Mark vii. 14 — 16. And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand •' there is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him : but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man. If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.
IT is by no means uncommon to see an excessive attachment to human institutions in those who have
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very little regard for the laws of God. Persons of this description are ever eager to censure a trifling deviation from some foolish custom, while they allow themselves in a constant violation of the most impor- tant duties. They strain at a gnat and swallow a camel. Such were the Pharisees of old : they had condemned our Lord's Disciples for not complying with their traditions ; our Lord therefore first exposed their hypocrisy, and then vindicated his followers by a very apposite parable —
In illustration of the parable we shall endeavour to shew, I. What it is which defiles the soul —
Our Lord observes, that "whatsoever entereth into a man cannot defile him :" not but that a man is defiled by drunkenness and excess ; but it is the dis- position which is indulged, and not the mere act of eating or drinking that constitutes that defilement. As the heart is the seat of spiritual defilement, so that alone which proceeds from it or resides in it, can render man unclean in the sight of God. The things therefore which defile a man are,
Evil words—
[These proceed out of the abundance of the heart ; and alas! what " filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness" do they betray ! What a want of reverence for the Deity is discovered by profane words ! Well does God say, that " He will not hold those guiltless" who utter them. Angry and passionate expressions manifest a murderous rancour in the heart a; and justly subject those who use them to the punishment of hell- fire b. Lying is held in abhorrence even by those who are most addicted to the practice of it : nor can persons who give way to it have any portion in the kingdom of heaven0. Who would augur well of that heart, which gives vent to slander and calumny ? or who does not approve the sentence of ex- cision, which David had decreed against those who should be notoriously addicted to such habits d ? Pleasing as flattery is to our vain minds, every one is disgusted with it except when it bears the semblance of truth ; nor will God fail to punish those who so basely prostitute the powers of speeche. Even
a 1 John iii. 15. b JVIatt. v. 22. c Rev. xxii. 15.
d Ps. ci. 5. e ps, xii# 3;
1429.] THE MEANS OF SPIRITUAL DEFILEMENT. Oo
an idle word is odious in the sight of God ; and a strict account of it shall be rendered in the day of judgment f.]
Evil dispositions —
[There is not any thing more sordid and grovelling than a worldly and covetous disposition. The object of its desire is always stigmatized by the name of "filthy lucre." As for envy, it is justly represented as rottenness in the bones g. It even operates as a disorder to reduce our bodily frame, at the same time that it wastes and destroys the soul. Censoriousness is nearly allied to this ; and no less indicates a narrow, selfish, and base mind. What stronger symptom of internal depravity can there be than a peevish, discontented, murmuring spirit? Even Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of those who should indulge such a temper, that God would execute his judgments upon them'1. Levity is less hateful indeed; but it argues an unmindfulness of the Divine presence, and a state of soul very unbecoming those who are on the brink and precipice of eternity. Nor is sloth by any means a small indication of a corrupt heart : it enervates all our powers, and unfits us for the service either of God or man. In what light our Lord regards this disposition we clearly see by that address of his, " Thou wicked and slothful servant:" " Cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness."]