I do not know or care whether the expression “God” has scientific
accuracy or no, nor yet whether it has theological value; I know nothing
either of one or the other, beyond looking upon the recognised exponents
both of science and theology with equal distrust; but for convenience, I
am sure that there is nothing like it—I mean for convenience of getting
quickly at the right or wrong of a matter. While you are fumbling away
with your political economy or your biblical precepts to know whether you
shall let old Mrs. So-and-so have 5/- or no, another, who has just asked
himself which would be most well-pleasing in the sight of God, will be
told in a moment that he should give her—or not give her—the 5/-. As a
general rule she had better have the 5/- at once, but sometimes we must
give God to understand that, though we should he very glad to do what he
would have of us if we reasonably could, yet the present is one of those
occasions on which we must decline to do so.