r good it
may appear, it is full of danger.

One of the principal characteristics of the wicked is that GOD is not
in all his thoughts; he sees everything from the standpoint of self,
or, at the highest, from the standpoint of humanity. His maxim, "Take
care of number one," would be very good if it were meant that GOD is
first, and should always be put first; but he means it not so: self
and not GOD is number one to the ungodly. The wicked will often
counsel to honesty, not on the ground that honesty is pleasing to
GOD, but that it is the best policy; if in any particular business
transaction a more profitable policy appears quite safe, those who
have simply been honest because it pays best, will be very apt to
cease to be so.

The child of GOD has no need of the counsel of the ungodly; if he
love and study GOD'S Word it will make him wiser than all such
counsellors. If he seek for and observe all the counsel of GOD,
through the guidance of the HOLY SPIRIT, he will not walk in darkness
even as to worldly things. The directions of GOD'S Word may often
seem strange and impolitic, but in the measure in which he has faith
to obey the directions he finds in the Scripture, turning not to the
right hand nor to the left, will he make his way prosperous, will he
find good success.

The history of the early Friends in America, who would not take a
weapon to protect themselves against the savage Indian tribes, shows
how safe it is to follow the Word of GOD and not to resist evil. And
their later experience in the recent Civil War, in which no one of
them lost his life, though exposed to the greatest dangers and
hardships because they would not fight, further confirms the wisdom
as well as blessedness of literally obeying the Scripture. The eyes
of the LORD still run to and fro throughout the whole earth to show
Himself strong in behalf of those who put their trust in Him before
the sons of men. The enlightened believer has so much better counsel
that he no more needs than condescends to accept the counsel of the
ungodly.

And, more than this, the wise child of GOD will carefully ascertain
the standpoint of a fellow-believer before he will value his counsel;
for he learns from Scripture and experience that Satan too
infrequently makes handles of the people of GOD, as, for instance, in
Peter's case. Little did the astonished Peter know whence his
exhortation to the LORD to pity Himself came; "Get thee behind me,
Satan," showe