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THE HEART

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 16, 1869

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 34, No. 21.

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THE HEART

By Jos. Clarke

Is OFTEN spoken of in Scripture as the cause of action, the fountain of thought and motive, the great workshop where character is formed. Here is the place in which thought originates; here, plans are formed for good or evil; here are entertained hopes or fears, joys or sorrows, according to the character or taste of the man.
Heart is put for mind; and by it we understand the inner man, the reflective and meditative powers. "Keep thy heart with all diligence," Prov. iv, 23, is the language of Scripture; and as though it were the place of defense and of great importance, this quotation closes with the clause, "for out of it are the issues of life." Here is the place to determine the motive of action. The Laodicean message contains an important clause in point: "Behold I stand at the door and knock; if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." Jesus stands at the door of the heart, by the sweet influence of his Spirit, and asks admittance. The heart that is well kept, that nourishes good thoughts and purity of motive, is readily opened to the good Spirit. But oh! what a reward is offered to him who opens the heart: Jesus comes in and sups with him. Gracious promise! Is it not one of unusual interest? Happy state, when the heart is kept; when Jesus fills it with his Spirit. Then can the favored recipient of grace receive all he needs; if he is sorrowful, the Spirit comforts; if he needs consolation, it is given; if he is ignorant, it enlightens him; if he needs reproof, it is given; if defense, he is protected; if he is weak, it strengthens him; if he has a tendency to pride, it shows him the path of humility. In short, this is the anointing, the eyesalve, the great gift which God alone can give. It shows him the white raiment, and the mine whence the fine gold is taken, which enriches the true saint of God.
Few, in this degenerate age, are keepers of the heart. Few are the examples we see of deep heart work. The world has captivated nearly all. Many never think of such a thing as keeping the heart. There are professors of Adventism, who outwardly keep the Sabbath, yet hardly know what it is to keep the heart for an hour.
No one can acceptably serve God who fails to keep his heart. This is the continuous work which, steadfastly pursued, forms the character for Heaven. It confirms, strengthens, purifies. It is the nurse of religious principles, the defense of purity, the friend of the lonely, the comfort of the desponding. It extracts honey from all events, for or against us. It feeds upon God's word, and gives employment to lonely hours, by meditation, which strengthens the soul for prayer.
Jos. CLARKE.