The New John Gill Exposition of the Entire Bible Proverbs 4:23
Keep thy heart with all diligence…
The mind from vanity,
the understanding from error, the will from perverseness, the
conscience clear of guilt, the affections from being inordinate and set
on evil objects, the thoughts from being employed on bad subjects; and
the whole from falling into the hands of the enemy, or being the
possession of Satan: great diligence had need be used in keeping it,
since it is naturally so deceitful and treacherous; a strict eye is to
be kept upon it; all the avenues to it to be watched, that nothing
hurtful enters, or evil comes out; it is to be kept by all manner of
means that can be thought of, by prayer, hearing, reading, meditation;
and, above all, by applying to Christ for his grace and Spirit to
sanctify, preserve, and keep it. Or, "above all keeping, keep thine
heart" F2; though other things are to be kept, and care taken of them,
as kingdoms and cities, and towns and families, and treasures and
riches; yet the heart above all:
for out of it [are] the issues of life;
of natural life: it is the seat
of it, from whence all actions of life are derived; it is, as
philosophers say, the first that lives, and the last that dies; and it
is the seat of spiritual life the principle of it is formed in it; from
whence all spiritual and vital actions flow, and which lead unto and
issue in eternal life: as is a man's heart, such is his state now, and
will be hereafter; if the heart is quickened and sanctified by the
grace of God, the man will live a life of faith and holiness here, and
enjoy everlasting life hereafter: and if the heart is right, so will
the actions of men be; they are regulated and denominated by it; they
will then spring from right principles, and be directed to right ends,
and performed with right views; great care therefore should be taken of
the heart, since so much depends upon it, and it is so well known to
God the searcher of it.
FOOTNOTES:
F2 (rmvm lkm) "prae omni custodia", Vatablus, Baynus, Mercerus,
Gejerus, Michaelis, Schultens; so Aben Ezra and Ben Melech.
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Copyright Statement
The New John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible Modernised and adapted for the computer by Larry Pierce of Online Bible. All Rightes Reserved, Larry Pierce, Winterbourne, Ontario.
A printed copy of this work can be ordered from: The Baptist Standard Bearer, 1 Iron Oaks Dr, Paris, AR, 72855
Bibliography Information
Gill, John. "Commentary on Proverbs 4:23". "The New John Gill Exposition of the Entire Bible". <http://www.studylight.org/com/geb/view.cgi?book=pr&chapter=004&verse=023>. 1999.
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