The divine life in three treatises

7. The Thoughts are not so liable to be counterfeit and hypocritical as are the words and outward deeds: And therefore they show more what the man is, and what is in his heart. For as Solomon saith, Prov. 23. 7. as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.]

7. The Thoughts are not so lyable to be counterfeit and hypocritical as are the words and outward deeds: And therefore they shew more what the man is, and what is in his heart. For as Solomon saith, Prov. 23. 7. as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.]

8. Our Thoughts may exercise the highest graces of God in man; and also show those graces, as being their effects. How is our Faith, and Love, and Desire, and Trust, and Joy, and Hope to be exercised but by our cogitations? If Grace were not necessary and excellent, it would not be wrought by the spirit of God, and called the Divine nature, and the image of God: And if Grace be excellent, the use and exercise of it is excellent: And therefore our Thoughts by which it is exercised must needs have their excellency too.

8. Our Thoughts may exercise the highest graces of God in man; and also shew those graces, as being their effects. How is our Faith, and Love, and Desire, and Trust, and Joy, and Hope to be exercised but by our cogitations? If Grace were not necessary and excellent, it would not be wrought by the spirit of God, and called the Divine nature, and the image of God: And if Grace be excellent, the use and exercise of it is excellent: And therefore our Thoughts by which it is exercised must needs have their excellency too.

9. Our Thoughts must be the instruments of our improving all holy Truth in Scripture, and all the mercies which we receive, and all the afflictions which we undergo. What good will Reading a Chapter in the Bible do to any one that never Thinketh on it? Our delight in the Law of God must engage us to meditate in it day and night,