thefts^ false witnesses, blasphemies : these are the things which defile a man." — He that would serve God aright needs somethingfar more important than bodily washings. He must seek to have " a clean heart."
What an awful picture we have here of human nature, and drawn too by one who knew what was in man ! What a fearful catalogue is this of the contents of our own bosoms ! What a melancholy list of seeds of evil our Lord has exposed, lying deep down within every one of us, and ready at any time to start into active life ! What can the proud and self-righteous say, when they read such a passage as this ? This is no sketch of the heart of a robber, or murderer. It is the true and faithful account of the hearts of all mankind. May God grant that we may ponder it well and learn wisdom !
Let it be a settled resolution with us, that in all our religion the state of our hearts shall be the main thing. Let it not content us to go to church, and observe the forms of religion. Let us look far deeper than this, and desire to have a " heart right in the sight of God." (Acts viii. 21.) The right heart is a heart sprinkled with the blood of Christ, and renewed by the Holy Ghost, and purified by faith. Never let us rest till we find within the witness of the Spirit, that God has created in us a clean heart, and made all things new. (Psalm li. 10. 2 Cor. V. 17.)
Finally, let it be a settled resolution with us to " keep our hearts with all diligence," all the days of our lives. (Prov. iv. 23.) Even after renewal they are weak. Even after putting on the new man they are deceitful. Let us never forget that our chief danger is from within. The