3. We are accountable to God, and punishable for thoughts. Nothing is the meritorious cause of God's wrath but sin. The Text tells us, that they were once the keys, which opened the floodgates of divine vengeance and broached both the upper & nether Cisterns, to overflow the world. If they need a pardon*, (as certainly they do) then, if mercy doth not pardon them, justice will condemn them. And 'tis absolutely said, that a man of wicked devices *[or thoughts] God will condemn. 'Tis God's prerogative, often mentioned in Scripture, to search the heart. To what purpose, if the acts of it did not fall under His censure, as well as His cognizance? He weighs the Spirits, Prov. 16.2. in the balance of His Sanctuary, and by the weights of His Law, to sentence them, if they be found too light. The word doth discover, and judge them; Heb. 4.12, 13. It divides asunder the soul and spirit, the sensitive part the affections, and the rational the understanding and will; both which it doth dissect, and open, and judge the acts of them, even the thoughts and intents, [Greek or Hebrew], whatsoever is within the [Greek or Hebrew] and whatsoever is within the [Greek or Hebrew], the one referring to the Soul, the other to the Spirit: These it passeth a Judgment upon; as a Critic censures the Errata's, even to syllables, and Letters, in an old Manuscript. These we are to render an account of, (as the Syriac renders those words, v. 13. with whom we have to do.) Of what? Of the first bubblings of the heart, the motions, and intents of it. The least Speck and Atom of dust in every chink ⟨p. 7⟩of this little world is known and censured by God. If our thoughts be not judged, God would not be a righteous judge. He would not judge according to the merit of the cause, if outward actions were only scanned, without regarding the intents, wherein the principle and end of every action lies, which either swell or diminish the malignity of it. Actions in kind the same, may have different circumstances in the thoughts to heighten the one above the other; and if they were only judged, the most painted hypocrite might commence a blessed spirit at last, as well as the exactest Saint. 'Tis necessary also for the Glory of God's omniscience. 3'Tis hereby chiefly that the extensiveness of God's knowledge is discovered, and that in order to the praise, or dispraise of men, viz.
3. We are accountable to God, and punishable for thoughts. Nothing is the meritorious cause of God's wrath but sin. The Text tells us, that they were once the keys, which opened the floudgates of divine vengeance and broach'd both the upper & neather Cisterns, to overflow the world. If they need a pardon*, (as certainly they do) then, if mercy doth not pardon them, justice will condemn them. And 'tis absolutely said, that a man of wicked devices *[or thoughts] God will condemn. 'Tis God's prerogative, often mentioned in Scripture, to search the heart. To what purpose, if the acts of it did not fall under His censure, as well as His cognizance? He weighs the Spirits, Prov. 16.2. in the ballance of His Sanctuary, and by the weights of His Law, to sentence them, if they be found too light. The word doth discover, and judge them; Heb. 4.12, 13. It divides asunder the soul and spirit, the sensitive part the affections, and the rational the understanding and will; both which it doth dissect, and open, and judge the acts of them, even the thoughts and intents, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, whatsoever is within the 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 and whatsoever is within the 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, the one referring to the Soul, the other to the Spirit: These it passeth a Judgment upon; as a Critick censures the Errata's, even to syllables, and Letters, in an old Manuscript. These we are to render an account of, (as the Syriack renders those words, v. 13. with whom we have to do.) Of what? Of the first bubblings of the heart, the motions, and intents of it. The least Speck and Atome of dust in every chink ⟨p. 7⟩of this little world is known and censured by God. If our thoughts be not judged, God would not be a righteous judge. He would not judge according to the merit of the cause, if outward actions were only scann'd, without regarding the intents, wherein the principle and end of every action lies, which either swell or diminish the malignity of it. Actions in kind the same, may have different circumstances in the thoughts to heighten the one above the other; and if they were only judged, the most painted hypocrite might commence a blessed spirit at last, as well as the exactest Saint. 'Tis necessary also for the Glory of God's omniscience.
- *Acts 8.22. If perhaps the thought of thy heart may be forgiven thee.
- *Prov. 12.2. [Greek or Hebrew] A man of thoughts, i. e. evil thoughts: the word being usually taken in an ill sense. [Greek or Hebrew].Prov. 12.2. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 A man of thoughts, i. e. evil thoughts: the word being usually taken in an ill sense. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉.
- 31 Cor. 4.5.
