1 What wise man would fetch gold out of a fiery crucible, hazard his immortal soul, to gain the world, by following a multitude in those steps that lead to the chambers of death and darkness '?
- Vellem servire Domino, sed cogitatioms non patiuntur ; Lord, now how fain would I serve thee, and vain thoughts will not suffer me !
3 When 1'ompey could not keep his soldiers in the camp by persuasion, he cast him- self all along in the narrow passage that led out of it, and bid them go if you will, but you must first trample upon your general ; and the thoughts of this overcame them. You are wise, and know how to apply it to the point in hand.
2 Cor. II. 11.] against satan's devices. 87
they are greatly affected with the greatness, holiness, majesty, purity, and glory of God.
Remedy (2). The second remedy against this device of Satan is, To be peremptory in religious services, notwithstanding all those wan- dering thoughts the soul is troubled with. This will be a sweet help against them : for the soul to be resolute in waiting on God, whether it be troubled with vain thoughts or not ;x to say, Well I will pray still, and hear still, and meditate still, and keep fellowship with the saints still. Many precious souls can say from experience, that when their souls have been peremptory in their waiting on God, that Satan hath left them, and hath not been so busy in vexing their souls with vain thoughts. When Satan perceives that all those trifling vain thoughts that he casts into the soul do but vex the soul into greater diligence, carefulness, watchfulness, and peremptoriness in holy and heavenly services, and that the soul loses nothing of his zeal, piety, and devotion, but doubles his care, diligence, and earnestness, he often ceases to interpose his trifles and vain thoughts, as he ceased to tempt Christ, when Christ was peremptory in resisting his temptations.
Remedy (3). The third remedy against this device of Satan is, to consider this, That those vain and trifling thoughts that are cast into our souls, when we are waiting upon God in this or that religious service, if they be not cherished and indulged, but abhorred, resisted, and disclaimed, they are not sins upon our souls, though they may be troubles to our minds ; they shall not be put upon our accounts, nor keep mercies and blessings from being enjoyed by ^ls. When a soul in uprightness can look God in the face, and say, Lord, when I approach near unto thee, there be a world of vain thoughts crowd in upon me, that do disturb my soul, and weaken my faith, and lessen my comfort and spiritual strength. Oh, these are my clog, my burden, my torment, my hell ! Oh, do justice upon these, free me from these, that I may serve thee with more freeness, singleness, spiritual ness, and sweetness of spirit.2 These thoughts may vex that soul, but they shall not harm that soul, nor keep a blessing from that soul. If vain thoughts resisted and lamented could stop the current of mercy, and render a soul unhappy, there would be none on earth that should ever taste of mercy, or be everlastingly happy.
Remedy (4). The fourth remedy against this device of Satan is, solemnly to consider, That watching against sinful thoughts, resist- ing of sinful thoughts, lamenting and weeping over sinful thoughts, carries with it the siveetest and strongest evidence of the truth and power of grace, and of (he sincerity of your hearts, and is the readiest and the surest way to be rid of them, Ps. cxxxix. 23. Many low and carnal considerations may work men to watch their words, their lives, their actions ; as hope of gain, or to please friends, or to get a name in the world, and many other such like considerations. Oh ! but to watch
1 It is a rule in the civil law, Nee videtur actum, si quid supersit quod agatur, nothing seems to be done, if there remains aught to be done. Si dixisti, Sufficit, periisli, if once thou sayest it is enough, thou art undone, saith Augustine.
* It is not Satan casting in of vain thoughts that can keep mercy from the soul, or undo the soul, but the lodging and cherishing of vain thoughts: ' 0 Jerusalem, how long shall vain thoughts lodge within thee?' Jer. iv. 14; Heb. * in the midst of thee.' They pass through the best hearts, they are lodged and cherished only in the worst hearts.
88 PRECIOUS REMEDIES [2 COR. II. 11.
our thoughts, to weep and lament over them, &c., this must needs be from some noble, spiritual, and internal principle, as love to God, a holy fear of God, a holy care and delight to please the Lord, &C.1 The schools do well observe, that outward sins are of greater infamy, majoris infamiai; but inward heart sins are of greater guilt, majoris reatus; as we see in the devil's. There is nothing that so speaks out a man to be thoroughly and kindly wrought upon, as his having his thoughts to be • brought into obedience,' as the apostle speaks, 2 Cor. x. 4, 5. Grace is grown up to a very great height in that soul where it prevails, to the subduing of those vain thoughts that walk up and down in the soul.2 Well ! though you cannot be rid of them, yet make resistance and opposi- tion against the first risings of them. When sinful thoughts arise, then think thus, The Lord takes notice of these thoughts ; ' he knows them afar off,' as the Psalmist speaks, Ps. xxxviii. G. He knew Herod's bloody thoughts, and Judas his betraying thoughts, and the Pharisees' cruel and blasphemous thoughts afar off.3 Oh ! think thus : All these sinful thoughts, they defile and pollute the soul, they deface and spoil much of the inward beauty and glory of the soul. If I commit this or that sin, to which my thoughts incline me, then either I must re- pent or not repent; if I repent, it will cost me more grief, sorrow, shame, heart-breaking, and soul-bleeding, before my conscience will be quieted, divine justice pacified, my comfort and joy restored, my evidences cleared, and my pardon in the court of conscience sealed, than the imagined profit or seeming sensual pleasure can be v\orth : ' What fruit had you in those things whereof you are now ashamed,' Rom. vi. 21. *
If I never repent, oh ! then my sinful thoughts will be scorpions that will eternally vex me, the rods that will eternally lash me, the thorns that will everlastingly prick me, the dagger that will be eternally a-stabbing me, the worm that will be for ever a-gnawing me ! Oh ! therefore, watch against them, be constant in resisting them, and in lamenting and weeping over them, and then they shall not hurt thee, though they may for a time trouble thee. And remember this, he that doth this doth more than the most glistering and blustering hypocrite in the world doth.5