"If the Heart is Only Right."
By R. F. Cottrell
It is a common saying, that trifling differences of religious faith and practice are of no account, if the heart is only right. God looks on the heart; and for this reason it is thought that we have a perfect right to differ on such outward things as the "mode of baptism," and the particular day we observe as the Sabbath. This may seem liberal toward those that differ with us; but is it not rather excusing ourselves in holding error? Is it not a special pleading in behalf of ourselves, arising from a consciousness that we are in error, and a desire to persuade others—those who cannot see our hearts—that our hearts are right, though our creed and our practice is wrong? I never heard a Baptist say that he thought immersion would be acceptable with God, if the heart was only right. He is fully conscious that the Lord will accept of the institution as taught and practiced by Christ and the apostles, and consequently has no misgivings on this point. I never heard an observer of the day mentioned in the fourth commandment, say that he thought God would accept of that day, if the heart was only right. Those who obey God "in letter and in spirit too," have no fears of the result, and never feel as those do who offer to God a substitute for what he has commanded, hoping it will be accepted on the ground that the heart is right. My friends, let me say to you who take the liberty of varying from what God has taught, hoping for acceptance because the heart is right, in the language of the prophet, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?" Jer. xvii, 9. It is possible that you are self deceived, and do not know your heart. The Lord searches and knows it, but perhaps you do not. How shall we know that our hearts are right with God? How shall we test our love to him? His word will direct us. "By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For THIS IS THE LOVE OF GOD, THAT WE KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS, AND HIS COMMANDMENTS ARE NOT GRIEVOUS." I Jno. v, 2, 3. Now, my dear friend, if your heart is right, all is well. But if you wish to excuse yourself from doing what God has commanded, your heart is not right in the sight of God. If you think something else will be acceptable, because the heart is right, you are deceived; and if you pursue this course, you will be like a character described by Pollok, who "down to hell descended leaning on a lie." To prove that your heart is right, you must do whatever God commands; and not only so, you must obey him willingly, cheerfully. When his commandments are not grievous or burdensome, you may hope that your heart is right; but never, while you wish to evade his requirements, offer him a substitute, or even grudgingly do the thing he requires. We must not be like those described by a prophet, as saying, "When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn? and the Sabbath, that we may set forth wheat?" &c. Amos viii, 5. On the contrary, the Sabbath, and all the commandments must be our delight. Reader is your heart right? R. F. Cottrell.