October 6

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.—Proverbs 4:23.

DO I watch, with holy jealousy, over my own heart, guarding with constant vigilance every avenue by which sin might possibly find an entrance? Do I endeavor to keep a conscience void of offence, asking divine aid that I may be successful in doing it? Do I remember that issues of life or death depend upon this keeping, or on the neglect of it? Is it my earnest prayer that God, by his Holy Spirit, would always keep me near to him?

As the virtue of the rich perfume evaporates by degrees, if the bottle containing it is not closely stopped, so the life and power of religion is in danger of vanishing insensibly away, if the heart be not kept with diligence.—SALTER.

Never trust this heart of thine that it will be well ordered, and kept in good frame, if thou carry not always a strong hand and a narrow eye over it. If once thou let go the bridle of watchfulness, it will run out so far that it will be hard to bring it back again.—J. O. DYKES.

Thou art the light; the sunshine is from thee;

And in thy heart is strength and purity;

There lean our weary hearts; there ends our quest;

For there is perfect love and perfect rest.

Kept by thy power for ever safe are we;

Safe in thy safety, only safe in thee.