Our Saviour shows the filthiness of the heart, by that which proceeds out of the mouth, Mat. 15.18. Those things which proceed out of the mouth, come from the heart. And v. 19. Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, &c. Observe. Of all evils we account evil thoughts the least. This we think strange, what, thoughts defile a man? what, so light a matter as a thought? Can they make any impression? Yes, and defile a man too, leaving such a spot behind them, which nothing but the hot blood of Christ can wash away. So many evil thoughts, so many blasphemies, so many filthy things come from the heart, every one being a new defilement and pollution that a man is made so nasty by it and filthy, that he cannot believe that it is so bad with him, as indeed it is. the Apostle having shown the Corinthians their former life, and exhorted them against it, 1 Cor. 6. goes on cap. 7. v. 1. Let us cleanse our selves from all filthiness of the flesh, and spirit. Mark then, there is a double filthiness, a filthiness of the flesh, and a filthinest of the spirit. The filthiness of the flesh, that every one acknowledgeth to be filthy carnality, Fornication, and Adultery, &c. These bestial lusts every one knows to be unclean. But then there is a filth of the Spirit too, and such are evil thoughts. They are the filth of the Spirit. Corruptio optimi est pessima. The corruption which cleaves to the best thing is worst. The Soul is the Best thing, the most noble thing; the filthiness, which cleaves to it therefore must needs be the greatest. Fleshly filthiness, as Adultery, is filthy; but Contemplative Adultery, to dwell thereon, is worse: however such a man may be pure from the filth of the flesh, yet if he delight himself in filthy thoughts, his spirit is abominable in the sight of God: There is a stain by every one of thy impure thoughts left behind. However an actual sin be far greater then the sin of a thought, yet if that be but once committed, and these are frequently in thee; if thou alway lie tumbling in the suds of thy filthy thoughts, thy continuing therein makes thy sin more abominable, then Davids outward act, which he but once committed. So that we see there is a filthiness of the spirit, as well as the flesh. In James 1.21. we have a word sets out the filthiness of it, which is (Superfluity.) Lay apart (saith he) all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness.
Our Saviour shews the filthiness of the heart, by that which proceeds out of the mouth, Mat. 15.18. Those things which proceed out of the mouth, come from the heart. And v. 19. Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, &c. Observe. Of all evils we account evil thoughts the least. This we think strange, what, thoughts defile a man? what, so light a matter as a thought? Can they make any impression? Yes, and defile a man too, leaving soch a spot behind them, which nothing but the hot blood of Christ can wash away. So many evil thoughts, so many blasphemies, so many filthy things come from the heart, every one being a new defilement and pollution that a man is made so nasty by it and filthy, that he cannot believe that it is so bad with him, as indeed it is. the Apostle having shewn the Corinthians their former life, and exhorted them against it, 1 Cor. 6. goes on cap. 7. v. 1. Let us cleanse our selves from all filthiness of the flesh, and spirit. Mark then, there is a double filthiness, a filthiness of the flesh, and a filthinest of the spirit. The filthiness of the flesh, that every one acknowledgeth to be filthy carnality, Fornication, and Adultery, &c. These bestial lusts every one knows to be unclean. But then there is a filth of the Spirit too, and such are evil thoughts. They are the filth of the Spirit. Corruptio optimi est pessima. The corruption which cleaves to the best thing is worst. The Soul is the Best thing, the most noble thing; the filthiness, which cleaves to it therefore must needs be the greatest. Fleshly filthiness, as Adultery, is filthy; but Contemplative Adultery, to dwell thereon, is worse: however such a man may be pure from the filth of the flesh, yet if he delight himself in filthy thoughts, his spirit is abominable in the sight of God: There is a stain by every one of thy impure thoughts left behind. However an actual sin be far greater then the sin of a thought, yet if that be but once committed, and these are frequently in thee; if thou alway lie tumbling in the suds of thy filthy thoughts, thy continuing therein makes thy sin more abominable, then Davids outward act, which he but once committed. So that we see there is a filthiness of the spirit, as well as the flesh. In James 1.21. we have a word sets out the filthiness of it, which is (Superfluity.) Lay apart (saith he) all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness.
