Chapter 9 Principle, Not Policy, Must Control—Had the Israelites preserved a clear perception of right and wrong, they would have seen the fallacy of Abimelech’s reasoning, and the injustice of his claims. They would have seen that he was filled with envy, and actuated by a base ambition to exalt himself by the ruin of his brethren. Those who are controlled by policy rather than by principle are not to be trusted. They will pervert the truth, conceal facts, and construe the words of others to mean that which was never intended. They will employ flattering words, while the poison of asps is under their tongue. He who does not earnestly seek the divine guidance will be deceived by their smooth words and their artful plans (The Signs of the Times, August 4, 1881).{2BC 1005.1}

Kapitel 9

Det er ikke politikken, men princippet som kontrolleres. - Havde israelitterne bevaret et klart begreb om hvad der er rigtigt og forkert, ville de have set vildfarelsen i Abimeleks ræsonnement, og den uretfærdigheden i hans forlangender. De ville have set at han var fyldt med misundelse, og anspores af nedrig ærgerrighed for at ophøje sig selv på sine brødres bekostning. Dem som styres af politikken frem for princippet, skal man ikke stole på. De vil forvanske sandheden, skjule kendsgerninger, og fortolke andres ord til noget som det aldrig var til hensigt. De vil bruge smigrende ord, medens slangegift er under deres tunge. Han som ikke alvorligt søger efter den guddommelige vejledning vil bedrages af deres glatte ord og deres listige planer (ST 4. aug., 1881).