Keep Your Heart - Part 5

Keep your heart as you would a prisoner. The heart is guilty, and is ready every now and then to break prison. We need to lay bolts and fetters upon it. A prisoner in the jail may promise that he will not stir, but when he sees an opportunity, if you do not watch him, he will file off his fetters and be gone. So the heart promises that it will keep from such sins, but if you are not careful it will steal out to vanity. Therefore, keep your heart as a prisoner: When you perceive it breaking loose, lay chains and fetters upon it; bind it fast with the terrors of the law; keep it with the flaming sword of a reproof. As John the Baptist said to Herod in Mark 6:18, "It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife," so say to your heart, "It is not lawful for you to meddle with forbidden fruit. You may not be proud, vain, or earthly." Lay the commands of God upon your heart. A man may be too jealous of his friend, but he cannot be too jealous of his heart. Let it be kept a close prisoner. ~Thomas Watson, The Spiritual Watch