Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-01-11
Thoughts About Thinking.


A man is known by the company he keeps.
II l should study the character of those who
study my neighbors door-plate, l should
know what manner of person he is. Good
people ring often at certain door bells the
frivolous who merely wish to kill time
that worst of murders-ring frequently
at others. So the thoughts to which we
give heartroom determine our standing in
Gods sight, for az a man thinketh in his
heart so is he. This lies deeper yet than
even the creed we profess, for it determines
the whole trend and drift of the tastes and
the affections. A holy man gives house
room TO pure and elevating thoughts, and
he is constantly striving to bar up doors and
windows against wicked intruders.
Every act was once thought-whether it
were the fiendish crime of Guiteau, or the
noble benefcence of Durant in fondling a
Wellesley College. On the thoughts of
Watt and Fulton we cross the ocean, and in
its silent depths over the thought of Pro-
fessor Morse travels the intercourse of two
continents. One day an obscure young
teacher in New York pencils down in his
memorandum-book few lines beginning
with.
my faith looks mp TO thee,
The simple thought embodied in those lines
not only made DR.. Ray Palmer famous, but
has furnished vehicle Of heavenward de-
votion to thousands of Christ's disciples
Well has it been said that he is grand
benefactor who fashions a golden thought
and sends IL on its orbit through the ages.
The eagle that scars toward the sun once
lay in tiny egg child can kill an oak
when it is yet in the acorn. We see, then,
the infiuite Importance of nursing and rear
| ing holy thought. The true time to kill
| sin is while it is yet in the egg. The es-
sental difference between a good man and
| bad one is that the latter fosters the germ
of evil, while the other crushes it its
| infancy. Habitual thinking determines
whether we are Christs friends or enemies.
To Danish holy thoughts, to strangle first
suggestions to kind or devout or godly
things, is really to "quench the Holy Spirit"
Millions to-day are weaker Christians or
more unhappy in their lives for having COM
mitted this kind of infsnticide. II had
only carried out one-half of the good sug-
gestions which my Master has given me, l
should have been tenfold more useful min
lister of Christ. "Why did 1 not say it, or
why did 1 not do it, at the right time 2"
furnished TO many of us our saddest reflec-
tions in the closing hours of the past year.
Thoughts, remember, make character. A
sensualist is only filthy thinker The walls
of his mind are hung around with unclean
images; his inmost soul is brothel. The
lust for the bottle makes the drunkard.
| Nothing but the cleansing and renewing
grace of God can purify many polluted
heart-house and even then some ugly spots
show through on the walls of memory. An
eminent Christian, who was once dissi.
pated roue, tells me that he IS sometimes
haunted with unclean and profane memo
ries at the communion table of his Lord
Wicked thoughts die hard. There is no
greater self-torment than to be an impure or
intensely selfish or ungodly thinker it is a
sort Of demoniac possession. To go through
some peoples hearts would be like a walk
through penitentiary every room has a
rogue in it. Out of such hearts proceed
evil words, thefts, foundations, covetousness,
pride, crueties, blasphemy 1t will be the
hell of multitudes to be shut up wiM them.
seives forever and ever.
One of the richest spiritual luxuries is
the enjoyment of pure and sweet and heav
enly thoughts. To one who feeds on suct
meditations prison may be palace. Bun
yan's Bedford Jail became to him vestibult
Of heaven, while the honey-laden bees ot
his devout soul were bringing in to him thu
materials Of his Pilgrims Progress" al
thought about Jesus" said the holy Ruther
ford, "until every stone in the walls of my
prison-cell shone like a ruby" Well may W.
keep our hearts with all diligence, for out o.
them are the issues of our life.
Christ is the purifier of the heart ant
never day of the coming year should dswr
without the prayer, "create in me clear
heart; renew right spirit within me-"
have stood on Brooklyn Heights and gazet
at the teeming bay with its fleets of outgoing
and incoming vessels. Out through thu
gateway Of the narrows some Of them ar,
departing with full freights of precious com
modities others are arriving with the pro
ducts of foreign climes. So to the pure il
heart come noble, fruitful, heaven-sen
} thoughts from every domain Of God ou
from such hearts go helpful and benefcen
thoughts which crystalize into blessings t,
their fellow-men. A good man out Of tn
good treasure of the heart briugeth fortl
good things but the thoughts of the wicke'
are an abomination to the Lord. Searc
me, o God, and know my heart; try m
and know my thoughts, and see ii an,
wicked way there be in me, and lead me il
the way eyerlasting.-Evangelist.