Advertisements. fion of this Chapter; If we would attain to this great Thing, (viz.) the due Government of our Thoughts, let us be careful to preferve ourfelves innocent and harmless; to do no hurt, or evil at any time, willingly. Let us make Religion, and the Fear of God our Bufinefs, Let us make ufe of God's wonderful Works, both of Mercy and Judgment, which at any time occur in the World, feafoning our Hearts with an Holy Meditation of them.

To draw to a Conclu

There are a great many more excellent Rules, in order to the well-governing our Thoughts: As applying ourselves to our proper Teachers, and Spiritual Guides, for Comfort and Affiftance, when our Hearts are oppreffed with wicked Thoughts, or prevailing Corruptions.

Avoiding unwarrantable Curiofities, and prying into hidden Myfteries, and unneceffary Speculations.

Contentment, Temperance, Humility, Truft and Affiance in God; and abundance more, which are in that large Field of Difcourfe, which fuch a Subject as this affords, and which, if I fhould enlarge upon, as I have done on the former Heads, would fwell this Treatife into a much bigger Book than I design'd it.

I

I fhall therefore content myself and the Reader with thefe principal Rules and Directions, for the well-governing of the Thoughrs in general, which have been treated of in the foregoing Pages. Which well put in Practice, will, I doubt not (by the bleffing of Almighty God) prove in a great measure effectual to the End defign'd. And that, if we (not flightly and indifferently, but) closely, and in carneft apply ourselves to them, we fhall thereby prevent evil Thoughts, and attain that happy and defirable Government over ourfelves, which either Sloth, or Ignorance makes fome Men think to be Eutopian and impoffible: Only adding this one Particular more, which muft by no means be pafs'd over, and that is,

XI. The deep and ferious Confideration of the laft dreadful Judgment.

Confider seriously with yourselves then, That there is a Day a coming, when not only all the Actions, and more known Paffages of our Lives, but even our most private and retired Thoughts, fhall be accounted for; when God fhall judge the Secrets of Men by Chrift Fefus. Though Men cannot see our Thoughts; yet an All-knowing God can, and doth, and will affuredly judge us for them. In that Day, when thofe that have labour'd to

D4

approve

approve themselves unto God; by an In. ternal Purity, and fincere Obedience; not regarding the Eye of the World, or the filly Applaufes of mortal Men, but the Favour of God, and Confcience of their Duty, fhall be crown'd with eternal Honours, and all their fecret Piety be rewarded openly: And thofe that have hypocritically carried a fair Outfide, and pafs'd for civil, honeft, moral Men, whilft their inward Parts were very Wickedness, and their Hearts full of all Uncleanness, shall be laid open, and expos'd to the shame of all the World, and they banish'd from the prefence of God, into the Flames of Hell for ever.

Man indeed judgeth of the Heart by the Works; but judgeth of the Works by the Heart. Since therefore we must be call'd to an account for our Thoughts hereafter, let us carefully remember it, and fo reckon with ourfelves for them in this, that we may not be judged for them in the World to come.

TH

CHAP. V.

HE accurfed Tempter and Enemy of our Souls, is no doubt always bufy in fuggefting ill Things to us, and cafting

into

into our Minds wicked Thoughts. He is continually pursuing us into all Places and Companies, and prefenting before us alluring andinticing Objects. He is too well experienc'd in this Black Art; too skilful an Engineer in laying his Train. He very well knows the Tempers and Constitutions of Mankind; is acquainted with their Predominant Inclinations and Propenfities, and fo can fuit his Objects, and proportionate his Devices. His Name is Legion too for there are a multitude of them to carry on the hellish Defigns, in ruining Souls, and corrupting Minds. Like the Plagues of Egypt, they even fill the Atmofphere. Their Numbers are like those of the Locufts, Flies and Lice, and Frogs, croaking even in Kings Chambers. And could we but fee thefe Swarms of Devils that affault us, and are darting their Temptations at us, and continually injecting evil Thoughts into our Hearts, we fhould be aftonished, and tremble at our Danger; we should ever be crying to God to help us; and have a quick Eye upon all their Affaults. Could we but behold thefe Infernal Enemies that encompafs us, our Concern for ourfelves could not be fo fmall, as to fuffer us to be careless and negligent. The Devils are working, and contriving, and reftlef

in their Motions to deftroy our Souls; and yet, alas! we are as fecure as if we were embrac'd and carefs'd by our deareft Friends; as if we had no Enemfy at all to fear. We have had fome hiftorical Accounts of Perfons that have been fuch exquifite Villains, in the Art of Poisoning, that they could convey the deadly Venom to the Vitals, and kill in a Moment; or elfe bring on a lingring, but yet as certain Death, and place the Period of Life fome Years off. As the Javians, and Sumatrians, by their poifon'd Crefts, (A Creft is a Dagger) and the Chineses by their Nails.

The woful Experience of feveral of our own Nation, as well as the common Suffrage of all who have travelled into thofe Parts, put the Truth of this beyond the neceflity of any particular Authorities; though many fuch might be produc'd, were it not foreign to the prefent Defign.

But the Devil is an Artist more fubtil even than thefe; he can convey a Spiritual Venom and Contagion to the Soul, and poifon all the Thoughts and Powers of it. His Injections are as quick, and as keen as Lightning. And he hath undifcernable ways of defiling and corrupting our Minds. That Satan can throw wick

ed