The crucifying of the world

If you find that they are running with Geheza after the prize, and are making out after the provisions for the flesh, recall them and correct them, and bewail this evil before the Lord, and let your watch be stricter for the time to come. Believe it, your hearts will be such as are your thoughts. The flies that lye upon sores, or dung, or carrion, and the worms that are bred in them will be of the nature of that corruption themselves. If you would have your hearts clean, and humble, and heavenly, let your Thoughts be clean, and humble, and heavenly. If you will let your Thoughts run on the objects of Lust, you will be Lustful: And if you will Think on the enticements of Pride, you will be Proud: And if you will let out your thoughts on the Profits of the world, no wonder if it steal away your hearts, saith the Lord to the covetous and unmerciful, Deut. 15. 7, 8, 9. If there be among you a poor man of one of thy Brethren within any of thy gates, thou shalt not harden thy heart, nor shut thy hand from thy poor Brother, but thou shalt open thy hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need in that which he wanteth. Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release is at hand, and thy eye be evil against thy poor Brother, and thou givest him nought; and he cry unto the Lord against thee, and it be sin unto thee. Thou shalt surely give him, and thy heart shall not be grieved, when thou givest to him: because that for this thing the Lord thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto. For the poor shall never cease out of the Land: therefore I command thee saying, Thou shalt open thy hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy in the Land.] Besides the main drift of the Text, mark how we are commanded to beware that a Thought of unmercifulness enter not into our hearts. And when Christ doth so vehemently dissuade his ⟨p. 174⟩followers from this damning sin, he doth it by setting a Law upon their Thoughts: Why take ye Thought? &c. Take no thought, &c. Mat. 6. 25, 27, 28, 31, 34. Luke 12. 22, 26. If the unrighteous man forsake not his thoughts, he will not forsake the evil of his way,