But 2. on the contrary if any strong lust, or violent passion be up, then our thoughts are too fixed and intent, and run in so far into such sinful objects, that they cannot be pulled out again, or any way diverted or taken off: which is another vanity. For our thoughts and our understanding part was ordained to moderate, allay, and cool, and take off our passions, when they are a ⟨p. 58⟩playing over, to rule and govern them. But now our thoughts are themselves subjected to our affections, and like fuel put under them, do but make them boil the more. And although our thoughts do first stir up our fears, joys, desires, &c. yet these being stirred up once, chain, and fix, and hold our thoughts to those objects, so as we cannot loosen them again. Therefore says Christ to his Disciples, Why are you troubled, and why do thoughts arise in your hearts: For perturbations in the affections cause thoughts like fumes and vapours to ascend. Thus ⟨p. 59⟩if a passion of fear be up, how doth it conjure up multitudes of ghostly thoughts which we cannot conjure down again, nor hide our eyes from? But which haunt us, and follow us up and down, where ever we go, so as a man runs away pursued by his own thoughts, the heart then meditates on terror: As Isay 33. 18. So when sorrow is up, how doth it make us study the cross that lights upon us? which to forget, would be an ease unto the mind. But a mans passions makes his thoughts to con it, and to say it by heart, over and over again, as if it would not have us forget ⟨p. 60⟩it. So when love and desire is up, be the thing what it will, we are taken with, as preferment, credit, beauty, riches, it sets our thoughts awork to view the thing all over, from top to toe (as we say) to observe every part and circumstance, that doth make it amiable unto us: as if a picture were to be drawn of it. So when joy is up, we view the thing we rejoice in, and read it over and over, as we do a Book we like, and we mark every tittle, we are punctual in it; yea so inordinate are we herein, as often we cannot sleep for thinking on them. Eccles. 5. 12. Abundance of riches ⟨p. 61⟩will not suffer him to sleep, for the multitude of thoughts in his head, speaking of a man who is covetous: how do thoughts trouble the Belshazzers and Nebuchadnezzars of the world? Dan. 4. 19. so Proverbs 4. 16.
But 2. on the contrary if any strong lust, or violent passion be up, then our thoughts are too fixed and intent, and run in so farre into such sinfull objects, that they cannot bee puld out againe, or any way diverted or taken off: which is another vanity. For our thoughts and our understanding part was ordained to moderate, allay, and coole, and take off our passions, when they are a ⟨p. 58⟩playing over, to rule and governe them. But now our thoughts are themselves subjected to our affections, and like fuell put under them, doe but make them boile the more. And although our thoughts do first stirre up our feares, joyes, desires, &c. yet these being stirred up once, chaine, and fixe, and hold our thoughts to those objects, so as wee cannot loosen them again. Therefore sayes Christ to his Disciples, Why are you troubled, and why doe thoughts arise in your hearts: For perturbations in the affections cause thoughts like fumes and vapours to ascend. Thus ⟨p. 59⟩if a passion of feare bee up, how doth it conjure up multitudes of ghostly thoughts which wee cannot conjure downe againe, nor hide our eyes from? But which haunt us, and follow us up and downe, where ever wee goe, so as a man runnes away pursued by his owne thoughts, the heart then meditates on terrour: As Isay 33. 18. So when sorrow is up, how doth it make us study the crosse that lights upon us? which to forget, would be an ease unto the minde. But a mans passions makes his thoughts to con it, and to say it by heart, over and over againe, as if it would not have us forget ⟨p. 60⟩it. So when love and desire is up, bee the thing what it will, wee are taken with, as preferment, credit, beauty, riches, it sets our thoughts aworke to view the thing all over, from top to toe (as wee say) to observe every part and circumstance, that doth make it amiable unto us: as if a picture were to bee drawn of it. So when joy is up, wee view the thing we rejoice in, and reade it over and over, as wee doe a Booke wee like, and wee marke every tittle, wee are punctuall in it; yea so inordinate are wee herein, as often we cannot sleepe for thinking on them. Eccles. 5. 12. Abundance of riches ⟨p. 61⟩will not suffer him to sleepe, for the multitude of thoughts in his head, speaking of a man who is covetous: how doe thoughts trouble the Belshazzers and Nebuchadonezers of the world? Dan. 4. 19
