Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1910-02-03

told TO keep IL with ali
diligence. for cut OF IL are the issues
Of life
Why Thus Keep the Hesrt7
/. Because IL Is the source Of all
outward life. Solomon used these
words long before Harvey dis
covered the circulation OF the blood.
But they are 50 true to life that they
may be ranked among the many an
ticipations OF science to be found in
this old Book. The literal heart is the
fountain OF our material life So long
As il beats we live. and when IL ceases
to beat We die. Every part Of the body
depends wholly on this central power
for sustenance in health. and for re-
pair in case Of injury And when the
doctor whould know the true condition
Of his patient. he places his fingers
on the pulse that he may learn by IL
the frequency and fullness Of its
strokes. And the same is equally true
regarding the spiritual heart The
Master teaches this when he says,
From within. out Of the heart Of men.
proceed evil thoughts. adulteries, for
nications. murders. thefts. covetous-
ness. wickedness. deceit. lascivious-
ness. an evil eye. blasphemy. pride.
foolishness-" And from this same
prolific source also come all the good
things Of life The words and actions
which we hear Gnd see are not first.
but last. They are not the beginning.
but the end. Of a process. Like seed
in the soil. they had to exist and ger
inmate in secret before they could
strike the outward sense. In the case
of every word and deed. however brief
and rapid the stages. the heart has
thought and felt and willed.
:. Because IL colors our every word
and action The lunatic and little
child are not criminals whatever they
may do. They may burn our houses,
or take the lives Of our loved ones.
and there is no guilt They know moth
ing of motive. and hence their actions
are without color When you or I
do such things the world condemns.
and the law prosecutes us as GRIM
inals. In every case of murder Il
must be shown that the deed was
done with malice aforethought" II
this cannot be done. even cold-hearted
Caesar will say that the charge breaks
down. But God, the great Judge, be-
fore whom all of us are to stand,
knows the unseen as well as the seen.
and the motive. often concealed from
men, as well as the deed. he knew
that Achan and Ananias were thieves.
and that Judas was a traitor long be-
fore their deeds so published them to
men.
J. Because our heart thoughts.
though never coined into words and
deeds. are good or bad. The law in
dealing with men takes account of out
ward actions. and such motives as
may be inferred from them A mans
heart may be full OF treason. robbery
and murder. and he may be restrained
from them only by fear Of punish
ment; but until these desires break
forth into action the law holds him
as guiltiess as the best citizen. But
the Lord looks back far beyond these
seed-beds, much of which never grows
INTO plant and flower and fruit. and
We stand or fall according to these. as
well as the actual deeds of life. Be
nold' thou desirest truth in the inward
parts FPS 51:6l. Let the words Of
my mouth. and the meditation of my
neart. be acceptable In thy sight. o
LORD, my strength, and my Redeemer"
tPs- ls:lD- You have heard that Il
was said by them of old time, Thou
snalt not commit adultry. But I say
unto you. That whosoever looketh on
woman to lust after her hath COM
mitted adultery already with her in
his heart" Matt SGT. es). Whose
ever hateth his brother is a murderer"
u John 3:15D. These are heart
searching Scriptures. and should bring
Us all to our knees They should sur
round as with holy reverence and god
~ fear. and drive away forever the
'nought OF hypocrisy, and we should
cry out with David. % Lord. thou
mast searched me and known me.
Thou knowest my downsitting and
mine uprising. Thou understandest
my thought afar on
In the light Of an illustration, let US
see this aIlimportant thought. There
are two men in prison One has a
neart like that Just described by the
SAVIOUR. filed with all manner Of ''evil
thoughts. and for some Of these he
mas been arrested and is held behind
prison bars He hates God and all
good, and would. II he could. dethrone
jehovah and enthrone Satan: he
would drive out virtue and bring in
vice; he would Danish the angels and
MI the world with demons from the
pir But he II q helpless prisoner.
and does not utter a single word. or
doe single deed. and yet, even with
out these. he Is a great sinner.
The other man is also a prisoner.
cut not for crime. He Is sick, and
nearing the grave In early child
mood he gave his heart to God. and
throughout long and useful life he
mas been true to his childhood vows.
MS strength Is now gone. and even
ms voice has failed. SO that he can
neither do nor speak for his Lord
hut he still loves him with all the
afaor OF youth and the power OF man
mood. and would gladly. IL he could.
oe with the saints in the courts Of the
Aing. singing his praises and com
memorating his sufferings ON the
cross Like the other prisoner. he
aoes not utter q single word. or
20 a single deed" but. unlike him.
even without these. he is a great"
SAINT Desires as well as deeds weigh
n Gods scales A wish ON earth may
ne coin in heaven.
How to ksep It.
L With all diligence Keep it as
me miser his gold. with ceaseless Wig
'aAnce during the day. and under lock
Aad bolt during the night Keep 1t