When divine principles possess our souls, the details of conduct in carrying them out (however important in themselves, and surely matters of sorrow and shame when failure enters into them) are comparatively of minor importance. Nor are we concerned to justify all the details if the principle that underlies them is maintained. In saying this, we by no means wish to make light of failure in details of conduct, but to bring into relief the importance of the principle involved, over the manner of carrying it out. The real strength of any position is found in its principle. Failure in the details of carrying it out, lays the principle open to attack, and the importance of the detail lies in this. Not only does failure in detail give the enemy a positive advantage, but as it comes from want of waiting on God and subjection to His word, He chastens us for the failure, in His righteous ways, and for our good, though He will surely vindicate His own principles, and thus in the end those who have stood for them. "God," we read, "made known His ways unto Moses," but as Moses failed to "sanctify God before the people" in His ways, he was chastened for it-how unsparingly, we all know. This is a solemn thought.

When great issues are at stake, those who are governed by a divine principle are thrown together to maintain it, while those who are occupied mainly with details, are often in anxiety and distress-a source of weakness to the others-and may even ally themselves with those who are attacking the
principle, and opposing those who, right in principle, may have failed in their manner of carrying it out.

This is a very subtle and successful maneuver of the enemy, by which he enlists in the ranks of those who are his direct instruments of evil, even true-hearted and conscientious souls. The Scriptures themselves, together with lowliness of heart, are our safeguard against this kind of thing, and thus only shall we be able to say with the One who is at once our Guide and Pattern, concerning the works of men, "By the words of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer" (Ps. 17:4). From "Words of Truth"