Blessed are the Pure in Heart; for they shall see God
By Luther Paine
THE interesting words of the great Teacher should absorb all our powers, and engage our whole being in adherence to the truths of the gospel. The Scriptures of truth plainly teach the character that will stand in waiting readiness for translation. Who will have admittance into God's everlasting kingdom? The pure in heart. Such are blessed: such shall see God. Jesus came to save his people from their sins. He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. In these days of peril and danger, just prior to the glorious appearing of our King and Judge, there are two classes of people on the stage of action; and their characters are being developed. The line of demarkation is becoming more and more visible. Like begets like. “The good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth good things:” unlike the evil man; “for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” God's people speak a “pure language;” they understand each other; they belong to the royal family; their names are written in heaven; therefore they can rejoice together. There is no scism in the body. Such only shall inherit glory. If the fountain is pure, the streams will be pure also. Such a people are an overcoming people. They are crucified unto the world, and the world unto them; and such have learned by a happy experience that their bodies are the temples of the Holy Ghost. Said the beloved John, “As he is, so are we in this world.” Who claims to belong to this royal family? Is it the person that does not bear fruit according to the Word? Shall any be taken from the filth of this world, lingering after the desires of the flesh, with the pure in heart into glory? “We have not so learned Christ.” “Be ye holy, for I am holy.” Is it not time to pluck out right eyes, and cut off right hands? No wonder that the great Teacher left the following words, “Not every one that saith, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” “Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” We must be dead to this world. My dear brethren and sisters scattered abroad, let us have the witness that we are wholly consecrated to God, and then shall we be prepared to shed an influence on such as can be saved. Springfield, June 22d, 1856.