THE PURE IN HEART by Selected

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Mar 13, 1893

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 19, No. 19.

THE PURE IN HEART.

By Selected

THE heart, in Scripture language, means that which thinks, feels, and acts. It includes conscience, will, intellect, and affection. These powers are only different manifestations of the one central force. As the white ray of light falling on one substance appears red, on another yellow, on a third blue, so this organ exhibits itself variously.

The heart is either pure or impure, and its activities are characterized by purity or impurity. "A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things; and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things." "Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life." Therefore, righteous conduct must come from within. The law may lay an embargo on transgression, but have the fountain clean and all action flowing forth will be holy. The law is a schoolmaster to bring to Christ, who alone purifies the source of all service.

From these facts it follows that if we wish to correct one fault we must abandon all; for sin is only a bad heart breaking out in the weakest point. The thief, the murderer, the coveter, the revenger, are only depravity revealing itself in the direction of the individual bent. To prevent the exercise of an evil tendency demands a regeneration of the nature that lies back of the peculiar outward criminal course.

Such a change is manifestly not within the compass of human power. Watchfulness and determination may aid in restraining somewhat the ebullitions of inborn badness. This repressing can be only for a time, because sooner or later, like the volcano, the corruption will appear with destructive energy.

The conclusion must always be that God alone can give that cleanliness of heart which is insisted on in Scripture as the sole safety against the iniquity that otherwise declares itself. For this reason the prayer should ever be, "Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts; and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."—Selected.