A Plain Discourse on Vain Thoughts, Doctrine 1 · Part 5
THUS much for the third ſort of Vain Thoughts. viz. Concerning JESUS CHRIST.
4. THERE are Vain Thoughts in the hearts of Sinners concerning Sin, which are great hindrances of their being Saved. They take up ſuch apprehenſions of Sin as make them more eaſily to venture upon the Commiſſion of it, and more indifferent about the Repenting of it. All ſuch notions of Sin, which tend to reconcile us to Sin, are moſt ruinous to Men's Souls. Some Vain Thoughts of this nature, may be here inſtanced in,
1. 'TIS a Vain Thought, That Heart Sins are not Damning. This is the Thought of ſome Hypocritical Perſons, who are careful to avoid outward Sins; but are regardleſs of inwa…d Sins, Matth. 23.25. The Hypocrite is not upon his Watch and Guard againſt Heart-Sins, and yet he cheriſhes hopes of Heaven. This ſhows that he does not think his Heart-Sins will prove his Eternal ruin, while he is externally a blameleſs Liver. And how many are there that ſeem to fear groſs acts of Sin, and to be troubled for them if they fall into them, who yet can eaſily allow themſelves in ſinful Frames of Heart, i… ſinful Tho'ts Deſires, &c▪ And whence is it the Men are thus eaſy under the workings of ſinful Luſts in their Hearts? It muſt … becauſe they do not apprehend much danger in them▪ They ſecretly imagine that theſe intent Sins do unexpoſe there to the Damnation of Hell: … this is a Vain Thoughts.
For,
1. HEART-SINS … exceeding provoking to GOD as well as other Sins. Men are apt to think the GOD is not much offended at thoſe Sins which are acted only in the Heart: But this is a ver… great Miſtake; Heart-Sins do render Men … abominable in the Sight of GOD: And therefore our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, does denounce … dreadful Woes againſt Men on the account of theſe Heart-Sins; Matth. 23.27, 28. We unto you Scrib… and Phariſees, Hypocrites; for ye are like unto which Sepulch…es, which indeed appear beautiful outwork but are within full of Dead Men's Bones, and of all uncleanneſs. Even ſo ye alſo outwardly appear righteous unto Men, but within they are full of hypocriſy and iniquity. Chriſt here arraigns, and condemns and threatens them, not for viſible and ſcandalous Sins; but for Heart-Iniquities. And we … of GOD's moſt ſevere Puniſhing an evil Intention, though never Executed, Pſal. 21.10, 11. Their fruit ſhalt thou deſtroy from the Earth, and th… ſeed from among the Children of Men. For they intended evil against thee; they imagined a miſchiev… device which they are not able in perform. No… there are ſcarce …ny Sins more diſpleaſing to GOD than many Heart-Sins are; ſuch as Unbelie… Pride, Covetouſneſs, Malice, &c.
2. HEART-SINS need to be Repented of us well as other Sins. GOD does as much Command Men to Repent of their Heart-Sins, as of the Sins of their Lips and Lives, Iſa. 55.7. Let the wicked forſake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. Repentance for ſinful Thoughts is here called for in order to pardon. And thus in our Context GOD call upon Jeruſalem to Waſh their hearts from wickedneſs, that they might be ſaved. Thus alſo the Apoſtle Peter Exhorts Simon Magus, Acts. 8.22. Repent therefore of this thy wickedneſs, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. Heart-Sins then need forgiveneſs, and moſt be repented of in order to forgiveneſs. Which ſhows that they are of a Damning Nature, and will iſſue in Damnation if not Repented of. For the deſign of GOD in requiring Repentance is, that iniquity might not, prove the Sinners ruin, Ezek. 18 30.
3. HEART-SINS will as certainly be brought into Judgment as other Sins. Though Heart-Sins may eſcape the Knowledge of Men, yet they do not eſcape the Knowledge of GOD: And He obſerves them with a purpoſe to call Men to an Account for them. Jer. 17.9.10. The heart …s deceitful above all things and deſperately wicked, who can know it? I the Lord ſearch the he…rt, I try the …rei…s, even to give every man according to his ways. In the Day of Judgment, the Lord will bring to light the hidden things of darkneſs, and w…ll make manifest the Counſels of the Heart, 1 Cor. 4.5. In that Day, God will bring every work into Judgment, with every ſ…et thing whether it be good or evil▪ Eccl. 12.14. Not only ſhall the ſinful Speeches and Deeds of Sinners he brought into Judgment; but alſo their ſinful Thoughts, Deſires, Deſigns▪ &c. The very ſecrets of their Hearts ſhall then … diſcloſed; Rom. 2.16. In the Day when Go… ſhall Judge the ſecrets of man, by Jeſus Chriſt. Such will be the ca…ctneſs of the laſt Judgment, as that the moſt concealed iniquities ſhall be laid open. Now, if Heart-Sins will be brought into Judgment, it will be into a Judgment of Condemnat…on, and not of Approbation. Such as ſhall the… be found under the Guilt of will be condemned and puniſhed for them, as well as for the other Sins they ſtand guilty of.
WE ſee then, That 'tis a Vain Thought tha… Heart-Sins are not Damning. Let us not the… ſuffer this Vain Thought to lodge in our Hearts▪ But on the other hand, let it be our fixed perſwaſion that all the Workings of Sin in the Heart, though they break not forth into outward acts, do expoſe us to the Eternal Wrath of GOD: And let this thought be improved by us unto deep Humiliation before GOD for our Heart-Sins. Le… us confeſs them, bewail them and fly to the Blood of Chriſt for the Pardon of them. Let it alſo put us upon diligent watchfulneſs againſt Heart-Sins for the time to come. In this reſpect let u… Keep our hearts with all Diligence, Prov. 4.23. Keep them from being defiled with Proud, Unclea… Malicious, Revengful Thoughts, &c. Such Mourning for Heart-Sins, and watchfulneſs againſt them will be a gracious Evidence of our Sincerity. Hypocrites may be very careful to keep their outſide clean. But Upright Men only are careful to keep their inſide pure & clean. An earneſt deſire of, and endeavour after purity of heart, is one of the beſt Characters of one whoſe heart is right with GOD.