The truly blessed man

3. The sins of Thought. Many are ready to say, that though they have had and entertained thoughts of sin, […] if they have kept them from breaking out into deeds, they are innocent: but how awfully are they mistaken on this account? we read, ⟨p. 199⟩Prov. 24.9. The thought of foolishness is sin; hence that advice, Chap. 30 32. If thou hast thought evil, lay thine hand on thy mouth; and though it be so far well, that we have not accomplished the thought, yet it is so far evil that we have thought it, and yet more if it hath been with any delight or deliberation. A good thought though not accomplished, is acceptable to God, 1 King. 8.18. And an evil thought, though stifled and defeated, is displeasing to him, Isa. 59.7. A thought may render a man extremely Guilty, as his, Acts 8.20. And God must be asked forgiveness for it, Verse 22. And there is but an if possibly neither; and in order to forgiveness there must be Confession.

3. The sins of Thought. Many are ready to say, that though they have had and entertained thoughts of sin, 〈…〉 if they have kept them from breaking out into deeds, they are innocent: but how awfully are they mistaken on this account? we read, ⟨p. 199⟩Prov. 24.9. The thought of foolishness is sin; hence that advice, Chap. 30 32. If thou hast thought evil, lay thine hand on thy mouth; and though it be so far well, that we have not accomplished the thought, yet it is so far evil that we have thought it, and yet more if it hath been with any delight or deliberation. A good thought though not accomplished, is acceptable to God, 1 King. 8.18. And an evil thought, though stifled and defeated, is displeasing to him,