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Neither must this watch be kept ouer some of our parts onely, neglect∣ing the rest, as ouer the body alone, but not the soule, or the soule, and not the body, but ouer the whole man, that in all our powers and parts, in∣ward faculties and outward actions, we may please God by doing his will.
But yet the more accurate and diligent watch must bee ouer the soule, as being the more subtile and excellent part, according to that expresse charge of Almighty God; Take heed to thy selfe, and keepe thy soule diligent∣ly: implying, that though this watch must be kept ouer the whole man, yet the soule, which is the better part, must bee looked vnto with greatest care and circumspection. Thus wee must watch ouer all the speciall faculties of our soules, as ouer our reason and iudgement, that they be not darkned with ignorance (for if the light be darkenesse, how great is that darkenesse?) nor corrupted and mis-led into errours and heresies. Ouer our memories, that they neither retaine those vanities and sinfull impression which should be rased and blotted out, nor forget those things which God hath entrust∣ed to their keeping. Ouer our consciences, that they bee pure and cleane, purged from dead workes, and that they be not slacke in doing their duty, in excusing and accusing, nor wee negligent in giuing heed to their eui∣dence. Ouer our wills, that they goe not before, but waite vpon holy rea∣son, chusing and imbracing that which it commendeth, and refusing and reiecting that which it condemneth and dis-alloweth. But especially, wee must keepe this carefull watch ouer our mindes and imaginations, which naturally are euill, and that continually, being most disordered and licen∣tious, and not to be kept within any compasse, if we leaue them vnto their owne liberty. And therefore if we would keepe our soules in good plight and free from danger, we must not foolishly imagine that thought is free, or that wee may suffer our phantasies and imaginations to take their full scope and pleasure, in rouing and ranging which way they list; for if they thus get the bridle (as it were) betweene their teeth, they will run with vs in a headlong course into vanity and sinne; whereby displeasing God, we shall mooue him to giue vs ouer to our owne imaginations, and to the ten∣tations of Satan, suggesting into them horrible blasphemies. For when hee findeth them (Dina-like) wandring abroad, and from vnder the gard of Gods protection, he defloureth and defileth them with hellish polluti∣on, and turneth the pleasure of their liberty into horrour and griefe. More∣ouer, by giuing liberty to our thoughts and imaginations to range whither they list, and not accustoming to keepe them in any compasse, and within the bounds of Gods feare, we shall not be able, when we most desire it, to bring them into any order, but they will be ready to disturbe and distract vs in our best duties. For like runagate seruants, they will bee to seeke when we most need them, and be ranging about worldly vanities, when wee would haue them wholly exercised in religious duties. Or if with much paines we doe bring them home, and binde them to their taske, be∣ing inured to liberty, and delighting themselues in rouing abroad, they will, to recouer their lost pleasure, breake all their bonds, run away from vs, and be taken vp with worldly cogitations, so as we shall not be able to heare the Word, or pray, or meditate, or performe any other religious du∣ties, without being distracted and interrupted in them with these earthly thoughts and wandring imaginations. From which if wee would be free, our best course is to watch ouer our cogitations and phantasies at other times, and to keepe them vnder command, that they may bee exercised about things profitable. For if wee vsually giue them liberty to range
whither they list, custome will cause an habit, and this liberty will grow to licentiousnesse, so as we shall reduce them into no order, nor make them fit for any good imployment. Neither is it enough, that we restraine our thoughts from rouing after worldly vanities, but we must also haue them taken vp and exercised in spirituall, heauenly, or at least ciuill and morall Meditations about the affaires of our honest callings; for if they bee not busied about these, Satan will thrust in the other, and finding them emp∣ty of any good thing, hee will easily replenish them with those that are euill.
Deut. 4. 9.
Mat. 6. 23.