6. Another part of self to be mortified and denied, is Self-imagination. It is the selfishness of mens thoughts, that is the vanity of their thoughts; and these are the imaginations that are only evil continually. The thoughts should be let out on God, and his service; so that our meditation of him should be sweet, and we should delight in the Lord, Psal. 104. 34. and in the multitude of our thoughts withi nus, his comforts should delight our souls, Psal. 94. 19. His word should be our meditation all the day, Ps. 119. 97, 99. and in his Law we should meditate day and night, Ps. 1. 2. God should be the Spring, the End, the Sum of all our thoughts; If we find a thought in our minds, that savoureth not of God, yea that is not sent by him, and doing his work, we must disown it, apprehend it, & cast it out. But alas how contrary is the case with the most? As self is advanced highest in their imagination, so doth it there attract and dispose of the thoughts. What are all the thoughts of unsanctified men employed for, but for themselves and theirs? Their fantasies hunt about the world; but it's their own game and pleasure that they range about. The thoughts of one man run upon his covetousness, and another man's upon his filthy lusts, and another man's on his sports and pleasures, and another's upon his honour & reputation with men! They feed the imaginations of their mind upon almost nothing but selfish things! sometimes delighting themselves with the very thoughts of mens esteem of them, or of their worldly plenty, or of their sinful lusts and ⟨p. 124⟩pleasures, and sometime troubling themselves with the thoughts of their wants, or low condition, or crosses, or injuries from men: sometime contriving how they may attain their desires; and carking and caring for accomplishing their selfish ends: morning and evening, at home and abroad, as the thoughts of the sanctified are on God, and heaven, and the way thereto: so the thoughts of the unsanctified are all upon self, and the interest of self, and the means thereto. O cleanse your minds Sirs, of this great self-pollution: Keep them more clean and chaste to God. Deny self this room in your imaginations, and waste not thoughts and precious time, on such unjust and unprofitable employment. It is an impertinency, to be so much solicitous about the charge of God, and to care so much when he hath bid us, Be careful for nothing:
6. ANother part of self to be mortified and denied, is Self-imagination. It is the selfishness of mens thoughts, that is the vanity of their thoughts; and these are the imaginations that are only evil continnally. The thoughts should be let out on God, and his service; so that our meditation of him should be sweet, and we should delight in the Lord, Psal. 104. 34. and in the multitude of our thoughts withi nus, his comforts should delight our souls, Psal. 94. 19. His word should be our meditation all the day, Ps. 119. 97, 99. and in his Law we should meditate day and night, Ps. 1. 2. God should be the Spring, the End, the Sum of all our thoughts; If we find a thought in our minds, that savoureth not of God, yea that is not sent by him, and doing his work, we must disown it, apprehend it, & cast it out. But alas how contrary is the case with the most? As self is advanced highest in their imagination, so doth it there attract and dispose of the thoughts. What are all the thoughts of unsanctified men employed for, but for themselves and theirs? Their fantasies hunt about the world; but it's their own game and pleasure that they range about. The thoughts of one man run upon his covetousness, and another man's upon his filthy lusts, and another man's on his sports and pleasures, and anothers upon his honour & reputation with men! They feed the imaginations of their mind upon almost nothing but selfish things! sometimes delighting themselves with the very thoughts of mens esteem of them, or of their worldly plenty, or of their sinful lusts and ⟨p. 124⟩pleasures, and sometime troubling themselves with the thoughts of their wants, or low condition, or crosses, or injuries from men: sometime contriving how they may attain their desires; and carking and caring for accomplishing their selfish ends: morning and evening, at home and abroad, as the thoughts of the sanctified are on God, and heaven, and the way thereto: so the thoughts of the unsanctified are all upon self, and the interest of self, and the means thereto. O cleanse your minds Sirs, of this great self-pollution: Keep them more clean and chaste to God. Deny self this room in your imaginations, and waste not thoughts and precious time, on such unjust and unprofitable imployment. It is an impertinency, to be so much solicitous about the charge of God, and to care so much when he hath bid us, Be careful for nothing:
