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Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 2, 1857

The Pure in Heart.

In a discourse on the words, "Blessed are the pure in heart," Mr. Caughey once remarked that it was impossible to sully a sunbeam. "And while that sunbeam," said he, "may dart down into the darkest hole of filth and illuminate it, it will soil nothing, and yet not be soiled itself. So the ray of heavenly life and love, existing in the perfect believer's heart, goes into and comes out into contact with the dark dwelling-places of iniquity and filth, and cheers, and enlivens, and encourages by its presence but is always kept unspotted from the stains of the world. It is God that gives to the pure in heart this great gift and distinction. It is He who can keep the heart in perfect peace. Suppose a white-robed female were walking along some turnpike road where the mud was flying, and where horses and wagons, as they hurried and splash along, at every turn and step increased the confusion, hemmed up the foot-path, and threw the water and dirt. Suppose that white-robed female should find at her journey's end, her white dress as spotless as when she first robed, would not this be a miracle? Most surely it would. But a miracle it is that the Christian, in waging his course through this world, in fighting through trials and temptations, and in struggling with the fiery adversary, does not at the close of his pilgrimage, have some indelible stain or mark of the conflict on his garments. It is a miracle of grace; of the grace of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Praise be unto his precious name.