We are to love and cultivate that which is pure to such an extent that that which is impure will become painful to us, distressing, and we will desire to drop it from memory, and this will only be accomplished by continually thinking upon those things that are pure, and avoiding the giving of thought to the things that are impure. We are to recognize true loveliness, and to esteem it. When we would think on the purest of things we must of necessity lift our mental vision to as high a point as possible, and, as nearly as we may be able, discern the loveliness of the perfect character of our God and of our Lord Jesus Christ, and proportionately the loveliness manifested in one or another of the followers of Jesus, who walk closely in His footsteps.
By the pure, sinlessness of purpose in glorifying God is meant; by the lovely, appreciation of good character and principles is meant; and by the reputable, that which is in harmony with correct standards is meant. To think on such things cannot but purify our purposes, develop disinterested love, and elevate character.
Psa. 12:6; 19:8; 24:3-5; 119:40; Prov. 15:26; 20:9; Matt. 5:3-12; John 15:9-17; 1 Tim. 1:5; 3:9; 2 Tim. 2:22; Rom. 12:9-21; 1 Cor. 13; 2 Cor. 6:8; Col. 3:12-17; Heb. 11:2, 39; 1 John 4:7-21; Prov. 22:1; Eccles. 7:1.
