Some general directions for a comfortable walking with God delivered in the lecture at…Some generall directions for a comfortable walking with God deliuered in the lecture at…

1. Captivation and conformity of the thoughts and imaginations of thy heart, to the sovereignty and rules of grace. If thy change in words, actions, and all outward carriage were Angelical; yet if thy thoughts were the same, and unsanctified still, thou wert still a limb of Satan. Purity in the inward parts, is the most sound and undeceiving evidence of our portion and interest in the power and purity of Christs saving Passion and sanctifying Blood-shed: See Jer. 4. 14. Isa. 55. 7. Now, that thou mayest the better conquer and keep the thoughts of thy heart in subjection and obedience ⟨p. 89⟩unto Christ, be persuaded and acknowledge 1. The pestilencie of that wicked Proverb, Thoughts are free. It is true, the immediate invisible productions and projects of the heart, lie not within the walk of humane Justice, neither are liable to the censure of earthly Courts and Consistories. But there is an All-seeing and Omniscient Eye in Heaven, to which, the blackest Mid-night is as the brightest Noontide, Psal. 139. 12. which sees our secretest thoughts afar off, ver. 2. and sets them in the light of his countenance, Psal. 90. 8. Hence it is that many humble souls, sensible of their secret provoking the glory of Gods pure Eye, are more grieved (setting aside the ill of example and scandal, ordinary attendants upon open and visible miscarriages) for the rebelliousness of their thoughts, then the exorbitancy of their actions. For the sting of these is something eased and lessened, as they think, by the absence of Hypocrisy, and because the world sees the worst. But concerning the other, it cuts them to the very heart, that they are not as well able to preserve their inward parts in purity toward the All-searching Eye of that God, who stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; as their words and actions in plausibleness towards man, who shall die, and the son of man, which shall be made as grass. Whereas then the natural man is wont to let his heart run riot and at random into a world of idle imaginations, without remorse or restraint;

1. Captiuation and conformitie of the thoughts and imaginations of thy heart, to the soueraignty and rules of grace. If thy change in words, actions, and all outward carriage were Angelicall; yet if thy thoughts were the same, and vnsanctified still, thou wert still a limbe of Satan. Purity in the inward parts, is the most sound and vndeceiuing euidence of our portion and interest in the power and purity of Christs sauing Passion and sanctifying Blood-shed: See