Re: Friendly suggestion regarding names

Dear Jobe,

Words of Wisdom:

God corrects and governs man. Men may pardon, but God alone reforms the sinner. God is not separate from the wisdom He bestows. The talents He gives we must improve. Calling on Him to forgive our work badly done or left undone, implies the vain supposition that we have nothing to do but to ask pardon, and that afterwards we shall be free to repeat the offence.

Sorrow for wrong-doing is but one step towards reform and the very easiest step. The next and great step required by wisdom is the test of our sincerity, --namely, reformation. To this end we are placed under the stress of circumstances. Temptation bids us repeat the offence, and woe comes in return for what is done. So it will ever be, till we learn that there is no discount in the law of justice and that we must pay "the uttermost farthing." The measure ye mete "shall be measured to you again," and it will be full "and running over."

Prayer [admission in public forums, also] is not to be used as a confessional to cancel sin. Such an error would impede true religion. If prayer [confession] nourishes the belief that sin is cancelled, and that man is made better merely by praying, prayer is an evil.