The sacred mysterie of the gouernment of the thoughts discouering their nature and differences, and together, resoluing such speciall doubts, which are incident hereunto. Very necessary for the tryall and safe keping of the heart. And also, for the well ordering and comfort of a Christian life.

The daunger of the De∣lusion is,

1 It aduanceth the Pow∣er, yea the perfection of Nature. For if Thoughts be free; then also all others that proceed therefrom, as words

and Actions; and so com∣mitteth Idolatry thereunto, setting it vp in the place of God: yea adoring it aboue all that is called God, and so conuinceth that roote of bitternes, namely, despe∣rate Atheisme to raigne in the hearts of men.

2 Hereby it nourisheth security, and confidence in Nature, and so exclu∣deth Grace, as if it were sufficient to happines, as if it were already possessed thereof, and so vtterly ex∣cludeth all pursuite, and hope of the happinesse of a better life,

3 It also proues most ef∣fectuall to Depriue vs of all interest in Christ Iesus, who onely came to saue sinners;

and therfore if wee acknow∣ledge not our sinnes, Gods promise belongs not to vs, that hee will forgiue vs, 1. Iohn. 1.8. Ioh. 9.26.27 And so it becomes a most effectuall meanes to exclude from al hope of entertaining Christ, as producing a pre∣sumptuous power to limit and prescribe the Ordinan∣ces of God; that they ought not to search the heart, and captiuate the Thoughts, and bring them to obedience, but that rather they serue onely as matters of Policie, with some to approue and maintaine ciuill honesty, and outward holinesse, for the attaining of worldly endes: and so vtterly excludeth Faith; whereby the heart

may bee conuinced, and so purified by Christ to the o∣bedience thereof.

And so this proues an ef∣fectuall meanes to confound all inward pietie, and to set vp an Idoll of Ciuill and mo∣rall righteousnes in the hearts of men: and thereby be∣comes a powerfull meanes to giue the bridle not onely vnto all secret wickednesse, as not being apparant vnto men: but in the end also to all grosse wickednesse: because this beeing once granted that Thoughts are free, it will easily follow, that any thing is free, if we neede not care for the presence of God, in the heart, but that wee may thinke any thing though neuer so vile, wee

shall in the end much lesse regard the presence of men, and so breake out into all open filthines.

And so the bridle be∣ing giuen to all grosse wic∣kednesse, hereupon follows hardnes of heart, which bee∣ing past feeling now com∣mits sinne with greedinesse, and the hart being obdurate, that it conuinceth not for sinne: hereupon followes a reprobate sense to iustifie & approue any wickednes: and so this opens a gap to all presumptuous wickednesse: as if wee might now sinne freely, because our hearts do not accuse vs of our wayes, and so followes desperats im∣penitency, and reiection of the mercy of God, & so an

heaping vppe of wrath a∣gainst the day of wrath.