Out from the Heart BY JAMES ALLEN Author of "FROM POVERTY TO POWER," "AS A MAN THINKETH," ETC. _Make pure thy heart, and thou wilt make thy life Rich, sweet, and beautiful, unmarred by strife; Guard well thy mind, and, noble, strong, and fret, Nothing shall harm, disturb, or conquer thee; For all thy foes are in thy heart and mind. There also thy salvation thou wilt find._ R. F. FENNO & COMPANY 18 EAST SEVENTEENTH ST., NEW YORK CONTENTS The Heart and the Life The Nature and Power of Mind Formation of Habit Doing and Knowing First Steps in the Higher Life Mental Conditions and Their Effects Exhortation OUT FROM THE HEART THE HEART AND THE LIFE As the heart, so is the life. The within is ceaselessly becoming the without. Nothing remains unrevealed. That which is hidden is but for a time; it ripens and comes forth at last. Seed, tree, blossom, and fruit is the fourfold order of the universe. From the state of a man's heart proceed the conditions of his life; his thoughts blossom into deeds, and his deeds bear the fruitage of character and destiny. Life is ever unfolding from within, and revealing itself to the light, and thoughts engendered in the heart at last reveal themselves in words, actions, and things accomplished. As the fountain from the hidden spring, so issues man's life from the secret recesses of his heart. All that he is and does is generated there. All that he will be and do will take its rise there. Sorrow and gladness, suffering and enjoyment, hope and fear, hatred and love, ignorance and enlightenment, are nowhere but in the heart; they are solely mental conditions. Man is the keeper of his heart; the watcher of his mind; the solitary sentinel of his citadel of life. As such, he can be diligent or negligent. He can keep his heart more and more carefully; he can more strenuously watch and purify his mind; and he can guard himself against the thinking of unrighteous thoughts: this is the way of enlightenment and bliss. On the other hand, he can live loosely and carelessly, neglecting the supreme task of rightly ordering his life: this is the way of self-delusion and suffering. Let a man realize that life in its totality proceeds from the mind, and lo, the way of blessedness is opened up to him! For he will then discover that he possesses the power to rule his mind, and to fashion it in accordance with his Ideal. So will he elect to strongly and steadfastly walk those pathways of thought and action which are altogether excellent; to him life will become beautiful and sacred; and, sooner or later, he will put to flight all evil, confusion and suffering; for it is impossible for a man to fall short of liberation, enlightenment, and peace, who guards with unwearying diligence the gateway of his heart. THE NATURE AND POWER OF MIND