--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To keep the heart then, is carefully to…" description: "\"To keep the heart then, is carefully to preserve it from sin which disorders it; and maintain that spiritual and gracious frame, which fits it for a li..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec9/john-flavel-4295_communion_to-keep-the-heart-then-is-carefully-to-p_375346.jpg" --- # To keep the heart then, is carefully to preserve it from… ![“To keep the heart then, is carefully to preserve it from sin which disorders it; and maintain that spiritual and gracious frame, which fits it for a life of communion with God.” quote by John Flavel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec9/john-flavel-4295_communion_to-keep-the-heart-then-is-carefully-to-p_375346.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec9/john-flavel-4295_communion_to-keep-the-heart-then-is-carefully-to-p_375346.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec9/john-flavel-4295_communion_to-keep-the-heart-then-is-carefully-to-p_375346.jpg) > “To keep the heart then, is carefully to preserve it from sin which disorders it; and maintain that spiritual and gracious frame, which fits it for a life of communion with God.” [John Flavel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flavel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Preserving a pure heart requires guarding against sin that disrupts spiritual health and maintaining a gracious disposition for communion with God. **In simple terms:** Guard your heart from sin and stay gracious for God's communion. Key Takeaway Protect your heart and live graciously. Themes spirituality morality self‑discipline Mood reflective serene Type ethical spiritual When to use this quote - personal prayer - ethical decisions - daily reflection - conflict resolution Key Concepts sin heart spiritual health Questions to Reflect On - How do you guard your heart daily? - What habits keep you spiritually gracious? A Different Perspective Even a pure heart can be challenged by external temptations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Communion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communion/) [Communion with god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communion-with-god/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin/) [Spiritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual/) ## Related quotes > [Today I'm giving my heart to you, please carefully handle it. Not because it's my heart, but because u r inside it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/today-i-m-giving-my-heart-to-you-please-carefully-handle-it-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Prayer is a method practised from ancient days, so it's very important for us to maintain a spiritual connection, something that people, gladiators would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-joshua/prayer-is-a-method-practised-from-ancient-days-so-it-s-very-important/) [Anthony Joshua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-joshua/) > [I strove to maintain a spiritual practice, but since I was being pulled in so many directions, I couldn't seem to stay steady and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenda-strong/i-strove-to-maintain-a-spiritual-practice-but-since-i-was-being/) [Brenda Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenda-strong/) > [“Maintain a prayerful frame of heart in the intervals of duty. What reason can be assigned why our hearts are so dull, so careless,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flavel/maintain-a-prayerful-frame-of-heart-in-the-intervals-of-duty-what/) [John Flavel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flavel/) > [“If you would have the distraction of your thoughts prevented, endeavor to raise your affections to God, and to engage them warmly in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flavel/if-you-would-have-the-distraction-of-your-thoughts-prevented-endeavor/) [John Flavel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flavel/) > [“Do not expect trust to appear suddenly and in a state of completion. Trust grows gradually as we venture forth little by little, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-a-bakke/do-not-expect-trust-to-appear-suddenly-and-in-a-state-of-completion/) Jeannette A. Bakke > [In other words, first we must call people to communion with God, to intimacy with God, to a sense of belonging. Most people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/in-other-words-first-we-must-call-people-to-communion-with-god-to/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [ “Thomas Goodwin Jr. wrote of his godly father: In all the violence of \[his fever\], he discoursed with that strength of faith and assurance… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-goodwin/thomas-goodwin-jr-wrote-of-his-godly-father-in-all-the-violence-of/) [Thomas Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-goodwin/) > [“The word yoga comes from the Sanskrit yug which can be translated as “to harmonize”, “to bring together” or “to harness or yoke”. As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennie-zach/the-word-yoga-comes-from-the-sanskrit-yug-which-can-be-translated-as/) Jennie Zach > [Real prayer is communion with God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/real-prayer-is-communion-with-god/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [It became easy for me to detach myself from the course of life, so that while my hands and mind were engaged in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-g-lake/it-became-easy-for-me-to-detach-myself-from-the-course-of-life-so/) [John G. Lake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-g-lake/) > [The Lord came to send fire upon the earth (cf. Lk. 12:49), and through participation in this fire He makes divine not just the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-palamas/the-lord-came-to-send-fire-upon-the-earth-cf-lk-12-49-and-through/) [Gregory Palamas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-palamas/) > [It is not he who knows most, nor he who hears most, nor yet he who talks most, but he who exercises grace most,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-brooks/it-is-not-he-who-knows-most-nor-he-who-hears-most-nor-yet-he-who/) [Thomas Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-brooks/) > [To pray without expectation is to misunderstand the whole concept of prayer and relationship with God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/to-pray-without-expectation-is-to-misunderstand-the-whole-concept-of/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [Father, write Your Word in our heart; make us men and women who understand Your truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alistair-begg/father-write-your-word-in-our-heart-make-us-men-and-women-who/) [Alistair Begg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alistair-begg/) ## More by John Flavel > [No doctrine is more excellent, or necessary to be preached and studied, than Jesus Christ, and him crucified.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flavel/no-doctrine-is-more-excellent-or-necessary-to-be-preached-and-studied/) [John Flavel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flavel/) > [One word of God can do more than ten thousand words of men to relieve a distressed soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flavel/one-word-of-god-can-do-more-than-ten-thousand-words-of-men-to-relieve/) [John Flavel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flavel/) > [It is better to be as low as hell with a promise, than in Paradise without one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flavel/it-is-better-to-be-as-low-as-hell-with-a-promise-than-in-paradise/) [John Flavel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flavel/) > [Christ comes with kingly power, to rescue sinners, as a prey from the mouth of the terrible one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flavel/christ-comes-with-kingly-power-to-rescue-sinners-as-a-prey-from-the/) [John Flavel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flavel/) > [Regeneration expresses those supernatural, divine, new qualities imparted by the Spirit to the soul, which are the principle of all holy action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flavel/regeneration-expresses-those-supernatural-divine-new-qualities/) [John Flavel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flavel/) > [All the tears of a penitent sinner, should he shed as many as there have been fallen drops of rain since the creation, cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flavel/all-the-tears-of-a-penitent-sinner-should-he-shed-as-many-as-there/) [John Flavel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flavel/) > [The Lord's supper is memorative, and so it has the nature and use of a pledge or token of love, left by a dying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flavel/the-lord-s-supper-is-memorative-and-so-it-has-the-nature-and-use-of-a/) [John Flavel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flavel/) > [You may look upon some providences once and again, and see little or nothing in them, but look "seven times," that is, meditate often…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flavel/you-may-look-upon-some-providences-once-and-again-and-see-little-or/) [John Flavel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flavel/) > [There is no grace more excellent than faith; no sin more execrable and abominable then unbelief. Faith is the saving grace and unbelief the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flavel/there-is-no-grace-more-excellent-than-faith-no-sin-more-execrable-and/) [John Flavel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flavel/) > [ All the dark, intricate, puzzling providences at which we were sometimes so offended...we shall \[one day\] see to be to us, as the difficult… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flavel/all-the-dark-intricate-puzzling-providences-at-which-we-were/) [John Flavel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flavel/) > [Lord, here is my body; I am very grateful for it; I neglected nothing that belonged to its contents and welfare; but as for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flavel/lord-here-is-my-body-i-am-very-grateful-for-it-i-neglected-nothing/) [John Flavel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flavel/) > [Some providences, like Hebrew letters, must be read backwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flavel/some-providences-like-hebrew-letters-must-be-read-backwards/) [John Flavel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flavel/) > [Whatever be the ground of one's distress, it should drive him to, not from God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flavel/whatever-be-the-ground-of-one-s-distress-it-should-drive-him-to-not/) [John Flavel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flavel/) > [Brethren, it is easier to declaim against a thousand sins of others, than to mortify one sin in ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flavel/brethren-it-is-easier-to-declaim-against-a-thousand-sins-of-others/) [John Flavel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flavel/) > [Wrath to come implies both the futurity and perpetuity of this wrath… Yea, it is not only certainly future, but when it comes it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flavel/wrath-to-come-implies-both-the-futurity-and-perpetuity-of-this-wrath/) [John Flavel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flavel/) [Explore all 113 John Flavel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flavel/) ## More Communion quotes > [To love is to be in communion with the other and to discover in that other the spark of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/to-love-is-to-be-in-communion-with-the-other-and-to-discover-in-that/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Not simply the righteousness of our Saviour, not simply the beauty of His holiness or the graces of His character, are we to put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adoniram-judson-gordon/not-simply-the-righteousness-of-our-saviour-not-simply-the-beauty-of/) [Adoniram Judson Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adoniram-judson-gordon/) > [“Is the Lord’s Supper only for Christians? Whenever I ask this question I immediately remember the character of those that partook of the Last…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-witherington-iii/is-the-lord-s-supper-only-for-christians-whenever-i-ask-this-question/) [Ben Witherington III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-witherington-iii/) > [“Laymen are not allowed to carry around the blessed Host to throw at people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-wright-2/laymen-are-not-allowed-to-carry-around-the-blessed-host-to-throw-at/) [John C Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-wright-2/) > [The answer to any challenge you are having has nothing to do with God's willingness to help. It has to do with your acceptance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-beckwith/the-answer-to-any-challenge-you-are-having-has-nothing-to-do-with-god/) [Michael Beckwith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-beckwith/) > [We seem to have lost contact with the earlier, more profound functions of art, which have always had to do with personal and collective…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-london/we-seem-to-have-lost-contact-with-the-earlier-more-profound-functions/) [Peter London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-london/) > [The one thing that the Catholic Church desires, and that I seek as Bishop of Rome, “the Church which presides in charity”, is communion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/the-one-thing-that-the-catholic-church-desires-and-that-i-seek-as/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [It is not he who knows most, nor he who hears most, nor yet he who talks most, but he who exercises grace most,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-brooks/it-is-not-he-who-knows-most-nor-he-who-hears-most-nor-yet-he-who/) [Thomas Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-brooks/) > [True, the fragile bodies of his fellows do not weigh down his plane; true, the fretful minds of weaker men are missing from his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lindbergh/true-the-fragile-bodies-of-his-fellows-do-not-weigh-down-his-plane/) [Charles Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lindbergh/) > [There are believers who by God's grace, have climbed the mountains of full assurance and near communion, their place is with the eagle in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/there-are-believers-who-by-god-s-grace-have-climbed-the-mountains-of/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [I will tell you why we have these extraordinary minds and souls, Miss Whittaker," he continued, as though he had not heard her. "We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/i-will-tell-you-why-we-have-these-extraordinary-minds-and-souls-miss/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [“Communion gives us warmth. Singleness gives us light. At immeasurable distance stands one single star at the zenith. This star is the God and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-g-jung/communion-gives-us-warmth-singleness-gives-us-light-at-immeasurable/) [C.G. Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-g-jung/) > [...In this world I cannot see the Most High Son of God with my own eyes, except for His Most Holy Body and Blood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-of-assisi/in-this-world-i-cannot-see-the-most-high-son-of-god-with-my-own-eyes/) [Francis of Assisi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-of-assisi/) > [Today is the most wonderful day of your life. This moment represents eternity. It is the moment when you return to love by deciding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-angel-ruiz/today-is-the-most-wonderful-day-of-your-life-this-moment-represents/) [Miguel Angel Ruiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-angel-ruiz/) > [“The flesh of Christ is like a rich and inexhaustible fountain that pours into us the life springing forth from the Godhead into itself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-s-horton/the-flesh-of-christ-is-like-a-rich-and-inexhaustible-fountain-that/) [Michael S. Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-s-horton/) [Browse all 695 Communion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To keep the heart then, is carefully to preserve it from sin which disorders it; and maintain that spiritual and gracious frame, which fits it for a life of communion with God.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Flavel" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flavel/to-keep-the-heart-then-is-carefully-to-preserve-it-from-sin-which/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Communion" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flavel/to-keep-the-heart-then-is-carefully-to-preserve-it-from-sin-which/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec9/john-flavel-4295_communion_to-keep-the-heart-then-is-carefully-to-p_375346.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec9/john-flavel-4295_communion_to-keep-the-heart-then-is-carefully-to-p_375346.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec9/john-flavel-4295_communion_to-keep-the-heart-then-is-carefully-to-p_375346.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“To keep the heart then, is carefully to preserve it from sin which disorders it; and maintain that spiritual…” — John Flavel", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "John Flavel", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flavel/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "To keep the heart then, is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flavel/to-keep-the-heart-then-is-carefully-to-preserve-it-from-sin-which/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flavel/to-keep-the-heart-then-is-carefully-to-preserve-it-from-sin-which/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```