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JAINISM, CHRISTIANITY & SCIENCE
doings of the family in question is in no way creditable to any one, least of all to Jehovah who wanted Abraham to sacrifice the life of his own son, as if his son was his private property. It is not in keeping with the dignity of either God or man, and it makes a wholesale massacre of human morality. The allegorical interpretation, on the other hand, as given above, is highly valuable for the purpose of salvation, and it will hold good down to the end of time; for wherever a soul shall cast out the 'bondwoman's son' (the lower personality) and instal the freewoman's son' (the divine personality) in his place, there Godhood and immortality and all other divine qualities shall be attained.
It is interesting to note in this connection that the Jews themselves interpret the narration concerning the patriarchs allegorically. Philo Judæus shows (Yonge's Philo Judæus, vol. ii. pp. 347, 350 and 351) that Reuben is acuteness, Simeon learning, Levi virtuous energies, Judas songs and hymns, Issachar 'works,' Zabulon light, that is, the departure of 'night,' Dan discrimination, Gad attacking oncoming pirates, Asser blessed possessions or wealth, Napthali peace, Benjamin young and old times and Joseph multiform and mixed knowledge.
As regards the demons, we have already seen that they represent desires generally. But ignorance is also one of their number, for ignorance which is tantamount to body-consciousness (as distinguished from soulconsciousness) itself is the cause of the union of spirit and matter, and, therefore, of transmigration. Accordingly Clement says:
"If therefore you wish to be the vesture of the Divine Spirit,
