I

God and man cannot be spoken of on equal terms.

His essence and His work are most unfathomable,

His essence and His work are most unfathomable

and incomprehensible to man.

If God doesn't personally do His work and speak His words in the world of man,

then man would never be able to understand God's intentions,

never be able to understand God's intentions.

And so, even those who have devoted their entire lives to God

would not be able to receive His approval.

If God does not set to work, then however well man does,

it will all be for naught,

because God's thoughts will always be higher than the thoughts of man,

and God's wisdom is beyond man's comprehension.

And so, those who claim to "fully understand" God and His work

are an inept lot;

they are all arrogant and ignorant.

II

Man should not define the work of God;

moreover, man cannot define the work of God.

In the eyes of God, man is as insignificant as an ant;

so how can man fathom God's work?

We should all know that man, who is of the flesh, has been corrupted by Satan.

Mankind's very nature is to oppose God.

Mankind cannot be on par with God,

much less can mankind hope to advise God's work.

As for how God guides man, this is the work of God Himself,

this is the work of God Himself.

It's fitting that man should submit, without professing this or that view,

for man is but dust.

III

Since it is our intent to seek God,

we should not superimpose our notions

onto His work for God's consideration, for God's consideration,

still less should we employ our corrupt disposition

to deliberately and vigorously oppose the work of God.

Would that not make us antichrists?

How could such people believe in God?

Since we believe that there is a God,

and since we wish to satisfy Him and to see Him,

we should seek the way of truth,

and should look for a way to be compatible with God.

We should not stand in stiff-necked opposition to Him.

What good could possibly come of such actions?

from The Word, Vol. 1. The Appearance and Work of God. Preface