Post by Admin on Jan 23, 2024 14:04:27 GMT -5
PART II
Particular Directions for the Government of the Eyes
Direct. I. 'Know the uses that your sight is given you for.' As
1. To see the works of God, that thereby your minds may see God himself.
2. To read the Word of God, that therein you may perceive his mind.
3. To see the servants of God whom you must love, and the poor whom you must relieve or pity, and all the visible objects of your duty: to conduct your body in the discharge of its office about all the matters of the world: and in special often to look up towards heaven, the place where your blessed Lord is glorified, and whence he shall come
to take you to his glory.
Direct. II. 'Remember the sins which the eye is most in danger of, that you may be watchful and escape.'
1. You must take heed of a proud, and lofty, and scornful eye; which looks on yourselves with admiration and delight, as the peacock is said to do on his tail, and on others as below you with slighting and disdain.
2. You must take heed of a lustful, wanton eye, which secretly carries out your heart to a befooling piece of dirty flesh, and steals from beauty and ornaments a spark to kindle that fire which prepares for everlasting fire.
3. Take heed of a greedy, covetous eye, which with Achan and Gehazi looked on the bait
to tempt you to unlawful love and desire, and to bring you by their sin unto their ruin.
4. Take heed of a luxurious, gluttonous, and drunken eye; which is looking on the forbidden fruit, and on the tempting dish, and the delicious cup, till it have provoked the appetite of that greedy worm which must be pleased, though at the rate of thy damnation.
5. Take heed of a gazing, wandering eye, which, like a vagrant, hath no home, norwork, nor master, but gaddeth about to seek after death, and find out matter for temptation. "Wisdom is before him that hath understanding, but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth."
6. Take heed of an envious eye, which looks with dislike and discontent at the prosperity of others, especially such as stand cross to your own interest. "Is thine eye evil because I am good?" It is the envious eye, that in Scripture is called by the name of an evil eye,'πονρὸς ὂφθαλμος.' It is an eye that would see evil rather than good upon another: as Deut. 15:9. "Lest thine eye be evil against thy poor brother," &c. Prov. 23:6.
it is an eye that grudges another any thing that is ours. So Prov. 28:22. Mark 7:22.
7. Take heed of a passionate, cruel eye that kindles the hurting or reviling fire in thy breast, or is kindled by it: that fetches matter of rage or malice from all that displeases thee in another.
8. Take heed of a self-conceited and censorious eye, that looks on all the actions of another with quarrelling, undervaluing, censure, or reproach.
9. Take heed of a fond and fanciful eye, that falls in love too much with houses, or friend, or child, or goods, or whatsoever pleases it.
10. Take heed of a sleepy, sluggish eye that is shut to good, and had rather sleep than watch, and read, and pray, and labor.
11. Abhor a malignant eye, which looks with hatred on a godly man, and upon the holy assemblies and communion of saints, and upon holy actions; and can scarce see a man of exemplary zeal and holiness, but the heart rises against him, and could wish all such expelled or cut off from the earth.
This is the heart that hath the image of the devil in most lively colors he being the father of such, as Christ calleth him, John 8:44.
12. Abhor an hypocritical eye, which is lifted up to heaven, when the heart is on earth, on lusts, on honors, on sports or pleasure, or plotting mischief against the just. Know the evil and danger of all these diseases of the eye.
Direct. III. 'Remember that the eye being the noblest, and yet the most dangerous sense, must have the strictest watch.' Sight is often put in Scripture for all the senses: and living by sight is opposed to living or walking by faith. "We walk by faith, not by sight." And a sensual life is called, a "walking in the ways of our heart and in the sight of the eyes." An ungoverned eye doth shew the power of the ungoverned senses. Abundance of good or evil enters in by these doors: all lieth open if you guard not these.
Direct. IV. 'Remember that as your sin or duty, so your sorrow or joy do depend much on the government of your eyes:' and their present pleasure is the common way to after sorrow. What a flood of grief did David let into his heart by one unlawful look!
Direct. V. 'Remember that your eye is much of your honor or dishonor, because it is the index of your minds.' You see that which is next the mind itself, or the most immediate beam of the invisible soul, when you see the eye. How easily doth a wandering eye, a wanton eye, a proud eye, a luxurious eye, a malicious eye, a passionate eye bewray the treasure of sin which is in the heart! Your soul lieth opener to the view of others in your eye, than in any other part: your very reputation therefore should make you watch.
Direct. VI. 'Remember that your eye is of all the senses most subject to the will, and therefore there is the more of duty or sin in it:' for voluntariness is the requisite to morality, both good and evil. Your will cannot so easily command your feeling, tasting, hearing, or smelling, as it can your sight; so easily can it open or shut the eye in a moment, that you are the more inexcusable if it be not governed: for all its faults will be proved the more voluntary. Ham was cursed for not turning away his eyes from his father's shame, and Shem and Japhet blessed for doing it. The righteous is thus described,
"He that stopped his ears from hearing of blood, and shuts his eyes from seeing evil; he shall dwell on high." &c. Men's idols which they are commanded to cast away are called, "The abomination of their eyes." Covetousness is called, "The lust of the eyes." It is said of the unclean, that they have "eyes full of adulteries." And as sin, so punishment is placed on the eye: "The eyes of the lofty shall be humbled."
Yea, the whole bodies of the daughters of Zion are threatened to be dishonored with nakedness, scabs, and stink, and shame, because they walked with "wanton eyes, haughtily, and mincing as they go," &c.
Direct. VII. 'Therefore let believing reason, and a holy, resolved, fixed will, keep a continual law upon your eyes, and let them be used as under a constant government.' This Job calleth, the "making a covenant with them." Leave them not at liberty; as if a look had nothing in it of duty or sin; or as you might look on what you would.
Will you go to foolish, tempting plays, and gaze on vain, alluring objects, and think there is no harm in all this? Do you think your eye cannot sin as well as your tongue? undoubtedly it is much sin that is both committed by it, and enters at it: keep away therefore from the bait, or command your eye to turn away.
Direct. VIII. 'Remember still how much more easy and safe it is, to stop sin here at the gates and outworks, than to beat it out again when it is once got in:' if it have but tainted your very fantasy or memory, (as tempting sights will almost unavoidably do,) it hath there spawned the matter for a swarm of vain and sinful thoughts. Itis almost impossible to rule the thoughts without ruling the eye: and then the passions are presently tainted; and the citadel of the heart is taken before you are aware. You little know when a lustful look or a covetous look begins the game, to how sad a period it tends.
Many a horrid adultery, and murder, and robbery, and wickedness, hath begun but with a look: a look hath begun that which hath brought many a thousand to the gallows, and many millions to hell!
Direct. IX. 'Keep both eye and mind employed in continual duty, and let them not be idle, and have leisure to wander upon vanity.'Idleness and neglect of spiritual and corporal duty is the beginner and the nurse of much sensuality. Let your spiritual work and your lawful bodily labors, take up your time and thoughts, and command and keep your senses in their services.
Direct. X. 'Beg daily of God the preserving assistance of his grace and providence.' Of his inward grace to confirm you and assist you in your resolutions and watch; and of his providence and gracious disposals of you and objects, to keep the temptations from before your eyes; and when others will run and go on purpose, to gaze on vain or tempting shews, or to admire like children the vanities of the playful, pompous world, do you go to God with David's prayer. "Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity: and quicken me in thy way."
And imitate him. "Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate on thy word." And make every look a passage to thy mind, to carry it up to God, and pray: "Open thou mine eyes that I maybehold wondrous things out of thy law." Observe these, with the general directions forenamed.
Particular Directions for the Government of the Eyes
Direct. I. 'Know the uses that your sight is given you for.' As
1. To see the works of God, that thereby your minds may see God himself.
2. To read the Word of God, that therein you may perceive his mind.
3. To see the servants of God whom you must love, and the poor whom you must relieve or pity, and all the visible objects of your duty: to conduct your body in the discharge of its office about all the matters of the world: and in special often to look up towards heaven, the place where your blessed Lord is glorified, and whence he shall come
to take you to his glory.
Direct. II. 'Remember the sins which the eye is most in danger of, that you may be watchful and escape.'
1. You must take heed of a proud, and lofty, and scornful eye; which looks on yourselves with admiration and delight, as the peacock is said to do on his tail, and on others as below you with slighting and disdain.
2. You must take heed of a lustful, wanton eye, which secretly carries out your heart to a befooling piece of dirty flesh, and steals from beauty and ornaments a spark to kindle that fire which prepares for everlasting fire.
3. Take heed of a greedy, covetous eye, which with Achan and Gehazi looked on the bait
to tempt you to unlawful love and desire, and to bring you by their sin unto their ruin.
4. Take heed of a luxurious, gluttonous, and drunken eye; which is looking on the forbidden fruit, and on the tempting dish, and the delicious cup, till it have provoked the appetite of that greedy worm which must be pleased, though at the rate of thy damnation.
5. Take heed of a gazing, wandering eye, which, like a vagrant, hath no home, norwork, nor master, but gaddeth about to seek after death, and find out matter for temptation. "Wisdom is before him that hath understanding, but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth."
6. Take heed of an envious eye, which looks with dislike and discontent at the prosperity of others, especially such as stand cross to your own interest. "Is thine eye evil because I am good?" It is the envious eye, that in Scripture is called by the name of an evil eye,'πονρὸς ὂφθαλμος.' It is an eye that would see evil rather than good upon another: as Deut. 15:9. "Lest thine eye be evil against thy poor brother," &c. Prov. 23:6.
it is an eye that grudges another any thing that is ours. So Prov. 28:22. Mark 7:22.
7. Take heed of a passionate, cruel eye that kindles the hurting or reviling fire in thy breast, or is kindled by it: that fetches matter of rage or malice from all that displeases thee in another.
8. Take heed of a self-conceited and censorious eye, that looks on all the actions of another with quarrelling, undervaluing, censure, or reproach.
9. Take heed of a fond and fanciful eye, that falls in love too much with houses, or friend, or child, or goods, or whatsoever pleases it.
10. Take heed of a sleepy, sluggish eye that is shut to good, and had rather sleep than watch, and read, and pray, and labor.
11. Abhor a malignant eye, which looks with hatred on a godly man, and upon the holy assemblies and communion of saints, and upon holy actions; and can scarce see a man of exemplary zeal and holiness, but the heart rises against him, and could wish all such expelled or cut off from the earth.
This is the heart that hath the image of the devil in most lively colors he being the father of such, as Christ calleth him, John 8:44.
12. Abhor an hypocritical eye, which is lifted up to heaven, when the heart is on earth, on lusts, on honors, on sports or pleasure, or plotting mischief against the just. Know the evil and danger of all these diseases of the eye.
Direct. III. 'Remember that the eye being the noblest, and yet the most dangerous sense, must have the strictest watch.' Sight is often put in Scripture for all the senses: and living by sight is opposed to living or walking by faith. "We walk by faith, not by sight." And a sensual life is called, a "walking in the ways of our heart and in the sight of the eyes." An ungoverned eye doth shew the power of the ungoverned senses. Abundance of good or evil enters in by these doors: all lieth open if you guard not these.
Direct. IV. 'Remember that as your sin or duty, so your sorrow or joy do depend much on the government of your eyes:' and their present pleasure is the common way to after sorrow. What a flood of grief did David let into his heart by one unlawful look!
Direct. V. 'Remember that your eye is much of your honor or dishonor, because it is the index of your minds.' You see that which is next the mind itself, or the most immediate beam of the invisible soul, when you see the eye. How easily doth a wandering eye, a wanton eye, a proud eye, a luxurious eye, a malicious eye, a passionate eye bewray the treasure of sin which is in the heart! Your soul lieth opener to the view of others in your eye, than in any other part: your very reputation therefore should make you watch.
Direct. VI. 'Remember that your eye is of all the senses most subject to the will, and therefore there is the more of duty or sin in it:' for voluntariness is the requisite to morality, both good and evil. Your will cannot so easily command your feeling, tasting, hearing, or smelling, as it can your sight; so easily can it open or shut the eye in a moment, that you are the more inexcusable if it be not governed: for all its faults will be proved the more voluntary. Ham was cursed for not turning away his eyes from his father's shame, and Shem and Japhet blessed for doing it. The righteous is thus described,
"He that stopped his ears from hearing of blood, and shuts his eyes from seeing evil; he shall dwell on high." &c. Men's idols which they are commanded to cast away are called, "The abomination of their eyes." Covetousness is called, "The lust of the eyes." It is said of the unclean, that they have "eyes full of adulteries." And as sin, so punishment is placed on the eye: "The eyes of the lofty shall be humbled."
Yea, the whole bodies of the daughters of Zion are threatened to be dishonored with nakedness, scabs, and stink, and shame, because they walked with "wanton eyes, haughtily, and mincing as they go," &c.
Direct. VII. 'Therefore let believing reason, and a holy, resolved, fixed will, keep a continual law upon your eyes, and let them be used as under a constant government.' This Job calleth, the "making a covenant with them." Leave them not at liberty; as if a look had nothing in it of duty or sin; or as you might look on what you would.
Will you go to foolish, tempting plays, and gaze on vain, alluring objects, and think there is no harm in all this? Do you think your eye cannot sin as well as your tongue? undoubtedly it is much sin that is both committed by it, and enters at it: keep away therefore from the bait, or command your eye to turn away.
Direct. VIII. 'Remember still how much more easy and safe it is, to stop sin here at the gates and outworks, than to beat it out again when it is once got in:' if it have but tainted your very fantasy or memory, (as tempting sights will almost unavoidably do,) it hath there spawned the matter for a swarm of vain and sinful thoughts. Itis almost impossible to rule the thoughts without ruling the eye: and then the passions are presently tainted; and the citadel of the heart is taken before you are aware. You little know when a lustful look or a covetous look begins the game, to how sad a period it tends.
Many a horrid adultery, and murder, and robbery, and wickedness, hath begun but with a look: a look hath begun that which hath brought many a thousand to the gallows, and many millions to hell!
Direct. IX. 'Keep both eye and mind employed in continual duty, and let them not be idle, and have leisure to wander upon vanity.'Idleness and neglect of spiritual and corporal duty is the beginner and the nurse of much sensuality. Let your spiritual work and your lawful bodily labors, take up your time and thoughts, and command and keep your senses in their services.
Direct. X. 'Beg daily of God the preserving assistance of his grace and providence.' Of his inward grace to confirm you and assist you in your resolutions and watch; and of his providence and gracious disposals of you and objects, to keep the temptations from before your eyes; and when others will run and go on purpose, to gaze on vain or tempting shews, or to admire like children the vanities of the playful, pompous world, do you go to God with David's prayer. "Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity: and quicken me in thy way."
And imitate him. "Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate on thy word." And make every look a passage to thy mind, to carry it up to God, and pray: "Open thou mine eyes that I maybehold wondrous things out of thy law." Observe these, with the general directions forenamed.