The Columbus journal., 1910-02-02
Keeping the
= Heart
=: NJ. M. Davis In the
Christian Standard

u ~ tWenty-tnlTO verse We DIX
told to keep" it with all
diligence. for out OF it are the issues
of life
e Why Thus Keep the Heart?
J j. 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 so true to life that they
: may be ranked among the many an
:ticipations of science to be found in
Ibis, old Book The literal heart is the
fountain Of our material life. So long
as it beats we live, and when it ceases
TO beat ee 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 whouid know the true condition
of his patient, he places his fingers
On the pulse that he may learn by 1t
the frequency and fullnesS of its
strokes. And tho 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 and see are lot first,
Iglt last 'Th.v a Tho Machining
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 it colors our every word
and action The luIatic 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 |
do such things the world condemns.
and the law proSecutes us as Grim
inalS. In every case of murder it
must be shown that the deed was
done with malice aforethought." If
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.
=. 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
seedbcds. 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
hold thou desirest truth in the inward
parts" FPS. 5l:6t. Let the words of
MY mouth. and the meditation of my
heart, be acceptable in thy sight. O
Lord, my strength, and nay ReGeemer"
FPS. l9:lD. You have heard that il
was said by them of old time. Thou
shalt not commit adultry. But say
unto you. That whoSoever looketh on
a woman to lust after her hath com
mitted adultery already with her in
his heart" Matt. 5:27. cS). Whose
ever hateth his brother is murderer"
Il John BID. These are heart
searching Scriptures, and should bring
US all To our knees. They should sur
round us with holy reverence and god
" fear. and drive away forever the
thought OF hypocrisy, and we should
cry out with David. % Lord. thou
hast searched ME and known me-
Thou kRowest NY downsitting and
lliIlt ulsi lNlliS
ny thought afar OF.
In the light of an illustration, let US
see this ail-important thought There
are two men in prison. One has a
heart like that Just described by the
SAVIOUR. filled with all manner of evil
has been arrested and is held behind
prison bars He hates God and all
good. and would. if he could. dethrone
Jehovah and enthrone Satan; he
would drive ont virtue and bring in
vice: he would Danish the angels and
ill the world with demons from the
pit But he is a helpless prisoner,
and does not utter 4 single word. or
do single deed. and yet, even with
out these. he is a great sinner.
The other man is also a prisoner.
but not FOR crime. He is sick, and
nearing the grave. In early child
hood he gave his heart 10 God. and
throughout a long and useful life he
has been true 10 his childhood vows.
His strength is now gone and even
his voice has failed. So that he can
neither do nor speak for his Lord. ,
But he still loves him with all the
ardor of youth and the power of man.
hood. and would gladly. if he could.
be with the saints in the courts OF the
King. singing his praises and COM
memoraJing his suferings on the
cross Like the other prisoner. he
does not utter a single word. or
do a single deed" but, unlike him.
even without these, he is a great"