The Vanity of Thoughts

How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee?

—Jeremiah 4:14

Our minds are constantly flooded with unwelcome ideas in this age of information and entertainment. In The Vanity of Thoughts, Thomas Goodwin challenges us to fight these frivolous and sinful mental companions. This timely reminder about the importance of mind renewal paves a path to bringing every thought captive to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

Part of the Puritan Treasures for Today Series

As people seek a more satisfying and authentic faith, interest in the Puritans continues to grow. This series presents Puritan books that are carefully edited with modern readers in mind—difficult phrases are smoothed out while the authors' meaning is maintained. These books have been thoughtfully selected to provide some of the best counsel on important subjects that people continue to wrestle with today.

Introducing Thomas Goodwin

Thomas Goodwin (1600–1680) was a Puritan minister at the Westminster Assembly and a prominent member of the Savoy Assembly of Congregational Elders and Messengers. He faithfully served as pastor to the Fetter Lane Independent Church in London and wrote dozens of rich theological and practical works.

1. Opening Credits
2. Preface
3. Introduction
4. Chapter 1: The Nature of Thoughts
5. Chapter 2: The Meaning of Vanity
6. Chapter 3: Reluctance toward Good Thoughts
7. Chapter 4: Evil Thoughts
8. Chapter 5: Sinful Imaginations
9. Chapter 6: Practical Uses
10. Chapter 7: Remedies against Vain Thoughts
11. Appendix: How Thoughts Reveal Our Hearts
12. Closing Credits