of the mind, ill thoughts, like weeds, will spring up; they are the natural produce of the soil. But if we take care to root thern up as fast as possible, as well as to cultivate and cherish each generous and beautiful plant, this is all that God requires of us." If, then, we steadily strive to conquer our Evil Thoughts, and, under the gracious influences of the Holy Spirit, to replace them with good and holy ones, if we till the soil of our hearts, we shall find that God will vouchsafe a blessing on our endeavours, and give unto us that peace, that inward tranquillity and heavenly-mindedness, which the world cannot give. But we must work. "Good thoughts will not court our acquaintance, and make the first advances to us; but if we often read and meditate on religious subjects, if we at stated hours invite them to come and make their abode with us, they will at last come without waiting for the formality of a set invitation." And I think the rules in this little volume will contribute much to our progress in this work, viz., the control of our evil, and cultivation of good, thoughts. But of this I must leave the reader to judge. 2 Seed, ut suprà. William Chilcot, the author, descended from an ancient and respectable Devonshire family, originally from Tiverton, was the third son of the Rev. Robert Chilcot, rector of St. Mary Major's, Exeter. He was admitted as a commoner of Balliol College, Oxford, 15th March 1679-80, and on taking his B.A. degree Oct. 16, 1683, he is described as Blundell Scholar, so probably he had been educated at Tiverton School. On proceeding to his M.A. December 1, 1686, he is described as nuper Socius probandus è fundatione Blundellianâ." He subsequently became rector of the parish of St. George the Martyr, Exeter, in which city he died on the 30th of May 1711, aged fortyeight years, and was buried on the north side of the communion rails of his parish church, which was pulled down some few years ago. On a monument erected to the memory of his daughter was added the following inscription: 66 Nec non Ipsius Gulielmi Chilcot A. M. hujus His little book was first published in a small 8vo, Exon, 1698, and is a volume of great rarity. It was reprinted 12mo, London, 1734; also an exceedingly scarce book. William Winstanley Hull, Esq. of Lincoln's Inn, published a very small edition in 32m0, 1835; but it was imperfect, wanting the prayer at the end, as he was unable to procure a perfect copy of the original. Mr. Hull told me he was for twelve years searching for a copy of the Exeter edition. The public having favourably received two former impressions edited by me, in 1851 and 1854, no pains have been spared to render this as accurate as possible. The following curious account of the cause of our author's writing this book may not be uninteresting. It is taken from the autobiography of Samuel Eyles Pierce, a well-known Dissenting preacher, printed London, 1824. Mr. Pierce was the grandson of the Rev. Joseph Chilcot, the author's younger brother, and vicar of Up-Ottery, Devon:— "The present Mr. Chilcot, of Truro, has in his possession a printed Treatise on the Origin of Evil Thoughts,' written by Mr. William Chilcot of Exeter; the occasion of which was as follows: A devout lady of Exeter was at times subject to melancholy, and was tempted to destroy herself, and attempted the same, but was prevented in time from accomplishing her purpose. She afterwards made known the cause of her melancholy in confidence to Mr. William Chilcot, who kept it a profound secret, but made an improvement upon the circumstance, so as to write the above-mentioned book. In consequence of the afore-cited circumstance, many of the devout people of Exeter would not retire to their private devotions without their servant or some person with them."3 I have little further to add. Chilcot's arms on his monument impale those of the ancient family of Coplestone. He left but one other work; a single sermon "preached in the Cathedral Church of St. Peter in Exon, April 4, 1697, being Easter Day, and Assize Sunday, 4to, London. Printed. by Freeman Collins, for Philip Bishop, bookseller in Exon, 1697." I have to return my sincere thanks for the kindness and courtesy I have received at the hands of 3 "A True Outline and Sketch of the Life of Samuel Eyles Pierce, Minister of the Everlasting Gospel, written by himself, and printed in 1824 in the Seventy-ninth Year of his Age," p. 2, note. |