"For out of the Heart proceed Evil Thoughts." 溪 Matth. xv. 19. AM now entered upon a Subject which demands more than ordinary Attention of the Reader. The Go vernment of the Thoughts is what I intend to difcourfe on from thefe Words; which, as it is a Matter of the greatest Importance, fo it is a Thing of no fmall Difficulty. Few Medicines can reach internal Wounds, and he is an Artist indeed that can cure them. But notwithstanding the Difficulty, I have attempted it; and fhall lay before you the best Method that I can, in order to the well-governing of the Thoughts. Which when attained, is an Achievement above those of the greatest Con B querors, and deferves Trophies beyond the most famous Exploits of Victory that ever were made; the wifeft of Men telling us, That he that ruleth his Spirit, is better than he that taketh a City, Prov. xvi. 32. And our own Experience confirms this Sentence of the wise Man. For there is nothing a more common Observation than that great Generals and Captains, who have carried their Arms through diftant Nations, and have done Wonders, and even brought the World into Subjection, have yet been Slaves to their own felves, tamely yielding to their own corrupt and wicked Hearts, and have not obtained a Conqueft over their own Thoughts. They have not avoided foiling their Triumphs with their Vices, and afperfing their glorious Actions with a wicked Life. As if the Reward of their best Actions were to be their worst, and as if it were a Crown to their Arms to be diffolved in Luft, and all manner of Impieties; as if the Bleffing of fuccefs were Riot and Intemperance, and the greatest of Sins to be their Heralds. What can be a greater and truer Reflection than this? which as it takes off from the Credit and Applause of the nobleft Actions, so it serves to show us, that it is a more difficult Talk to conquer our own Thoughts than the moft potent Adverfaries; to fubdue our Hearts and Souls than whole Battalions; and that Man is the greatest Enemy to himself: For out of the Heart proceed Evil Thoughts. He that searcheth the Heart, and knoweth the Thoughts, fpake these Words. The Occafion on which He spake them shall be the First Thing which I fhall confider. Secondly, I fhall fhew the vast Advantage of well-governing our Thoughts, in order to the Purposes of Religion in general. Thirdly, That evil Thoughts arife out of the Heart, and proceed from thence; which lays an Obligation on us of reftraining them; and how far we are able fo to do. Fourthly, I fhall lay down fome general Rules and Directions for our eafier and better performing of this great, and difficult, and abfolutely neceffary, Work, of well-governing the Thoughts. And, Fifthly, I fhall felect fome fpecial kinds of evil Thoughts, and fhall difcourfe more particularly and diftinctly of them, and what are the proper Remedies against them. CHAP. I. The Occafion of the Words of the Text. T HE Occafion on which our Bleffed The Scribes and Pharifees, who were the Teachers and Expounders of the Jewish Law, |