Chap. 11. Helps to Holy Thoughts
IT shews us how to have our Thoughts frequently fixed upon God. 1. Begin the day with Holy Thoughts, Psalm 139:17. When I awake I am still with you. God should have the first buddings of our Thoughts. In the Law, the Lord would have the first fruits offered him: give God your Virgin-thoughts in the Morning—Quo semel est imbuta recens servabit odorem testa diù—what the Vessel is first seasoned with, it keeps the rellish a long time after. The Mind being seasoned with Good Thoughts in the Morning, will keep the Heart in a better Decorum all the day afrer.
2. If you would think of God take heed of hindrances. 1. Turn away your eyes from beholding Vanity, Psalm 119:37. Vain Objects Poyson the Imagination, lascivious Pictures, and wanton talk leave bad impressions upon the fancy. 2. Call off your Thoughts what you can from the world. If worldly Thoughts come Crowding into our Mind, good Thoughts will be lost in the Crowd.
3. Get a love to God and his ways. One cannot but think of that which he loves, Jeremiah 2:32. Can a Maid forget her Ornaments? when she has not her Jewel on her Ear, she will have it in her Thoughts. A person deeply in love cannot keep his Thoughts off from the Object he loves. The reason we Think on God no more, is, because we love him no more. Let there be but one spark of love to God, it will fly Upward in Heavenly Ejaculations. By nature we have Quick-silver Hearts which cannot be made to fix on God, but by love.
4. If you would think often on God, get an interest in him, Psalm 48:14. This God is our God. We think most upon that which is our own. If a man ride by brave Houses and Gardens, he casts his Eye slightly upon them, and does not much Mind them; but let him have an house of his own, and his Thoughts dwell in it. Why do men think no more of God, but because God and they are strangers. Let a mans interest in God be cleared, and he will not be able to keep his Thoughts off from God.
