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868
THE KEY OF KNOWLEDGE.
difference between the man who wills to be well and him who merely wishes to be so, is just that between life and death. The latter spends all his time in pure wishing, and frets and fumes at the non-realization of his wish, thus, accumulating a large amount of additional worry under the tearing strain of which the frail, human frame speedily collapses; but the former uses his internal forces to throw out disease, is saved all the worries which arise from listless, inactive wishing, and is soon restored to health, to the wonderment and confusion of specialists and experts.
In vain shall we be told that religion is impracticable, and that philosophy and metaphysics are not intended for the man of the world. So far as philosophy is concerned, it is the only means of rendering life consistent in its actions, and of bringing the higher ideals of goodness and power within the reach of one and all. Even education, which raises men's ideals and imparts to them the urbanity of manner whereby we distinguish them from savages, is only the hand-maid of philosophy.
With respect to practicability, it can also be definitely shown that all the impracticability that there is in the world, lies with the so-called man of the world, and in no sense with Religion, when properly understood. The question is, what is practical? If we reflect on this unfortunate word at all, we cannot remain ignorant of the fact that it acquires significance only when we accord to it the capacity to bring our ideal or ideals into speedy realization. Hence, anything is practical if it lead us to the goal, by the shortest path. Now, since the ideal of
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