Use 2

Let us make for ever conscience of them, so Job did (Job 31:1) — I made a covenant with my eyes, why should I think upon a maid? Solomon gives in especial charge, above all keeping, keep your heart (Proverbs 4:23).

First, you are to keep the Lord's day holy, yourself unspotted of the world. To keep your brother, to keep all the commandments, but above all to keep your heart, and in it, your thoughts; for this is the great commandment, because it extends itself (as the foundation) to them all: for as in the same commandment where murder is forbidden, a malicious thought is also, and so of the rest; so in keeping the thoughts, you virtually keep all the commandments: as original sin is said to be forbidden in all the commandments, so are your thoughts taken order for in all.

Secondly, out of it are issues of life; thoughts and affections are the spring, speeches and actions the stream: as are our thoughts, so are our affections; for these are the bellows: so also our prayers, so all, for they are in the soul as the spirits in the body, they run through all, move all, act all.

Thirdly, if you look to God, our thoughts are that spot of ground, which he proclaims himself sole lord of, and makes it one of his greatest titles, that he knows them, and judges them. Kings attempt to rule your tongues, to bind your hands, and rule your actions; but God only your thoughts. By them we chiefly sanctify him in our hearts, by them we walk with God, and shall we not make conscience of them?

Fourthly, if you look to the work and power of grace, wherein lies it, but in bringing every thought into obedience (2 Corinthians 10:4-5)? This is the glory of our religion above all other in the world: wherein lies the difficulty of it, the strictness of it, what makes it so hard a task? but the observing and keeping the thoughts in bounds: wherein lies the difference between sincere-hearted Christians and others? but the keeping of our thoughts, without which all religion is but bodily exercise. Papists may mumble over their prayers, hypocrites talk, but this is godliness.

Fifthly, if we look to things we have a care of; if we have a care of speeches, because Christ has said, we shall answer for every idle word; why not also for the same reason, should we have a care of thoughts? which are the words of the mind, only they lack a shape, to be audible to others, which the tongue gives them, for which you must answer as well as for words (Hebrews 4:12; 1 Corinthians 4:5). If you be careful what companions you have, and whom you lodge in your houses, and who lie in your bosoms, then much more of your thoughts, which lodge in your hearts, which are not yours, but God's houses; built for himself, and for Christ and his word to dwell in: seeing also the things you think of have the most near, intimate fellowship and converse with you. And therefore when you think of the Word, it is said to talk with you (Proverbs 6). If you be careful of what you eat, because such blood you have, etc., then be careful what you think, thoughts being the food of the soul, as Tully calls them. Your words did I eat, says Jeremiah, speaking of meditating on it.

Sixthly, if you look to the issue of things: what shall be the subject of that great inquest at the day of judgment? the thoughts and counsels (1 Corinthians 4:5). And after the day of judgment, men's thoughts shall prove their greatest executioners: what are the cords God lashes you with to all eternity? your own thoughts; thoughts accusing, whereby you study over every sin; and every one will be as a dagger (Isaiah 33:18) — the hypocrite's torment, is to meditate terrors, to study God's wrath, and the saints' blessedness, and their own sins and misery.

Let us from now on make it a matter of conscience to guard our thoughts, as Job did (Job 31:1) — 'I made a covenant with my eyes; why then should I look upon a young woman?' Solomon gives this special charge above all others: above all keeping, guard your heart (Proverbs 4:23).

First, you are to keep the Lord's day holy, to keep yourself unstained by the world, to keep your neighbor, to keep all the commandments — but above all to keep your heart and, within it, your thoughts. This is the great commandment because it reaches as a foundation to all the others. Just as the commandment that forbids murder also forbids a malicious thought — and so with the rest — so in keeping your thoughts you are in effect keeping all the commandments. Just as original sin is said to be addressed by all the commandments, so too are your thoughts covered by every one of them.

Second, out of the heart come the issues of life. Thoughts and affections are the spring; words and actions are the stream. As your thoughts are, so will your affections be — for thoughts are their bellows. So too will your prayers be, and everything else, for thoughts are to the soul what the body's spirits are: they run through everything, move everything, and set everything in motion.

Third, consider your relationship to God. Our thoughts are the one territory He claims as His sole domain, and knowing and judging them is one of His greatest titles. Kings may attempt to rule your tongues, bind your hands, and control your actions — but God alone rules your thoughts. It is chiefly through our thoughts that we honor Him in our hearts, and through our thoughts that we walk with God. Shall we then not make conscience of them?

Fourth, consider the work and power of grace. Where does it truly operate but in bringing every thought into obedience (2 Corinthians 10:4-5)? This is the glory of our faith above every other in the world. What makes it difficult and demanding? What makes it so hard a task? The disciplining and confining of the thoughts. What is the difference between sincere Christians and all others? The keeping of the thoughts — without which all religion is merely outward exercise. Catholics may mumble through their prayers; hypocrites may talk — but this is what true godliness looks like.

Fifth, consider the things you are already careful about. If you are careful about your words, because Christ said you will answer for every careless word — why should you not, for the same reason, be careful about your thoughts? Thoughts are the words of the mind; they only lack a form that makes them audible to others, which the tongue supplies. For your thoughts you will answer just as surely as for your words (Hebrews 4:12; 1 Corinthians 4:5). If you are careful about what companions you keep and whom you allow in your home — whom you welcome into your closest company — then how much more careful should you be about your thoughts, which lodge in your heart. That heart is not yours but God's — built for Himself and for Christ and His Word to dwell in. The things you think about have the most intimate and close fellowship with you. And so, when you think about the Word, it is said to talk with you (Proverbs 6:22). If you are careful about what you eat, because what you eat becomes your blood, then be careful what you think — for thoughts are the food of the soul, as Cicero calls them. 'Your words I did eat,' says Jeremiah, speaking of meditating on the Word.

Sixth, consider where all things are headed. What will be the subject of the great inquiry on the day of judgment? The thoughts and counsels of hearts (1 Corinthians 4:5). And after the judgment, a man's thoughts will prove his greatest executioners. What are the cords with which God binds the condemned for eternity? Their own thoughts — accusing thoughts by which they endlessly review every sin, each one like a dagger (Isaiah 33:18). The torment of the hypocrite is to meditate on terrors — to dwell on God's wrath, the blessedness of the saints, and their own sins and misery without end.