________________
first Epistle
it is
In John's 15-17) :
said
(chap. i.
" Love not the worki, neither the things that are in the world.
"If any man love the world, the Juve of the Father is not in bim. “For all that is in the world, tbe lust of the flesh, and the lust of the
cyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
6 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he thai
docth the will of God abideth for ever."
The world, then, is set in a direction diametri. cally opposite to the Spiritual Path, and he who wishes to pursue the latter will have to deny himself all the pleasure that its goods can afford to the senses. This is renunciation which must culminate in asceti cism of the severest type, such as is described in the Jaina Scriptures. Those who seek salvation from an easy.chair should know that pure pious wishes will never conquer death. Only the attainment of im. mortality can do this, but immortality is only possible when the body which is the compounded effect of Spirit and matter, is altogether separated from the soul. How pregnant with significance are the words of the apostle when he says (I Cor. xv. 50-51 and 53-5 t):
"Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the
kingdom of God; neither doth corruption in horit incorruption,
Welly.
"Behold, I show you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall
be changed. "For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must
pat on immortality. "So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this
mortal shall have put on immortality. then shall be brought to
pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory."
As already stated, all this affliction to be suffered is trifling as compared with the gain that shall be
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