the heart that the scrutinizing and all-pervading eye of the omniscient God is chiefly directed.

"The

The

Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts."-" Man looketh on the outward appearance," and the reason is sufficiently clear; he cannot look beyond. He can form his judgment only by external indications. man of most profound sagacity can do no more. He may mark, with quickness of discernment, the unstudied action, or the casual word, or the expressive eye, or the voiceless lip which betrays an emotion in part suppressed he may deduce, by his acuteness of observation, many an inference which may not mislead;

and he may obtain, not unfrequently, an insight into character, which he knows how to value and how to improve. But the observer, although of most penetrating glance and most commanding intellect, and most deeply versed in the knowledge of human nature, may be, and often is deceived. It is probable, that even the subtle spirit that "deceiveth the whole world," by the ever-varied artifices of seduction, is sometimes himself deceived; and, extensive as must be his knowledge of the human heart, he can have, I conceive, no power at all of ascertaining its thoughts and feelings, except in so far as they are expressed or betrayed by certain intelligible indications. Omniscience is no

attribute of Satan, nor of any being but Jehovah. In language which no creature can appropriate, does the Father of spirits say, "I the Lord search the heart." And He who uttered these words, said also-" The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?" What, then, must the eye of God discern in every unrenewed heart? What must there be presented to the eye of the Omniscient, in the compass of one single day, in the interior of an unregenerate mind? say-or rather think-what has been sometimes the history of your thoughts within the space of a single hour? Of what character were the subjects on which they were employed? Of what

nature was the ideas suggested-cherished-pursued? What was their tendency; and had they been embodied in action, or even expressed in words, what would have been the sentiments awakened in the minds of those to whose approbation you attach a value? Consider, then, that your heart was, at the very moment, "naked and open in the sight of Him with whom you have to do."

Let it be observed.

Thirdly, That it is the characteristic of the renewed mind to cherish good thoughts.

"Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts." Such is the requirement of Him who "waiteth to be gracious, and

delighteth in mercy," but who cannot behold impurity of thought without holy and indignant displeasure. What is the repentance required of the man, who would become a recipient of forgiving mercy, but a change of mind, of which the very first element is a change of Thought? The very first step of the sinner's return to God, is described with equal simplicity and correctness in such words as these ;"I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies." The next gradation of progress may be exhibited in these stronger terms;— "I hate vain thoughts, nor can I endure that any longer they should lodge within me." A stage of still greater advancement appears indicated by