The writers of the book of Proverbs pictured in poetry the nature of mankind: kindly and perverse, wise and foolish, friendly and hostile. To dispositional qualities they attributed a clear sequence of cause and effect. They connected health with thinking and behavior.
The prophet Isaiah saw mortal temperament as a yoke and admonished the people: "Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? . . . Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily."Isa. 58; 6, 8;
Jesus of Nazareth taught us the way to break the bondage of destructive carnal qualities. He demonstrated the Christ—the true idea of God—and taught his followers that only by putting off the Adam concept of man and putting on the spiritual self, or Christly concept, can men find peace and harmony and heaven. The master Christian's entire life was dedicated to explaining by precept and example the way of deliverance from evil. He pointed out, for example, "Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man."Matt. 15:11; He also exclaimed: "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. . . . Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."John 3:3, 5;
