CONCERNING Evil Thoughts: Wherein their Nature, Origin, and Effect are With may feful Rules for reftraining and fuppreffing of Mankind, more especially of By WILLIAM CHILCOT, M. A. For the Lord fearcheth all Hearts, and understandeth all the New Edition By RICHARD HOOPER, M. A. LONDON: WILLIAM SKEFFINGTON, 163, PICCADILLY. 1854. of " PREFACE. T is with fincere Pleasure that I offer this new Edition of the following excellent little Treatife to the Notice of the Public. The Importance of the Subject must be obvious to all. The Duty bringing into Captivity every Thought to the Obedience of Chrift," (2 Cor. ix. 5) is fo neceffary for the Attainment of that Holiness "without which no Man fhall fee the Lord," (Heb. xii. 14); of that internal Purity of Heart, to which alone is annexed the Promise of the Bleffed Vifion of God, (Matt. v. 8); that any Rules for our Guidance in performing it must be hailed with Joy by those who are earneftly ftriving to walk in the ftrait Path which leadeth to Everlasting Life. But while the Government of the Thoughts in general is a Subject in which we are all deeply interested, there are some special Kinds of Evil Thoughts which require a more particular Notice, and which are apt to caufe much Anxiety and Trouble to those who are labouring under them. These have been treated by the Author in diftinct Chapters, and form the chief Design of this little Book. Perfons afflicted in this way, as even the best of us are liable to be, are frequently met with in the Miniftrations of the Parochial Clergy; and it has often been a Matter of Regret to me that I have not been able to place in the Hands of those who have come under my own immediate Observation fome fuch Work as the prefent. It was therefore with no flight Pleasure that I first met with it. Thinking that many of my Reverend Brethren may have felt a fimilar Want, I have been induced to republish it. It would be well to remind the Afflicted Persons that the Sinfulness of Evil Thoughts confifts only fo far as we indulge them. It is almoft impoffible to entirely prevent them from arifing in our Minds; they will come; but we may choose whether we will entertain them or not. It is in our Power to do much towards hindering their Growth, and rejecting_them when they present themselves to us. It has been prettily obferved,* "In the little Garden of the Mind, ill Thoughts, like Weeds, will * Seed's Works, Vol. I. Sermon Ix. ed. 1745. fpring up; they are the native Produce of the Soil. But if we take Care to root them up as faft as poffible, as well as to cultivate and cherish each generous and beautiful Plant, this is all that God requires of us." If then we fteadily ftrive 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 vouchfafe a Bleffing upon our Endeavours, and give unto us that Peace, that inward Tranquillity and Heavenly-mindednefs which the World cannot give. But we muft 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 ftated Hours invite them to come and make their Abode with us, they will at last come without waiting for the Formality of a fet 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. William Chilcot, the Author, descended from an ancient and refpectable Devonshire Family, |