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  KEEP YOUR HEART WITH ALL DILIGENCE
  by Thomas Brooks
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Summary: The sermon emphasizes the importance of keeping the heart with
all diligence, as it is the fountain of life and the source of spiritual
riches, and it requires constant vigilance and effort to keep it in a
gracious and watchful frame.

Topics: "Spiritual Vigilance", "Guarding the Heart"
Scripture References: Psalm 51:10, Proverbs 4:23, Jeremiah 17:9, Matthew 6:21, Romans 12:2, 2 Corinthians 10:5, Ephesians 6:11, Philippians 4:7, James 4:8, 1 Peter 5:8

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DESCRIPTION
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Thomas Brooks emphasizes the critical importance of guarding one's
heart, as it is the source of all life and spiritual vitality. He
illustrates that the heart is the central focus of God's attention and
should be treated as a precious treasure, requiring diligent protection
against the influences of sin and temptation. Brooks urges Christians to
maintain their hearts in a gracious and watchful state, recognizing that
this is a challenging yet essential task for spiritual growth. He
highlights the need for constant vigilance and the application of
various spiritual disciplines to keep the heart aligned with God's will.
Ultimately, Brooks conveys that a well-kept heart is a testament to
one's faith and relationship with Christ.

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CONTENT
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"Keep your heart with all diligence; for out of

it are the issues of life." Proverbs 4:23

God's eye is mainly upon the heart. The heart is the

fountain, the root, the store-house, the great wheel

which sets all a-going; so therefore, above all keepings,

keep your hearts.

The highest and hardest work of a Christian lies with his

heart. To reform the heart, to keep the heart in a gracious

frame, is one of the best and hardest works in the world.

Oh what guards and double guards! Oh what watches

and double watches, should men put upon their hearts!

A man is to keep his eye, and keep his mouth, and keep

his feet--but above all keeping, he is to keep his heart.

A gracious heart is Christ's fort-royal. Now, against this

fort Satan will employ the utmost of his strength, art,

and craft. And therefore how highly does it concern every

Christian to keep a strong guard, a constant guard about

his heart!

Men should keep their hearts, as they keep a rich treasure

of money or jewels. Now, to preserve a rich treasure, what

locks, what bolts, what bars, what chains are made use of!

Our hearts are jewels more worth than all the kingdoms,

crowns, and scepters of this world. There are few men who

know how to value their own hearts as they should. What

are mountains of gold, and rocks of pearl--compared to the

heart, the soul of man! All our spiritual riches are in our

hearts. Oh then, what a guard, what a watch should a

man continually keep upon his heart!

It is one of the greatest and clearest evidences of

grace, for a man to make it his greatest business,

work, and concern--to keep his heart always . . .

in a gracious frame,

in a wakeful frame,

in a watchful frame,

in a tender frame,

in a believing frame,

in a repenting frame,

in a humble frame,

in a patient frame,

in a serious frame,

in a heavenly frame,

in a jealous frame.

"O Lord, my memory is weak, and my utterance is bad,

and my understanding is dark, and my gifts are low, and

my affections are flat, and my temptations are strong,

and my corruptions are prevalent. But You, who are the

great heart-searcher, You know that I would sincerely

have my heart in a better temper. I had rather have my

heart brought into a gracious frame, and kept in a gracious

frame, than to have all the riches of the Indies, than to be

an emperor, yes, than to be king over all the earth."

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/thomas-brooks/keep-your-heart-with-all-diligence/
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