Of Engagements To And Directions In Keeping The Heart.

Adapted From A Sermon By

Philip Doddridge

Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.

(Proverbs 4:23 ESV)

This morning we continue the previous sermon by Doddridge on Proverbs 4:23, Keep your heart with all vigilance.

When our Lord spoke to his disciples with such clear and practical wisdom that, regarding them, it could truly be said that never man spoke as he spoke, he ended with this serious and important warning, "If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them."{John 13:17} The last sermon on Keeping the Heart highlighted the responsibility the words our text urge.

We heard what is meant by the heart, noting that it represents the mind as a whole and sometimes its specific abilities, and that here it particularly refers to the thoughts and emotions. In this sense, the heart must be guarded carefully, as the term suggests, indicating it is a crucial stronghold which, if not well protected and secured for us, may be overtaken by the enemy and used against us, to our great danger and, potentially, in later consequences, to our ruin.

When it is stated that the heart must be kept with all vigilance, it suggests it should be protected with serious, faithful, thorough, and constant care. We then received instruction on certain situations where it holds special importance, to impress upon our consciences the need to guard the heart in the worship of God, in times of success, under God’s disciplining hand, amid irritations from others, in the midst of worldly matters, during moments of rest, in times of solitude, and finally, when life’s events disturb our minds and we feel we are losing self-control.

Surely no one who reflects on this matter can consider it unimportant, yet since it receives so little attention, and our fallen nature holds such strong resistance to all that is spiritually helpful, particularly to the inward faith of the heart, that it will very helpful,

III. To, in the third place, present some clear and convincing reasons to encourage us to exercise such care.

May the Lord enable me to speak clearly: may the Lord ensure that, through what I am about to say, my spirit and yours may be so stirred that our beliefs do not testify to our judgment while we neglect those responsibilities we cannot help but acknowledge. The reasons we will now consider are organized under two categories: some drawn from the necessity of the responsibilities recommended, and others from their challenge. The former may urge us to ensure these responsibilities are not entirely ignored, while the latter may motivate us to pursue them with enthusiasm and effort, or, in the words of the text, to keep them with all vigilance.

A. The necessity of keeping the heart.

Consider the great importance of guarding the heart. And there are two factors which further highlight its significance. The heart is directly under God’s observation, and it has a clear impact on our behavior in life. In both these ways, its importance becomes clear.

i) Consider that the heart is directly under God’s observation, making it extremely important to guard it carefully.

In this regard, God’s understanding surpasses the insight of the most perceptive person on earth and of any other created being. As for man, we understand that he can judge only by outward appearances and, on that basis, can form only an incomplete guess about inner truths. However, both nature and Scripture declare that God does not have "eyes of flesh,"{Job 10:4} nor "sees as man sees."{1 Samuel 16:7} The Lord examines all hearts and explores the imagination of thoughts; or, as the phrase truly means, He precisely knows the very formation of a thought, its initial beginning, and its entire development.

He claims this as His unique privilege: I, the Lord, search the heart{Jeremiah 17:10} and test the motives of mankind. In this way, the Lord Jesus Christ declares Himself to be the image of His Father, infinitely superior to every creature. Surely, all churches bearing the name of the Redeemer and gathering to worship God through Him should humbly honor Him in this regard, and this should inspire a careful commitment to this vital duty.

Carefully consider the weight of this argument and its implications. It clearly follows that God demands the devotion of the heart: even we reject heartless service when we recognize it. Certainly, where there is a complete disregard for guarding the heart, there is no genuine devotion to God, not the slightest trace of true, living faith. To the extent that this neglect persists, it reveals a lack of faith.

Conversely, where there is careful attention to controlling thoughts and emotions, it serves as a tribute to God’s all-knowing nature and stands as one of the most genuine signs of sincere devotion. The question is not primarily about a man’s behavior but about the state of his heart. It is indeed true that no true godliness exists where a life is marked by habitual wrongdoings; the faith of an immoral man is undoubtedly empty, and the persistently wicked person who clings to false hopes only deepens his guilt and hastens his ruin. Yet it is equally true that all outward correctness, even apparent holiness in conduct, if driven solely by a desire for human approval or worldly gain, is mere superficial hypocrisy, completely worthless in God’s eyes.

No matter how orderly a man’s actions may be, if his heart is not aligned with God, he will, when measured, be found lacking, for, as David expresses it, "Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being."{Psalm 51:6}

Now here is an appeal to our consciences: is this not an argument of great importance? God sees the heart and insists upon its care; consequently, if you completely neglect this duty, you have no share in God, nor can you have any well-founded expectations from Him. Abandon then your fleeting hopes; Sadly they have no foundation except in your own imagination.

It would be as reasonable to present a beautifully crafted statue at a king’s court, seating it at his table or appointing it as his chief advisor, as to expect God to favor a man whose heart is absent from the service he offers. Moreover, even partial neglect of this heart-care, even in one devoted to God overall, carries serious consequences. It weakens a man’s assurance of heaven, for the clarity of such assurance generally corresponds to the strength of grace, which is most evident in its growth. Nothing reveals that growth more clearly than the care now commended.

In this light, guarding the heart is also of great importance for maintaining a connection with God, which resides in the heart and cannot be sustained where the heart is neglected. The entire matter can be rested on this truth: let any experienced Christian testify whether he does not experience far greater connection with God, clearer glimpses of His special favor, and brighter hopes of eternal glory when he is most diligent in guarding his heart. All this naturally flows from the first point raised: God’s intimate knowledge of the heart. Consider, in addition, how,

ii) The importance of this care becomes even clearer when we consider the obvious influence the heart has on our behavior in life.

This is the point Solomon makes in the text, stating that from the heart come the sources of life, which could be equally well translated as the directions or paths of life. A man who ignores his heart will likely fall into many missteps in his behavior; whereas he who works to ensure the tree is good will likely produce good results.

Alternatively, the original words might, with particular accuracy, be translated as streams, suggesting a subtle reference to a fountain and the flow of water from it. This is not entirely at odds with the earlier mention of the term as a military metaphor; for just as in war, great care would be taken to prevent the enemy from capturing a place where he could not only seize a fortress but also control a fountain vital to a city’s water supply, thereby poisoning or redirecting the stream to harm its inhabitants, so too must we guard the heart with similar alertness and for similar reasons.

This is a concept our Lord suggested: "Out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder,"{Matthew 15:19} and similar evils. On the other hand, from a good heart flow the wisdom and devotion that enrich a man’s words and actions with value and honor. Solomon offers this wise observation: "The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious;"{Proverbs 16:23} that is, it provides him with plenty of material for meaningful conversation, far more valuable than that of a man who has merely filled his mind with ideas while his heart remains unchanged. "Like a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools,"{Proverbs 26:9} who, thinking to joke with it, only harm themselves.

A good man, from the good treasure of his heart, produces good things, not only in his words but also in his actions, making him ready for every good word and every good deed. And so, it is clear that, in all likelihood, as your hearts are, so will your lives be—honest and honorable, a comfort to yourselves and a benefit to those around you.

However, if no guard is placed on the thoughts and emotions, it is highly probable that you will be swept into reckless behavior, leading to the worry, shame, and fear that inevitably accompany a guilty conscience and the painful wounds it inflicts on the soul, not to mention the numerous everyday troubles that typically result from failing to control ourselves. Allow a wild imagination, a demanding desire, or a turbulent emotion to rule the soul, and where might a man be led? Or rather, where might he not be led? A driver whose car has veered out of control and is speeding toward a steep cliff seems less endangered by comparison.

It is highly unlikely that the voice of reason or conscience can be heard in such a storm; no concern for reputation, usefulness, friendships, present opportunities, or future hopes will influence a man who has neglected to guard his heart. In contrast, where there is proper care to protect the heart, the Christian appears like a wise and careful captain, seated at the helm of his ship, steering with a steady hand, adjusting the sails to avoid every danger and even using opposing winds to propel him on his journey to glory.

This demonstrates the influence the heart has on the behavior of life, providing a strong reason for diligent care in guarding it. It might be objected, however, that while this connection is indeed likely, it could possibly be disrupted, and a man, through determined effort, might correct what would otherwise result from his careless behavior. Consider then, thirdly,

iii) That a proper effort in guarding the heart is not only highly beneficial in its results but is greatly to be valued for its own sake. I appeal to you: is there nothing honorable, nothing pleasing in the thought of being in control of our own selves, of having full authority over our spirits? Conversely, are not the aimless wanderings of thought and the reckless surges of emotion small frustrations, inherently wrong and harmful, even apart from their future consequences? Is it unimportant that the peace of the inner self is disturbed, even if its foundation remains secure?

Would it not be far better for soldiers in a fortress to use their weapons to prevent an enemy’s attack than to engage in a long battle to drive them out after they have broken through the defenses? Consider the calmness and dignity of a soul that consistently pursues the duties which have been recommended! How peaceful, how rich, how noble it is! External circumstances cannot unsettle such a man; the storms of hardship are, as one commentator vividly describes, like hail rattling on the roof of a music room, unable to disrupt the harmony within. Such a man resembles the wise centurion who kept his soldiers in such strict obedience that when he said to one, Go, he went; and to another, Come, and he came.{Matthew 8:9}

The precious gift of a rational nature is not given to him in vain, nor are the treasures of grace entrusted to his heart without purpose. He proves himself a faithful steward of God’s varied grace, and with five talents, he gains five more. Even if enemies attack him, though an army surrounds him, his heart remains fearless, sustained by the comforting assurance that it has devoted itself to God and made its primary concern the preservation of integrity before Him.

But the man who fails to guard his heart, or, as Scripture describes, has no control over his own spirit, is a pitiful, shameful, and miserable creature, both in the context of present life and future hopes. His soul is consumed by confusion and disorder; internally, it resembles a rebellious army where the lowest and worst elements may take control. Externally, as Solomon describes, he is like a city with broken walls, open to every invader.

May the Lord deliver us from such chaotic and disordered states, which inevitably lead to the dishonor of God, the discredit of faith, the harm of those around us, and, ultimately, the great injury, if not the complete ruin, of our own souls. So much as for the importance of guarding the heart, it is hopefully clear to all of us. Now for a few words about the challenge of this task to reinforce what has already been stated.

B. The difficulty of keeping the heart.

Let us now consider this as a strong reason to dedicate ourselves to protecting our heart with great vigilance, by considering the difficulty of the task. In typical and less demanding situations, this will be obvious and will become very clear if we consider, on one hand, our own weakness and deceitfulness, and on the other, the many temptations and dangers that surround us.

1. Consider the weakness and dishonesty of the human heart, and it will become evident that the task suggested here is a difficult one. Solomon states that "he who trusts in his own heart is a fool:"{Proverbs 28:26 NKJV} and if we reflect on our own experiences, it should provide the clearest proof of this truth.

The heart, as it was first created by its Maker, was truly noble and excellent—a temple, though made of clay, yet somewhat suitable for the presence of the Deity who formed it. The mind was sharp and wide-ranging, the judgment wise and clear, the emotions calm and balanced yet lively and responsive to proper things in appropriate measure, and the conscience, like God’s deputy, oversaw a peaceful realm, observing all that happened with satisfaction and confirming, through its approval, the support of the glorious Being it represented.

But now, how the gold has dulled, and the fine gold has lost its shine! The soul that has felt the renewing power of grace is most aware of the weakness of its natural state. Such a person grieves, with heartfelt pangs, that he is unsteady as water and thus does not succeed: his thoughts are wild and wandering, so hard to control that it feels like trying to chain the wind; his emotions are wild and rebellious; his decisions are weak and unsteady, so that his deceitful heart too often turns away from God, like a broken bow; and even when he wishes to do good, he struggles to find the way to achieve it.

When he reads in Scripture that "the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick,"{Jeremiah 18:9} he quickly agrees that, despite its original purpose, this description fits himself. He finds not only deceit but a deep wickedness within, which humbles him before God, causing him to despise the remains of his corrupt nature and fear its control.

While it has to be recognized that not all share these beliefs, yet where we most clearly see their absence, we often find the strongest evidence that they are needed. The man who trusts his heart the most is the one who most clearly seems deceived by it, just as the man who boasts most of his knowledge and wisdom most obviously shows his foolishness and ignorance.

In essence, in the spiritual struggle, a man faces dangerous enemies within his own being. We may say of a corrupt heart, as Solomon does of a wayward woman, that it has brought down many mighty and caused the downfall of many strong men. Overconfident in their strength, they have rushed into dangers only to fall under them, like a careless sailor who, trusting a gentle breeze and calm sea, sets sail without his compass and ignores the helm until the unpredictable elements change, and storms and shipwreck reveal his foolishness. The mention of storms and shipwrecks naturally leads leads me to the next reason to commit ourselves to guarding our heart, which is,

2. That the heart, being weak and dishonest, also faces many dangers, making its protection a significant challenge. We live in the midst of an appealing world, and our empty and flawed hearts are likely to burn with desire for countless unworthy things or to wander after and focus on them. We are surrounded by sinners: they line our paths, our resting places, and walk with us in all our ways.

If Satan gains control of your heart, he will easily leave your knees, your mouth, and even your hands to God. He knows both its weakness and its importance, and with clever precision, he aims his attacks at it. He watches you when you fail to watch yourselves. He studies your nature while you ignore it and knows every way to approach this stronghold where it may be most easily broken, every weak spot where it may be most effectively attacked. It is therefore essential that we stay alert and strengthen our defenses, especially when the heart is so weak and the enemy so powerful and clever.

The children of God are not spared from his attacks; he seeks to have them, that he may sift them as wheat,{Luke 22:31} even when he knows their Redeemer has prayed for them to prevent their complete failure. Driven by relentless and evil malice, he takes a twisted pleasure in attacking this fortress, which he knows he cannot ultimately destroy, and in troubling the soul that God will not allow him to completely ruin.

Therefore, do not sleep while these enemies remain watchful, but take to heart the words of the apostle, "Take the whole armor of God."{Ephesians 6:11-18} And now I hope that we are sufficiently convinced of the importance of this diligence to receive, with enthusiasm, the guidance for it that will be presented under the fourth main point.

IV. Directions for keeping the heart.

1. If you aim to protect your heart, work with great care to understand it. The apostle calls it a serious matter for concern, even shame, in his letter to the Corinthians: "Do you not realize this about yourselves",{2 Corinthians 13:5} you who boast of your knowledge in other areas that benefit you? You who are indeed filled with pride over it, Do you not realize this about yourselves? Are you strangers within your own being? Yet this is true of many, like the apostles, whom our Lord, for this reason, corrects when he "turned and rebuked them"{Luke 9:55 NKJV} in Luke Chapter 9.

Work to understand human nature in general, its weakness and corruption: this is an essential lesson, and not knowing it sets the stage for many mistakes in both belief and action. Above all, strive to know your own hearts. Examine their nature, evaluate their condition. Seek, in particular, to identify your specific weaknesses, for these are the strengths of your enemy; and note how they connect to your circumstances and situation in life, so that you may set up a proper defense.

An officer responsible for defending a fortress against a powerful army would surely take great care in studying it; so too should you be thorough in examining and understanding your heart. Remember, in this regard, what was previously mentioned about its deep dishonesty and the danger of being misled by it.

2. If you aim to protect your own heart, work to build in your conscience a strong sense of its importance; and ponder what we have just heard this morning and think about it within yourselves.

3. If you aim to protect your own heart, solemnly place yourself in the presence of God. Regularly train yourselves to think of God as one who examines the heart and studies the intentions of mankind, and seriously consider that He is with you wherever you are and in whatever you do. Remember the powerful words of the Psalmist, "You hem me in, behind and before."{Psalm 139:5}

Will you act carelessly in His worship when He sees your hypocrisy? Will you offer Him mere outward displays of devotion when He sees through the weak pretense, He whose eyes are like a flame of fire? Will you, in His presence, complain about His corrective actions or forget Him while receiving and enjoying the blessings of His generosity? Will you hold bitter and burning resentment against your offending brother in the presence of your heavenly Father—you, who have so often offended Him and been forgiven by Him, though He has infinite power to punish every wrongdoing with eternal destruction?

Will you lose yourself in the pursuits of this world or its pleasures, ignoring Him without whom your efforts cannot succeed and your leisure cannot truly refresh you? Even if I am alone with respect to my fellow creatures, I am not alone, for my Father is with me; His presence is greater than the grandest audience, His gaze more piercing than that of angels and men.

Now, O my soul, let me honor the divine all-knowing nature through my careful attention to these aspects of my behavior. Finally, when struggling against unruly emotions once they are stirred, let us awaken our souls to recognize God as the observer of the struggle. Fight, O my soul, as under the watchful eye of that General who, on another day, will surely place the crown upon your head. Surely this awareness of God’s presence, carried with us through all of life’s circumstances, would, through the working of His grace, bring death to our flaws and life to our virtues.

4. If you aim to protect your hearts, regularly hold them accountable. I hope that we do not live without self-examination, yet it would be good if we practiced it more carefully. In reviewing our actions, we ought to include our thoughts and hearts in the evaluation—not only the time spent in reading, listening, praying, or talking, but the attitude we held during these activities. Not only the tasks we have completed, but the condition of our soul in those tasks. Was I completely absorbed by worldly matters, as if they were my only focus, or did I look to the eternal hills, keeping the one vital thing in view? In this regard, let us be encouraged to reflect deeply with our own hearts if we wish to protect them.

5. If you aim to ensure your heart is well protected, take care to enrich it thoroughly. Collect a wealth of valuable knowledge from the Word of God, from observations of divine guidance, and from interactions with others; these will provide material for reflecting with your own heart, which is essential to its protection.

Such knowledge will also offer reasons that, through divine blessing, may prove highly effective. Work especially to fill your heart with the knowledge of Christ. Draw deeply from the source of gospel grace. These truths steady the thoughts and direct the emotions, when the love of God in Christ is poured out upon our souls, when the love of a Redeemer drives us.

6. If you aim to protect your own heart, regularly turn your attention to Him who created it. We have been encouraged to fulfill our duty, for the Word of God directs us to encourage one another daily while it is called today, lest any become hardened through the deceitfulness of sin; and to show that this is not merely a human demand, we have been given, as rational beings, the necessity, the benefit, and the importance of this task. However, without the influence of divine grace and the guidance of God’s good Spirit, these efforts cannot succeed.

Now no Christian in the world is without fault in this matter; therefore, let us turn to Him who is mighty for strength. Approach God each morning and pour out your souls before Him. Lord, I admit that I am a weak, inconsistent, and dishonest creature. A treacherous heart has led me astray time and again; I have broken my promises and violated my most serious commitments; I have gone against my most sincere and thoughtful plans. Lord, help me! Lord, support me, and I will be secure; I see no other way to safety. Place a guard not only on my lips but upon my heart, O God, I beg You.

To find our hearts freed from reliance on ourselves and anchored in God is a hopeful sign in every part of our Christian journey, especially in this task now before us. May the Holy Spirit accompany these simple words with His powerful influence, so that neither I nor you will regret the time we have spent on this subject.

How often does the faithful Christian feel driven to repeat the apostle’s cry, "Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?"{Romans 7:24} Lord, how long must I remain so far from You, my best devotion to You so weak, and those faint efforts so often interrupted? How long must I walk this exhausting cycle of grieving the weaknesses of my life, repeating them, and grieving them again? How long will this painful struggle continue, in which I am constantly engaged and often defeated?

Yet, take heart, Christian! This struggle will not last forever; indeed, it will not last long. The God who has already made sin a burden to you will soon free you from that weight. He who has planted in you a desire for holiness will soon lift you to its perfection. Yes, Christian, you will see His face in righteousness and be satisfied when you awaken in His likeness.{Psalm 17:15}

Can you desire a greater joy than to be perfect with God? Can you hear of such a hope and not yearn for it? The discomfort you now feel due to the lack of a fuller likeness to Him should spark your deepest longing for death and the state of glory to which you hope death will lead you. Nor should we forget that, in heaven, our companions will be as glorious and holy as ourselves.

We will no longer see rebellious sinners and be troubled. We will not be bothered by the flaws and weaknesses of those we consider our Christian brothers; instead, we will be surrounded by the spirits of just men made perfect. We will find nothing to disapprove, nothing to criticize; rather, we will have constant reason to rejoice and delight in the beauty of their characters, as well as in the splendor of their eternal circumstances.

May divine mercy, through Jesus Christ our Lord, prepare us now for such a community!