A. 2. These wandering thoughts in be.ir- ing come partly from ourselves. We must not lay all the l)lame upon Satan.
(L) They come from the eye. A wan- dering eye causeth wandering thoughts. A thief may be let into tlte bouse at a win- dow : so vain thoughts are let in at tbe eye. So that, as we are bid to keep our feet wben we enter into the house of God, Eccl. v. L, so we bad need make a covenant with our eyes when we are in the house of God, Job xxxi. L, that we be not distracted by beliolding other objects.
(2.) Wandering thoughts in hearing rise out of the heart. These sparks come out of our own furnace. Vain thoughts are the mud which the heart (as a troubled sea) casts up, Mark vii. 21., " For," from within, " out of tbe heart" of men, " pro- ceed evil thoughts." It is tbe foulness of tbe stomach sends up fumes into tbe head ; and tbe corruption of the heart sends up e- vil thoughts into tbe mind.
(3.) Distracted thoughts in hearing pro- ceed from an evil custom. We inure our- selves to vain thoughts at other times, there- fore we cannot forbear them on a sabbath. Custom is a second nature, Jer. xiii. 23., *' Can the Ethiopian change bis skin, or the Leoj)ard bis spots? then may ye also do good, that iii'c accustomed to do evil ?" He tbat is used to bad company, knows not how to leave it ; such as have vain thoughts
keeping tbem company all the week, they know not bow to get rid of tbem on tbe sabbath. Let me show you bow e\il these vain distracting thoughts in hearing are.
First, To have the heart distracted in liearing, is a disrespect to God's omnisci- ency. God is an all-seeing spirit ; and thoughts speak louder in his ears, than Avords do in ours, Amos iv. 13., " He de- claretb unto man what is his tbouglit-'* Therefore, to make no conscience of wan- dering thoughts in hearing, is the affronting of God's omnisciency, as if he knew not our lieart, or did not bear tbe language of our thoughts.
Secondly, To give Avay to wandering thoughts in hearing is liypocrisy. We pre- tend to bear what God saith, and our mind is quite upon anotber thing. We present God witb our bodies, but do not give him our hearts, Hos. vii. IL This hypocrisy God complains of, Isa. xxix. 13., " This people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their hearts far from me." This is to prevaricate and deal falsely with God.
Thirdly, Vain thoughts in hearing dis- cover much want of love to God. Did we love God we should listen to bis words as oracles, " and bind them upon the table of our heart," Prov. iii. 3. When a friend whom we love speaks to us, and gives us advice, we mind it witb seriousness, and suck in every word. The giving our thoughts leave to ramble in holy duties shows the de- fect of our loA'e to God.
Fourthly, Vain impertinent thoughts in bearing defile an ordinance; they are as dead flies in the box of ointment. ^\lien a string of tbe lute is out of tune, it spoils the music: distraction of thought puts our mind out of tune, and makes om* services sound harsh «ind un])leasant. Wandering thoughts poison a duty, and turn it into sin, Ps. cix. 7., " Let bis prayer become sin." What can be worse than to have a man's praying and hearing of the word be- come sin? Were it not sad wben tbe meat we eat should increase bad humours ? So when the hearing of the word, which is tho food of the soul, should be turned into sin.
Fifthly, Vain thoughts in hearing, anger God. If tbe king were speaking to one of
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his snhjer.ls, and lie kIiouIcI not ijivo lioed to Avliat the \i'nirr saitli, l)iit Ix; tliinkinc^ on another business, or ])hiyin<; with a feather, would not this ])rovokc the kin£r? So, when we are in God's presence, and God is speakiiifi^ to us in his word, and we mind- ino^ not much what he saith, but our hearts go after covetousness, Ezek. .wxiii. 31. Will not tliis anjj^er God, to be thusslli2;-lited? God hath pronounced a curse upon such, Mai. i. 14-., " Cursed be the deceiver which hath in his flock a male, and sacrificcth to the Lord a corrupt thini:;." To have stronjr lively affections to the world, here is a male in the flock ; but to hear the word with distraction, — to give God duties fly-blown with vain thoughts, — this is to olTer to the Lord a corrupt thing ; this brings a curse, " cursed be the deceiver."
Sixthly, Vain thoughts in hearing (when allowed and not resisted) make way for hardening the heart. A stone in the heart, is worse than in the kidneys. Distracted thoughts in hearing, do not better the heart, but harden it. Vain thoughts take away the holy awe of God which should be upon the heart ; they make conscience less ten- der, and hinder the efficacy the word should have upon the heart.