Joseph A. Benton Collection

(2) [centered]

current of the thoughts of his heart give him character – that he is good or bad – according to the course & tenor of his thoughts – that what he thinks & cherishes in his heart he is in his heart ~

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Doc. [Doctrine] of text then which I shall dwell on is that – Trains of thought indulged in – cherished – loved go to fix habits – from character – fashion – the heart – In this sense – "As a man &c. [etc.]"

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Look at one indulging – Say – 1 Vain thoughts. Ever intent on gossip – scandal – trifles of every kind –. Vapid schemes – unimportant particulars – dress – fashion –

(3) [centered]

Display – artifice – deception – trickery – "Tell or hear some new thing" – Castle building – fancy scheming &c. [etc.] – What do the become – but any nothings? – Visionaries – fortunehunters – proud – conceited – supercilious unbearable – sinful – next wicked ~

"The Thought of foolishness is Sin." "How long shall vain thoughts lodge in thee"? "The L. [Lord] knoweth t. [the] thots [thoughts] of man that they are vanity." I hate vain tho'ts [thoughts] – but thy law do I love ~

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2 Selfish Thoughts. Always I & me uppermost – all centers here. Cant [Can't] relieve a beggar without thinking how it will effect me. An item of intelligence – –. Whatever occurs his first thought how can I profit by it? – manage to get something?

(4) [centered]

So thinking he acts only for himself. Magnifies himself into every thing – over every thing –. He is for all – all for him. Cares for nothing wh. [which] is not for him. Takes care there is nothing not for him. Good specimen of a Centheistic god. (Side walks) (Struts) ("Ins & outs") "Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts." "God is not in all his thoughts." ~ 3. Lewd thoughts – driving away a good conscious ~ A vile imagination & a tender conscious do not dwell in the same bosom, long: they are mortal enemies. Loves to revel in imaginary scenes of indulgence cherishes libidinous desires – excites a polluted imagination ~

(5) [centered]

Thus excites his evil propent^s [propensity] Breaks, down nature's barriers – Blunts mor. [moral] suscep^s [susceptibility] – Hardens heart – is ready for all dissipations & indulgences – When chance comes – many seek them. Goes down hill – is lost ~ "If thou has thot [thought] evil levy their hand or mouth. "Tho'ts [Thoughts] of t. [the] wicked one an abomination." "The imagin. [imgination] of t. [the] thoughts of his heart was only evil"

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4 Thoughts of ill-will, malice &c. [etc.] Broods over wrongs real or im-agined – whets [what's] the point of his dis-traction & madness – want his resorted into new life – hatched scorpions –

(6) [centered]

& strikes with unwound rage at every foe fancied, or real. Makes a monster of himself – odious – unloved. Hateful & hating one another – Cursing – and accused ~ "Then feet run to evil – then tho'ts [thoughts] are thought of inigrety.

5. Discontented, Complaining, thoughts. Ever dwelling on something to make them restless – longing – ill-foreboding – Thinking so – soon believe they are most ill-used by every body – world is all against them – & Providence too – & finally do set all against them. – So unlovely ~ Distrustful – repining – unthankful – disobedient, unsubmissive, defying. Complain vs. God for taking away idol – & by then wrong feelings compelling Him to afflict them still more ~