Against every evil-doer God’s law utters condemnation. He may disregard that voice, he may seek to drown its warning, but in vain. It follows him. It makes itself heard. It destroys his peace. If unheeded, it pursues him to the grave. It bears witness against him at the judgment. A quenchless fire, it consumes at last soul and body. * * * * * “What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”[221] * * * * * [Sidenote: _The Question of Questions_] This is a question that demands consideration by every parent, every teacher, every student,—by every human being, young or old. No scheme of business or plan of life can be sound or complete that embraces only the brief years of this present life, and makes no provision for the unending future. Let the youth be taught to take eternity into their reckoning. Let them be taught to choose the principles and seek the possessions that are enduring,—to lay up for themselves that “treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth;” to make to themselves friends “by means of the mammon of unrighteousness,” that when it shall fail, these may receive them “into the eternal tabernacles.”[222] All who do this are making the best possible preparation for life in this world. No man can lay up treasure in heaven without finding his life on earth thereby enriched and ennobled. “Godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.”[223] _Bible Biographies_ “WHO THROUGH FAITH SUBDUED KINGDOMS, WROUGHT RIGHTEOUSNESS, FROM WEAKNESS WERE MADE STRONG” [Sidenote: _A Faithful Delineation_] As an educator no part of the Bible is of greater value than are its biographies. These biographies differ from all others in that they are absolutely true to life. It is impossible for any finite mind to interpret rightly, in all things, the workings of another. None but He who reads the heart, who discerns the secret springs of motive and action, can with absolute truth delineate character, or give a faithful picture of a human life. In God’s word alone is found such delineation. No truth does the Bible more clearly teach than that what we do is the result of what we are. To a great degree the experiences of life are the fruition of our own thoughts and deeds. “The curse causeless shall not come.”[224] [Sidenote: _Retribution_] “Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him; ... unto the wicked, it shall be ill with him; for the reward of his hands shall be given him.”[225] “Hear, O earth; behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts.”[226]