The Sinful Imagination

If you had never committed one single act of sin, yet the thought of sin, the imagination of it would be enough to sweep your soul to Hell for ever. If you had been born in a cell, and had never been able to come out into the world, either to commit acts of lasciviousness, murder, or robbery, yet the thought of evil in that lone cell might be enough to cast your soul for ever from the face of God. Oh! there is no man here that can hope to escape. We must every one of us bow our heads before God, and cry, "Guilty, Lord, guilty — every one of us guilty — 'Cursed is every one that continues not in all things which are written in the book of the Law to do them.'" When I look into your face, O Law, my spirit shudders. When I hear your thunders my heart is melted like wax in the midst of my bowels. How can I endure you? If I am to be tried at last for my life, surely I shall need no judge, for I shall be my own swift accuser, and my conscience shall be a witness to condemn .