Article February 13, 1904 Issue

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E. D. Daniels with contributions from Charles Prospero Fagnini

If the garb of profession and mere doing good to be seen of men were removed, and all concerned were to appear as they are in the sight of heaven, it might be found that the criminal who stands behind prison bars is far less a thief than many a respectable church-goer who sits in a luxurious pew. The prisoner is a thief before men, but he may be forgiven by the Lord. The crime may have been committed under exceedingly trying circumstances, and may be external to his real self. He may condemn himself on account of it. He may not sanction it in his heart in the least. It may not be in his ruling love at all. But the thief in the sight of God is so intentionally, in his heart. He may not have appropriated money, but he is really no better than the one who has, because he has in his heart that principle which would lead him to do so if it served his purpose. The natural man is too dull to understand this. He thinks that if he is outwardly respectable it is all that is required.

E. D. Daniels.
New Church Messenger.

The transgressor's life is hard in its deprivations. The question is sometimes raised whether the sinner does not after all, get more out of the world than the true disciple. He who has turned from evil to live with God never raises that question. He knows that the earth, without peace of heart, without joy in right and sympathy with good, without the happiness of God's presence and delight of service, is a hard and narrow and unhappy place. The true and full inheritance of the earth belongs to the children of God, and to no others.

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