The Tupelo journal., 1904-02-19

y WIN n is and Mot Msn as IS he s ap-
erned almost wholly in his opinion and
estimate of others by externalities, but
God never, for the inner condition of
the heart is of infinitely mor concern
to Him han the occasional outward eX-
preston in the life of that which is
within the heart. For this reason,
Jesus. Who knew what was in man."
denounced the scribes and Pharisees,
and called them whited sepulchers.
Outwardly to the eyes of men they were
intensely religious and devout, faith
fully observing the rites and cere-
monies. and carefully yielding obedience
to the letter of the law, but as Jesus
looked within He saw the true condi-
ton and likened it to a moldering, putri-
flying mass of dead mems bones. He &C
cused them of being careful to cleanse
the outside of the cup and platter, while
the inside was full of uncleanness.
When Jesus came He brought men face
to face with their real selves. He
startled and convicted by declaring and
Ii~ tldt IuG III VI III liOdI WNAC
more real and more terrible than the
sins of the outward conduct. The muir
derer was not only he who put forth his
hand and actually took human life, but
he who was angry with his brother.
The adulterer was not only he who
actually INDUCED the lust of the flesh.
but he who even looked Upon a woman
to lust after her, for in so doing he had
committed adultery with her already
in his heart. The thief was mo- only he
who took that which belonged to an
other. but he who in his heart coveted
another's possession. for he who is a
thief in thought and heart needs only
the opportunity to make him such in
very deed.
THANK God there are forces and con-
L Gitions operative among men which
prevent a full. realization in the out
ward conduct of the sins of the heart.
Why am | not a murderer before the
law, condemned and shut behind the
prison bars? Not because | have never
been angry with my fellow man. Well
do | remember when a boy of about
fifteen striking my older brother with a
heavy stick which | held in my hand
at the time and telling him to the
ground. Had it been an ak or a knife
which my hand held | should have
struck just the same, for | was beside
myself with anger and did not realize
what | was doing. AS it was, my broth
er was only severely bruised, but he
might have been killed as far as the
anger which filled my heart was con-
cerned. In Gods sight | was a murder
er, for all the conditions of heart were
favorable to the commitment of muir
der. Why am | not a thief in the eyes of
the law and wearing the prison garb?
Is it because no desire ever was felt in
my heart TO take that which did not be-
long to me? Or is it not rather that a
wholesome fear Of the law has kept my
hands and feet from going in the way of
dishonor? Or is it not because the
favorable opportunity has never come
TO me to steal? Why am | not a guilty
moral leper breaking the laws of God
and man and violating the sanctity of
the home? Is it because no impure de-
sire has ever stained my heart and made
it guilty before God? Or is it not rather
that fear of the consequences of sinful
Indulgence or the lack of favorable op-
pOrtunity has kept me from the out
ward commission of the awful crime?
All. He Who searcheth the hearts of
men and knoweth every thought and de-
eiro IF 36o hoo ~ l-pnuyo +b1f not Onoo
but many, many times the inner atti-
tude and condition of the heart have
been favorable to the commitment of
the outward sin. AS far as the desire
and will to do the wrong are concerned
It has been committed in the heart. I
might be able to go before the human
judiciary and be proved innocent of
murder. or theft, or adultery or other
crime. but could l go before God Who.
searcheth the7heart and escape so cas-
lily? Who would be as willing to sub
NIT their hearts to the scrutiny of their
friends, as they are their lives? All,
how we hide and cover up within the
dark recesses of our hearts things which
for all the world we would not have re-
vealed to our friends. and yet we must
remember that the Lord seeth it all, He
knoweth it all, and it is with Him we
have to deal, it is to Him we must give
a final accounting.
1T is a question then of the heart rath-
L er thar that of the life. Christ laws
great stress upon the condition of the
heart, for out Of the heart come forth
evil thoughts, murders, adulteries,
foundations, thefts, false witness, rail-
ings." He struck at the root of things.
II the source is pure the stream must be
pure, and if the heart is pure the life
will be pure. In the words of Solomon:
GAS he "a mani thinketh in his heart.
so is he" And SO Jesus struck deep at
the root of the matter. He sought to
purify the source, knowing that it would
carry purity along all the channels of
life. He came with His message of Eye
must be born again." because a new
heart was essential to a changed life.
He did not bring new wine to be put in
old bottles, nor did he try to put a piece
of new cloth into an old garment. He
knew better than to try to begin on the
outside and work in. He knew that He
must begin on the inside and let the
germ of the new life develop from the
inner heart to the outer life. And so He
said: Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they shall see God"