A Christian Directory

§. 19. Direct. 12. Suffer not distrustful thoughts and reasonings in thy mind, but cast them out, and ¹command them to be gone. Cogitations are the instruments of good and evil in the mind of man: They cannot be acted but by Thoughts: And the will hath more command of the Thoughts, than it hath immediately of the passions themselves. If you cannot Trust God so quietly as you would, no• keep under every fearful apprehension, yet keep out, or cast out the Thoughts which exercise your sin; and turn your thoughts to something else. If thoughts do not actuate it, your distrustful fears and cares will vanish. What are your cares, but the turmoiling of your thoughts? continually feeding upon difficulties and trouble, and tiring themselves with hunting about for help? Cast away the thoughts, and the cares are gone. You may do much in this, if you will, though it be difficult. Matth. 6. 25. Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, nor yet for your b•dies, what ye shall put on—27, 28. Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit to his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment?—

1. 1Direct. 12.

§. 20. Direct. 13. When commands will not prevail, rebuke and chide thy unbelieving heart, and reason ¹it out of its. distrustful cares, and fears, and sorrows. Say to it as David oft, Psal. 42. & 43. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art th•u so disquieted within me? Trust in God, for I shall yet give him thanks, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. O foolish soul! Hast thou yet learned no better to know thy God? Doth he support the Heavens and the Earth, and the whole Creation? and yet canst not thou rely upon him? Is he not wise enough to be trusted with the conduct and disposal of thee? Is he not good and gracious enough to be trusted, with thy life, estate, and name, and welfare? Is he not great and powerful enough to be trusted, against the greatest danger, or difficulties, or opposition that ever can befall thee? Is e not true and faithful enough to be trusted, whatever improbabilities may arise before thee? Where dwelt the man, and what was his name, that ever trusted him in vain, or was ever failed or deceived by him? Are not his Son, and Spirit, and Covenant, and Oath, sufficient pledges of his love for thy security? How oft hath he performed his promises to thee? and heard thy cries? and helped and saved thee in thy distress? How oft hath he confuted thine unbelief? and shamed thy distrustful fears and cares? And then thou couldst resolve to trust him better in the next distress. And shall all his wonders of mercy be forgotten? and all thy confessions, thanksgivings and promises be now repented of, contradicted or recanted, by thy renewed distrust and unbelief? Is he not the same God, that hath so frequently and abundantly had mercy on thee? Is he not the same God, that hath saved all that trusted in him, and wrought such wonders for his servants in the earth, and brought so many safe to Heaven? Our Fathers trusted in him: they trusted and he delivered them: they cried to him, and were delivered: they trusted in him, and were not confounded,