(J.C. Ryle, "The Gospel of Mark" 1857)
See what a black catalogue of evils the human heart contains!
evil thoughts, sexual immorality,
theft, murder, adultery,
greed, wickedness, deceit,
eagerness for lustful pleasure,
envy, slander, pride, and foolishness.
All these vile things come from within;
they are what defile you and make you
unacceptable to GOD." Mark 7:21-23
Let us distinctly understand,
when we read these words, that
our LORD is speaking of the human
heart universally. HE is not speaking
only of the notorious profligate, or
the prisoner in the jail.
HE is speaking of all mankind.
All of us, whether . . .
high or low,
rich or poor,
masters or servants,
old or young,
learned or unlearned--
all of us have by nature such
a heart as JESUS here describes!
The seeds of all the evils here
mentioned, lie hidden within us all.
They may lie dormant all our lives.
They may be kept down by . . .
the fear of consequences;
the restraint of public opinion;
the dread of discovery; or
the desire to be thought respectable.
But every person has within him,
the root of every sin!
How humble we ought to be,
when we read these verses!
"We are all as an unclean thing"
in GOD'S sight. HE sees countless
evils in each one of us, which
the world never sees at all,
for HE reads our hearts.
Surely of all sins to which we
are liable, self-righteousness
is the most unreasonable.
evils in each one of us, which
the world never sees at all,
for HE reads our hearts.
Surely of all sins to which we
are liable, self-righteousness
is the most unreasonable.
How thankful we ought to be for
the Gospel, when we read these verses!
That Gospel contains a complete
provision for all the needs of our
poor defiled natures. The blood
of CHRIST "cleanse us from all sin."
The HOLY SPIRIT can change
even our sinful hearts, and keep
them clean, when changed.
The man that does not glory
in the Gospel, can surely know
little of the plague that is within him.
the Gospel, when we read these verses!
That Gospel contains a complete
provision for all the needs of our
poor defiled natures. The blood
of CHRIST "cleanse us from all sin."
The HOLY SPIRIT can change
even our sinful hearts, and keep
them clean, when changed.
The man that does not glory
in the Gospel, can surely know
little of the plague that is within him.
How watchful we ought to be,
when we remember these verses!
What a careful guard we ought
to keep over our imaginations, our
tongues, and our daily behavior!
At the head of the black list of our
heart's contents, stand "evil thoughts."
Let us never forget that. Thoughts are
the parents of words and deeds!
Let us pray daily for grace to keep
our thoughts in order, and let us
cry earnestly and fervently,
"lead us not into temptation!"
when we remember these verses!
What a careful guard we ought
to keep over our imaginations, our
tongues, and our daily behavior!
At the head of the black list of our
heart's contents, stand "evil thoughts."
Let us never forget that. Thoughts are
the parents of words and deeds!
Let us pray daily for grace to keep
our thoughts in order, and let us
cry earnestly and fervently,
"lead us not into temptation!"
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
For the many subscribers who love the writings of Timothy Shay Arthur--
GraceGems has just published his 5 page "Autobiography".
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