Nevada County picayune., 1890-03-19
RELIGIOUS COLUMN.
Edited by GEO. A. GARDNER.
THE HEART.

bilities. Man is a complex being, fearfully and wonderfully made. He is endowed with mind, will and sen- abilities a mind to think, sensibili- ties to guide, and will to execute. While God is the supreme governor of the universe. and in some sense may be said to be the absolute ruler of this lower world, yet in subOrdl- nate sense every man Is invested with the royal prerogative of govern ing himself, of molding and shaping his own destiny. We sometimes hear of the seIf-determining power of the human will. Properly speaking, there is no such self-determining pow CT. for it only moves as 1t is moved upon by the mind and heart. The rationale of moral conduct or action is somewhat metaphysical and com plicated, when analysed and philo- sophically considered.
 Take the case of any one before certain moral action is performed, or just before the thought of it has en- tered the mind. The action itself IS first suggested by the mind, after which all the reasons for and against, the motives melting to as well as those dissuading from it's perform ance, are all more or less thoroughly canyassed by the mind i'll the mean time the heart utters its sanction or protest, according as the proposed action promised to be agreeable or otherwise; and then, after both mlnd and heart have approved the act, the will proceeds to put into eN- ecutlon. This is the usual process by which an action, whether moral or immoral, is performed. It is in- teresting to note the process by which a sinful action is carried out to its legitimate consequences, as forcl- bly set forth by the Apostle James: "Lust when it hath conceived bring eth forth sin. and sin when 1t Is tn- ished brngeth forth death. " Ac- cording to St. James view, sin has Its birthplace in the heart; and the opposite of this is equally true that righteousness ana life have their origin also in the heart.
 The heart then after all Is the main seat and spring of moral good and evil. As q man thinketh in his heart, so is he. "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth evil things.
 "Out of the heart proceedeth eVll thoughts, murders, adulteries, forni- cations, etc." It will thus be seen that the heart plays q very impor- tant part in the habits, general con duet, and character of the human family, from which it is evident that all should heed the Scriptual injunc- tion; keep thy heart with all diii- gence, for out of it are the issues of life" We hear much said of physi- cal culture, of mental culture, aud culture along other special lines, and truly we would not depreciate any of these things, for they are all useful in their place: but the culture of the heart is greater and more far-reach- ing i'll its consequences, involving not only the present life, but the eternal future in It's scope.
 The first step in the cultivation of the heart is a systematic effort to re- press seitishness. The next Is to do good as we have opportunity to all men. Perhaps the golden rale, do unto others as you would have them do unto you, furnishes the simplest and most effective solution of the whole question of heart culture. To observe this rule, however, in its comprehensive sweep, and its rigid spiritual requirements, involves a radical change of nature by the power of divine grace. There are two sides to this question, the God-sidc and the man-side, each of which enters into any proper solu- ton of its terms and requirements. Man must do all that he can, and when he reaches the end of his abil- ity, he will find that his extremity Is Gods opportunity, The heart, by proper culture. with the divine bless ing upon it, may become vcritable Garden of Eden, with beautiful land seapes, fragrant flowers and crystal waters, cheering to the eye, refresh