Practical truths tending to promote the power of godliness

Again, sinful thoughts are esteemed small evils, but I must tell you, that vain thoughts, and much more vile unclean thoughts, if indulged and delighted in, may hinder the Salvation of a mans Soul. Witness that Scripture, Jer. 4.14. O Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved▪ how long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee? so that there is more then a little danger, in those evils, which men account little sins.

Again, sinful thoughts are esteemed small evils, but I must tell you, that vain thoughts, and much more vile unclean thoughts, if indulged and delighted in, may hinder the Salvation of a mans Soul. Witness that Scripture, Jer. 4.14. O Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness, that thou mayist be saved▪ how long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee? so that there is more then a little danger, in those evils, which men account little sins.

Inst. 3. If sleeping at Sermons be such an evil as hath been evinced, there is then cause to fear, that the Lord hath been contending with his People in this Land, by awful Judgements, partly on the account of this iniquity.

The late Synod, who convened on purpose, to ⟨p. 213⟩enquire into the causes of the Lords controversy with New-England, have mentioned this amongst many other provoking evils. And there is great reason to think, that, that holy God who will not hold the takers of his Name in vain guiltless, hath been not a little displeased for this sin, Inasmuch as it is a common evil. I doubt it may be said, that there are many such offenders in almost every Congregation throughout the Land. I must confess to my exceeding joy, that there are as few sleepers at Sermons, in this Congregation, as in any that I have observed in the Country; yet there are some and too many. It is a sin, which Professors and Church-members (as well as others) are guilty of; and 'tis past doubt, that it hath been for their sins in a more peculiar manner, even for the provoking of his Sons, and of his Daughters; that God hath sent the Sword, Fire, and Death amongst us. This is a sin, which is not punished by men, but therefore the Lord himself will visit for it. And truly some of those awful Judgements, which we have sadly experienced, seem to have a special respect unto this sin. Those fearful and amazing voices in the Heavens, even Thunderings and Lightnings, which have caused many amongst us to be horribly afraid; and some have (like Eutychus) been taken up dead, the Thunder of God having killed them in a moment; hath not the Lord sent them usually upon the very day when Sermons