as said by them of old time, Thou shalt
not kill. But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother
without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. Ye have heard that
it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery. But I
say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her, hath
committed adultery with her already in his heart." S. John Chrysostom
truly said, "Men's souls are not so greatly injured by the temptations
which assail them from outside, as from those evil thoughts which
poison them within." There may be evil thoughts of many kinds, envious
thoughts, discontented thoughts, profane thoughts, unkind thoughts,
angry thoughts, avaricious thoughts, impure thoughts. All these
thoughts come buzzing about the head and heart, and will settle to do
harm, unless driven away. They are only little thoughts. Each is very
small, but altogether they are a great host. They are like flies.

Pharaoh, King of Egypt, was plagued with flies. They came upon his
servants, and the houses of the Egyptians were full of swarms of flies,
"and the land was corrupted by reason of the swarm of flies." The
heads of a great many people are like the houses of the Egyptians--full
of swarms of evil thoughts thick as flies, and all as small, and in
themselves as insignificant. The flies tormented the Egyptians when
they sat in their chambers, flying round them, buzzing in their ears,
lighting on their hands and faces; when they went to their meals the
flies were there, all over the meat and the bread, and falling into
their cups, and defiling every thing. When they went to bed the flies
were in their bedrooms, and all night long were racing over their
faces, and driving away sleep.

Now look at your evil thoughts, you who are plagued with a swarm of
them. When you kneel down to say your prayers, they are there
distracting your attention. When you are at table or with friends,
they are there disturbing your thoughts, perhaps corrupting your
conversation. When you are alone, they are there filling your mind
with images and sounds. When you are in bed, they are there, keeping
you awake. Your thoughts--these evil thoughts, so numerous, in such
swarms, never forsake you. In church they are present, disturbing you.
When you walk, they surround you, when you work, they interrupt you.
And, like the flies in Egypt, "the land is corrupted by reason of the
swarm." Your hearts are corrupted by