Moreover, it is known how often, when we are engaged in spiritual duties, other thoughts will interpose, and impose themselves on our minds. Those which are about men’s secular concernments will do so. The world will frequently make an inroad on the way to hea- ven, to disturb the passengers and wayfaring men. There is nothing more frequently complained of by such as are awake unto their duty and sensible of their weakness. Call to mind, therefore, how often, on the other hand, spiritual thoughts do interpose, and, as it were, impose themselves on your minds whilst you are engaged in your earthly affairs. Sometimes no doubt but with all that are true be- lievers it is so. “Or ever I was aware,” saith the spouse, “ my soul made me as the chariots of Ammi-nadib,” Cant. vi. 12. Grace in her own soul surprised her into a ready, willing frame unto spiritual com- munion with Christ, when she was intent on other occasions. But if these thoughts of heavenly things so arising in us bear no propor- tion with the other sort, it is an evidence what frame and principle is predominant in us.
(2.) There are a multitude of thoughts in the minds of men which are vain, useless, and altogether unprofitable. These ordinarily, through a dangerous mistake, are looked on as not sinful, because, as it is supposed, the matter of them is not so; and therefore men rather shake them off for their folly than their guilt. But they arise from a corrupt fountain, and wofully pollute both the mind and con- science. Wherever there are “vain thoughts,” there is sin, Jer. iv. 14. Such are those numberless imaginations whereby men fancy them- selves to be what they are not, to do what they do not, to enjoy what they enjoy not, to dispose of themselves and others at their pleasure. That our nature is hable unto such a pernicious folly, which some of tenacious fancies have turned’ into madness, we are beholding alone to our cursed apostasy from God, and the vanity that possessed our minds thereon. Hence the prince of Tyrus thought he was a god, and “sat in the seat of God,” Ezek. xxviii. 2. So it hath been with others. And in those in whom such imaginations are kept unto some better order and bounds, yet, bemg traced unto their original, they will be found to spring some of them immediately from pride, some from sensual lusts, some from the love of the world, all from self, and the old ambition to be as God, to dispose of all things as we think meet. I know no greater misery or punishment in this world than the debasing of our nature to such vain imaginations, and a perfect freedom from them is a part of the blessedness of heaven. It is not my present work to show how sinful they are; let them be esteemed only fruitless, foolish, vain, and ludicrous. But let men examine themselves what number of these vain, useless thoughts night and day do rove up and down in their minds. If now it be
CHAP. IY.] EVIDENCE OF SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS. 305
apprehended too severe, that men’s thoughts of spiritual things should
exceed them that are employed about their lawful callings, let them
_ consider what proportion they bear unto those that are vain and use-
less. Do not many give more time unto them than they do unto
_ holy meditations, without an endeavour to mortify the one or to stir up and enliven the other? are they not more wonted to their seasons than holy thoughts are? And shall we suppose that those with whom it is so are spiritually minded?
_(3.) There are thoughts that are formally evil; they are so in their own nature, being corrupt contrivances to fulfil the desires of the flesh in the lusts thereof. These also will attempt the minds of be- lievers. But they are always looked on as professed enemies to the soul, and are watched against. I shall not, therefore, make any comparison between them and spiritual thoughts, for they abound only in them that are carnally minded.
2. The second rule to this purpose is, That we should consider whether thoughts of spiritual things do constantly take possession of
their proper seasons. There are some times and seasons in the course of men’s lives wherein they retire themselves unto their own thoughts. The most busied men in the world have some times of thinking unto themselves; and those who design no such thing, as being afraid of coming to be wiser and better than they are, do yet spend time therein whether they will or no. But they who are wise will be at home as much as they can, and have as many seasons for such their retirements as is possible for them to attain. If that man ‘be foolish who busieth himself so much abroad in the concerns of others that he hath no time to consider the state of his own house and family, much more is he so who spendeth all his thoughts about other things, and never makes use of them in an inquiry how it is with himself and his own soul. However, men can hardly avoid but that they must have some seasons, partly stated, partly occasional, wherein they entertain themselves with their own thoughts. The evening and the morning, the times of waking on the bed, those of the necessary cessation of all ordinary affairs, of walking, journeying, and the like, are such seasons.