If he sees this serpent creeping into his bosom
(Thomas Watson, "The
Upright Man's Character")
"How then can I do this great
wickedness, and sin
against God?" Genesis 39:9
A godly man will not allow
himself in any known sin.
He dares not touch the forbidden fruit.
Every man but has a propensity and inclination to
a certain sin. This one master-sin is as dear to him
as his right eye! This sin is Satan's citadel, all his
strength lies here. The devil can hold a man as fast
by this one link, as by a whole chain of vices. The
fowler has the bird held fast enough by one wing.
Herod did many things,
but there was one sin so
dear to him, that he would sooner behead the
prophet, than behead that sin!
A godly man will not indulge
himself in this darling sin.
He takes the sacrificing knife of mortification—and runs
it
through his dearest sin! "I was
also upright before
Him,
and kept myself from my iniquity." Psalm 18:23
An upright heart is not only angry with sin, but hates
sin!
If he sees this serpent creeping into his bosom,
the
nearer it is, the more he hates it!