2 Also, that the soul [nefesh] be without knowledge [da'as], it is not good [tov]; and he that hasteth with his feet [raglayim] sinneth.

Acting impulsively or recklessly causes mistakes. So exercise restraint, caution, and moderation.

A merely natural man is an empty earthen vessel. He contains none of "the golden oil." What he knows, he knows only as a natural brute beast; and like other animals, obeys only the impulses of his "inner consciousness." Such a human creature is utterly destitute of inspiration; and the efforts to enlighten him prove fruitless, he is fit only for capture and destruction.

The unmeasured Court of the Gentiles is the aggregate of such; and in the midst of so dark and dangerous a community, the Spirit's Witnesses were appointed to operate for a testimony against them.

Eureka 11.2.

Science is beautiful, but it is an empirical toying with God's inventions if pursued with reference to Him; a presumptuous gossiping about His property, who is Creator and Possessor of all things.

Music is fascinating, but it lacks the real inspiration if divorced from His praise. Even for human uses, the best music can only be found in association with Bible themes.

As for business what is a man profited if he gain the whole world as a godless man? Follow the life of any man who seeks good without God? Go clean to the other end, when his days are done. What have you? A decrepit old man, thoroughly tired out - without satisfaction - without hope; his conscience senseless, the future dark - life a puzzle, destiny a dimness, the universe a frightful maze.

And now the light flickers in the lamp, and now it goes out, and now is all dark and finished. Order the coffin; send word to the registrar, arrange for a grave. Fix the funeral. Take him away, lower him to his place, shovel the earth. Leave him to the worms and forgetfulness. Is not this the end of all human attainments?

Shall we then neglect the attainments? Oh, no; that is another thing. There is good in everything when God is in His place. That place is the throne. Let God be first with a man, and then

"all things are clean unto you."

Seasons 2.32

15 Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.

Sloth will demoralise and corrupt the finest life.‭ ‬Always have something to do,‭ ‬and if you really cannot find anything to do,‭ ‬go to work and help somebody.

The Christadelphian, Sept 1889

Christ will approve no slothful servant

Let it not be our aim to make and keep ourselves comfortable; but to do his work and help his need. He can be assisted in an abundance of ways. The honour of his name, the interests of his truth, the well-being of his people, present us many opportunities of writing an account that we shall not be ashamed to confront in the day of reckoning.

While, then, we comfort ourselves, let us be quite sure we are entitled to the comfort by obedience, first, by purity in all things, and second, by seeking out and performing the Master's will in all things, and occupying ourselves in the execution of it. And let us make up our minds that this won't always be necessarily agreeable.

Sometimes it will be exceedingly otherwise; occasionally there will be a little uprush of the true nectar of heaven as it were, from the bottom of the spring around which we are working, but at most times it will be hard and trying, and toilsome work.

Then we are not to lose confidence; because we sometimes lack joy. The truth is calculated to impart joy, but the absence of joy is no necessary indication of the absence of our standing in his sight; for if we take David and Jesus, we find them both overborne with suffering.

Take the Psalms of David; see how much they have to do with sleepless pillows, and Christ himself was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. Therefore we must not conclude that, because we do not see the sun all the time, God is not smiling upon us. We may do well and suffer. The principle remains good;

"If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted?"

That was said to Cain, and is said to every servant of Christ.

"But if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door."

Gladness in that case is of no use; the gladness of the transgressor will turn to weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth in the day of Christ's glory.

The Christadelphian, Apr 1872

21 There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of Yahweh, that shall stand.

Adam set aside the divine will

Adam, the exiled, propagated himself, and filled the earth at last with a race in his own unhappy position. The race continues to this day, amid all the evils that result from man having to take care of himself, instead of living under the open guidance and friendship of his Creator.

Sunday Morning 173