A supplement to the several discourses upon various divine subjects

1. Examine them. Look often into your heart to see what it is doing: and what thoughts you find dabbling in it, call to an account: enquire what business they have, what their errand and design is,¹ whence they come, and whither they tend. David asked his soul the reason of its troubled thoughts; so ask thy heart the reason why it entertains such ill company, and by what authority they come there, and leave not chiding, till thou hast put it to the blush. Bring every thought to the test of the Word. Asaph had envious thoughts at the prosperity of the wicked, Psal. 73.2, 3. which had almost tripped him up, and laid him on his back. And these had blown up Atheistical thoughts that God did not much regard, whether his commands were kept or no; as though God had untied the link between duty and reward, and the breach of his laws were the readiest means to a favourable recompense; v. 13. I have cleansed my hands in vain. But when he weighed things in the balance of the sanctuary, by the holy rules of God's patience and Justice, v. 17. He sees the brutishness of his former conceits; v 22. So foolish was I and ignorant, I was as a beast before thee; and v. 25. he makes an improvement of them to excite his desire for God, and delight in Him. Let us compare our thoughts with Scripture-rules. Comparing spiritual things with spiritual, is the way to understand them; comparing spiritual sins with spiritual commands, is the way to know them; and comparing spiritual vices with spiritual graces, is the way to loath them. Take not then any thing upon trust from a crazy fancy: nor, without a scrutiny, believe that faculty, whereby dogs dream, and animals perform their natural exploits.

1. Examine them. Look often into your heart to see what it is doing: and what thoughts you find dabling in it, call to an account: enquire what business they have, what their errand and design is,¹ whence they come, and whither they tend. David askt his soul the reason of its troubled thoughts; so ask thy heart the reason why it entertains such ill company, and by what authority they come there, and leave not chiding, till thou hast put it to the blush. Bring every thought to the test of the Word. Asaph had envious thoughts at the prosperity of the wicked,