Homilist Psalm 73:13 Truly I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocence. I. HERE IS A RIGHT ACT. Cleansing the heart and washing the hands mean the cultivation of personal holiness; and this is certainly a right work for man. It implies three things: — 1. The consciousness of personal defilement. 2. The possession of a cleansing element. 3. The effort of personal application. Moral evil is the defilements — Christianity is the cleansing element — and practical faith is the personal application. II. HERE IS A WRONG OPINION. The writer thought that it was "in vain." Three facts show that this is a great mistake: — 1. That moral holiness involves its own reward. 2. That moral holiness is pro-meted by temporal adversity. 3. That moral holiness will meet with its perfect recompense hereafter.No; this cleansing the heart is no vain work. No engagement is so real and profitable. Every fresh practical idea of God is a rising in the scale of being and of bliss; every conquest over sense, appetite, and sin, is a widening and strengthening of our spiritual sovereignty; every devout sentiment, earnest resolve, and generous sacrifice attunes our natures to higher music. (Homilist.) Parallel Verses KJV: Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.WEB: Surely in vain I have cleansed my heart, and washed my hands in innocence, |
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