St. Paul daily globe., 1896-03-16
FUNCTION OF THE HEART.
DIR. Egbert Finds In 1t an Apt Re
IigiOus SimfIe.

FUNCTION OF THE HEART.
DIR. Egbert Finds In 1t an Apt Re-
IigiOus Simile.
The fifth of a series of sermons
which is being delivered by Rev. John
Paul Egbert upon "The Culture Of
Life" was listened to by large and
interested congregation at the House
of Hope church last evening. The
Culture of the Heart" was the divi-
sion Of the general subject treated last
evening. A cultured life, said Dr. Eg-
bert, was a life developed according
to the highest plan of God, and mas
much as the heart was the source Of
all life, 1t was necessary to q helthful
development that 1t, too, be subjected
to the same plan. Culture Of various
kinds was spoken Of and practiced by
many, but few thought Of the culture
Of the heart. The intellect and the
body were trained and developed, but
the heart was allowed to go its way
unrestrained. Christ taught that It
was not what man thought or did
that he was, but what he loved, he
was. The heart. center Of life as 1t
was, was the seer Of the emotions
which impel a man to actions Of good
or evil, and 1t was absolutely neces-
sary to symmetrical development Of
moral character that the source be
pure. 1t was impossible to draw pure
water from foul stream. Just so, If
the heart were impure, would the deeds
and thoughts 1t prompted be Of a like
nature. 1t mattered not what was
thought Of a friends outward condi-
ton, II his heart was right he would
be trusted. If a burden was to be put
upon life or a trust reposed, intel
lectual ability would certainly be
sought, but without the goodness of
heart the other qualities were as moth
ing.
we are no more, born with clean
hearts" said the speaker, than with
sound minds. If it is necessary to cul-
t1vate the mind, it is even more so to
cultivate the heart. Our tempers are
are among the most troublesome things
OF this life. Men have these passions.
It is true, but they must be controlled
lnere is no more unlikely picture of
salnthood than that utterly devoid of
passion Or temper. The true picture is
OF one in whom these qualities have
peen brought under. subjection. The
disciples of Christ We're impulsive men.
Even John, said to have been the meek
est, wanted to call down fire upon the
unbelievers. The idea of self-control
IS one of the sublimest thoughts of the
Ola Testament, The men who have
moved worlds are men who have had
nerce fires burning within them. but
they were men whose hearts had been
cultured. They had learned self-con-
troll They have always had a high
ldea before them, and sought it stead
fastly. st'"'
People used to be ashamed of their
feelings, but I am glad to saw This
idea is passing away. You NAV rest
assured that in a man of sound en-
thuslasm the fire has been kindled bv
a dlVlne hand. Such a man cannot he
ueIeated. He may not conquer you
out his own life is moved by a divine
power - Ni' 'iie
IF evil be cultivated, it means the
iulH oI me- 1t is, indeed, not culture
Any one pursuing such a course will
soon be overpowered by evil inonnIsas
ana his life sacrificed to his passions
But when there has been a striving
year atter year, toward a high ideal
you reel you are growing in nobleness
OF character. and you feel you will one
day see God.
The difference between Christ and
other reformers is simply that He re-
generates while others attempt but a
reformation of the outward life
Christ's is the true method MAJ
must be built up so he can stand
alone" "'oiio
Iaklng, by way Of illustration the
pnyslcal action of the heart in the as
sanitation of matter into blood and the
transmission of the blood to every nart
OF the body, DIR. Egbert showed the ef-
Iects OF improper and poisonous food
upon the system, and drew an analogy
between this and the spiritual function
OF the heart. AS the phvsicaI beort
was compelled, through no responsihi1-
ity OF Its own, to receive and perform
its duty upon whatever material II
was led, so was 1T with the spiritual
heart. Impure thoughts, sensational
literature and debasing. actions were
SO much poison taken into the spiritual
lie, interfering with and finally SION
ping the action of the heart Man per-
celVed more with his heart than with
his eyes. He hears of the acts of
others and judges them in his own
neart.> We were told that reason was
KING. Ii this was true, then love was
queen and the power behind the throne
reason may guide, but man is possessed
or passions and emotions which
might mutiny at any time. If the i'm
aglnation was cultivated, an individual
Would come to love the creations of his
imagination. If in this cultivation the
process was evil, the affections would
be brought down until only evil things
were loved. The heart and imaeina-
ton gave in to one another 'As a
man thinks, so is he," said DR.. Egbert.
If your love is noble and uplifting YOU
Will also occupy higher plane. There
are none who are contented with their
present lives. If there are such. then
there is for them a summons to battle
and challenge to look at their lives
That which ceases to grow is begin
ming to die. When memory is brighter
than hope, life is beginning to fade"
The world is moved by it's affections.
IT you could make all men and ALI
women in this city love what is beau
tiful, you would have created a
heaven here on the banks of the Mis-
sissippi. The affections must be de-
veloped in pure and moral atmos-
phere. What is needed is pure homes
pure language and pure literature
You cannot breathe poison and be
healthy.
God says: Give me thine heart
Obey this command and all will be
we'll"