -general!, and fome particulars. . . · Firfi,_ \V hat is mtAitt by . thlr;ghts _, efpccially as .theyare the intendt?d fub– jetl: of this difcourfe , • which
' ,if thougflts. which ,.in fo vaft an argu- , ment I muft neceffarily · , fct Iimi~s unto·_ :. I •.· by ·th~ughts,the Scripture~· do · comprehend ·all the· i~ttr- - - nall ·atts of the mindc o·f man , of what facultie 1. foever ., ~11 ~~ofe reafo.. ,; nings,:confultatio·ns, pur- .. . po.fes , .refolutioqs , in– t(nts :1 ·ends, defires ' a·nd cares ofthemindeofm·an, ·as oppo.fed·to our exttrnAl words andadions) fo 1 foy · 66.·tS. - Allatls arcdivi. ~ :ded intothofe two, I ktJow ··t·/,eir workes ttnd their·." 'houghts : ·- ~~hat is tran{: ·. a&ed wit4in the mind'c is· -– called the.thlughts; wha~ , tbereof do m.anifefrthem- _ .. · felves ,' ·and qreakeoutJn · altion-:i, are callc5i woritJ·. · .B) And 9 I 1 l I I ) . J I I
./ ' ;; ., ! ~ - l: 1 '11 ' .' ' ·~ I ' f. ' ' The vanitie And fo aenef 6. 5. - #ve~ ry ·imagfnation of t!Je ~houghts , (em-ne. ftgmen .. tum) all tfie creatures the .. . .miade fra1nes \vithin it ·_ (elf,.. purpofes, defires, &c~- . (as-it is noted in tL1e mar~ gin) . are evill; \V here by .: thoughts are underfl:ood =~ all that tomes 1YJithirt- the , _~~i~~e,(;~.s E'{!ch.. r 1.. 5.the · -·phr~fe is,). and fo indeed.. _we vulgar.ly ufe it~~nd un– derfiand it, fo To remem- . _ b~r·a man').is.. , -to thinke of · him~ Gen.4o. 14 .. to have p~rpofeda thing,wee fay,r thought to doe i-t. T0 take -c~re about a bufines, is to~· tt~lie thought, I S~t,m·. 9• 50 . ~And 'the reafon, why all ntay thus bee ·called the ·· th~~tght.s, is, be~ca~fe indeed .
--.-.__ 'f_t_h_fJtt_:g_ht_-s·"'----·--- _l II deed,all affeCt:ions,d~elires, ·· ,purpofes,are ftirred u_pby. n thoughts,bred, fomel'lted, and nouriilied by them-: no one thought .Paifeth, · but it !lirreth fome affeCti– on offeare~joy,care,grief,·. &c. No, although they , 'are thus largely . taken . · here, y_et I ' intendnot to , .·handle the. vitnity - oftp~m . in fo larga a fenfe at '.-pre- . .fent :-I · muil confine nly_ felfe, as ll:rietlyas tnaybe:i ._ to the vanitie of that, vvhicli is:) more p.reperly . .. call~cl the thinking, medi~ - . .tating, .conflderi»g power of _, mitn , . which . is-in his.. uri-. ·, de.rfl:anding or fpirit, thaf being-the fubjeet I have in .· hand : Tlioughts .not being ~ .in this fenfc .o·ppofe·d·one.. .. . . . .. 'ly ' -
t 1- (, ·. ~----------------- : '' ,.Jv toy1urw~rle~s, but untCJ , ;· :--~:' ,. ptirpofcs and -~ntents , fo .Hellr. 4· rz. as the Seule ~ ·and j}irit, fo thoughts and· in·tents feeme·tobe oppo- .fed. A'ld !()h 20. 2·, 3. · ~ · Th1ughts are appropriated \· to the Spirit ·of ttnderftan .. lli•K• And againe yet more ftrietly , for -in th.e underflan·ding I'mean no·t to fpeake of,~enera.IIy,aH I . , ··.thoughts th·erein, rreither, .. .asnet ofth·e reAfonings or · ' '1 ~ I ' ! • . del1ber~t·tion~f· in our atl:i- - . ons : /but tbofa .mufi?Jgs: -on~ly ·in the ., Spe&sliltive.~ ·p~rt~ . . . \ . . And fo, I-caa no other~ . wife.. e:xp·reffc· them to. · .you ;. than ·thus-. Tl1·ofe: · fame firft , ~ore jimple · con~eits, AJrprehenjions that . · ,. -· ·· arife ';, ; ... • • .... 1 . ... . ••• is:ae . :;;:; ·
I 1{thoughts. IJ't a;. t *•·-----......-. ...---- .arife ; thofef~tn&ie$.~ med~- 1 • , ~~;,,_r, which the under- · ,tlanding by th~ helpe,- •f I· • • · .fancjtft~t:~»ts-· within it folf . - . ;_oft/,ings ; th()fewl1ereon . _ , ·your t;nindes ponder and · .·p.ore , · and · mtife upon _ - things, thefe I meane by -· thoughts - ~ I meane t~:oJe / ·tA/kings o·f .our misdes _ with thethings we know, ·as the Scripture calls it, :Prsv. 6:. --.22. thofe fame :parleys, enterviews,chat– \tings., the minde hatn I - - w~th· the ~hjngs let into it, wtth the things·we f~are,. ·vvith the things wee lo_ve. ·For a,ll thrfe things· our mind·cs make their corn·– . panicns,and o·urtnou'ghts .. - · h0ld~ t-hem difcourfe, and have a·thoufand;conceits ·-about '
If ~------ The vttnitie ' . ·~ ! ------------·---- . !bout them; this I n1eane by thot<tghts. · For befides . that reA(oning pO\Ver, areli– berating power., .whereby we ask~ our felves conti- . nually, whatfha_ll wie doe? anp whereby wee rc;afon and difcuffe things, \vhich is a more inward.clofet , : the Cabinet and · p.riv4,e councell: of the h~eart , there is a more, out\vard lodging , .. that p.refence .·. I chamber, whieh enter- . 1 taines·allcommers which . ' - ~ .<is the thit;king·>meditat,ing, , mufing:·- power in man , I which fu-ggefteth matter ·for·deliberations,and con- / fultations., a-nd reafonings, .: which .holds the ohj~lls till : weview them-, whiehen- .~ ~tertaineth allthat come to · ' .~ fpeake ;
15 · . lfthoughts. · 1 fPeake withanyofour af- --- :feet ions. I.: 2. I ad.:de, '"hieh, the– ·mindeffameswithin it felf, : .fCLthe Scripture expref- ·feth their original! to us, and their rnaner of rili-ng, , .Pro·v. 6 ~ r 4· Frowttrdnes_ is in hu heart,.fabricatur, he forgetk 'f'Ji[chiefe,as .a S1nith doth Iron , ham. - n1ers it ·out : and _ the ·· t,houghts are the lnateri– alls .of this fro.wardntffc:· in us; upon all the tl11ings whi,ch are prefented to us,. ·· t~he minde begets forne thoughts)ifll:aginatior~s on(.· them ; and as ltljts , fo t hottghts are con~eiv~d., la1nes I. IfoJ .)9·4· . They . conteive mi(chiefe , . and' firing forth iniquitie, .and· . h4JC,~ .'
---t____ ... ·--- - ' I / hatch (;sck~ttrict egges,fl»d: W;ettve Spiders webb~. And verft 7· ·bee infianceth· in th~ughts ()! iniquity , b·e– caufe our thtoughts are ·fpunne 9ut of ·our owne .hearts , are egges ofour . owne laying, 'though the · ·thingsprcfeuted t0 us b~e .: from without. ; · And this I adde to fever · them from fuch thoughts .·( as are inje~1~~J, and cafi in, : . . onely ' from without, ·which a-re childreno.f an- . othfrs-begetting , andof- ·._ ten laid· out of doores : : fuch as are blafphe~ous thoughts ca£1: in hy sAt ten, wherein if the foule b'ee meerely paffive , (as the ··, word ,Bujfetting · implies, 2 Clir. I 2. 7.)theyare none . · '. of -
• oftlila~hls. 1- 17 • ,._ - s;tio , rii _....,__---.': of y0ur -thot.ights,but his; · . . wherein a tnan is 'but as · . , ·t one in.a roome withanother,.whtreheheares anor ther"fwear~and curfe, but -cannot get out from l1im; fuch thoughts, i~ft.hey bee · onelyftomwithlut, defile . not. a man.- For· ·,.,thi~g ·defiles A . mln, bNt wpat ClflltS ftDIII withill,,M4tth·. ·. · I). 18;~.9~ ~ 0~ ~hich · the ~c;art ~t,~- ~~~~o~t~e~n upon it oy tiJ;c 'd,e.vil,as·t_hqug_l}ts . ofuncleanne.s,&c. Where- · irt thQugh/he bethefather,, · · yet th~ h.eart is the a1o- . ther and· . .wombe ; and · therfo.re acco dingly tlley . a-ffect the heart, as natural! , - child'r~n doe 3 and-by that . .. we may diftioguiih -th~m~ I .. . j from the.O·tber, namely, . - · \vhen .___.....,.........._"'-='\. , - ...
J 1 8 ·The vanitie # whenwehavea foft heart, an in\vard loveunto them, . fo that 0ur l~a-rts do kilfe the child , 'then thley are· our thoughts, or_ elfe when the _· 'heart -broods .upon. · . thefc egges·, then- th~yare · ,, our 1h1ughts, theugh they CQme from witl11ouc. . : Though -this· is to _ br~ : added, that even thofe _tnoughts-, '\vherein ~ th~ : - · fouleis paffive,a~ndwhich- ·. 1 ~ · -Satan cafi:s in, which wee , donov?ayesowne,where~ · · in h~ ravijheth th_e heart; . 1 _rather than -hegets ·then, 1on us,-(if th·ere be not any . , !confent to them in ,us) ... , ¥' ' then it ~sbut a Rape,!i!s in I law it is not) ·I yeeld 1 thofe thoughts arepunip1-l l rnehts Gften ofneglcc1 of! · · ·our I, ~----------~-S.L_ l
' - _ofthoughts. r I 9 --- our th·oughts, - and of .our I fuffering them to wander; as Dinah,be£aufe f11e.went · -cunninglyout, .to view the l)aughters ofthe land, was / taken and raviili't, though .a.gainft her will: yet it was- , a. punHl1ment ofher curio– fity : or elfe they ~ are the - .puniibmeat of the neglect · .of ~ood motions of the ·: fpilrit; which refifiing,we lthere!Jygrie'TJe .him,.and fo · hce deales withus, ~s wee withour children, fuffers . ~s to be feared with bug– beares; and to bee grieved by Sat4n, that \Vee may . · learne what it is' to neg- / lea him, and harbour va– nity. Lafil Y- , .· I adde , which the minde,i1~ ttnd6y ~it ftlft"or by thehelpeof _fancy . -~----~~----~~----
20 / fancy,thus \>egets and·en- - tertaincs , 11>ecaufe there are A0 t~96ghts ·or like~ _. – ne£res 9f things at any ' ' · time in our fancies, but atthe fame time they a~e in the u.nderftandingalfo re. fiea:cd unto it : As when t\vo Lobking~ 'glaffcs are placed oppofite -and nigh, · each toother, looke what ·· fpecic:s appeares in. the I .. mte· doe alfo in; the o-- . "" ......... ~ , · 'ther. Secondly , let us fee what va11itie is, take it in · all t11e accep~ations of it;. It is true of our,thoughts .- · thaeth·ey .~re v4inc.~ r r. It is.i~~er:t io:e-unpro~ jtahleneffe. Sb Ecclef I. 2 1 . 3· vi/! is VttrJity, becauf.e · 1 there is ~o prafit in them, I . - under
•f thoughts. 21 ----------- _....,; ........ _ e · undtr the Sten~e , fuch are our t'ltoughts by·_ nature , the wifell: of them will not fi:and us · in ·any ftead irt time of n~ed, ;in time .of temptati~ . , on , · di(l:re£fe· of conftience ~ I , day of death '?f~ )udgfmenr, 1 C1r. 2·. ·, ~·L· .: 0ll tloe wifdome 'f the .. < · · wife comc:s tonought, Pr,(~_,' ·· · __ 1 ;ro.· 20. Th.e,heArt if (Jt~ · .. ·-. ~ · wicleed i5 little ·wlrth,- not -. ' . \ a penny for them all, · 1 - whereas the th·0ugbts ofa godly maa are his tre4fore: ONt of thegD~d trtA· , · fitre of his heart, hee hrints ·· ·,. themforth.He mints them, and they_ are laid up a~_ his riches. Pfal. r 38. I 7· H_ow pretiltu are t·hey? hether<e a fpeakcsof our" th1ughtsIf ' ' '· (:~tJd, . !- • , •uni4WL!ft!8~v.- - ,, ., !*'.,~~!fll.i'~Pif~i 4if&ilt.:<Y. ia :4
il I ! J The vAnitil . _ . ....,___! GBd,astheobjea6fthem -, I thy t.h1ughts, that .. ~ is , .(of '·· (, thee) 4r.e preciom. . . ( 2. V~tnitie is taken for ·.lightneffe. Lighter -than vanity is a phrafe ufed•.- ~ Pfol. ·62·.9. andwhomisit fpoken of~ ofmen, and if any thing in them~ ligh- - ter than other , it is ·their thought$ which _f\vim in · the uppermoft patts, f.loat at thetop, is as the fcum ofthe heart;when all the befi and wifefl:, ~ and dee– peft) and folideft tho~tgiJts in Batthazar a Prince~. . _ 'vere weighed, they·.were· , found t1o ligkt, Dan.-5. I 7. 3. Va'fJity is put for fol– .lJ· So Pr()v. I 2. I 1.raine men, is tnad,e all one \Vi t h n1en voide of underjlllndin&,:
of thoughts. . 23ding~- .·. Su~-h , are··· ·our . · ·thoug-hts am·ong other :e~ . vi lis whieh are ~fa id to : COfne fJUt of tht · het~rt, . Mark. 7.. 2 2. 4pt:.~~vu : is rec- " k·oried as orre, ftolijh~~:ejfe, · that is, th.~uglfts that --a.re , fuchas mad men have, a-nd fooles,nothing -to the pur- . ·. pofe, of Whic-h there can be ·n1ade no ufe!) w~ich a man kno\ves not'··whence they fhould coinC, nor ~ .vvhifher they ·wdu ld,with~ ottt dcpenddnce. · · · '- . 4·· ~t : is put for !neon- · jlancy, and frttilty, there– _\fOre Vanity and ajlwl1w \are !}lade synenomdes, P fa. !144~ 4· fuch are our . tho:tghts, fli1;ting and peri– fl1ing,Las bubbles:P[.146.4 · 0 All t·heir tbottghts p-ertjb. . . ·t·'t ftl ~, . . . l.f.. ,&. ... J. - · - ·. .. ~ -•r- r;;a;- z
Tlie1/Anitie · •, . Laftly, tll~y are v~tine, thatis,indeed, wi~ked and ·J»/N/!.; vAn~ty in the. text here, is yoakcd with wick– .-ednt{fo: andv4int men,and fonnes 1/ BeliAiare all one; z ChriJ». I3.17. And fuc~ ; are ·our thoughts by naturc. Prolf.l. 24. 9· Thu ·thought ~~ foDlifbntjfe is finne._ -And therefore a . I - ._. man is t~ be humbled\for apr1utl thDught, Prw.3o. 32_. For fo lAying h~ntl on themouth is taken, .as 11/, i9. 37. for being vile in "' mAns IJPne tyeJ. , _ · , . And becaufe this is the . fenfe Jchi~fly muft infift / on, in handling the vANity if ~he th~Nt,hts , and alfo / m.en ufually thinke that < th1ughts are- .ftee . ~ I will·, there. /
ifthoughts• ---- .... - - ----~ ther~fore prove this to you, which is the oneiy . doGtrine raifed: , .·that ThtJtUghts ~re {tnne-1. · r. The LAw jutlg~th them, Hehr. 4· I 2. r_ehu.kts , anhtn for them, I Cor.14. 2 5. and therefore theyare · tran-fgreffions of th~ law: a·nd fo alfo did Chrift re~ euke the · Pharifees for ~heir illtheaghts, c.JUatth: g. 4· which argues the excellency of the Law; that reach~th thoughts. · 2. 'Becaufethey ·areCapA/,/e oftardon, and muft be·pardoned, or weecannot be faved, <.ACls 8.i2. which argue~ the multil tud.c:s of.G~ds cempafi"!s, fee1ng thoughts are fo m-' \ finite. C 3· Th(y ' i I , I I \ /
. I ----- ---------------- .. 1 3· Theyare to bee repented1{, yea r~peata~ce is cxpre.ffed, as to begin at them.SoE.foy 5J,7.Lett11e snrightetJtN 11/'Jttn forfake his th-oughts ;and a.man is ne– ver truly and throughly wrought,on, (as2 Cor.Io. - 4·, 5, tiU ~every thought h~e !JroNght inta shedience; which argu~s that they are nat\lrally r.eb·ellious ., and contrary t~ grace. And this alfo argueth the Power·ofgrace,which is a- . ble to r.ule, and to fubdue fo ,.great an_Army_ ·as our thonghts are, and corn.: mand themall, as oneday .. ·itwilldoe, whcn,weeare . perfeQ:ly.holy ( . 4· Tliey 1eftlt .. 111ttn: · wh1ch not.ht~g d~fil but. - fin ,e ..._-='";ny- 1 11 - · · . . · ' ' F? .. z • • . _ J _ z t z t 4 s a .. ~ f
. . "" ~ - .~ ,_ -~ fin.ne, YJ{Att.b. I 5. I5 .:~ . ]:6, · . I 7•.Q~t · .tif' ·t!Je btlf,rt .pr~ceed .ev)ll t.hf4~tghtr, thf{t defile;t-heman.. . . . · 5. ~hey are a.nitf;.omi-. tJ.ation· t.o ihe L11rtl , w·ht> hate-s npthing but ~ftnn·e ~ · and .wkofetpre eyes lAYJ ;en– d~reto ~heli/Jld ~~ i~iq~~~i~ieJ Prov.15.I6. -~'tg~odMeditations a·r-e acceflta/Jle ,, ~fdl. 2 5. u.lt. ·fo, by the; r,ule of cqnt~ary, .had-aret· Abomin~thle. , . . ~ . .6. ~hey h.indtr .allg6tUl w·eili·ould.r.Joe, and fpoile ~o~r befr performances.i ·V'J.ice thoughts draw the' ·heart aw~y in :them , that when arman iliould draw nigh to G.pd, hi$ :f./ eart,b¥ re-afon of his thoughts, il ·. forre oif _fto~» :hitn , Efoy ·. ~ c 2 . 29• ' I .. * . . ,.J ,• · , I·. l I I
· 2S The vanitie · )' z9. 16. Arn~ns heart goes ltfter his clvltlufoeffe, whenhe fi1ould heare, as the Prophet fpeakes, be– c~ufe his th~ughts -thus run. Now nothing clfe but finne could feparare, •and \vhat clothefrrange us f.r~m God , is ftnrie, and enmity ·to him. · . ·7. Ou~thoughtsarethe firfl motioners of tt!l the cvilliN m. For they make themotion?and alfo bring the .heart and objeCt: toge.. ther ; are pande~s to our lufl:s, hold up the object, · .till the heart ,hath plaid the adulterer wit~l it, ·and · ~ .-committed .folly , fo ·in -. fp~culativ~ uncleann~s, & · inot&er . lutl:s , they hold / · up the images of thofe _ go~s, 4 1 =-:u ._..._.....,:: E ,...., N :At-....... • ~ ~~
----------------------- __'(thoughts.___ \ 29 gods they create, which the he.art falls do,:vne and worfhips ; they prefent credit, ~iches, beauty, till . the heart bath woriliipt them; and this when the ·things themf~lvesare ab– fent. To cotnenow to thofe ParticulttrJ wherein this V4nity ofrthe thinking,me- · ditating . power ot the minde confiil:s. - . ·Firfl: I Will difcover it in. regard of thinkingwhat is good,ho\'v unable and loth, &c-.i t is to go~od thoughts, · · an~ fecondly in regard o the readines of it t1 thinke efev~U llndvainc things. For the firfr, f1rll: · in 4 want ofability ordinarily· ~ ~ a11d :naturally to raife at?d . _ C .3 ex- ... "'c I \ f . i l l j l
' ~ ........ -~-.;- --, ~- ·- -- - . TiJ~ vttnitie ' 1:~ 30 ..... . ~ 'to:..........._---- .:;:;;-;......;_.,-~ I extra-a holy arld HfeFull . -·..-- ) , .! confideraiions& t!lougflts 1 fro·tiltall ordinary occur1 rencies , at1d occafi_ons ; :l \vhich·the min4e,fo fa~;te .. ·· l_. · · ~ as it is fand:i~ed,is apf uflt to. A heart faflctified;<md 11' I ! ~ !in whofe aff~ctions . true ' j · . grace iS eFlkindl<!d, out of l : al.l Gods d~aling~ 'ivirh 1 l .ht.m, out of the thu1gs he l ~ - . ·fees and hta·res·, oat ofali I ~ i · :_ theGbjeasar~putinto·.the . :€houglits he difii'llethho– _. ly, and fweet , and flfefuli m~cfitations :.- and it natu- . ·rally doth 'ie, and ·ordina- . ·rilydothit,.-fo f~rre asjt.is.. ·fandified. So-qu.r Saviour ·clirijf, all fpeeches of o- .thers which he heard, all .accidents and occurrences– ::did fi!ll raifeand occalion
~r th~pg.hts. ~---- ~-- ----~ in him heavenly medita~ tions , as we may fe~ ~. tl1roughout ·- the whole _Gofpels:when he cameby a well, hee-fpeal(~~ of the' ; Wttter 1[ lift, John 4 1 &c. · ~any· in·ftances might bee · given·; He-in-his-thoughts _ · tranflated the, book ofthe creatures, into the book~ , ofgrace,andfod·idAtlams- : h~a:rt irr .innocen£y· ~ his I • l'hilo(or!Uie mighr b~ truly : ternnecl Divintty, .becaufe · . ·ae faw God in all ; all rai- . f~d ~1p his·heart to tl1ank– . fu!neffe andpraife:Sonow · inJikemann-er our mindes 3 ·_ fo farre as they arefan&i:: fied,willdoe. As ·the Pm– lofophers flone turries all - Metals into Gold ; As . , theBee fuckes honey 'o.ut rt c 4 of ' I
) ' ' I 11 . I I . 1 The Vttnitie___ I of every flower , and a good fl:omack fucks out · ~ fo·me[,v-e,tandwl1olfome nourifl1n1e'rit out of what . it takes unto it felfe : fo doth a~·oly heart> fo farre as fanetified, convert and digefi all iato fpiritual ufe– full thoughts ; th.is y:au m1y fee, Pfolm. zo7.11lt. ThA-t Pfllmt gives many infiances of Gods provi- . denc~,4mirPontlerfuOw1rks · whieN hee tioth for thtfons of m.e11; .as deliverances bySea) whe·re men fee his wonders : deliverance to Captives 3 &c. and fl:ill the foot of the Song is, Oh th4t men JJJould therefore praife the L~rd for ~:ht wonderfsU w~rkes .het doth fortkeSonsofmen. Now~ after &
if i6oug~ts. ---------- after all thefe ~ infian- .·ces , ·bee ,: concludes •; . that though . others paffe over fucl1 ocI currences with. ordinarie · flight thoughts ) , yet · !ayes bee., The ~ighteom . . fha/1 Jet it,and rejoyce : that · is , extract comfortable thoughts out of aiJ,,which ; fuall be matter of JOY~aad, · who fo is wife wiU oh(erve . \ . tkofe things,that is, m3kes ! holy obf(~ rvations out of ; all thefe,and out ofa prin-. , cipleofwifdom:e hee ·un.. ,· derfrands Gods .goodne$ · ' \ in all, , :md·fo his heart ·is •raifed .. · to thoughts of .praife, and thankfulne:ffe, and obedience. NO'\V , compare with this the9 2 ·~ •. .Pf ;lm,· t:nade_for the Sab- . . c 5 " btth ~.-
' , I oil ' I ; ' . j ; I .'. , --------------------~- 34 . ·-:· ------------------ ' hath.(when in imitationof ~ God, who that dayv1e\v~ . ed his workes; ..w.ee are.,on .. our:LordidA-y, frill to raife · ·ho:ly praifefull thoughts . out of,them to his glory, '~hic.lt·_ hee that pennC'd that-Pfolme then did, rt:Jer; ·.; · t-~and 2~and)ver.5. Hont -great.ate ~ thy workts, &c! ~ ~Yittijh ·man /efJ()WS not, n~t wiU .a·ffJole n~Jderftand,- . this: that is, bee being a .:_beafi, and havi_ng no fan-– .Gtified principle of· wife~ dome in ,him ;.Jookes.. no . ·further than _a-beafl:. into... all the works of God.:S and ·occurrences . of things ; .-~oo.kes enall bleffings as ·· I ; things provided for mans<. r .• delightrbY God :.l)ut hee extra~s- ftldo-m~. hoiy fpi~ ·. ritu .. :
·~J · thoughts. ritualI and ufeful thoughts out of all,he -vvants theart 9f doing it. If ir:1jurles be offred ·us by others' what ·doe . our thoughts dill:ill' out , of · thofe wrongs ., hut t:~oughts of revenge ~ we · meditate how ro requite it againe. But fee how na– turally Davidi minde di– fiills other thoughts 0 · Shemei.s curling, 2 . Stl1n. I 6. I I~ . God l:~itth .!Jit/den -. * \ . btm, and it may.PFOVe a good figneof·Godsfavor o G..odmay requi-tegfJ1dfor .it_ •. when we fee judgements ~efaii - others ·--. , _:fevere ~houghts-, of een·fuile our . miodesare apt to ·. raife a~ gainaour-brother; 'J.S I ohs friends - did~ Bu·t'- agoGly man _ 35 / I I
I " I ~ , l ·f ~ - 3 6 The vAnitie ------------------- . , n1an \vhofe minde is much . f~n(tifie4 ~ raifeth ·9ther .thoughts out of it, Prov. ' 2 r~ 1 z. Wifely· Cfinfiders,&;. · 1 · - r So \Vhen outward mer– 'ci«s befall us_, the next , thoL~hts \vee arc apt to, have, is ~o projett eafe by our wealth 7 thou ht~jlgsfJas for f!JilHJ yettres·: and when . ~ judgements befall us, \ve ~ are apt to be Fill'd lvith .. .. thoughts of c:omplaint, · andfeares~ , andca·res h·o\v _to \vind~ out againe. Bur- . ,w·hat '\rvere the firft~ thoughts lo/; had , upOn. .the ne\ves of the lplfe of : all~ GDd h11th given , anti ,th~ Lord.hath taken:J litejfi/! :be·the Llrdforall. , · Such tl1oughts as tb~fe i ( \vhict-~ .... 'd:ee:!!l!!l_~~ QJ:;:: • ( .... ~~ ......... :C-41&;, ~ .... 1 . :;&! - .. • - '
of thtJughts. J --· ·cwhich all opp·ortunitie~ hin~unto) a good heart is , apprehenfive of, and doth ·naturally raife for its own :ufe. So farreBarre·n .u ltjr . :thoughtJ ttre , fo f;~,rre • r I VdtFJC. ' · -- · Secondly, the vAnitie, -and finfulrielfe of ~ th·e .' m~ndeappeares in a l~ath- . :n~ffe to efJtertaine hoJv t hot~ghts, to.hcgin t~ fet it _ 1 felfe to thtnke ·of God, · an-d the things belonging ;: un~o oHr peace; even as ~ .:.1 OJth thc:y arc to this as · · ··School~-boyes are to goe to their Books, or to bnfie · :their mindes about their · lcifons, their heads being -full of play ; fo loath are our mindes to enter into \·ferio-us co~nfiderations,: in– to 37 l
. 1 ss ' I I ( ' ' 1 ' The '11Anitie . · to fad folemne thoughts ·of God,-or · death~ &c. Men are as loath< to thinke ofdeath, as theeves ofthe executien ; or to thinke of .GDd) as they are of their Judge. So t0 goe over their O\Vne <td:ions, in a review of them, and read the blurd writing oftheir hearts , and to commune ~ with-them, at night in .the · end.oftheday, (as David· :· did, Pfalm. 1 I9·59·) men are as loath to doe this, as : Schoole-boyes are · to . .p.erfe their lelfons; and the , falfe Latins they have · made, · I oh--~ -2 r. :pepart ~: · ftomm ( fay they in I oh) _, unto .-· God 3 from their ) > 1 thoughts they. meant it, · ' for it fol!ows, we defire not . ...\ tiJe .; • j .. ................................. _........__.._,....._,.,.___~
ofth~ughts. - -- ............... ~ - theknowledge ofthywayes . .Theywould not thinke of him , or kn9w them by their good _\Vil~s ; afid · tl1erefore our mindes, like a bad fiomack, are oaufea.:. t·edwith the v~ry fcent of good things , and foont · cafis them Hp againe, I Rom. 2 8. They like not · to retaine the kn~wledge tJf God:let us goe and try to \vind up our foules, at any time, toholy meditations, t.o thinke ofwhatwe have ~eard, or what wee have · done, or what is our~uty - to ·-dee, andwee fhall finde our minds , like-the peggs of an Infirument 7 .flip be~ _twecine our fingers, as y;ee · .. are awinding1Hemup,and :, to fall downe fuddenly . a~ . . gau:~e, , 39 ,
11 ! . i -~- ---.--·------- gain(',e'rewe t1re a\vare of it : · y~ayou iliall finde:,that your' mindes 'viJllabour . to lhun what m.ayoccafi– on fuch th.9Ughts; even as men go~/~ut of the. \vay, :when,they fee they mufi · - · meet wit.h one they are loath to fpeake withall; : yea men dare not be alone, · ·~for feare fuch thoughts · , . 1boulc\ returneupon them. · The beft fball find a glad~ · · neffe, for an_excufe,by O– ther occations. to kno.cke off their · thoughts from : what is good:. \vhereas in ~ thinking of.vaine earth.ly · · things, \Vethioke th'etime , .palfeth too fait , clocks . ,firike too foone , . houres . paffe a\vay;e»rc we are ~1 ware ofit.. · Tl-~ird·-~ i ~----~....______,......... ~;>-'~~=4.-., k
, 6f thDughts. 1 4 I i ...,_ --- 1 Thirdly,the vanity and l ftnfulneffe of the' rninde , appeares · in the godly, 1 that thoug~ ·they enter.. · taine g0od thoughts, yet th·eminde ii not, will not be long intent on them. Some ·things there' ' are, · whichwe are, and can be . intent upon , and accor– dingly dwell long upon I th~m ' and therefore in I1h ,I 7. I I. T.he th_sNghts · arecalled thep1f{e{ions 1{ ~~ the heArt;, (fo 'tis in the o– rigicall; an~ noted inthe · margin) fuch .thoughts as ar,e pleating , the hsart ·dwells on them ; yea fo . int~nt . are we oftell , that they hinder our fieepe : as . · 'tis faid of ~vicked men They cannet jleepe for mulI . ' l ... _·_.. . · titnde e . .... ~·~ ••---
Tht' va;nitie ·ef thoughts, Ecclef ; . 12. 1 So , ' tO · devi(e fro~~trd things· , .Solomon fayes, Pr8V, I6. 30, Tllttt A man jhutis hiseyes, that is,js·ex .. ce·eding attentive_, potet~4 t upon his plots ;, for·fo a man doth ufe ro do,to fi1ut his eyes \V hen hee would' l be·int~flr, and rJ]e~efore it. I isfo cxpretfed. :Bur n·ow '· 1ettl1eminde .be occupi~cf . and bufted ·about good . things,,and things befang- : . ing to our peace, ho\v~ tul- '. fteady is it'!' which things : fl1ould yet draw out \the · intention of the 1ninde : 1 ··For the more excellent [ the obje& is, the 11:ronger l our intention '!hould bee. ~ God is the mofl: glorious 1 l object.our. n1inde:s can .fa2.l · · fie . ----. ''\ . \
ofthoughts. · 43 ....._ __ tren on, the moft allurit1g. · I The thougl1t of whom 1 I t11erefore iliould fwallow -'up all otl1er, as not wor– thy to be~ feene the fame , day with hiln : But I ap– , peal~ to all your exp,eri- ,enc~s, ifyour thoughts of hin1be not moft unfteady, · 1 and are, (that I may t0 . tompare it) as when· Wt'e· : looke U}ton a Starre tko.. I row an Optique glaffe , .held with a pal fie iliaki~g . ~ hand :It is long ere wee can bring our mindes to have ken of him, to place our eyes upon him , and ·when weeaave ~ hO\V doe . . our hands fuake, and fo loofe fight ever and anon? So whilft \Ve are in never '(<:> ferious talkewith him, when
44- · The vanitie )_ --- ------------- whenallthingselfe fhould l1:and without , and not dare to offer entrance, till · wee have done with him, yet how n1anychinkes are ·there in theheart,at whieh. other thoughts co-tne-in'! and our minds leave God, and [Q}]ow them, and g1e · ttfter our clvttlufoe!Je, our ·credit,&c.a.s tbt Prophets .· phr_a,fe)s, Et!ch·3J· So :wf:l~n we are hearing the · .Word, how do oarminds ever and anon ruA out of th~ Church, aad·come in againe ' ·and fo doe not heare halfe that is faid~ I So when when '\Ve~ are at r our callings, ·~;hich God . bids us to bee converfant . about with all ·our might, · Ec~le(. 9· r o. yet . our. tnindes
sf thoughts. 4 5 -------------- mindes like idlftruants,or negligent fervants,tbough I -fent about never fo fe.ri– ous a-bufineffe, yet go out of the way to fee/·any . fport, runafter the Hares , that croffe the way, fol– lovv after Butter-fl1es that I buzzeabout us. And fo when \Ve co1ne \ to pray, Chrifi bids watch tl prayer-, M ttrk I 3.33· that · is, as if we were: at every - dare to place a· guar~ that non~come in and difiurbe andknock -us off. But how oft doththrb~artnod·,and fall afleepe!) and run into another -vvorl4,·as metl in · dreames doe ~ .· Yea fo natural! are-diftrattions to us, .when we:arebutied a~ . bou~holy duties, that as exere-
4-6 1 The vAnitie_ . ·1excrtinents . cow~ · frcui1 , , m~n,wh.en veryweak.and ,fick, eretheyarf: awarc-Gf it ; fo doe_ worldly th,ought~ ,from us, an4we ar.e ~ carried out of that " tl:reame ofgoodou-r mind _ - ~ - was runnin-g in, into fo-me by-creek ere "rVe are aware of it~ . Fourthly,the~anity of the minde appear~s, in reI !1 1 1· . gard ofg10d things :. that '1 1 if it OOth thinkeof them, ! 'l; - yet it doth it ~ ~n(eafonahly. 1 :l: It is \vith your thoughts , ~ as with your fpeeches, their goodnes lies in their placing and order, P.rov. : .25 .. r I. Iffttly .JP~kell,they .. -~re M Apples if Geldin pi.. t llures. ·of Silv-er. · ~A.nd as \. i1 ~ . .·a man is to.bring -forth - · ~ aCtions
if thot!ghts. _______ , ·---' --- . . 47 aClions,fothoughts in due : {e~t{On,; as thofefo·Nits, f0 j thefe !Jutl.r ··!hou:ld come) ~outin (ea[o11, Pfal. I~· Now· the ,v~nit¥ 0f the mind'f: appeares in thin.king of fo.me -go-~d things, fome-~ times unfeafonably; ;whent you· are praying , \you\ fhauld .n~t onel¥ l1ave no. .w0rldly thoughts ·come; .in,but-n0 othet tllan,pray-. .ing thoughts. .But then .ha.ply fome.notiGns;of, or 'for a*Sermon will come readily in : ,[o in hearing 3 a· n1an 1ball often have ·good thoughts that.are hetero- ..geneall ·to the thing in ·hand; So·\\{hen a man is falling clowne te prayer, .lo-oke :what thing a rna11 had forgotten, ~when it .l fuould -
ibould have been·theught of, will then come in, or what will affett a man· much ·comes in to divert him, · T'his mif}lllcing of th.~ughts (fuppofe theybe good) is Y"t fretn avanity of the miodr3 did I thofe .thoughts come at another time, they fhoulq be wel- .come: we finde our minds ready fo fpend thoughts . about any thing_, rather than what God at prefent calls unto. , Wlien we go to aS·erJl'!on,we finde,wee could then fpend · our , thoughts more willin~~y about rceading~ or happily fearching our hearts;unte whieh at another timr' . wheQ calrd to , it' weeo fhould .bem.oft unw~lliqg 1· , · · to . . - I
ofthoughts. - to. V'l-ecould be conten~ 1 to run wild .. over th~ fields ofmeditations & mifcet. ianiou~ thoughts, though about good, ra~her than to bee tyed to th?t taske :~ and kept in ose fet path. . -. In ,_Adam \and Chrifr Ino thought was ·mifpla– /ced, but though theyWere as m~tny as theStarres, .yet they marched in their cot~r[es, and ktpt their , ranks. Butours, as Mete– ors, d~nce up and downe in us. And thisdi(order is avanity.andflnne, · bcf the thougbt materiall_y never fo good. ,Not, /every,\one that hath the- befl: part mull: therefore firft ftcp' up the Stage to ~Cl: , but take his right .. cue. In D Pxin- l ' I 49 I
of theughts. - .. it -bee performed by any man, to reckonup the fe~ verall particularities of:all thofe vaine thought$ which run through~ mans heart ; I \vill infift onely o·n. fome more genera~! difcoveries,to which par– ticulars ·may bee reduced_; for a tafte of the refi. : - Firft ·, the ~ltnity of th~m difcovers it felfe, in ~ .that \\1\~ich Chrill: .calls, M ark 7. 2 2 .tt~fCO'uvn, foolifh- _ nejfe:that is,fuch thoughts as mad .n1en· have, and fooles; Wtj ch.foolifbnejfe -is feene, both in rhat unfettled wantonneffe and f!nftayedn tf!e of the minde in thiokin , that like quick~filver it cannot fixe; h-ut as Solon~6» fayes, Pro. / Dz I7· ~--
· The vanitie ~~-~-------------~-- - 17.24· ~ fo~les eyes are . in the enJs ~fthe ettrth>are garifu, a-nd runne up and downe fr9m one c:nd of the earth to the ·other, fuooting and fi:reaming,as thofe . Meteors .you fee . fometimes in the ayre. And though indeed 1he minde of man is nimble and able thus to run fro111 one end of the earth to another·, (which is its . ll:rength and excellency) yet God would not hav~ this firength and nimbler,.efle, and mctall-fpirit in curvetting and tumbling, (as I ma-y call .it) but in fieady direCl:ing all our, thoughts fl:raight on to his glo.ry , our owne falvati– on ~ and the good of o- ~ · tbers· 1 . ' ' .+ }
__ ,(thoughts._-.;.._\ 53 ·thers; he gave it this.nin1- - · blene!fe to turn~ away . _ . · from evill,and the firfl:ap– pearance ofit. As v;~are ro·walke in Gods ·wayes _ hee ·calls tis /to, fo every· thqught, as well as every altion is a fl:ep ~~andtherefore ought to bee fieady, MAke jlrAigktfteps to Jour feet., fayes the Apoll: le) Htbr. rz. ·13. turning not to the right hand, nor to the lefr, untill wecon1e .to the journeys end of · that bufineffe wee are to \ thinkof.Butourth0ughts, , atbeft,_ areas wanton Spa– niels, who though indeed theygo with,;ndaccom~ _ ·pany their Mafter ·, an~ . _. ·cotne to their )our11eys · _, end vvith\ ·hi~ in the end, D 3 ~Yet ·
'mOrt _ ,. .... . 54 ·The vllnitie . >G · l f . !'i .........,__ yet dOe runne. after every · . . . ~ Bird, and w1Idly ·purfue ' '.r every flock of :lhdeep!.hey ~· fee. This unfiea ine11e, it , ·.( ~ .arifcth ·from the likecurfe f ! -on the minde of Man, as 1 jwas onCaine, that-it be:ing J' ,j- • dri(/)en ftDm the prefence ef l 'lbe Lord, it proves avagal. bond~ and fi mens 'l~s ~re ~ in the ends of the e'!ttk. · This foolilhnteife or ~~rod-u~, is alfo feene in that _lndepe~Je»ue -in our .·. ~ thoughts ; they hanging ofc together as, ropes of , fand ; this we fee more e- .vidently-in dreantes : And ,not onely then, but 'vhen, ·awakealfo, and thAt, when we would.fet our felve:s to ·, be moft ferious, how dee our thoughts jangle ~nd ==~~~~~- ~. ~- ~- ~~~--r-ln~ ·
' 55
- The vanitie --------·~, ·~·~-~------ :came, nor whither they · \\tould. But as God doth all things in weight, num– ber, and meafure, ·fo poth his Image in us,fo farre as it is renewed. And, ,by . reafon of thefe t\vo, \the folly, un(ettledn~effi , ·and I indq;endance· o·f our thoughts' .wee bring_our I . thoughtsoft~n to no ilf~e; to po perfe~ton, ~ut Wl!- der , Jtway our t1me tn thinking {as you .ufe to fa.y)ofntJthing, .'and as Se– nectt fayes ofmens live~,a.s of Ships 1 that are tofl: ·up .s:· anddown·e at Sea, it may .- · ~ bee faid they have beene .~ ~ ·~t1fedmuch~ but fayledno– ~hjng. The like in this re- - . fpect may. bee faid of the · thou~hts , or as \vhen
if thougilts. ..,_..._..._ m~nmake' imperfeCt dafh– es , ~ and write nonf~nce, 1They are Jaid to fcrihble, they doe not writ( :- So,. in thefe follies_and indepen– -~ dencies, we ·vvilder and -.foo[e o.ur fetves ; we doe nit ' thtnke. · · But 2. oa t·he contrary. if apy flrong luft, or. v-io .. lent paffion beup,tb.enour thoughts are too ftxed an_d .intent, and run in fo farre, into fuch. finfull objects, that they cann9t bee puld out againe, or any v-vay di– vertedor takenoff: \vhich is another - v~nity. For~ - -our thoughts and· our un-– derfl:anding part \~as or– dained to moderate,allty , . , andcoole,;and take off our!\ paffions}_.vv.heri the_y: a~c a· t . D ' 5 P ·~ly57 (
{ .. ~ 58 · · .The· tVA.nitie playing over, to rule and ·. / govertle them. . But now : :our thoughts- are them- ·. felves fubjetled to.:~ our af- · _feetions, .and like fuell put'.. , . ' .under thenl, doeoutrnake ' themboile themore. And although - our~ thoughts . doe firft: fl:ir up our feares, · • .joyts , ~ defires, &c. yet . thefe· being ftirred up: . '"' \ ,. · once, ch~t-ine, and fixe,and no}(i .our thougf1t~- tO · thofe objeas, fo as wee cannot loofenthem againo . Thetefore fayes Chrifrto , .his Difciples, why areJON . tfDuhled·· , and why doe · 'thoughts.- arifl in your· ' hearts ?For p.erturbations .. · . in the affections·· caufe ' thoughts like ·fuinc:s and vapoU,rsto afcend . . Thus. 1· • it ll ~::t:::ce .t ~: ~i:a:tL• - ~W _.e_::;::;k::::::::
of -th6t~:ghts. . 59' · ' ----- -- .• ~-. _..,..._ ---~ if ·apafion offeare be up, how doth it conjure up ·fD.ultitude _of ghofily : :thougfit-s-lvh-ich we~ can.~ .~not conjure down againe, 'nor hide our eyes from '! - ~ But whicl1 haunt us, acd follo,v us -.up and downe, ~vhere-ever.we goe, fo as . a man runnes a\vay purfu- . :· ecl by his .owne th.oughts, the heart then mt'ditattJ on' tm:or: AsifaY:33·I8. S-ol ,' ·when· farrow 1s up, how,· · doth it make. us ftudy the croife that lights-up-on us? which to forget!~ , . would . , :be atleafe unto the mind. ~But amans·paffioss ·111akes . ·his tho,~ghts,to con .it, and I to fay · 1t by h.eart, .over i :and over againe., as ·if it .~ :\Vould not have us forget • ~ . lt. . I ' .
-""' ~ -- ... - The vanitie ' ,it. So \Vhen lsve and dejire · isup, be the thing what it will,'we are takenwith,as preferm·en·t, credit, beau- -ty·,- riches , i ~ fets our~ tl10ughts a\v9rke to·vie\v 'th~ thing all ovef· ~- from top· to toe (as wee fay) ~o .ol.,ferve evety par·t and ,circumfiance , that d_oth _make it amiable unto us :. :as ifapiCture were to .bee .\ : ·drawn of it. S0 \vhenjoy ·· · .is up, wee view the t-hing - ·we rtJo_yce in, an'd:read it · ·over andover;as \vee doe :a B·ooke \Ve like,. and wee , .markeevery tittle, we are· : ~ puntluall in it ; yea 1 fo in.. · ;or:dinate·are we l1erein; as. · ·ofien \VC canno.t 11~~p for :thinking .on -them·. · Ec·cle(: .5 . 12.: .Li lntndance-of riches· 1 _ ·~ · « . w ~ /1:1 I I v '4 ·~ ---- . -~ -·-----;-:' ...-·-··-.- ·.--... ~ . ......, __....,..;...#... ·- -·---- . ·'
~--------------~------- . _of thottghts. J 6 r - - · --- will not fojfer him tojleepe; .··. f~r I. the· mul{itrtde of· · thoughts;in his heezd; .fpe'a.- . king of a man·-\vho is ce– vetous :how do thoughts - trouble · the Be~fhaz~er.s . and N'e6ttchad(Jnezers of ·:the \VOrld ~ Dan. 4• 19, :[o PrDv. 4· r6. Tkty \ '_ peepe nit untej[e they have ·done nyifcf;iife~ if theirde– ·fires rtmaine unfatisfi~d, ·they ·doe difiurbe their 'thoughts; . like fro\vard ·: .childrenby their erying: ·fo as, often, th.efe wh1cl1 . ·men count free (as· the : mofi doe thoughts') doe ~ prove the greateft bon– dage and· torment in the. earthunto then1, and doe hinder fleepe,the nurfe of nature, _·e~te out, and live l . t1pon \ . _ 1j --:------ I ----_,..-....:.....--;--:.--- --·--~---~····-"'1"'\ :I
62 The vanitie -------------:-.-.--- . ~pon the heart that bred them , weatie the fpirits, that when a man Jba!f/ay (as Ioh 7· 13.) UUJ bed jhAil comfort mee , byput.. ting a . parenthefis to his thoughts , and fad .. difcourfes 1 whichhe h~th when awake ' yet then , they haunt aman ; and as ver[.i4. terrifie him. A· , .man cannot lay th~fm al . fide·as he doth his cloake: ~ and when n1en die they will follow them to hell, and torm.eat them worfe there; you(~ thoughts are ·:. oneof thegre;ttefr .execu– tioners there , even the .~ wor.meth4t dies not. · :: , · Thirdly; the.'Vanitieof :; then1inde app-~ares in cu- . ,risflty.a longingand itch-. t · ing ;
--------------......-- ....,.__ __ ing to be fed with, and to know ( ,and then delight- , ing to thinke of) things that donot at all coneerne _us. T ake an experiment ' ~fthis inSchollers(whofe-_ chiefe worke lyes in this– {ho · ) how,many precious · thoughts ·are -fpent th-is _\V ay ~ as in ·,curiofitie of . },nowled,ge , as appeares– hy thofe the Apofile of- - ten rebukes,that affett,as ~ I :Tim. 6.4,20. oppofltions qf fcience ·falfely (o c~!l' et' curiofities of kno,wledge ' ,of things ·they htt~e ·not {eene. So col~ 2. and _- r,·Ti?n. 4· 7~ he calls fucl1 ~i!fues of .mens braines, \they dote®old wives fa:- , , b/es-.;- becaufe as fable~~ Rleafe old wives, fo doe · · , thefe I
6fThe vd.nitte· ---l -----------.---- thefe their mindes, and of ·· # that itch they ltlve i? · . them , even as women vvith child; in tl1tir Iong– ings, content not them felves with what theplace · affords,or the feaf0n, vv:~ th . . what may_behad; but ef .. , ten long after fame un. ,· heard ofrar~ty, far fetcht, .·.or,.it may be,not at all to · bee.had : T.hus tnen not ~ contenting themfelves , with the \Vonders ofGod difcevered in the .depth ofhis Word and Works, . they will I~unch into ano- . ther Sea;. and \vorld of their owt:te making) and there they· layle \Vith pleafure, as many of the I : Schoole--men did in.fGn1e . Ot . their fpecuJtttlOflS , • .r. . f) Iptn. .... 1 b _... · • a~
Df thoughts.· 6) _,_--...,,_______,1--- / fpending their pretious I ~its in framing. curious , webs out of their ·owne . bowels. ~ Take another inftarice alfo inothers, who have leifure and parts to read much, they fhould ballafi their hearts with the ·Word, and take/in_thofe more prctious words of wifdome_and found kno'\v- ..l~_dge ~opr.ofit themfc:lves and others , and to build up their owne foules, and whereby theyn1aybe &en~ abled to ferve their 1 Country : but now .-vvhat ; doe their curious fancies--! ' I ~arry them unto, to bee ! verfed in,but Play-books, l jearing Pafquils, Roman- l {es_,. faine~ ftayes, lvhich , '. - · are· )
' 66 7he vAnitie I are the curious needle– . worke of idle braih~s, fo I as they load their heads with t.Apes ·aHd ·. Peacocks .,. . \'feathers,!t~ ftead ofpearles 1 andprettous frones ; foas ·amanmay fay as· Solomon, Prov. I 5. r 4· The heart D .. , him tililt hath #tJIJderftan– ding[etleeth knowledge, but themouthDff8tJles _feeds en foolifhneffe. Foott fh. di f-~ courfes pleafe their_earcs andey~s ro·read :all thefe beingbut purveiors (as it . ; were) for food, for the ·thoughts, like Camelioris· , \·men live on ,ayre and \Vit1de. · · To leave them·;· now d·oe others out of meere ·· ~urioft ~y · to know ~ and ~ . I pleafe their thoughts ' .li! · . fien 1 ·
. ' ·ften after all thenevts that ~-~ flies up and dewne the ·· \vorId, fcuin all the ·froth . ·that floats in · f~llih mens mouths, an~/pleafe them– f~lves onelywith talking, . thinking , and hearing · ofit. , · I doe not condemne all - herein : fom~ their ·ends are good , and they can · makeufeof it) and doe as - Nehemit~h did, who inqui– red how things went at Jerufolem, to rejoyce with . Gods people,and mourne vvith then1, and pray for them , and to know ·how · to faf11ion their prayers accordingly. But I con- . d.emne that curi0us itch. that is in men, .when it is · done, but me er1yto pl~afe• · ·their ,
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