'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — October 25
For out of the heart come evil thoughts.—Matthew 15:19
CONSIDER what a great deal of sin there is in the thoughts of man, and how dangerous it is to your soul. O the vile sins that are committed in men's thoughts! Victory begins by avoiding the object from which your evil thoughts proceed. We must keep a sufficient distance from tempting objects that fuel evil thoughts. Can you expect that a drunkard could rule his thoughts while he is in the tavern? Or that a glutton could rule his thoughts while the pleasing dish is in his sight? Or that a lustful person could keep chaste in his thoughts in the presence of his enamouring toy? Away with the fuel, fly from this infectious air, if you would be safe! Make a covenant with your senses if you desire to have obedient thoughts. Consider too how close a relative the thought is to the actual deed. A malicious thought and deed are from the same spring. A lustful thought is from the same defiled puddle as actual filthiness, and the thought is the passage to the action. Always be aware that you are under God's government, and his law extends to your thoughts. All your thoughts are in his sight. He sees every filthy, covetous, proud, ambitious, un-loving, malicious thought. Consider how careful you would be if your thoughts were written on your forehead. O how ashamed you would be if men could see your thoughts! Is not the eye of God ten thousand times more to be regarded? Keep a tender conscience to be aware of the smallest sin. A tender conscience fears evil thoughts and a seared conscience feels nothing. Cast out sinful thoughts in the beginning, before they settle themselves and make a dwelling in your heart. They are easier to be resisted at the beginning. Your heart will allow them to root and grow if you allow them to stay. Remember your hidden thought must one day be brought into the open light.
Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Devotional Readings 'Voices From The Past Vol.1.'
Richard Baxter, A Christian Directory, 1:247-49
Banner of Truth has granted permission for the use of this material.
Richard Baxter, A Christian Directory, 1:247-49
Banner of Truth has granted permission for the use of this material.
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January
One Thing (1)One Thing (2)Our Thoughts and Desires Reveal Who We AreThe Christian's Desire for God's House (1)The Christian's Desire for God's House (2)What the Soul Was Made ForGod Makes the Heart TenderMaintaining a Tender Heart (1)Maintaining a Tender Heart (2)Maintaining a Tender Heart (3)Maintaining a Tender Heart (4)Test to See if Your Heart is TenderHow to Recover a Tender HeartBenefits of a Tender HeartKings Must Humble Themselves Before GodHow to Humble Ourselves (1)How to Humble Ourselves (2)How to Humble Ourselves (3)Proneness to PrideHumilityTrue versus False Humility (1)True versus False Humility (2)True versus False Humility (3)Both Outward Devotion and Inward AffectionWeeping for the ChurchWeeping and Rejoicing Mixed (1)Weeping and Rejoicing Mixed (2)God Hears Our Prayers--His PartWhen It Seems God Doesn't HearThe Privilege of PrayerGod Hears Our Prayers--Our Part
February
Death Is a Gathering (1)Death Is a Gathering (2)The Righteous Preserve their NationGod's Righteous JudgmentThe Importance of Knowing God Loves Me (1)The Importance of Knowing God Loves Me (2)Abundance Is Not an Accurate Sign of God's LoveRun to GodChristian UnityChrist In Us (1)Christ In Us (2)Christ In Us (3)Christ In Us (4)Christ In Us (5)Christ the Servant: the MediatorThe Bruised Reed and the Smoking Flax (1)The Bruised Reed and the Smoking Flax (2)The Bruised Reed and the Smoking Flax (3)The Bruised Reed and the Smoking Flax (4)God Knows Our FrameLittle at First (1)Little at First (2)Sometimes Tender, Sometimes Tough (1)Sometimes Tender, Sometimes Tough (2)Avoiding Unnecessary RulesThe Weaker BrotherExtend Grace to One AnotherThe Covenant of GraceThe Light of God Compared to Fire (1)
March
The Light of God Compared to Fire (2)The Light of God Compared to Fire (3)Temptation (1)Temptation (2)The Source of DiscouragementsResponding to Christ's KindnessVictory in Spiritual BattlesHis Power Not OursCourage Until the End (1)Courage Until the End (2)Our Hearts—God's TempleSin in God's PeopleSigns of God's Impending Judgment (1)Signs of God's Impending Judgment (2)Signs of God's Impending Judgment (3)Preventing God's Judgment on Our Nation (1)Preventing God's Judgment on Our Nation (2)The Ugliness of Sin (1)The Ugliness of Sin (2)Far but NearChrist's Dying Words of ComfortThe Wrong of Excessive SorrowSteps to Bring Comfort to our Hearts (1)Steps to Bring Comfort to our Hearts (2)Steps to Bring Comfort to our Hearts (3)When We Feel Our Faith Is Weak (1)When We Feel Our Faith Is Weak (2)When We Feel Our Faith Is Weak (3)Christ and the Holy SpiritChrist Is the Heart and Power of the Scriptures (1)Christ Is the Heart and Power of the Scriptures (2)
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