Jainism Christianity and Science

Author(s): Champat Rai Jain
Publisher: The Indian Press Allahabad

Page 21

ALLEGORY
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who desire to bear the truth sincerely. What, then, shall be do who has to address a mixed multitude? Shall he conceal what is true? How, then, shall be instruct those who are worthy? But if he set forth pure truth to those who do not desire to obtain salvation, he does injury to Him by whom he has been sent, and from whom he has received commandment not to throw the pearls of his words before swine and dogs, who, striving against them with arguments and sophisms, roll them in the mud of carnal understanding, and by their barkings and base answers break and weary the preachers of God's word. Wherefore I also, for the most part, by using a certain circumlocution, endeavour to avoid publishing the chief knowledge concerning the Supreme Divinity to unworthy ears.' Then, begin. ning from the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, he briefly and plainly expounded to us, so that all of us hearing him wondered that men have forsaken the truth, and have turned themselves to vanity."-A.N.C.L. vol. in. p. 240.
“Knowing, my brother, your eager desire after that which is for the advantage of us all, I beg and beseech you not to communicate to any one of the Gentiles the books of my preachings which I sent to you, nor to any one of our own tribe before trial; but if any one has been proved and found worthy, then to commit them to him, after the manner in which Moses delivered (his books) to the Seventy who succeeded to his chair ..... For, according to the rule delivered to them, they endeavour to correct the discordances of the Scriptures, if any one, haply not knowing the traditions, is confounded at the various utterances of the prophets. Wherefore they charge no one to teach, unless he has first learned how the Scriptures must be used."-(Cle. mentine Homilies) A.N.C.L. vol. xvii. p. 1.
"In order, therefore, that the like may also happen to those among us as to these Seventy, give the books of my preachings to our brethren, with the like mystery of initiation, that they may in. doctrinate those who wish to take part in teaching; for if it be not so done, our word of truth will be rent into many opinions."-Ibid.
p. 1.
“Therefore James, having read the epistle, sent for the elders ; and having read it to them, said: 'Our Peter has strictly and becom. ingly charged us concerning the establishing of the truth, that we should not communicate the books of his preachings, Thich have