Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1843-07-21
A PU R E Nj | N D.

The Importance OF right state OF heart, IN
order to the due impression Of moral and reli-
gious truths, was manifest even to the heather.
1t was the custom Of Socrates, the eminent phi
lospher, when questions were sent to him for
solution, to ask concerning the qualities and
course Of life of those who asked them, reason
ing that if their hearts we're under the power o!
evil passions his words would find no entrance
there.
I, is necessary that the physical system should
be in a beautiful tone, in order to derive due ad-
vantage from food, so does the soul need moral
health in order to the full influence oftruth.-
Malignant and pou,ing passions thrown up
such exhalatons as to intercept and palsy truth,
as smoke and mist shut out or rob the sunbcams
Of their power. Hence such passages as these
are found in the Scriptures, Wherefore. lay
apart all fthiness, and superiority of naught-
ness, and receive with meekness the engraf,cl
word Wherefore, laying aside all malice and
all guile, and hypocrisics, and enves and all
evil speaking, as new born babes desire the
sincere milk Of the word that We NAV grow
thereby" These hateful passions, as Leighton
we II remarks, "are so opposite TO the profitable
receiving of the word Of God ,ha, while thew
possess and rule the soul it cannot embrace
these divine truths F.; while it is filed with such
guests, there is no room to entertain the word"
maxim of the heather Seneca is of great
weight, and worthy of the deep reflection of
those on whom brighter radiance of divine
truth has fallen than ever fell on him. "The
mind that is impure is not capable of God and
divine things" 1t is the pure mind, Ike pure
glass, that receives the rays Of divine light. 1t
is fitted to behold the beauty Of spiritual things.
The film has fallen from the eye. The mist
that guilt created has been scattered On this
principle is founded the Savour's memorable
declaration, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for
they shall see God" We are to understand
this not only ofthe visions of the heavenly world
but of those delightful perceptions of divine
things which may be enjoyed here. Scriptural
beauty exists on every hand. All Gods works
and providences are continually shelving forth
his glory. And it is the removal Of our guilt
our spiritual blindness. that permits us 10 enjoy
delightful visions OF that glory. No sooner is
the power OF sin broken, and true repentance
raises US from the gloom and darkness Of a Gull
tv life, thou wo '"gln 70 see G He has I" T.
non'nh lbs r!tn the eve sa,"" The moral
scenery IS Changed. Cr ratlef =. c ..e un..i. q.
All the objects about us are the same as when
we saw nothing Of God and his glory in them
But purified heart has covered the world with
the beauty and glory Of the Lord. Hearing we
hear, and seeing we perceive.
Let the power of sin be yet more over'hrown;
let the mind be more raised above its poluting
influence, and higher spiritual be auties will ap.
pear in God and all his works. As loftier
summit of the mountain gives wider survey
OF the surrounding country, so purer mind will
give discoveries, yet unmade OF the glories Of
the Godhead. And there shall be too closer
alliance between the infinite and the finite
mind "If any man loves me, he will keep my
words and my Father will ,ove him, and we
will come unto him and make our ae'de WIFI
him." Closer will everlas'ng bonds bind t.c
sui to the great object OF lis love. And, al
least, as the topstone Of the glorious structure,
the pure mind, in heaven, shall "SEE COD
Recorder.