Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-10-11
THINKING AND CHARACTER.
A Few Suggestions rs to the Right
Government and Regulation of
Our Thoughts


of life depends on our thoughts, as
forest lies in the acorn. The Scripture
itself lays stress upon this, as when the
wise man says: Keep thy heart with
all diligence, for out of it are the issues
OF life;" and again: "As man think
eth in his heart so is he" So the
apostle says: Think On these things"
(Phil. 4:s)
Thoughts lay down the tram lines
upon which presently the power of &c
ton proceeds. Thoughts set UP the
wires along which the message flashes.
II man cherishes bad thoughts al
most unwittingly he deteriorates; he
n&2.x help Il. There Is profound
kphy In Roman /. where the
nays that because men refused
rod In their minds and cher
v'Ic >lusss, tAey became aban-
doned 20 passions which defiled them.
Character takes on the complexion
and hue of our inward thinking. II a
man is ever cherishing noble thoughts
he cannot help becoming noble; If he
Is generous in his thought he will be
so in his act; il he Is loving and tender
in his thought he will be loving and
tender in his behavior. Thoughts are
the looms in the wonderful machinery
OF the inner life, which are running
day and night and weaving the gar
ments in which the soul shall be ar
rayed.
There is remarkable touch In John
Bunyan in his description of Ignor-
ance, as he walks beside the elder pill
grims. He says: MY heart is as good
as any mans heart" and adds: CAS-
to my thoughts, L take no notice of
them" Probably there are scores of
people who take no notice OF their
thoughts. They leave the castle gate
OF their soul perfectly open and un-
guarded, for any intruder that NAV
wish to enter, either from Heaven or
hell; and so it befalls that the
thoughts of the world, Of vanity, of
purity the inspiration of demons, all
OF which are arrayed in the garb of re-
spectacle citizens, pour into the great
gateway of the soul, filling the court
yard with their tumultuous uproar
without discrimination on their part
they allow themselves to be occupied
and possessed with thoughts of
which they would have every reason to
be ashamed if they could be flashed
upon some screen; but they TEEN in
and out and do Just as they will. This
Is the reason why you sometimes find
your heart filled with passion: it is be-
cause Guy Fawkes has entered in dis
gulse with his fellow conspirators.
and under their long, flowing robes
have introduced explosives. This Is
why our hearts become filled with
hatred, malice and all uncharitable-
ness with murmuring and unworthy
Ihoughts-you have nos watched the
great courtyard gateway.
when there was the dynamite scare
In London, each policeman carefully
examined every one who had business
In the house of commons, lest bomb
might be introduced. What an advan-
tage 1T would be If we could have a
scrutator standing at the door of our
hearts TO examine every thought as it
enters; nay, If we could have there the
angel Ithuriel, of whom Milton speaks.
ano the touch OF whose spear showed
tnat the devil lurked in the toad which
squatted by Ewes ear Whispering its
secret! How often in what seems n
respectable thought entering the
courtyard gate we should discover a
traitor who had como from the nit of
hell to set out heart on fire with sin
frooaoly' also, we need more than to
know what is wrong, to complete our
oeIlverance. We need also power unto
saiVatlon-some mighty influence that
can roll back the gates of the soul and
keep it closed against tho intrudine
traitor.
The apostle gives SIX standards of
thoughts. (Phil. 4:s)
Whatsoever things are true. Be-
ware of false standards. Refuse to
be dominated by insincerity. duplicity,
or want of transparency. Act truly,
speak truly and live truly, and when
You are sure that you have given