Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-07-26
Heart Keeping.

ms WV 'hS "OIus moment, would aSE
the same? Perhaps what write now vii
help such to understand it. Note, then
that by the heart is meant your DISPOSE
tions-all that goes to make up your mora
character or your moral self By keeping
the heart is meant your keeping it pure
from sin or keeping it holy, that you may
be moral being indeed. The first thing
evidently, is to know how to do it, and the
chief thing is to do it. The last you must
do for yourself; for the other, may help
you by a few plain directions.
l. Mediate often. By this l mean,
close your eyes to the world and turn your
thoughts in upon yourself In other words,
search your heart by often asking, What
is now occupying my thoughts? What do
l chiefly desire? Is it the creature or the
Creator? the things of the world or the
things of Christ? Do | answer, A good
conscience alike toward God and man and
IN all things, whatever its influence upon
the opinions of others or my worldly in
terests, is my heart supremacy set upon
pleasing God and being approved by him p
These are serious questions, but they will
help you to know your own heart, and thus
to avoid sin and follow holiness.
?. Pray much. This is all important.
Meditation enables you to know your wants
but prayer takes you to him by whom they
are supplied. Devotion" said Bishop
Hall, sis the life of religion, the very soul
of Piety, the highest employment of grace. "
by devotion he means chiefly prayer; and
the lives of all who have been eminently
successful in keeping the heart, tell US
how they abounded in this exercise. If
you keep yours you must pray always,
keeping your heart in the frame of one
steadily looking unto Jesus, the author
and finisher of our faith" uphold me
by thy free spiritW must be the cry your
heart Is ever pouring out to him who alone
can keep you from falling and present you
spotless at your appearing.
3. Watch yigilantly. At how many
points does the enemy assail us How oft
en- does he worry or surprise US into unho.
ly words, or thoughts, or deeds How oft
en- does he attempt to set us against our
duties and ensnare us into sin! Here he
lifts the heart up with pride, there he casts
it down in despair. Bring my soul out OF
prison ~ has been the cry of many tried
and vanquished heart. Happy for you if
you are wise to detect and quick to escape
out Of his snare. Happy for you if, when
in any degree oyertaken, you do not forget
to fly at once to your true and Almighty
Helper. watch" said our Lord to Pc
ter. Had he obeyed, and been vigilant
and self distrustful rather. than confident
and careless, what agony of mind he would
have escaped.
4. Deny yourself By self indulgence
you weaken your moral powers and give
sin an advantage over you. Allyour mem.
bers and faculties must be kept subject
to the law of the Spirit of life in Christ
Jesus, or you are not safe Whether We
eat or drink, or whatever we do, itmust be
to the glory of God That is, in all thing.
you must reveal moral control over your
entire self, giving evidence that your whole
being-soul, body, and spirits held sub
ject to this one great purpose the will
and the glory of God.
.. Maintain good works. Without these
faith is dead, being alone. Love to Goo
can not-as monks and nuns dream-exisl
apart from love to man; for, if we do not
love our brother and the image of God
who is daily seen, how can we love God
who is unseen? The sum of the law o.
God is not love to God alone, nor love tc
man alone, but love to God and man, and
to be perfect, we must unite them. The
unused hand is as good as dead so is the
fruitless christian, in so far as he fails to
exercise himself in any required duties.
6. Study the word of God. This name
last, but it is not least. Here we learn
what is required of US. This is our Judge
whose approval or condemnation we must
pronounce upon ourselves. This is ou1
mirror, in which we must learn what man.
ner of persons we are, that we may amend
what is wrong, and improve what is right
1t is true saying, cone who studies the
bible much, with prayerful and humble
mind, will not be apt to go wrong in mat
tiers generally" 1t is rot what the church
will let you do, but what Jesus Christ
sanctions, that must be your guide.
Payson gathers up all means into one
"The best means of keeping near to God
is the closet. Here the battle is won OF
lost" Why does he say this? Is the bat.
tie ever lost to him who daily casts him
self, by prayer, upon the grace Of God
No, no But then it may be lost-it is lost
when the closet is neglected, or only re-
sorted to in proud fitness or empty form
Always the battle is won when, with q
sense of our poverty and need, we hunger
and thirst after righteousness, and, by
prayer, draw water out of the wells of sal
walton. And if the battleis gained Sure.
ly there is no want of incentive to keer
our heart with all diligence Observer.