Remedies against Vain Thoughts

The first is to get the heart furnished and enriched with a good stock of sanctified and heavenly knowledge in spiritual and heavenly truths: for a good man (says Christ) has a good treasure in his heart (Matthew 13:35) — that is, he has all graces, so many precious truths which are as gold in the ore, which his thoughts, as the mint, does coin and beat out, and which words bring forth. A good man, out of the good treasure of his heart, brings forth good things. If therefore there be not mines of precious truths hid in the heart, no wonder if our thoughts coin nothing but dross, frothy, vain thoughts, for lack of better materials which should feed the mint, are lacking. Therefore Solomon says, wicked men forge, mint, or hammer wickedness (Proverbs 6:14), so Junius reads it: or if men have store of natural knowledge, and lack spiritual, useful knowledge, to themselves; although in company with others, they may bring forth good things in speeches, yet when alone, their thoughts run not on them. For this, take a place of Scripture, Deuteronomy 6:6-7, which shows, that laying up the Word in the heart, and being much conversant in it, and getting knowledge out of it, is an effectual means to keep our thoughts well exercised when we are alone: for the end why these words are commanded to be laid up in the heart (verse 5-6) is, as to teach them to others, so, to take up our thoughts when we are most retired, and alone, and when a man can do nothing, but barely exercise his mind, in thinking; for when a man is riding, or walking, or lying down, and rising up (which are often and usually our most retired times for thoughts, and are wholly spent in them, for many ride alone, and lie alone, etc.) yet then, says he, you shall talk of the Word: which command he that is alone cannot do, therefore the talking there meant is not only outward conference with others (though intended) as to talk to your bedfellow of it, and to your companion: but suppose you have none, then to talk of it to yourself, for thoughts are the talking of the mind. And so comparing Proverbs 6:22 with this place (which will fitly interpret it) it appears; for Solomon exhorting to the same duty of binding the Word to the heart, uses this motive, which is the fruit thereof: that when you awake, it shall talk with you — that is, by your thinking of it, it will talk with you when you and it are alone: so as you shall not need a better companion, it will be putting in and suggesting something.

Secondly, endeavor to preserve and keep up lively, holy, and spiritual affections in your heart, and suffer them not to cool; fall not from your first love, nor fear, nor joy in God; or if you have grown remiss, endeavor to recover those affections again. For such as your affections are, such necessarily must your thoughts be: and they incline the mind to think of such or such objects as will please them, rather than others; therefore says David (Psalm 119:97) how do I love your law! it is my meditation day and night. It was his love to it made him think of it so frequently. So Malachi 3:16 — those that feared the Lord, and thought upon his name, are joined: for what we fear we often think of, and also speak of often; therefore it is added: they spoke of one to another; fear made them think much of his name, and thinking of it made them speak of it: such affection, such thoughts, and such speeches, as they both are. And indeed thoughts and affections are the mutual causes of each other: while I mused, the fire burned (Psalm 39) — so that thoughts are the bellows that kindle and inflame affections: and then if they are inflamed, they cause thoughts to boil; therefore men newly converted to God, having new and strong affections, can with more pleasure think of God than any.

Thirdly, of all apprehensions else, get your heart possessed with deep, strong, and powerful apprehensions and impressions of God's holiness, majesty, omnipresence, and omniscience. If any thoughts be of power to settle, fix, and draw in the mind of man, they are the thoughts of him. What is the reason that the saints and angels in heaven have not a vain thought to eternity, not a wry stroke — his presence fixes them, their eye is never off him? Take a wanton, garish, loose spirit, let him be but in the presence of a superior whom he fears and reverences, and it consolidates him. Job made therefore conscience of his thoughts, that he dared not look awry (Job 31:1-2) because God sees it, says he. This drew in and fastened David's thoughts (Psalm 139) — from the first to the twelfth verse, he manifests what continual apprehension he had of God's greatness, majesty, and omnipresence; and what effect had this? When I awake I am even before you, verse 17. Whatever objects they are that have most strong and deep impressions in the mind, of those when a man awakens, he thinks of first. Now such strong impressions had David's thoughts of God, that still when he awoke, he was with him, and therefore we find it by experience to be a means to avoid distractions in prayers, to enlarge a man's thoughts in his preparations before, or at the beginning with a consideration of God's attributes and relations to us: and it will and does make us serious.

Fourthly, especially do this when you awake, as David did there — when I awake I am still with you: to prevent wind which arises from emptiness, men use to take a good draught in the morning, which the stomach feeds; so to prevent those vain, windy, frothy thoughts the heart naturally engenders, and which arise from emptiness; first fill your heart with the thoughts of God. Go down into his wine cellar: observe it when you will, when you first open your eyes, there stand many suitors attending on you, to speak with your thoughts, even as clients at lawyers' doors, many vanities and businesses; but speak you with God first — he will say something to your heart, will settle it for all day: and this do before the crowd of businesses come in upon you. Of some heathens it is said that they worship that as their God, for all day, which they first see in the morning; so it is with the idols of men's hearts.

Fifthly, have a watchful eye, and observe your heart all day, though they crowd in, yet observe them, let them know that they pass not unseen; if a man would pray aright, he must watch also, who comes in, and who goes out: where strict watch and ward is kept, and magistrates observant, the marshal and constable diligent to examine vagrant persons, you shall have few there; that such swarms of vagrant thoughts make their rendezvous, and pass, is because there is not strict watch kept.

This is in a manner all you can do, for they will pass however, but yet complain of them, whip them, and give them their pass.

Sixthly, please not your fancy too much with vanities and curious sights, this engenders vain thoughts; therefore Job says (Job 31:1) that he made a covenant with his eyes, lest he should think of a maid (Proverbs 4:25) — let your eyes look right on.

Seventhly, be diligent in your calling, and what your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, as it is, Ecclesiastes 9:10 — that is, putting to all the intention and strength of the mind that may be in it. Let all the stream run to turn about your mill; the keeping your thoughts to that channel, keeps them from overflowing into vanity and folly. 2 Thessalonians 3:11 — those that labor not are busybodies. And 1 Timothy 5:13 — idle, wandering — they are not only called idle, because not busy about what they should, but as intent on things they should not; they go from house to house: so their bodies do, because their minds do wander, having no center. When David walked alone, what extravagance did his spirit run into? Let the ground lie fallow, and what weeds will there soon grow in it? God has appointed us our callings to entertain our thoughts, and to find them work, and to hold them doing in the intervals, between the duties of his worship, because the spirit and thoughts of men are restless, and will be busied some way; as therefore kings keep those men that have active spirits in continual employment, lest their heads should be working and plotting amiss: so did God appoint even in paradise the active spirit of man, a calling to keep him doing. God hereby hedges in man's thoughts, and sets them to go in a narrow lane, knowing that if they are unconfined and left at liberty, they would like wild asses sniff up the wind, as Jeremiah speaks (Jeremiah 2:24). Only take heed of encumbering your mind with too much business, more than you can grasp. It made Martha forget that one thing necessary, being encumbered with many things (Luke 10:4) — this breeds care which distracts the mind (so the word signifies, as dividing it), and so causes wandering thoughts nothing more, so that the mind is not itself. For this weakens it, enervates it, and this being vanity (Exodus 18:18) — said Jethro to Moses, when encumbered with business — you will fade away as a leaf, out of which the moisture is dried up, even that juice which should be left for good duties will be exhausted: as dreams come through multitude of business (Ecclesiastes 5:3), so do a multitude of thoughts from a cumber of business.

Eighthly, in your calling, and all your ways, for the success and your ways therein, commit your ways to God (Proverbs 16:3) — commit your way to the Lord, and your thoughts shall be established, or ordered: that is, kept from that confusion and disorder, and those swarms of cares, which others are annoyed with: and thereby your aims may be as well accomplished: a few thoughts of faith would save us many thoughts of cares and fears, in the businesses we go about, which prove therefore vain, because they forward not at all the business we intend. When such waves toss the heart and turmoil it, and the winds of passions are up, if a few thoughts of faith come into the heart, they calm all presently.

The End.

The first remedy is to fill and enrich your heart with a good store of sanctified, heavenly knowledge in spiritual and heavenly truths. As Christ says, a good man has a good treasure in his heart (Matthew 13:35) — that is, all the graces and precious truths stored there like gold in the ore, which his thoughts, like a mint, beat out and refine, and which his words bring forth. A good man brings good things out of the good treasure of his heart. If there are no mines of precious truth hidden in the heart, no wonder that our thoughts produce nothing but dross — frothy, vain thoughts arise from a lack of the good materials that should feed the mint. So Solomon says that wicked men forge, mint, or hammer wickedness (Proverbs 6:14). If men have a store of natural knowledge but lack spiritual knowledge useful to themselves — even though in company they may produce good things in speech — when alone their thoughts do not run on them. For this, consider Deuteronomy 6:6-7, which shows that storing the Word in the heart and growing deeply familiar with it is an effective means of keeping our thoughts well occupied when we are alone. The reason the Word is commanded to be laid up in the heart (verses 5-6) is not only to teach it to others, but to fill our thoughts during the times we are most withdrawn and alone — when a man can do nothing but exercise his mind in thinking. When riding, walking, lying down, or rising up (which are often the times most given to solitary thought — many ride alone, lie down alone, and so on) — even then, God says: 'You shall talk of the Word.' Since a man alone cannot do this by speaking to others, the 'talking' meant here is not only outward conversation with others (though that is included), but talking to yourself — for thoughts are the talking of the mind. And comparing Proverbs 6:22 with this passage (which helpfully interprets it), the point becomes clear. Solomon urges the same duty of binding the Word to the heart and offers this fruit of it: 'When you awake, it shall talk with you' — that is, by thinking of it, the Word will hold conversation with you when you are alone. You will need no better companion; it will keep suggesting something new.

Second, work to maintain lively, holy, and spiritual affections in your heart, and do not let them cool. Do not fall from your first love, your first fear, or your first joy in God. And if you have grown cold, strive to recover those affections again. For as your affections are, so necessarily will your thoughts be. Your affections pull the mind toward the objects that please them. This is why David says (Psalm 119:97): 'Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day.' His love for it was what made him think of it so constantly. So Malachi 3:16 — those who feared the Lord and thought on His name are joined together. We often think about what we fear, and we also speak of it often — the verse adds, 'They spoke with one another.' Fear made them think much of His name, and thinking of it made them speak of it. Such are our affections, such are our thoughts, and such are our words — they all correspond. Indeed, thoughts and affections are the mutual causes of each other. 'While I mused, the fire burned' (Psalm 39:3) — thoughts are the bellows that kindle and inflame affections. And when affections are inflamed, they in turn make thoughts boil over. This is why those newly converted to God, whose affections are fresh and strong, can think about God with greater pleasure than anyone else.

Third, above all other impressions, get your heart possessed with deep, strong, and powerful apprehensions of God's holiness, majesty, omnipresence, and omniscience. If any thoughts have the power to settle, fix, and draw in the human mind, they are thoughts of Him. Why is it that the saints and angels in heaven have not a single vain thought for all eternity, not one wandering glance? His presence holds them fixed — their eyes are never off Him. Take a wanton, restless, undisciplined spirit and place him in the presence of a superior he fears and respects, and that presence steadies and sobers him. This is why Job made careful conscience of his thoughts and dared not look in a wrong direction (Job 31:1-2) — because God sees it, he says. This drew in and anchored David's thoughts (Psalm 139). From the first verse through the twelfth, he unfolds what a constant sense he had of God's greatness, majesty, and omnipresence. And what was the effect? 'When I awake, I am still with You' (verse 18). Whatever objects have made the strongest and deepest impressions on the mind are the ones a man thinks of first when he wakes. David's thoughts had been so powerfully impressed with God that when he woke, he was immediately with Him. We find this confirmed by experience: one of the most effective means of avoiding distraction in prayer is to expand the mind before or at the beginning of prayer by considering God's attributes and His relationship to us. This will make us serious and steady.

Fourth, do this especially when you first wake, as David did — 'When I awake, I am still with You.' To prevent gas that rises from an empty stomach, people take a good drink in the morning, which gives the stomach something to work on. In the same way, to prevent those vain, airy, and frothy thoughts the heart naturally produces — which rise from inner emptiness — first fill your heart with thoughts of God. Go down into His wine cellar. Observe it whenever you will: the moment you open your eyes, many suitors stand waiting to speak with your thoughts — like clients crowding a lawyer's door. Many vanities and concerns are pressing in. But speak with God first. He will say something to your heart and settle it for the whole day. Do this before the crowd of business comes rushing in upon you. Of some people in the ancient world it is said that whatever they first saw in the morning, they would worship as their god for the rest of that day. The same is true of the idols of men's hearts.

Fifth, keep a watchful eye on your heart throughout the day. Even though thoughts crowd in, observe them — let them know they do not pass unseen. If a man wants to pray rightly, he must also watch what comes in and what goes out. Where strict watch is kept and attentive guardians are posted, examining every vagrant who passes through, you will find few idlers present. The reason such swarms of wandering thoughts gather and march through is that no strict watch is being kept.

This is more or less all you can do, for thoughts will pass regardless — but still: complain about them, resist them, and send them on their way.

Sixth, do not indulge your fancy too much with vanities and curious sights — this breeds vain thoughts. This is why Job says (Job 31:1) that he made a covenant with his eyes, to keep himself from thinking of a young woman. Proverbs 4:25 — let your eyes look straight ahead.

Seventh, be diligent in your calling, and whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might (Ecclesiastes 9:10) — putting the full attention and strength of your mind into it. Let all the stream run to turn your mill. Keeping your thoughts in that channel prevents them from overflowing into vanity and foolishness. 2 Thessalonians 3:11 — those who do not work are busybodies. And 1 Timothy 5:13 — they are called not only idle, because they are not busy with what they should be, but restless, running after what they should not. They go from house to house, their bodies following where their minds wander, having no center to rest in. When David walked alone and unoccupied, what extremes did his spirit run to? Leave ground fallow, and what weeds will quickly grow in it? God has appointed us our callings to occupy our thoughts, to give them work, and to keep them busy in the intervals between acts of worship — because the spirit and thoughts of men are restless and must be engaged somehow. Just as kings keep men of active spirit in constant employment lest their minds turn to plots and mischief, so God appointed even in paradise an occupation for Adam's active spirit to keep him productively busy. By this God hedges in a man's thoughts and sets them to walk a narrow lane, knowing that if they are left unconfined and at liberty, they would be like wild donkeys sniffing up the wind, as Jeremiah describes (Jeremiah 2:24). Only take care not to overload your mind with more business than you can handle. This is what caused Martha to lose sight of the one thing necessary — she was distracted with many things (Luke 10:41-42). Overload breeds anxiety, which divides and scatters the mind (as the word itself implies), causing wandering thoughts above almost anything else, so that the mind is no longer itself. For this weakens and drains the mind. It is a vanity (Exodus 18:18) — as Jethro said to Moses when he was overwhelmed with work — and you will wear away like a leaf that has lost its moisture. Even the vitality that should be preserved for holy duties will be exhausted. As dreams come from too much business (Ecclesiastes 5:3), so a flood of distracting thoughts comes from an overload of business.

Eighth, in your work and all your ways, commit your work to God for its outcome and success (Proverbs 16:3) — commit your way to the Lord, and your thoughts shall be established and ordered. That is, kept from the confusion, disorder, and swarms of anxious cares that trouble others — and your aims may still be just as well achieved. A few thoughts of faith would spare us many thoughts of anxiety and fear in the work we pursue, which prove vain precisely because they do nothing to advance the work we intend. When waves toss the heart and storms of passion rage, a few thoughts of faith entering the heart will calm everything at once.

The End.