HEART PURITY by A. Smith

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Oct 30, 1901

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 27, No. 44.

HEART PURITY.

By A. Smith

BLESSED are the pure in heart; for they shall see God.” Matt. 5:8. Are you pure in heart? If not, you will never in that condition see God.

If you are pure in heart, your thoughts will be pure; for the heart is the fountain of thought. See Matt. 15:19; James 3:10–18.

If you are pure in heart, your words will be pure; for your words are the vocal expression of your thoughts. If you speak words that you would not under any circumstances utter in the presence of a pure woman or a gentleman, you may know that your heart is not pure.

If your heart is pure, your works will be pure also. In the Bible the hand is used as a symbol of works. The thought is beautifully expressed in these words: “Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord ‘[Mount Zion in heaven. See Heb. 12:22]’ or who shall stand in ‘His holy place’? He that hath clean hands [works] and a pure ‘heart.’” Ps. 24:3, 4. In Isa. 33:14 the question is asked, “Who ‘among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? Who among us shall ‘dwell with everlasting burnings?’” The answer is given in the next verse, which expresses the outward tokens of a pure heart. This

scripture will be fulfilled when God shall have rained fire out of heaven to devour the wicked; the people of God, being in the midst of it, will be untouched, as were the three Hebrews in the midst of the fiery furnace. See Rev. 20:7–9; 2 Peter 3:7; Mal. 4:1; Ps. 37:28, 34.

But if your heart is not pure, how may it become so? “Who can ‘say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?’” Prov. 20:9. Can you say that?—No. Then seek for it as David did, and let your prayer be like his, “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and ‘renew a right spirit within me.’” Ps. 51:10.

When the loathsome leper heard that Jesus of Nazareth was coming his way, he improved that opportunity of his life to be healed. He made a rush for the Saviour, and cried out, “Lord, if Thou wilt Thou ‘canst make me clean.’” A prayer of only nine words; but they expressed his utmost need. The people fled, and Jesus did what none of them dare do, He touched the loathsome man, and said, “I will; be ‘thou clean.’” Just five words; but O, what a blessing in them. The leper was immediately cleansed.

So likewise Jesus can cleanse the soul leprous with sin. When the heart is cleansed from sin, no duty will longer seem a cross, no service a burden. Then you can say as Jesus said, “I delight to do ‘Thy will, O My God; yea, Thy law is within My heart.’” Ps. 40:8. Then the keeping of the Lord’s Sabbath day will be a delight, not a burden.

Do you desire such a heart? If so, let David’s prayer be yours also. A. SMITH.

Grandville, Mich.