Religion our true interest, or, Practical notes upon the third chapter of Malachi the…Religion our true interest, or, Practical notes upon the third chapter of Malachy the…

4. To have frequent and Devout Thoughts of God witnesseth Sincerity. No truer Touchstone of Sanctity, than the Spirituality of the Thoughts: that a man is, that his Thoughts are, Prov. 23.7. For as he thinketh in his Heart so is he. Thoughts are freer from Hypocrisy than words: one may speak well for applause, or to stand right in the Opinion of others; but when we are alone and think of Gods Name, and admire his Excellencies, this shows the Heart to be Right. Thoughts are freer ⟨p. 117⟩from Hypocrisy than an Unblamable Life. A man may in his outward carriage be fair, yet have a Covetous, Revengeful mind. The Acts of Sin may be forborne, when the Heart sits brooding upon Sin; but to have the Thoughts Spiritualized and set upon God, is a truer Symptom of sincerity, than a Life free from Vice. Christians, what do your Thoughts run upon? where do they make their most frequent Visits? can you say, Lord, our Hearts are still Mounting up to Heaven, our Thoughts are lodged in Paradise; though we do not see thy face, yet we think on thy Name? this is a good Evidence of Sincerity. We Judge of men by their Actions; God Judgeth of them by their Thoughts.

4. To have frequent and Devout Thoughts of God witnesseth Sincerity. No truer Touchstone of Sanctity, than the Spirituality of the Thoughts: that a man is, that his Thoughts are, Prov. 23.7. For as he thinketh in his Heart so is he. Thoughts are freer from Hypocrisie than words: one may speak well for applause, or to stand right in the Opinion of others; but when we are alone and think of Gods Name, and admire his Excellencies, this shews the Heart to be Right. Thoughts are freer ⟨p. 117⟩from Hypocrisie than an Unblamable Life. A man may in his outward carriage be fair, yet have a Covetous, Revengeful mind. The Acts of Sin may be forborn, when the Heart sits brooding upon Sin; but to have the Thoughts Spiritualized and set upon God, is a truer Symptom of sincerity, than a Life free from Vice. Christians, what do your Thoughts run upon? where do they make their most frequent Visits? can you say, Lord, our Hearts are still Mounting up to Heaven, our Thoughts are lodg'd in Paradise; though we do not see thy face, yet we think on thy Name? this is a good Evidence of Sincerity. We Judge of men by their Actions; God Judgeth of them by their Thoughts.