26 OF SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS. nothing. Oft-times where there are most blossoms, there is least fruit. But yet there is no fruit, be it of what sort it will, good or bad but it comes in and from some of those blossoms. The mind of man is cov- ered with thoughts, as a tree with blossoms. Most of them fall off, vanish, and come to nothing, end in vanity; and sometimes where the mind doth most abound with them, there is the least fruit; the sap of the mind is wasted and consumed in them. Howbeit there is no, fruit which actually we bring forth, be it good or bad, but it proceeds from some of these thoughts. Wherefore ordinarily these give the best and surest measure of the frame of men's minds. ' As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he,' Prov. xxiii. 7. In case of strong or violent temptations, the real frame of a man's heart is not to be judged by the mul- tiplicity of thoughts about any object. For whether they are from Satan's suggestions, or from inward darkness, trouble, and horror, they will impose such a continual sense of themselves on the mind, as shall engage all its thoughts about them. As when a man is in a storm at sea, the current of his thoughts runs quite another way, than when he is in safety about his occasions. But ordinarily, voluntary thoughts are the best measureand indication of the frame of our minds. As the nature of the soil is judged by the grass which it brings forth: so may the disposition of the heart by the predominancy of voluntary thoughts. They are the original acting of the soul; the way whereby the heart puts forth and empties the treasure that is in it; the waters that first rise and flow from that fountain. Every man's heart is his treasury ; and the treasure that is in it, is either good or evil; as our Saviour tells us. There is a good and bad treasure of the
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=