Self Knowledge by Arthur V. Fox

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Sep 6, 1910

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 37, No. 35.

Self Knowledge

By Arthur V. Fox

"KNOW thyself" was one of the sayings of the wise men of Greece. It was ascribed to Solon, the wisest of them all, and cut upon the entrance of Apollo's Delphic temple.

Men are strongly inclined to examine each other—to scan with curious eye the fears and hopes, the motives and purposes, of those with whom they associate. This inclination is manifested in savage as well as in civilized life, by youth and age, weakness and wisdom; and too often it is like the vulture, which in a world of fragrance scents corruption only.

For the discovery of evil in others we have an amazing capability; we can see a mote in another's eye when we can not discover a beam in our own. Often we abhor the task of gazing inward. Nor is this wonderful. When the sinner looks within he sees an awful void. He shrinks instinctively as from the verge of a precipice, and flies to business, pleasure, books—anything that will divert attention from himself. When the Christian looks within, he, too, sees many things to pain his sight. Too often does he go to the temple when he should enter the closet.

The morning is peculiarly appropriate to this duty of examining self, when the soul rises renovated from its nightly rest, before business raises its distracting hum, or temptation uncovers its alluring scenes. Nor is the evening unfit for mental introversion; by its silence and its shade it is suited to awaken solemn thought, to remind us of the close of life, the darkness of the tomb, and the day when Christ shall appear with all His holy angels to awaken His sleeping saints. It will not be darkness then; for as the lightning shines from the east even to the west, so shall His coming be.

At the close of the week how fitting that we should retrospect its labors! Who can but admire the old Bible custom which observes the evening and the morning as the first

day, because it secures us a preparation night, calm, sober, inviting to self-communion!

Good it is to spend the hours that immediately precede the Sabbath in preparation for its holy rest. If we do not, at least let us set apart the Sabbath morn to examine the history of the previous week. The Sabbath is His day. What searching of heart and memory to meet an earthly judge! What surpassing self-exploration to near the God of judgment!

We meet in the temple to enjoy the light of God's Word; if we would have its beams, we must not only close the shutters of business, but open the windows of the soul.

We assemble to proclaim His most worthy praise; but with what heart, if we have not surveyed His mercies? We come together to ask those things that are necessary as well for the soul as the body; but how shall we know for what to ask without previous inquiry of the inner man?

ARTHUR V. FOX. Los Angeles, California.