Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-15

The purity of every action is meas
ureF by the motive prompting the act.
Many an act intended to injure another
has resulted in good to the one
sought to be injured; but that result in
no way lessened the sin Of the action.
Though the effect is good. the action is
bad, because the motive behind 1t was
evil Unless the motives are pure. the
heart cannot be pure.
When we speak Of anything being
pure we mean that it is simple, and not
mixed with any other substances. The
heart to be pure must be simple and
free from the mixtures Of deceit. hy-
pocrisy and vanity.
The the Psalmist inquiry, Who shall
stand in this holy place." the answer
is given, He that hath clean hands and
a pure heart. who hath not lifted up
his soul unto vanity, nor sworn de-
ceitfully.''
God does not forces purity upon any
one. He discloses the need of it and
makes known the means for gaining
it. He tells us that only the pure in
heart shall see Him and enjoy the
riches of His grace, and He offers to
communicate His own purity to every
heart that will open to receive it.
Strength.
All our strength. natural and spiritual.
comes from God. The powers of mind
and body, the ability to think. speak
/, or move are from Him. All that we
designate as natural strength is a gift
from the Creator. David said: God
hath spoken once. twice have 1 heard
this, that power belongeth unto God -
BY that power the bodily and mental
strength is engendered and preserved.
| When He withholds his hand force and
vigor cease. We can only be able to &C
I complish things through God strength
ening the physical as well as the
spiritual nature.
! could not do without Thee,
] cannot stand alone:
nave no strength or goodness
No wisdom of my own;
But Thou beloved Savior,
Art all in all TO me.
And weakness will be power
/ II leaning hard on Thee.
| We are dependent upon Him for every
. kind of strength Without Him we can
can do all things that ought to be done
Not of Ourselves.
I The Scriptures are -eplete with pass
ages declaring not only Gods power
|
obedient children.
| Not that we are sufficient of our
selves to think anything as of our
selves. but our suficiency Is of God
/ q Cor, $50.
! strengthened with all might accord
ing to His glorious power unto all pa
thence and long suffering with joyful
| ness (Col, LID
a, BE strong in the Lord and the power
| OF His might (Eph., 6.10.)
| And in the Old Testament we have
these remarkable words:
! Fear thou not for / am with thee
Be not dismayed, for / am thy God.
| will strengthen thee: yea, 1 will help
thee: yea. l will uphold thee with the
right hand of my Righteousness.
usaiah, 12.10)
! Prayer is Gods appointed way for OBJ
tanning all needful strength.
They that wait upon the Lord shall
renew their strength: they shall mount
up with wings as eagles; they shall rur
and not be weary, and they shall walk
and not faint
| Pray We. therefore. for purity and
! Temperance that ye may have strength
of soul and strength of body.
| When adverse winds and waves arise,
And in my heart dependence signs;
That AS my day, my strength shall be-"
/ When life its fhronx Of care reveals,
! And weakness DER my spirit steals,
Grateful laxs the kind decrss