A61386:230
An antidote against distractions, or, An endeavour to serve the church, in the daily…An antidote against distractions, or, An indeavour to serve the church, in the daily…
An antidote against distractions, or, An endeavour to serve the church, in the daily case of wanderings in the worship of God by Richard Steele M.A. and minister of the Gospel.An antidote against distractions, or, An indeavour to serve the church, in the daily case of wandrings in the worship of God by Richard Steele M.A. and minister of the Gospel.
London: printed for Elizabeth Calvert, 1667
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
1. A right understanding what a vain thought is. Though it sound somewhat harsh, that all thoughts are either good or bad, the matter of some being in itself indifferent; yet if we consider the Principle and Tendency of them, we shall hardly light upon one individual thought, but it hath either the stamp of Good or Evil upon it. It is certain, that a wicked mans thoughts are all vain, as ⟨p. 128⟩they come from him, neither flowing from a sanctified heart, nor being directed to a Divine end. Ah poor sinners, your hearts are little worth, the imaginations of them are materially or formally or finally evil, only evil and that continually. The sweetest words from corrupt lungs do stink in the nostrils of them that stand by, and so your best thoughts coming from corrupt hearts, cannot be right in the sight of God.
1. A right understanding what a vain thought is. Though it sound somewhat harsh, that all thoughts are either good or bad, the matter of some being in itself indifferent; yet if we consider the Principle and Tendency of them, we shall hardly light upon one individual thought, but it hath either the stamp of Good or Evil upon it. It is certain, that a wicked mans thoughts are all vain, as ⟨p. 128⟩they come from him, neither flowing from a sanctified heart, nor being directed to a Divine end. Ah poor sinners, your hearts are little worth, the imaginations of them are materially or formally or finally evil, only evil and that continually. The sweetest words from corrupt lungs do stink in the nostrills of them that stand by, and so your best thoughts coming from corrupt hearts, cannot be right in the sight of God.
And then for a gracious man, it should seem every thought comes either from the old man or the New, the regenerate or unregenerate part, especially if we consider that there is hardly a thought but it may be resolved ultimately either into Christ or Self, Let it therefore be concluded, that every thought that is not suggested, or directed by the Spirit of God, and that no way conduceth to the glory of God, the good of your neighbour, nor the good of your own soul or body, is a vain thought, vain or void, it might be spared, it stands for nothing, its worse than nothing.