Guarding Your Thoughts
Commentary
The Vanity of Thoughts is part of the Puritan Treasures for Today series published by Reformation Heritage. This series is aimed at the modern reader as the language is edited to more contemporary English. One interesting thing to note is that, despite “smoothing out difficult language of a bygone era” the book still quotes the King James Version of the Bible, making the quoted verses feel a little left behind while the rest is dressed in a new outfit. Despite this, Goodwin’s book is profoundly practical for the Christian today.
This book is part of an exposition of Jeremiah 4:14: “How long shall your evil thoughts lodge within you?” Goodwin sets out to “show the wickedness and the vanity of the heart by nature, particularly the vanity of thoughts” and posits that “it is not what thoughts pass through your hearts but those which lodge or dwell in your hearts that show your true repentance.” He is endeavoring where most pastors refuse or fail to go…into the secret workings of the mind of the believer. It is Goodwin’s position that the way in which we choose to use our minds can be sinful and we must fight against our very nature to avoid this. We have a natural tendency to shy away from good thoughts and to focus and dwell on evil thoughts. If we are not diligent to avoid this, we naturally slip into this tendency. In chapter four, Goodwin focuses on evil thoughts. First, he defines foolish thoughts as those which are disjointed and cause our minds to toss to and fro or worse yet, to focus on nothing at all. It is in these times that our enemy takes advantage and fills the gap. Ironically, while we must wage war against our reluctance to focus on good, we have no such problem focusing on evil thoughts. In fact, we are experts at this by nature. Additionally, Goodwin speaks about the importance of imagination, devoting an entire chapter to it. He argues that we can use our imaginations to focus on the comforts of the present, relive sins of the past, look forward to the indulgences we may enjoy in the future, or to just make up an alternative reality. Any of these are a misuse of our minds. In terms of practicality, he says we should have two primary responses to the discovery of the vanity of our thoughts. First, we respond in humility. Second, we are mindful to keep guard over our thoughts. Chapter seven is arguably the most beneficial, where Goodwin lays out remedies against vain thoughts. His first remedy is to store up heavenly truth. In other words, fill your mind with God’s word and the spiritual knowledge of things above. If we do so, when we find ourselves alone (the time our minds are most prone to wander) these thoughts of God and His word will guard our minds and push out evil thoughts. Another area he mentions is to start your day with the Lord. This fills the first fruits of your mind with godly affections before the world fills it with busyness and evil.
There is one area in which I disagree with Goodwin. On page 33, under the section on curious thoughts and the evil within, he sets aside a paragraph to chastise any reading outside of the Bible and spiritual topics of sound knowledge which profit ourselves and others. I would argue that a regimented reading plan, including fiction, through a biblical perspective is profitable as well. Furthermore, I do not believe the scriptures make it normative to avoid all forms of entertainment. It is not inherently sinful to partake in something entertaining such as reading a good book. It is more what you do with it and how you view it in light of scripture that can cause the problem. Goodwin calls this type of reading “curious fancies.” In this, I believe he misses the mark.
I must say though, this book surprised me. I had low expectations but found it to be a joy to read and overwhelmingly applicable to my own daily life. I’m sure other believers will experience the same. On another note, I will certainly read more from this series in the future. I believe they have struck a solid balance that will serve as a gateway to believers reading the Puritans and what could be wrong with that? In fact, this is one of seven books found in RTP’s “Where to Start” reading list.
Structure of the Book
The book is divided into 7 chapters and 1 appendix:
The Nature of Thoughts
The Meaning of Vanity
Reluctance Toward Good Thoughts
Evil Thoughts
Sinful Imaginations
Practical Uses
Remedies Against Vain Thoughts
Appendix: How Thoughts Reveal Our Hearts
Five Key Quotes
“Our thoughts are the first movers that propose all the evil that is within us.”
“The vanity of the mind also appears in curiosity, a longing and itching to know things that do not concern us.”
“The things we ought to know, and which do concern us, are themselves enough to take up all our thoughts.”
“God proclaims Himself the sole Lord of our thoughts, for one of His attributes is that He knows and judges the thoughts of men.”
“To prevent vain thoughts arising from an empty mind, fill your heart in the morning with thoughts of God.”
Recommended Complementary Reading
Spiritual Mindedness by John Owen
The Art of Divine Meditation by Edmund Calamy
A Christian on the Mount by Thomas Watson
God’s Battle Plan for the Mind: The Puritan Practice of Biblical Meditation by David Saxton (honorary puritan)
