Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: THINK ON THESE THINGS. " Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."—Philippians iv. 8. When a man's attention is directed to the solemn inquiry, what is his moral condition in the sight of God, he cannot fail to perceive that the answer is chiefly to be sought for in the discipline of the mind. His external conduct is the only test by which his character can be estimated by his fellow-men; but this, it is obvious, may be guided by motives and principles of a very inferior or even selfish description, principles which would not bear the inspection of man, far less the scrutiny of Him who cannot be deceived by external appearance, but whose eye looketh directly into the heart. This important consideration is broughtbefore us in the most forcible manner in various parts of Scripture; and the solemn truth is impressed upon our serious attention, that a man may hold a fair and respectable character in the estimation of men, while he is in a state of moral degradation in the eye of God. Whenever this subject is referred to in Scripture, accordingly, we find the condition of the heart viewed as of equal importance with a man's conduct and character in life, or even brought forward as holding a more essential place in determining his condition as a moral being. "Keep thy heart with all diligence," says one of the inspired writers, "for out of it are the issues of life." "Let the wicked forsake his way," says another, " and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord." When the Psalmist, again, prays the Eternal One to scrutinis...