Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

1. 'Tis to be confessed, that these starts are natural to us. Who is free from them? We bear in our own bosoms a nest of turbulent thoughts, which like busy Gnats will be buzzing about us, while we are in our most inward and spiritual converses. Many wild beasts lurk in a mans heart, as in a close and covert wood, and scarce discover themselves, but at our solemn worship.

1. 'Tis to be confest, that these starts are natural to us. Who is free from them? We bear in our own bosoms a nest of turbulent thoughts, which like busie Gnatts will be buzzing about us, while we are in our most inward and spiritual converses. Many wild beasts lurk in a mans heart, as in a close and covert wood, and scarce discover themselves, but at our solemn worship.

No duty so holy, No worship so spiritual, that can wholly privilege us from them: They will jog us in our most weighty employments, that, as God said to Cain, sin lies at the door, and enters in, and makes a riot in our Souls. As it is said of wicked men, they cannot sleep for multitude of thoughts^*; so it may be of many a good man; he cannot worship for multitude of thoughts: There will be starts, and more in our Religious, than natural employments; 'tis natural to man: Some therefore think, the Bells tied to Aaron's Garments between the Pomegranates, were to warn the People, and recall their fugitive minds to the present service when they heard the sound of them, upon the least motion of the High priest. The Sacrifice of Abraham, the Father of the Faithful, was not exempt from the Fouls pecking at it.^* Zechariah himself was drowsy in the midst of his Visions, which being more amazing, might cause a heavenly intentness*, Zech. 4.1. The Angel that talked with me, came again and awaked me, as a man is awaked out of sleep. He had been roused up before, but he was ready to drop down again; his heart was gone, till the Angel jogged him. We may complain of such imaginations, as Jerem. doth of the Enemies of the Jews