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A New Life (Revival and Beyond)
of God, and to take cognizance, not only of the outward actions, but of
the thoughts and intents, the desires and emotions, of the heart. Human
laws cannot do this. They can deal with the outward actions only. A
man may be a transgressor, and yet conceal his misdeeds from human
eyes; he may be a criminal—a thief, a murderer, or an adulterer—but
so long as he is not discovered, the law cannot condemn him as guilty.
The law of God takes note of the jealousy, envy, hatred, malignity,
revenge, lust, and ambition that surge through the soul, but have not
found expression in outward action, because the opportunity, not the
will, has been wanting. And these sinful emotions will be brought
into the account in the day when “God shall bring every work into
judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be
evil” (
Ecclesiastes 12:14
).
Obeying Brings Happiness
The law of God is simple, and easily understood. There are men
who proudly boast that they believe only what they can understand, for-
getting that there are mysteries in human life and in the manifestation
of God’s power in the works of nature—mysteries which the deepest
philosophy, the most extensive research, is powerless to explain. But
there is no mystery in the law of God. All can comprehend the great
truths which it embodies. The feeblest intellect can grasp these rules;
[31]
the most ignorant can regulate the life, and form the character after
the divine standard. If the children of men would, to the best of their
ability, obey this law, they would gain strength of mind and power of
discernment to comprehend still more of God’s purposes and plans.
And this advancement would be continued, not only during the present
life, but during eternal ages; for however far we may advance in the
knowledge of God’s wisdom and power, there is always an infinity
beyond.
The divine law requires us to love God supremely and our neighbor
as ourselves. Without the exercise of this love, the highest profession
of faith is mere hypocrisy....
Obedience to the law is essential, not only to our salvation, but
to our own happiness and the happiness of all with whom we are
connected. “Great peace have they which love Thy law: and nothing
shall offend them” (
Psalm 119:165
), says the Inspired Word. Yet finite