The pure in heart – Thomas Brooks

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” Matthew 5:8

Dear hearts! As we truly say, that gold is pure gold, though much dross may hang about it; and as we truly say, that such and such an air is pure air, though at times there are many fogs and mists within it; and as we truly say, that such and such springs are pure springs, though mud, and dirt, and filth may are lying at the bottom of those springs; and as we truly say, that face is a fair face, though it has some freckles in it; so we may as truly say, that such and such a heart is a “pure heart,” though there may be much sinful dross and filth cleaving to it.

Beloved! the best, the wisest, the holiest, and the most mortified Christians on earth, do carry about with them a body of sin and death, Romans 7:22-23; they have in them a fountain of original corruption, and from this fountain sin will still be arising, a-bubbling and a-boiling up as the scum in a pot over the fire.

But mark, as in wine, or honey, or water, though scum and filth may arise yet the wine, the honey, the water, will be still a-purging and purifying itself, and a-working and casting it out. So though sin, though corruption, though spiritual filth may, and too often does, arise in a gracious heart yet there is a spring of grace, a spring of living water in him; there is a holy cleansing and purifying disposition in a regenerate person, which will still be a-working and casting it out.