Sect. I.
YOu see then where this wisdom is to be found,* 1.1 and where is the place of self-understanding. Reader, Thou art before the Lord, dost thou unfeignedly desire to know thy self truly? then say not in thine heart, who shall ascend, or who shall descend to tell thee, whether of the two, Heaven or Hell shall be thy place and portion; As the words are nigh thee,* 1.2 even in thy mouth; so the Thoughts are nigh thee, even in thy mind; for what Christ saith of thy words, I may say of thy Thoughts,* 1.3 By thy words (saith the text) and by thy thoughts (saith the reason of the text) Thou shalt be justified, and thou shalt be condemned. For out of the abundance of the heart doth the mouth speak; If then thy Thoughts be Right, Thou art Right. The thoughts of the Righteous are Right. All the Righteous have Right Thoughts; and All, whose Thoughts are Right, are Righteous.
'Tis a Laudable fairness in our Law,* 1.4 that it puts All Tryals for Life and Death, upon God and the coun∣trey; that is, the Neighbourhood. This little Book allowes thee the Birth-right of thy Native Law in thy greatest tryal, more Important then for Life and Death. 'Tis for Salvation or Damnation.* 1.5 Thy Thoughts are thy Neighbourhood, they walk and talk with thee, they know thy lying down, and thy rising up; Put thy Soul tryal upon God and them, and God send thee a good deliverance.