The Cockatrice Must Be Crushed

James 1:15  Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

First, sin has its conception-which is its delight; and then sin has its birth-which is its action; and then sin has its growth-which is its custom; and then sin has its end-which is its damnation!

The very thought of sin, if but meditated on, will break forth into action; action into custom; custom into habit; and then both body and soul are irrecoverably lost to all eternity!
 
If the subtle Serpent can but wriggle in his tail by a sinful thought, he will soon get in his head by a worse action!

The cockatrice must be crushed in the egg, else it will soon become a serpent!

~Thomas Brooks~