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In treatises on morals and in manuals of religion, much has been said about controlling one's thoughts. This is a difficult task to perform.

I. GOD IN THE TEXT BRINGS A SEVERE CHARGE AGAINST OUR THOUGHTS. We are taught that only the blood of the Lord Jesus can cleanse them.

1. Consider what thought is, and how far and swiftly it can go. It allies us to the spirits above. It can go so far that the bounds of the infinite alone can check it; so swiftly, that it can distance an archangel in his most rapid flight. Think of its achievements!

2. This thought, so marvellous in its capacity, God charges with vanity. It is a heavy indictment.

II. THERE ARE MANY PROOFS OF THE CORRECTNESS OF THE CHARGE.

1. This vanity appears in man's persistent seeking to pry into the mysteries of God.

2. It is seen in this, that when man cannot see, he proceeds to conjecture; when he cannot know then he guesses.

3. It is seen in the many ways the thoughts of men lead them into arrant, nonsense. — Self-importance. Pleasures of sense, and appetite, etc.

4. It. appears by a review of our past. In manhood, how foolish the thoughts of our childhood appears! We have then put away childish things. So the past period of our lives appears to us at every succeeding stage.

III. TWO THINGS ARE NEEDED,

1. Purification of our thoughts.

2. Regulation of our thoughts, by —

(1)  Watchfulness;

(2)  Discipline;

(3)  Self-examination.

(M. Dix, D.D.)

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KJV: The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.

WEB: Yahweh knows the thoughts of man, that they are futile.