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William B. Sprague, in his introductory essay on devotion to D.A. Harsha’s The Christian’s Present For All Seasons: Containing the Devotional Thoughts of Eminent Divines, From Joseph Hall to William Jay (1866) speaks to the nature of true devotion, impediments to the spiritual life, and the necessity of “keeping the heart with all diligence.” He writes:
As the heart, being the fountain of all moral action, gives complexion to the life, so the devotional habits of an individual will be determined by his devotional feelings.
Speaking generally, he adds:
The spirit of devotion may be regarded as an epitome of the Christian graces — these graces are combined in the exercises of this spirit; and more than that, they react with a quickening power upon the spirit itself. The truly devout Christian bows with reverence before the Divine perfections; takes counsel of the word and providence of God for intimations of the Divine will; laments the prevalence of indwelling sin; relies on the merits of Christ and the power and grace of the Holy Spirit; and prays for an increasing conformity to the precepts of the Gospel, and for the universal prevalence of truth and righteousness. And with these exercises are identified humility, trust, submission, charity, zeal in doing good, — every thing that elevates human character, and constitutes the appropriate preparation for Heaven.
But that indwelling sin, and the unhealthy influences of worldliness around us, all make it incumbent upon believers, says Sprague, to watch against that which wars against our souls, and to “avail ourselves of helps within our reach” for the preservation of holiness, which is the life of the soul.
One of these is to be found in the careful keeping of the heart. He who keeps his heart with all diligence will not only be secure against the inroads of temptation, but will be sure also to keep a conscience in a good degree void of offence; and this will render an approach to the throne of grace easy and pleasant to him. So too there will be associated with this a deep sense of dependence; for it is impossible that one should explore diligently and habitually his own heart, without realizing that the sanctifying work that is to be carried forward there, can never proceed independently of an influence from on high, — an influence not to be hoped for except in answer to fervent prayer. Indeed, the very exercise of keeping the heart not only serves to keep alive a devotional spirit, by direct ministration, but that spirit may be regarded as its primary element — the two essentially coexist, and inhere in each other.
For a good Sabbath read, the rest of Sprague’s excellent essay on devotion, which precedes a most fascinating and edifying collection of Puritan-minded spiritual nuggets wisely extracted, may be found here. How important it is indeed to “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life” (Prov. 4:23).
