HEART WANDERINGS by Margaret Heligass

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 4, 1860

HEART WANDERINGS.

By Margaret Heligass

How strongly ought the believer to be fortified against the temptations of Satan, with regard to heart-wanderings in duty. Satan knows that if the thoughts wander, God regards not what the tongue says. If he can spoil thy prayers, he fears not what good any ordinance can do thee. If your thoughts be earthly, he cares not how heavenly your words are. Herein Satan gets assistance from the evil heart. Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts. Matt. xv, 19.

They arise out of the heart as the sparks out of a furnace. They stay not in the heart, but are active and ascend to the head. They come out of the heart not as sparks out of a flint, by concussion and violence, forced out; but they "proceed" out of it, says Christ. They come out of it themselves, and they proceed always in a continued act.

Now to fortify our many thoughts against wandering in prayer, study to overcome the love of the world. Where our love is, there will our thoughts be. To set your love on the world and your thoughts on God, you will find altogether impossible. He that loveth the world, the love of the Father is not in him. Seek to overcome this evil. Lay up your treasure in heaven; for where your treasure is there will your hearts be also. Matt. vi, 21. The hearts of the Jews went after their covetousness. Eze. xxxiii, 31.

When they were hearing the word, they could not keep their hearts where their bodies were, but would be where their love was, and where their treasure was. Let not the world be your familiar friend; for familiar friends come in without knocking or asking leave. Therefore be thou a stranger in this present world. Heb. xi, 13. They were not strangers in this or that part of the earth merely, but in the whole world. Be a stranger to the world, and the world will not visit you.

In prayer, make prayer your delight, not your task. Children are subject to look off their books because they delight not in them. When they are playing they are eager and earnest. The bird flutters in the cage, but sits quietly on the tree and sings there. I will go to God, says David, to God my exceeding joy. Ps. xliii, 4. When our thoughts find satisfaction, they set up their habitation and wander not.

Satan often tempts the believer to neglect family or private prayer. The tempter will say to you, You cannot pray aright; you cannot meditate aright; it is of no use for you to join in family prayer; if you pray in secret it is enough.

Dear sisters, let me entreat you to strive to fortify against these temptations. Join in family prayer. It will strengthen your companion. It is your duty to pray before your children. They look for an example from their mother. You must be exercised in keeping a conscience void of offence towards God and man. Be steadfast and unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor shall not be in vain in the Lord. 1 Cor. xv, 31.

Though duty be difficult to nature, yet if you get the Spirit of God, you will do well enough; and God has promised his help. Isa. xl, 29, 31. He giveth power to the faint, and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. They that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength. All the saints of old and of late too, have tried the Lord's way, and they have found that the way of the Lord was strength to them; that wisdom's ways are pleasantness. Their delight was in the law of God. In keeping his commandments there is great reward.

There is always something savory and sweet in religion that accompanies the fervent exercise thereof. Let faith batter down all the temptations of Satan, and believe that our blessed Saviour hath borne the burden and heat of the day. Therefore let us go forward in his name and strength, making mention of his righteousness and his only. In his name we can grapple with the enemy himself; for our blessed Redeemer hath conquered him to our hand. O brethren, beware of committing little sins; for a very little sin can prevent you from communing with God. I would mention as such, vain and idle words, worldly conversation, especially on the holy Sabbath. The first sin was in appearance a very small sin. It was but eating a little fruit. Had it not been for Jesus' dying to atone for that sin, it would have destroyed irrecoverably, all the posterity of Adam. Read Num. xv, 33, 35. You can see what a little sin was then in the sight of God. The man only gathered a few sticks on the Sabbath-day. God said he should surely be put to death. Uzzah's putting his hand to the ark and touching it when it tottered, seemed to be a small sin, and yet he was smitten instantly with death for it. 2 Sam. vi, 7. It is dangerous to commit even the smallest sin; for it is against an infinite God. You displease God your best Friend,

for a little sin. Oh how ungrateful you are to your best Friend, who sent his Son to die that through him you might have life. The wages of every sin is death.

O do not make light of a little sin. Remember that boldness in little sins will be an encouragement to greater. The Devil tempts people from one degree of sin to another; but no man that ever saw sin in his true light, can call any sin little or small; nor can it ever be till there shall be a little law to break, a little God to offend, a little guilt to contract, a little wrath to incur, all which is impossible. It is blasphemy to wish, and madness to expect, it.

Oh be zealous in the cause of the Lord, and in setting a good example before the world, that others may see your good works and glorify our Father which is in heaven. My prayer is that the Lord will enable you by his Spirit to exclaim with the Psalmist, I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies as much as in all riches. The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver. How sweet are thy words to my taste, more than honey to my mouth; therefore I love thy commandments above gold, yea, above fine gold. If there is anything in the world pleasant, it is the praise that flows forth from a loving and believing heart.

Brethren and sisters, pray often for the aid of the Spirit to give you faith, and a meek and quiet spirit, that you may be enabled to overcome the world, the flesh and Satan, and look to Jesus, our great Leader. May God bless you and guide you in the way of all truth, is the prayer of your unworthy sister.

Margaret Heligass.

Lynxville, Crawford Co., Wis.

P. S. The little church here has been greatly strengthened, since the labors of our dear brother Ingraham last spring. May the Lord bless his efforts in Minnesota. The brethren and sisters, with the exception of one man and his wife, are firm and zealous in the cause. Elder Chandler lately delivered a course of lectures here, for the benefit of his no-law brethren. He spoke on the two-horned beast. He made it out in his way to be Russia. He said that the Greek church in Russia brought fire through the roof of the house to deceive the people; the laws of Russia were dragon-like laws. "Bless your souls!" said he, "the United States never spoke like a dragon. It is all stuff." He further said that Sunday was the Sabbath, and he could prove it by the Acts of the apostles. In the Acts it mentioned the first day of the week four times as a Sabbath, or rest-day; but he failed to prove it. He said he would have to go to the Greek to find it. My companion told him if he could find it he might get the reward. He said he could get it; but he did not quote any Greek phrases to prove his position. They have challenged the Sabbath-keepers to discuss the subject of the law. Their man is Elder Sheldon of Viroque, Minn. They did not want to discuss the matter until Bro. Ingraham left. The church here request the labors of Bro. and Sr. White this fall if convenient for them.

M. H.