SERMON XV. GOVERNMENT OF THE HEART. PROV. iv. 23. "Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life." AMONG the many excellent moral precepts which are given in the Book of Proverbs, few are more deserving of attention, than that which I have just read to you as my text: 66 Keep thy heart with all diligence, for "out of it are the issues of life." I will first say a few words in explanation of this passage, and then endeavour to recommend and enforce the important advice which it contains. The word, heart, in Scripture appears to signify all the faculties and affections of the inner man, both separately and collectively. Sometimes it signifies the mind and understanding; sometimes the thoughts in general; sometimes the conscience; sometimes the will and affections. In other passages, again, it appears to comprehend in its meaning all these together. In this latter sense, as comprising the whole of the inner man, both the thoughts, the will, and the affections, it is, I think, to be understood in the passage before us. To keep the heart with all diligence, accordingly, means to pay great and constant attention to the proper government of the thoughts and affections, and the restraining of them within the rules and limits, which are prescribed by religion. The reason assigned by Solomon, why we must pay this attention to the heart, is, because, "out of it are the issues," that is, "the goings forth of life." The whole of our life and conduct, our words and our actions, proceed from the heart, and are good or bad according to the goodness or badness of the source from which they arise. We may carry the sense still further, and understand the issues of life, as referring, not only to words and conduct in this world, but also to the world to come. As from the heart, the life of man, in this world, derives its colour and character of good or evil; so from the heart, also, will the life of man, henceforth, derive its complexion of happiness or misery to all eternity. It may, perhaps, induce you to pay the greater attention to what I shall say on the keeping of the heart, if I first dwell a little on the reason for it here given by Solomon. That the life of man, his outward conduct, his words and actions, issue or proceed from the heart, your own sense and observation will inform you. If the heart be evil, the whole life will be evil; and if for any private purposes it puts on a semblance of good, it still will be destitute of real goodness, and even the hypocritical disguise which it assumes, will not long be able to conceal its real character. By nature, we know, the heart of every man is evil from his youth, and, unless we pay great atten tion to the keeping of it, and are assisted by the grace of God, its evil nature will run through all the outward behaviour-will pervade the whole character. The doctrine of our blessed Lord is in strict unison with the language of the text. "Out of the abundance of the heart," says he, "the mouth speaketh." "A good man, "out of the good treasures of the heart bringeth forth good things; and an evil man, out of the evil treasures, bringeth "forth evil things 1." And, again, in another place, he says, "out of the heart pro"ceeds evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, "fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphe"mies these are the things which defile a 66 66 2 99 man In a similar spirit, St. James describes the manner in which sin, and death the consequence of sin, proceed from the heart, when neglected, and unrenewed by divine grace. Every man is tempted," "when he is drawn away of his says he, 66 "own lust, and enticed. Then when lust 1 Matt. xii. 34, 35. 2 Ibid. xv. 19. "hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin, and 66 sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth "death '." Where, by the word lust, he means the desires and affections of the heart of man in its unreclaimed, and unrenewed state. I hardly need repeat to you, that your own experience and observation of what passes in your own bosoms, bear ample testimony to the truth of these representations of our Lord and of his Apostles. Is any among you guilty of cursing and swearing, or of using railing or abusive language? Of uttering quarrelsome and threatening expressions? The curses, the abuse, or the threatening, proceeded, you know, from the inward illwill, or malice, or anger of the heart,—out of the abundance of the heart your mouth spoke. Or, has any one sinned in adultery, or any instance of unchastity? The sin issued from the evil lust of the heart. Has any one offended by theft or dishonesty? The dishonesty had its birth in the covet 'James i. 14, 15. |