Thought Life

Some quotes from Puritan Thomas Watson - The Great Gain of Godliness (Banner of Truth, 2008)

We cannot of ourselves think a good thought (2 Cor 3:5), but the Spirit elevates and fixes the heart on God: 'The Spirit lifted me up' (Ezek 3:14). When you see the iron move upward, you know there has been some magnet drawing it. So when the thoughts move upward towards God, the Spirit has, as a divine magnet, drawn them.' (p78)

Certainly God is best worth thinking on. Is there any excellency in the world? Then what is there in God that made it? He gives the star its beauty, the flower its fragrance, food its pleasantness; and if there such deliciousness in the creature, what is in God? He must needs be better than all. O my soul, shall I admire the drip and not the ocean? (p78)

Think of God's mercy: this makes all his other attributes sweet. Holiness without mercy, and justice without mercy, would be terrible. (p83)

No truer touchstone of sanctity exists than the spirituality of the thoughts. What a man is, that his thoughts are: 'For as he thinketh in his heart, so he is' (Prov 23:7). Thoughts are freer from hypocrisy than words. One may speak well for applause, or to stand right in the opinion of others; but when we are alone and think of God's Name, and admire his excellencies, this shows the heart to be right.

Thoughts are freer from hypocrisy than an unblamable life. A man may in his outward behaviour be fair, yet have a covetous, revengeful mind. The acts of sin may be conceived when the heart sits brooding upon sin, but to have thoughts spiritualised and set upon God is a truer sympton of sincerity, than a life free from vice. Christians what do your thoughts run upon? Where do they make their most frequent visits? (p85)

We judge men by their actions; Gods judges them by their thoughts. (p85)

O saints, do but let your thoughts dwell upon the love of Christ, who passed by angels and thought of you; who was wounded that, out of his wounds, the balm of Gilead might come to heal you; who leaped into the sea of his Father's wrath, to save you from drowning. Think of this unparalled love which sets the angels wondering, and see if it will not affect your hearts and cause tears to flow forth. (p87)

...by contemplating God's holiness, we are in some measure changed into his likeness: 'Beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, we are changed into the same image' (2 Cor 3:18).

Some complain that they have no joy in their lives; and truly, no wonder, when they are such strangers to heavenly contemplation. Would you have God give you comfort, and never think of him? (p88)

The thoughts we have of God in the time of health, will be a comfort to us in the time of sickness.' (p88)

Our thoughts of God shall not be lost. God accepts the thought for the deed. David had a good thought come into his mind to build God a house, and God took it as kindly as if he had done it: 'Forasmuch as it was in thine heart to build a house for my name, thou didst well in that it was in thy heart' (2 Chron 6:8). p89