Evil Thoughts By Charles Simeon
Deal with each man according to all he does, since you know
his heart, for you alone know the hearts of all men. 1 Kings
Chapter 8 Verse 39 O righteous God, you who examine inner thoughts
and motives. Psalm Chapter 7 Verse 9 The Lord
knows our thoughts. Psalm chapter 94 verse 11. The thoughts of the wicked are
an abomination to the Lord. Proverbs chapter 15 verse 26. Their thoughts are evil thoughts.
Isaiah chapter 59 verse 7. How long will you harbor wicked
thoughts? Jeremiah chapter 4 verse 14.
Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, why do you entertain evil
thoughts in your hearts? Matthew chapter 9 verse 4 The
very thoughts of our hearts are all open and laid bare before
the eyes of Him to whom we must give account, and He regards
them as infallible marks of the state of our souls. Those thoughts
indeed which are rejected instantly with indignation, do not leave
any stain upon the soul, but those evil thoughts which are
in the least degree harboured and indulged, most assuredly
defile us. We are told that, the very thought
of foolishness is sin. Proverbs chapter 24 verse 9. And Simon Magus was exhorted
to pray that the thoughts of his heart might be forgiven.
Acts chapter 8 verse 22. Indeed it is, but a small part
of the wickedness of the heart that reveals itself by words
and actions. All sin is first conceived in
the imagination, and much of it lies buried there for lack
of an opportunity to break forth. Who can number the proud thoughts,
the impure thoughts, the unloving thoughts, the revengeful thoughts,
the unbelieving thoughts, and the vain thoughts that often
lodge in the soul? Who can estimate the guilt which
we contract by means of them? It is worthy of remark that these
are the very things whereby our Lord Himself says that the heart
is defiled. For from within, out of men's
hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery,
greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and
folly. All these evil things come from
within and defile a man. Mark chapter 7 verses 21 to 22. These are the wicked things which,
when brought to maturity, fill the world with adulteries, murders,
and all manner of abominations. Search me, O God, and know my
heart, test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any
wicked way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way. Psalm
139 verses 23-24