even by imparting to each other the workings of our hearts, stir up unhallowed passions, and suggest thoughts that may be exceedingly injurious to the soul. We should " set a watch before the door of our mouths," and even "make a covenant with our eyes," in order to shut out evil from our own hearts, and keep from exciting it in the hearts of others.
We should frequently meditate upon the Holy Scriptures. David found this a good antidote to evil thoughts g. The Scriptures have in themselves an efficacy to purify the heart, when they are applied to us by the powerful energy of the Holy Ghosth: besides which, the more we are filled with holy thoughts, the less room will be left for the intrusion of evil1. Being intent on the promises of God, we shall more easily cleanse ourselves from all filthiness, both of flesh and spirit k.
Lastly, we should " diligently keep our hearts1." The heart is the womb in which all evils are generated"1; and we must watch all its motions, if we would keep it pure. The very instant any evil arises there, we must expel it : if we cannot prevent its entrance, we must take care it do not " lodge within us."]
2. It must be done —
[God notices our thoughts as much as he does our actions"; and he considers them as characterizing our state before him. " As we think in our hearts, so are we0 ;" we are either hypo- critical and vile, or pure and holy, according as we indulge, or abhor, the hidden abominations of our hearts.
Thoughts as really lead to death as actions themselves do? : and they may be so evil in the sight of God as to render it doubtful whether they shall ever be forgiven^. They must therefore be repented of as much as actions1: and, if they be not repented of, they will inevitably exclude us from the king- dom of heaven. This is strongly intimated in the text, since the mortifying of them is declared to be necessary to salvation: and the same awful truth is taught by our Lord himself, who represents the pure in heart " as the only persons who shall see Gods."
The very manner in ivhich God addresses us in the text, is a very striking proof of the necessity which lies upon us to sub- due the evil workings of our hearts. Wherefore is all this tenderness in the exhortation, but because God, who willeth
g Ps. cxix. 113. h 2 Cor. x. 4, 5. * See Luke xi. 24—26.
k 2 Cor. vii. 1. > Prov. iv. 23. m Matt. xv. 19.
n Ps. 1. 21. Ezek. xi. 5. ° Prov. xxiii. 7. with Matt. xii. 35.
p Jam. i. 15. <i Acts viii. 22. r Acts viii. 22.
8 Matt. v. 8.