The Power of Purity

Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.—SERMON ON THE MOUNT.

Blessed are those who are pure in heart, for they will see God. (SERMON ON THE MOUNT.)

Virtue alone raises us above hopes, fears, and chances.—SENECA.

Virtue alone lifts us above hopes, fears, and chance. Seneca.

Purity is a broad word with a deep meaning. It denotes far more than superficial cleanness. It goes below the surface of guarded speech and polite manners to the very heart of being. "Out of the heart are the issues of life." Make the fountain clean and the waters that flow from it will be pure and limpid. Make the heart clean and the life will be clean.

Purity is a broad word with a deep meaning. It means much more than being clean on the surface. It goes deeper than careful speech and polite manners, reaching the very heart of who we are. "Life flows from the heart." Make the fountain clean, and the water flowing from it will be pure and clear. Make the heart clean, and life will be clean.

Purity is defined as "free from contact with that which weakens, impairs or pollutes." How forceful then is the converse of the definition: Impurity weakens, impairs, and pollutes. It weakens both mind and body. It impairs the health. It pollutes not only the thoughts but the conduct which inevitably has its beginning and its end in thought.

Purity is defined as "free from contact with anything that weakens, harms, or pollutes." The opposite is powerfully clear: Impurity weakens, harms, and pollutes. It weakens both the mind and the body. It harms health. It pollutes not only thoughts but also conduct, which inevitably begins and ends in thought.

Innocence is the state of natural purity. It was the state of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. When they sinned "they knew that they were naked." They lost innocence never to regain it. But purity may be attained. As an unclean garment may be washed, so the heart may be purified and made clean. Ghosts of past impurities still may dog us, but they are ghosts that may be laid with an imperative "Get thee behind me, Satan." They are like the lions that affrighted Bunyan's pilgrim—chained securely. They may roar and threaten, but they are powerless if we deny their power. The man who is striving for purity whole-heartedly is like one who sits safely in a guarded house. Old memories of evil things like specters may peer in at the windows and mow and gibber at him, but they can not touch him unless he gives them power, unless he unlocks the door of his heart and bids them enter.

Innocence is a state of natural purity. Adam and Eve were innocent in the Garden of Eden. When they sinned, "they knew that they were naked." They lost their innocence and could never regain it. But purity can be attained. Just as a dirty garment can be washed, the heart can be purified and made clean. Ghosts of past impurities may still haunt us. But we can put them to rest with a firm "Get thee behind me, Satan." They are like the lions that frightened Bunyan's pilgrim. The lions were securely chained. They may roar and threaten, but they are powerless if we deny their power. A man who is wholeheartedly striving for purity is like someone sitting safely in a guarded house. Old memories of evil things may peer in at the windows like ghosts, making faces and babbling at him. But they cannot touch him unless he gives them power, unless he unlocks the door of his heart and invites them in.

As the lotus flower grows out of the mud, so may purity and beauty spring up from even the vilest past if we but will it so.

Just as the lotus flower grows out of the mud, purity and beauty may arise from even the worst past if we choose.

As purity is power so impurity is impotence, weakness, degeneracy. Many a man goes on in an impure career thinking himself secure, thinking his secret hidden. But impurity, like murder, will out. There was a noted pugilist who was unexpectedly defeated in a great ring battle. People said the fight was a "fake," that it was a "put up job." But those who knew said "impurity." He had lived an evil, debauched life for several years, and he went into the ring impaired in strength, weakened by his transgressions of the law of pure living. Purity is power; impurity is weakness.

Just as purity is power, impurity is helplessness, weakness, and decline. Many men lead impure lives, thinking they are safe and their secrets are hidden. But impurity, like murder, will come to light. A famous boxer was unexpectedly defeated in a major fight. People said the fight was a "fake," that it was a "setup." But those who knew said "impurity." He had lived an evil, debauched life for several years. He entered the ring with his strength impaired, weakened by breaking the law of pure living. Purity is power. Impurity is weakness.

There is a saying of Scripture which is absolutely scientific: "Be sure your sin will find you out." Note this; it is not that your sin will be found out, but your sin will find you out. Sin recoils on the sinner, and of all sins that surely find us out, the sins against purity are the most certain to bring retribution.

There is a saying in Scripture that is absolutely scientific: "Be sure your sin will find you out." Notice the difference. It does not say that your sin will be found out, but that your sin will find you out. Sin rebounds on the sinner. Of all the sins that surely find us out, sins against purity are the most certain to bring punishment.

Young men do not think that listening to an off-color story, or anything that is vulgar, can injure them much, and, for fear of ridicule, they laugh when they hear anything of the kind, even when it is repulsive to them, and when they loathe it. It is a rare thing for a young man to express with emphasis his disapproval. To know life properly is to know the best in it, not the worst. No one ever yet was made stronger by his knowledge of impurity or experience in sin.

Young men do not think that listening to a dirty story or anything vulgar can do them much harm. They fear being mocked, so they laugh when they hear such things, even when they find them disgusting and hate them. A young man rarely speaks out strongly against them. To truly know life is to know the best in it, not the worst. No one has ever become stronger by knowing about impurity or experiencing sin.

It is said that the mind's phonograph will faithfully reproduce a bad story even up to the point of death. Do not listen once. You can never get the stain entirely out of your life. Your character will absorb the poison. Impurity is especially fatal in its grip upon the young, because of the vividness of the youthful imagination and the facility with which insinuating suggestions enter the youthful thought.

It is said that the mind records a bad story and can replay it faithfully even at the point of death. Do not listen to one even once. You can never completely remove the stain from your life. Your character will absorb the poison. Impurity is especially deadly for the young. Their imaginations are vivid, and subtle suggestions enter their minds easily.

Our court records show that a very large percentage of criminals began their downfall through the fatal contagion of impurity communicated from various associations.

Our court records show that a very large percentage of criminals began their downfall through the fatal spread of impurity from the people they associated with.

Remember that you can not tell what may come to you in the future, what honor or promotion; and you can not afford to take chances upon having anything in your history which can come up to embarrass you or to keep you back. A thing which you now look upon as a bit of pleasure may come up in the future to hamper your progress. The thing you do to-day while trying to have a good time may come up to block your progress years afterwards.

Remember that you cannot know what the future may bring, what honors or promotions you may receive. You cannot afford to risk having anything in your past that could embarrass you or hold you back. Something you now see as harmless fun may hinder your progress later. What you do today while trying to have a good time may block your progress years from now.

I know men who have been thrust into positions of honor and public trust who would give anything in the world if they could blot out some of the unclean experiences of their youth. Things in their early history, which they had forgotten all about and which they never expected to hear from again, are raked up when they become candidates for office or positions of trust. These forgotten bits of so-called pleasure loom up in after-life as insurmountable bars across their pathway.

I know men who have been thrust into positions of honor and public trust. They would give anything to erase some of the unclean experiences of their youth. They had forgotten these early experiences and never expected to hear about them again. But when they become candidates for office or positions of trust, those experiences are dug up. These forgotten bits of so-called pleasure become impossible barriers in their path later in life.

I know a very rich young man who thought he was just having a good time in his youth—sowing his wild oats—who would give a large part of his vast wealth to-day if he could blot out a few years of his folly.

I know a very rich young man who thought he was just having fun in his youth, sowing his wild oats. Today, he would give up a large part of his vast wealth if he could erase a few years of his foolish behavior.

It seems strange that men will work hard to build a reputation, and then throw it all away by some weakness in their character. How many men there are in this country with great brain power, men who are kings in their specialties, men who have worked like slaves to achieve their aims, whose reputations have been practically ruined by the flaw of impurity!

It seems strange that men work hard to build a reputation, then throw it all away because of a weakness in their character. So many men in this country have great minds and are masters in their specialties. They have worked like slaves to achieve their goals, yet impurity has practically ruined their reputations!

Character is a record of our thoughts and acts. That which we think about most, the ideals and motives uppermost in our mind, are constantly solidifying into character. What we are constantly thinking about, and aiming toward and trying to obtain becomes a permanent part of the life.

Character is a record of our thoughts and actions. The things we think about most, and the ideals and motives foremost in our minds, constantly shape our character. What we keep thinking about, aiming for, and trying to obtain becomes a permanent part of our lives.

The man whose thoughts are low and impure, very quickly gives this bent and tendency to his character.

A man with low and impure thoughts quickly gives his character the same bent and tendency.

The character levels itself with the thought, whether high or low. No man can have a pure, clean character who does not habitually have pure, clean thoughts. The immoral man is invariably an impure thinker—whatever we harbor in the mind out-pictures itself in the body.

A person's character rises or falls to the level of their thoughts. No man can have a pure, clean character unless he regularly has pure, clean thoughts. An immoral man always has impure thoughts. Whatever we hold in our minds shows itself in our bodies.

In Eastern countries the leper is compelled to cry, "Unclean, unclean," upon the approach of any one not so cursed. What a blessing to humanity if our modern moral lepers were compelled to cry, "Unclean, unclean," before they approach innocent victims with their deadly contagion!

In Eastern countries, a leper is forced to cry, "Unclean, unclean," when anyone without the same affliction approaches. What a blessing to humanity it would be if our modern moral lepers had to cry, "Unclean, unclean," before approaching innocent victims with their deadly contagion!

About the vilest thing on earth is a human being whose character is so tainted with impurity that he leaves the slimy trail of the serpent wherever he goes.

One of the vilest things on earth is a person so corrupted by impurity that he leaves a serpent's slimy trail wherever he goes.

There never was a more beautiful and pathetic prayer than that of the poor soiled, broken-hearted Psalmist in his hour of shame, "Create in me a clean heart." "Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord, who shall stand in His holy place? He that hath clean hands and a pure heart." There are thousands of men who would cut off their right hands to-day to be free from the stain, the poison, of impurity.

There has never been a more beautiful and heartbreaking prayer than the poor, stained, brokenhearted Psalmist’s prayer in his hour of shame: "Create in me a clean heart." "Who may climb the hill of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart." Today, thousands of men would cut off their right hands to be free from the stain and poison of impurity.

There can be no lasting greatness without purity. Vice honeycombs the physical strength as well as destroys the moral fiber. Now and again some man of note topples with a crash to sudden ruin. Yet the cause of the moral collapse is not sudden. There has been a slow undermining of virtue going on probably for years; then, in an hour when honor, truth, or honesty is brought to a crucial test, the weakened character gives way and there is an appalling commercial or social crash which often finds an echo in the revolver shot of the suicide.

There can be no lasting greatness without purity. Vice weakens physical strength and destroys moral character. Now and then, a prominent man falls suddenly into ruin. Yet the cause of his moral collapse is not sudden. His virtue has probably been slowly eroding for years. Then, when his honor, truthfulness, or honesty faces a crucial test, his weakened character gives way. The result is a shocking business or social disaster, often followed by the shot of a revolver as he takes his own life.

Tennyson shows the effect of Launcelot's guilty love for Guinevere, in the great knight's conscious loss of power. His wrongful passion indirectly brought about the death of fair Elaine. He himself at times shrank from puny men wont to go down before the shadow of his spear. Like a scarlet blot his sin stains all his greatness, and he muses on it remorsefully:

Tennyson shows how Launcelot's guilty love for Guinevere made the great knight feel that he had lost his power. His wrongful passion indirectly caused the death of the beautiful Elaine. At times, he even shrank from weak men who once would have fallen before the shadow of his spear. Like a scarlet stain, his sin marks all his greatness, and he reflects on it with remorse:

Later when the knights of the Round Table joined in the search for the Holy Grail, that lost sacred vessel,

Later, when the knights of the Round Table joined the search for the Holy Grail, the lost sacred vessel,

Launcelot was overtaken by his sin and failed ignominiously. Only Galahad the Pure was permitted to see the cup unsurrounded by a blinding glory, a fearful splendor of watching eyes and guarding shapes.

Launcelot’s sin caught up with him, and he failed in disgrace. Only Galahad the Pure was allowed to see the cup without a blinding glow around it. That fearful splendor was filled with watching eyes and guarding shapes.

No one is quite the same in his own estimation when he has been once guilty of contact with impurity. His self-respect has suffered a loss. Something has gone out of his life. His own good opinion of himself has suffered deterioration, and he can never face his life-task with quite the same confidence again. Somehow he feels that the world will know of his soul's debauch and judge him accordingly.

No one thinks quite the same of himself after being guilty of contact with impurity. His self-respect has suffered. Something has gone out of his life. His opinion of himself has worsened, and he can never again face his life’s work with quite the same confidence. Somehow, he feels that the world will know how his soul has been corrupted and judge him accordingly.

There is nothing which will mar a life more quickly than the consciousness of a soul-stain. The loss of self-respect, the loss of character, is irreparable.

Nothing can ruin a life more quickly than knowing your soul is stained. The loss of self-respect and character cannot be undone.

We are beginning to find that there is an intimate connection between absolute purity of one's thought and life and his good health, good thinking, and good work, a very close connection between the moral faculties and the physical health; that nothing so exhausts vitality and vitiates the quality of work and ideals, so takes the edge off of one's ambition, dulls the brain and aspiration, as impurity of thought and life. It seems to blight all the faculties and to demoralize the whole man, so that his efficiency is very much lessened. He does not speak with the same authority. The air of the conqueror disappears from his manner. He does not think so clearly; he does not act with so great certainty, and his self-faith is lost, because confidence is based upon self-respect, and he can no longer respect himself when he does things which he would not respect in another.

We are beginning to see a close connection between absolute purity of thought and life and good health, clear thinking, and good work. Moral qualities and physical health are closely connected. Nothing drains vitality or damages the quality of work and ideals as much as impurity of thought and life. Nothing else so weakens ambition or dulls the mind and aspiration. Impurity seems to blight every faculty and corrupt the whole person, greatly reducing his effectiveness. He does not speak with the same authority. He no longer carries himself like a conqueror. He does not think as clearly or act as confidently. He loses faith in himself because confidence rests on self-respect. And he can no longer respect himself when he does things he would not respect in someone else.

The fact that his impure acts are done secretly makes no difference. No one can thoroughly respect himself when he does that which demoralizes him, which is unbecoming a gentleman, no matter whether other people know it or not. Impurity blights everything it touches.

It makes no difference that his impure acts are done in secret. No one can fully respect himself when he does things that degrade him and are unworthy of a gentleman. It does not matter whether anyone else knows about them. Impurity ruins everything it touches.

It is not enough to be thought pure and clean and sound. One must actually be pure and clean and sound morally, or his self-respect is undermined.

It is not enough to be seen as pure, clean, and morally sound. You must actually be pure, clean, and morally sound, or your self-respect will suffer.

Purity is power because it means integrity of thought, integrity of conduct. It means wholeness. The impure man can not be a great power, because he can not thoroughly believe in himself when conscious that he is rotten in any part of his nature. Impurity works like leaven, which affects everything in a man. The very consciousness that the impurity is working within him robs him of power.

Purity is power because it means integrity in thought and conduct. It means wholeness. An impure man cannot be a great power. He cannot fully believe in himself when he knows that any part of his nature is rotten. Impurity works like yeast, affecting everything in a man. Just knowing that impurity is at work within him robs him of power.

Apart from the moral side of this question, let us show how these things affect one's success in life by sapping the energies, weakening the nature, lowering one's standards, blurring one's ideals, discouraging one's ambition, and lessening one's vitality and power.

Leaving aside the moral question, let us show how these things affect success in life. They drain a person's energy, weaken their character, and lower their standards. They blur their ideals, discourage their ambition, and reduce their vitality and power.

In the last analysis of success, the mainspring of achievement must rest in the strength of one's vitality, for, without a stock of health equal to great emergencies and persistent longevity, even the greatest ambition is comparatively powerless. And there is nothing that will sap the life-forces so quickly as dissipation and impure living.

In the end, achievement depends on the strength of your vitality. Without enough health to meet great emergencies and sustain you over a long life, even the greatest ambition is comparatively powerless. Nothing drains your vitality as quickly as overindulgence and impure living.

Is there anything truer than that "To be carnally minded is death?" If the thought is carnal, the body must correspond, must express it in some physical discord.

Is anything truer than the saying, "To be carnally minded is death?" If a person's thoughts are carnal, the body must reflect them through some physical disorder.

Nothing else will destroy the very foundations of vitality quicker than impurity of thought and animal self-indulgence. The ideals must be kept bright and the ambition clean-cut.

Nothing destroys the foundations of vitality faster than impure thoughts and animal self-indulgence. Keep your ideals bright and your ambitions clear.

Purity of thought means that the mental processes are not clouded, muddy, or clogged by brain ash from a dissipated life, from violation of the laws of health. Pure thought comes from pure blood, and pure blood from a clean, sane life. Purity signifies a great deal besides freedom from sensual taint. It means saneness, purity, and quality.

Purity of thought means that the mind is not clouded or clogged by the waste left by a life of excess and unhealthy habits. Pure thought comes from pure blood, and pure blood comes from a clean, sensible life. Purity means much more than freedom from sensual corruption. It means soundness, purity, and quality.

It has been characteristic of great leaders, men whose greatness has stood the acid test of time, that they have been virtuous in conduct, pure in thought.

Great leaders whose greatness has stood the test of time have been virtuous in their actions and pure in their thoughts.

"I have such a rich story that I want to tell you," said an officer, who one evening came into the Union camp in a rollicking mood. "There are no ladies present, are there?"

"I have such a great story to tell you," said an officer. He had come into the Union camp one evening in a playful mood. "There are no ladies here, are there?"

General Grant, lifting his eyes from the paper which he was reading, and looking the officer squarely in the eye, said slowly and deliberately:

General Grant looked up from the paper he was reading and looked the officer squarely in the eye. Then he spoke slowly and deliberately:

"No, but there are gentlemen present."

"No, but there are gentlemen here."

"A great trait of Grant's character," said George W. Childs, "was his purity. I never heard him express an impure thought, or make an indelicate allusion in any way or shape. There is nothing I ever heard him say that could not be repeated in the presence of women. If a man was brought up for an appointment, and it was shown that he was an immoral man, Grant would not appoint him, no matter how great the pressure brought to bear."

"One of Grant's great qualities was his purity," said George W. Childs. "I never heard him express an impure thought or make an inappropriate remark of any kind. Everything I ever heard him say could be repeated in front of women. If a man was proposed for an appointment and was shown to be immoral, Grant would not appoint him. No amount of pressure could change his mind."

On one occasion, when Grant formed one of a dinner-party of Americans in a foreign city, conversation drifted into references to questionable affairs, when he suddenly rose and said, "Gentlemen, please excuse me, I will retire."

Once, Grant was dining with a group of Americans in a foreign city. When the conversation turned to questionable affairs, he suddenly stood up and said, "Gentlemen, please excuse me, I will leave."

It is the glory of a man to have clean lips and a clean mind. It is the glory of a woman not to know evil, even in her thoughts.

It is a man's honor to speak and think pure thoughts. It is a woman's honor not to know evil, even in her thoughts.

Isaac Newton's most intimate friend in young manhood was a noted foreign chemist. They were constant associates until one day the Italian told an impure story, after which Newton never would associate with him.

As a young man, Isaac Newton's closest friend was a well-known foreign chemist. They spent time together constantly until one day the Italian told an indecent story. After that, Newton never spent time with him again.

"My extreme youth, when I took command of the army of Italy," said Napoleon, "rendered it necessary that I should evince great reserve of manners and the utmost severity of morals. This was indispensable to enable me to sustain authority over men so greatly my superiors in age and experience. I pursued a line of conduct in the highest degree irreproachable and exemplary. In spotless morality I was a Cato, and must have appeared such to all. I was a philosopher and a sage. My supremacy could be retained only by proving myself a better man than any other man in the army. Had I yielded to human weakness, I should have lost my power."

“I was very young when I took command of the army of Italy,” said Napoleon. “Because of this, I had to be very reserved in my manner and strictly moral in my conduct. This was essential if I was to maintain authority over men much older and more experienced than I was. I behaved in a way that was beyond reproach and set the highest example. In my spotless morality, I was a Cato, and I must have appeared that way to everyone. I was a philosopher and a sage. I could keep my supreme authority only by proving myself a better man than anyone else in the army. If I had given in to human weakness, I would have lost my power.”

The military antagonist and conqueror of Napoleon, the Duke of Wellington, was a man of simple life and austere virtue. When he was laid to rest in the crypt of St. Paul's Cathedral, "in streaming London's central roar," the poet who wrote his funeral ode was able to say of him:

The Duke of Wellington, who fought and defeated Napoleon, lived simply and had strict moral principles. He was laid to rest in the crypt of St. Paul's Cathedral, "in streaming London's central roar." The poet who wrote his funeral ode could say of him:

The peril of impurity lies in the insidiousness of the poison. Just one taint of impurity, one glance at a lewd picture, one hearing of an unclean story may begin the fatal corruption of mind and heart.

The danger of impurity is that its poison works subtly. Just one trace of impurity, one glance at a lewd picture, or one obscene story may begin the fatal corruption of mind and heart.

When Bunyan's pilgrim was assailed by temptation he stopped his ears with his fingers and fled for his life. Let the young man who values himself, who sets store upon health and has ambition to succeed in his chosen career, be deaf to unclean speech and flee the companionship of those who think and speak uncleanness.

When Bunyan's pilgrim faced temptation, he plugged his ears with his fingers and ran for his life. A young man who values himself, his health, and success in his chosen career should ignore filthy talk. He should also flee the company of those who think and speak in filthy ways.

It is the experience of every man who has forsaken vice and turned his feet into the paths of virtue that evil memories will, in his holiest hours, leap upon him like a lion from ambush. Into the harmony of the hymn he sings memory will interpolate unbidden, the words of some sensual song. Pictures of his debauches, his past licentiousness, will fill his vision, and the unhappy victim can only beat upon his breast and cry, "Me miserable! Whither shall I flee?" This has been, through all time, the experience of the men that have sought sanctity in seclusion. The saints, the hermits in their caves, the monks in their cells, could never escape the obsessions of memory which with horrible realism and scorching vividness revived past scenes of sin.

Every man who has abandoned vice and turned to virtue has had this experience. In his holiest hours, evil memories leap upon him like a lion from ambush. As he sings a hymn, the words of some sensual song intrude unbidden into its harmony. Images of his past debauchery and sexual excess fill his mind. The unhappy victim can only beat his breast and cry, "I am miserable! Where can I flee?" Throughout history, men who sought holiness in isolation have had this experience. Saints, hermits in their caves, and monks in their cells could never escape their obsessive memories. Those memories brought past scenes of sin back to life with horrifying realism and searing vividness.

A boy once showed to another a book of impure words and pictures. He to whom the book was shown had it in his hands only a few minutes. In after-life he held high office in the church, and years and years afterwards told a friend that he would give half he possessed had he never seen it, because its impure images, at the most holy times, would arise unbidden to his mind.

A boy once showed another boy a book with impure words and pictures. The second boy held the book for only a few minutes. Later in life, he held a high office in the church. Many years afterward, he told a friend that he would give half of what he owned never to have seen the book. Its impure images would come unbidden to his mind, even at the most holy times.

Physicians tell us that every particle of the body changes in a very few years; but no chemistry, human or divine, can entirely expunge from the mind a bad picture. Like the paintings buried for centuries in Pompeii, without the loss of tint or shade, these pictures are as brilliant in age as in youth.

Doctors tell us that every part of the body changes within a few years. But no chemistry, human or divine, can completely erase a bad image from the mind. These images remain as vivid in old age as in youth, like the paintings buried for centuries in Pompeii without losing any of their color or shading.

Association begets assimilation. We can not mix with evil associations without being contaminated; can not touch pitch without being defiled. Impurity is especially fatal in its grip upon the young, because of the vividness of the youthful imagination and the facility with which insinuating suggestions enter the youthful thought.

The people we associate with shape who we become. We cannot keep bad company without being corrupted, just as we cannot touch pitch without getting dirty. Impurity has an especially deadly hold on the young. This is because young people have vivid imaginations and are easily influenced by subtle suggestions.

Indelible and satanic is the taint of the evil suggestive power which a lewd, questionable picture or story leaves upon the mind. Nothing else more fatally mars the ideals of life and lowers the standard of manhood and womanhood.

A lewd or questionable picture or story leaves an evil influence on the mind that is permanent and satanic. Nothing else damages life's ideals more fatally or lowers the standard of manhood and womanhood more.

To read writers whose lines express the utmost possible impurity so dexterously and cunningly that not a vulgar word is used, but rosy, glowing, suggestive language—authors who soften evil and show deformity with the tints of beauty—what is this but to take the feet out of the straight road into the guiltiest path of seduction?

Some writers express the utmost impurity so skillfully and cunningly that they use no vulgar words. Instead, they use rosy, glowing, suggestive language. They make evil seem less evil and give ugliness the appearance of beauty. What is reading such authors but stepping off the straight road onto the most sinful path of seduction?

Very few realize the power of a diseased imagination to ruin a precious life. Perhaps the defect began in a little speck of taint. No other faculty has such power to curse or bless mankind, to build up or tear down, to ennoble or debauch, to make happy or miserable, or has such power upon our destiny, as the imagination.

Very few people realize how a diseased imagination can ruin a precious life. Perhaps the trouble began with a tiny trace of corruption. No other faculty has as much power to curse or bless humanity, or to build up or tear down. None has as much power to ennoble or corrupt, to make people happy or miserable, or to shape our destiny.

Many a ruined life began its downfall in the dry rot of a perverted imagination. How little we realize that by subtle, moral manufacture, repeated acts of the imagination weave themselves into a mighty tapestry, every figure and fancy of which will stand out in living colors in the character-web of our lives, to approve or condemn us.

Many a life has begun to fall apart because of the slow decay caused by a corrupted imagination. We hardly realize how repeated acts of imagination subtly weave a powerful moral tapestry. Every image and fancy will stand out in living colors in the fabric of our character, bearing witness for or against us.

In many cases where, for no apparent reason, one is making failure after failure, never reaching, even approximately, the position which was anticipated for him, if he would look frankly into his own heart, and searchingly at his own secret habits, he would find that which, hidden, like the worm at the heart of the rose, is destroying and making impossible all that ennobles, beautifies, and enriches life.

Sometimes a person fails again and again for no apparent reason. He never comes close to reaching the position others expected him to reach. If he looked honestly into his own heart and closely examined his secret habits, he would find something hidden there. Like a worm at the heart of a rose, it destroys and makes impossible all that ennobles, beautifies, and enriches life.

"I solemnly warn you," says Beecher, "against indulging a morbid imagination. In that busy and mischievous faculty begins the evil. Were it not for his airy imagination, man might stand his own master,—not overmatched by the worst part of himself. But ah! these summer reveries, these venturesome dreams, these fairy castles, builded for no good purposes,—they are haunted by impure spirits, who will fascinate, bewitch, and corrupt you. Blessed are the pure in heart. Blessed art thou, most favored of God, whose THOUGHTS are chastened; whose imagination will not breathe or fly in tainted air, and whose path hath been measured by the golden reed of purity."

“I solemnly warn you,” says Beecher, “against indulging an unhealthy imagination. Evil begins in that busy, mischievous faculty. Without his fanciful imagination, a man might remain his own master, not overcome by the worst part of himself. But ah! Those summer daydreams, those daring dreams, those castles in the air built for no good purpose are haunted by impure spirits. They will fascinate, enchant, and corrupt you. Blessed are the pure in heart. Blessed are you, most favored by God, whose THOUGHTS are disciplined. Your imagination will not breathe or fly in tainted air, and your path has been measured by the golden rod of purity.”

To be pure in heart is the youth's first great commandment. Do not listen to men who tell you that "vice is a necessity." Nothing is a necessity that is wrong,—that debauches self-respect. "All wickedness is weakness." Vice and vigor have nothing in common. Purity is strength, health, power.

Being pure in heart is a young person’s first great commandment. Do not listen to men who tell you that "vice is a necessity." Nothing wrong is necessary, especially when it destroys your self-respect. "All wickedness is weakness." Vice and vigor have nothing in common. Purity is strength, health, and power.

Do not imagine that impurity can be hidden! One may as well expect to have consumption or any other deadly disease, and to look and appear healthy, as to be impure in thought and mind, and to look and appear manly and noble souled. Character writes its record in the flesh.

Do not imagine that impurity can be hidden! If your thoughts and mind are impure, you cannot look manly and noble. You might as well expect to look healthy while suffering from tuberculosis or another deadly disease. Character writes its record on the body.

"No, no, these are not trifles," said George Whitefield, when a friend asked why he was so particular to bathe frequently, and always have his linen scrupulously clean; "a minister must be without spot, even in his garments." Purity in a good man can not be carried too far.

"No, no, these are not small matters," said George Whitefield. A friend had asked why he bathed so often and always kept his linen perfectly clean. "A minister must be spotless, even in his clothes." A good man cannot be too pure.

There is a permanency in the stamp left by the sins resulting from impure thought that follows even to the grave. Diseases unnameable, the consequences of the Scarlet Sin, the following after the "strange woman," write their record in the very bones, literally fulfilling the Scripture statement—"Their sins shall lie down with their bones in the dust."

The sins that result from impure thoughts leave a lasting mark, one that follows a person to the grave. Unnameable diseases result from the Scarlet Sin, from pursuing the "strange woman." They leave their mark on the very bones, literally fulfilling the Scripture: "Their sins shall lie down with their bones in the dust."

We often detect in the eye and in the manner the black leper spots of impurity long before the youth suspects they have ever been noticed. When there is a scar or a stain upon one's self-respect it is bound to appear on the surface sooner or later. What fearful blots and stains are left on the characters of those who have to fight for a lifetime to rid themselves of a blighting and contaminating influence, moral or physical!

We often see the black leper spots of impurity in a young person’s eyes and manner long before the young person suspects anyone has noticed them. A scar or stain on a person’s self-respect is bound to show on the surface sooner or later. What terrible marks and stains are left on the characters of those who must fight all their lives to free themselves from a damaging and corrupting influence, whether moral or physical!

Chemists tell us that scarlet is the only color which can not be bleached. There is no known chemical which can remove it. So, formerly, scarlet rags were made into blotting paper. When the sacred writer wished to emphasize the power of Divine forgiveness, of Divine love, he said: "Even though thy sins be as scarlet, they shall be made white as wool!" It certainly takes omnipotent power to expunge impurity from the mind. There is certainly one sin which only Divine power can bleach out of the character—the sin of impurity.

Chemists tell us that scarlet is the only color that cannot be bleached. No known chemical can remove it. So, in the past, scarlet rags were made into blotting paper. A sacred writer wanted to emphasize the power of Divine forgiveness and Divine love. He wrote: "Even though your sins are scarlet, they will be made white as wool!" It certainly takes all-powerful force to remove impurity from the mind. There is certainly one sin that only Divine power can bleach from a person's character: the sin of impurity.

No man can think much of himself when he is conscious of impurity anywhere in his life. And the very knowledge that one is absolutely pure in his thought and clean in his life increases his self-respect and his self-faith wonderfully.

No man can think highly of himself when he knows there is impurity anywhere in his life. Knowing that his thoughts are absolutely pure and his life is clean greatly increases his self-respect and self-confidence.

It is a terrible handicap to be conscious that, however much others may think of us, we are foul inside, that our thoughts are vile. It does not matter that our vicious acts are secret, we can not cover them.

It is a terrible burden to know that, no matter how highly others think of us, we are filthy inside and our thoughts are vile. Even if our wicked acts are secret, we cannot cover them up.

Whatever we have thought or done will outpicture itself in the expression, in the bearing. It will be hung out upon the bulletin board of the face and manner for the world to read. We instinctively feel a person's reality; not what he pretends, but what he is, for we radiate our reality, which often contradicts our words.

Everything we have thought or done shows itself in our expression and bearing. It is posted on the bulletin board of our faces and manner for the world to read. We instinctively sense what a person really is, not what they pretend to be. For we radiate our true selves, which often contradict our words.

There is only one panacea for impurity. Constant occupation and pure, high thinking are absolutely necessary to a clean life.

There is only one cure for impurity. Staying busy and thinking pure, noble thoughts are absolutely necessary for a clean life.

"I should be a poor counselor of young men," wrote a true friend of youth, "if I taught you that purity is possible only by isolation from the world. We do not want that sort of holiness which can thrive only in seclusion; we want that virile, manly purity which keeps itself unspotted from the world, even amid its worst debasements, just as the lily lifts its slender chalice of white and gold to heaven, untainted by the soil in which it grows, though that soil be the reservoir of death and putrefaction."

"I would be a poor adviser to young men," wrote a true friend of young people, "if I taught you that purity is possible only by withdrawing from the world. We do not want the kind of holiness that can thrive only in isolation. We want a strong, manly purity that remains untainted by the world, even amid its worst corruption. It is like the lily, which raises its slender cup of white and gold toward heaven. The lily remains untainted by the soil in which it grows, though that soil is full of death and decay."

Impurity is the forfeiture of manliness. The true man must be untarnished. James went so far as to declare that this is just what religion is. "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this * * to keep himself unspotted from the world."

Impurity means giving up manliness. A true man must be pure. James even declared that purity is what religion is. "Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this * * to keep oneself unstained by the world."

Every true man shrinks from uncleanness. He knows what it means. Impurity makes lofty friendships impossible. It robs all of life's intercourse of its freshness and its joyous innocence. It sullies all beauty. It does these things chiefly because it separates men from God and His vision. The best and holiest is barred to the stained man. Impurity makes it impossible for him to appreciate what is pure and fine, dulls his finer perceptions, and he is not given the place where only pure and fine things are.

Every true man recoils from impurity. He knows what it means. Impurity makes noble friendships impossible. It robs all human interaction of its freshness and joyful innocence. It stains all beauty. It does these things chiefly because it separates men from God and from seeing him. A man stained by impurity is shut out from the best and holiest things. Impurity makes it impossible for him to appreciate what is pure and fine. It dulls his finer senses, and he is not admitted to the place where only pure and fine things exist.

There can be no such thing as an impure gentleman. The two words contradict each other. A gentleman must be pure. He need not have fine clothes. He may have had few advantages. But he must be pure and clean. And, if he have all outward grace and gift and be inwardly unclean, though he may call himself a gentleman, he is a liar and a lie.

There is no such thing as an impure gentleman. The two words contradict each other. A gentleman must be pure. He does not need fine clothes. He may have had few advantages. But he must be pure and clean. If he has every outward grace and gift but is unclean inside, he may call himself a gentleman. But he is a liar and a lie.

O, young man, guard your heart-purity! Keep innocency! Never lose it; if it be gone, you have lost from the casket the most precious gift of God. The first purity of imagination, of thought, and of feeling, if soiled, can be cleansed by no fuller's soap. If a harp be broken, art may repair it; if a light be quenched, the flame may kindle it; but if a flower be crushed, what art can repair it? If an odor be wafted away, who can collect or bring it back?

Oh, young man, guard the purity of your heart! Keep your innocence! Never lose it. If it is gone, you have lost the most precious gift of God from your treasure chest. If the original purity of your imagination, thoughts, and feelings is stained, no soap can wash it clean. If a harp is broken, skill can repair it. If a light goes out, a flame can light it again. But if a flower is crushed, what skill can repair it? If a scent drifts away, who can gather it or bring it back?

Parents are, in many cases, responsible for the impurity of their children. Through a mistaken sense of delicacy, they allow the awakened, searching mind of the child to get information concerning its physical nature from the mind of some boy or girl no better taught than itself, and so conceive wholly wrong and harmful ideas concerning things of which it is vitally important that every human being should at the outset of life have clear and adequate ideas. Such silence, many times, is fatal, and always foolish, if not criminal.

Parents are often responsible for their children's impurity. Out of a misplaced sense of delicacy, they let their curious, questioning children learn about their bodies from other children who know no more than they do. As a result, children form completely wrong and harmful ideas about these matters. Yet it is vitally important for everyone to have clear and adequate ideas about them from the start of life. Such silence is often fatal and always foolish, if not criminal.

"I have noticed," says William Acton, "that all patients who have confessed to me that they have practised vice, lamented that they were not, when children, made aware of its consequences; and I have been pressed over and over again to urge on parents, guardians, schoolmasters, and others interested in the education of youth, the necessity of giving to their charges some warning, some intimation, of their danger. To parents and guardians I offer my earnest advice that they should, by hearty sympathy and frank explanation, aid their charges in maintaining pure lives." What stronger breastplate than a heart untainted?

"I have noticed," says William Acton, "that all patients who confessed to practicing vice regretted not being warned of its consequences as children. They have urged me again and again to stress the need to warn young people of the danger. They have asked me to urge parents, guardians, schoolteachers, and others involved in educating the young to give that warning. I strongly advise parents and guardians to help young people lead pure lives through genuine sympathy and frank explanations." What stronger armor is there than a pure heart?

A prominent writer says: "If young persons poison their bodies and corrupt their minds with vicious courses, no lapse of time, after a reform, is likely to restore them to physical soundness and the soul purity of their earlier days."

A prominent writer says: "If young people poison their bodies and corrupt their minds through immoral behavior, time is unlikely to restore them to their earlier physical health and purity of soul, even after they change their ways."

There is one idea concerning purity which should never have been conceived, and, having been conceived, should be, once and forever, eternally exploded. It is that purity is different in the different sexes.

One idea about purity should never have arisen. Now that it has, it should be rejected once and for all. It is the idea that purity is different for men and women.

It would be loosening the foundations of virtue to countenance the notion that, because of a difference in sex, men are at liberty to set morality at defiance, and to do with impunity that which, if done by a woman, would stain her character for life. To maintain a pure and virtuous condition of society, therefore, man as well as woman must be virtuous and pure, both alike shunning all acts infringing on the heart, character, and conscience,—shunning them as poison, which, once imbibed, can never be entirely thrown out again.

It would weaken the foundations of virtue to accept a double standard based on sex. Men cannot be free to defy morality and escape punishment for acts that would stain a woman's character for life. Therefore, to maintain a pure and virtuous society, men and women alike must be pure and virtuous. Both must avoid all acts that violate the heart, character, and conscience. They must shun such acts like poison, which, once swallowed, can never be completely expelled.

Is there any reason why a man should have any license to drag his thoughts through the mud and filth any more than a woman? Is there any sex in principle? Isn't a stain a blot upon a boy's character just as bad as upon a girl's? If purity is so refining and elevating for one sex, why should it not be for the other?

Is there any reason a man should be more free than a woman to drag his thoughts through mud and filth? Do principles differ for men and women? Isn't a stain on a boy's character just as bad as one on a girl's? If purity refines and elevates one sex, why shouldn't it do the same for the other?

It is incredible that a man should be socially ostracized for comparatively minor offenses, yet be rotten with immorality and be received into the best homes. But, if a woman makes the least false step in this direction, she is not only ostracized but treated with the utmost contempt, while the man who was the chief sinner in causing a woman's downfall, society will pardon.

It is incredible that a man can be shunned for relatively minor offenses. Yet a man can be morally rotten and still be welcomed into the best homes. But if a woman makes even the slightest misstep in this area, she is not only shunned but treated with the utmost contempt. Society will pardon the man who was most to blame for her downfall.

To put it on the very lowest ground, I am certain that if young men knew and realized the fearful risks to health that they take by indulging in gross impurities they would put them by with a shudder of disgust and aversion. It may very easily happen—it very often actually does happen—that one single step from the path of purity clouds a man's whole life with misery and unspeakable suffering; and not only that, but even entails lifelong disease on children yet unborn.

Even on the most basic grounds, I am certain that young men would reject gross impurities with disgust and revulsion if they understood the terrible health risks. A single step away from purity can easily fill a man's entire life with misery and unspeakable suffering. This happens very often. It can also cause lifelong disease in children not yet born.

To return to its Maker at the close of life the marvelous body which He gave us, scarred by a heedless life, with the heart rotten with impurity, the imagination filled with vicious images, the character honeycombed with vice, is a most ungrateful return for the priceless life of opportunity.

At the end of life, we return to our Maker the marvelous body he gave us. If we have scarred it through careless living, that is a deeply ungrateful return for a priceless life full of opportunity. It is ungrateful to return with a heart rotten with impurity, an imagination filled with vicious images, and a character riddled with vice.

A mind retaining all the dew and freshness of innocence shrinks from the very idea of impurity, the very suggestion of it, as if it were sin to have even thought or heard of it, as if even the shadow of the evil would leave some soil on the unsullied whiteness of the virgin mind. "When modesty is once extinguished, it knows not a return."

A mind that retains all the freshness of innocence shrinks from the very idea or suggestion of impurity. It is as if even thinking or hearing about impurity were a sin. It is as if even the shadow of evil would stain the spotless whiteness of an innocent mind. "Once modesty is lost, it never returns."