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THE KEY OF KNOWLEDGE.
good nor bad in himself, but appears differently to different persons according to their individual dispositions. Moses finds him the giver of freedom and joy, on account of his own goodness, while Pharaoh sees nothing but his evil genius in him, due to his own perversity. As a matter of fact, evil is not altogether devoid of utility, and may be used for our uplifting and betterment. The account of Job's trial and suffering is a beautiful illustration of this principle. Will is the essence of life, and is developed by fighting against evil. Self-denial, i.e., the curbing of desires, the stamping out of evil passions and inclinations, has to be practised, so that the power divine might be freed from its bondage, and nothing enables the Will to manifest its true Divinity so much as a fierce struggle against adversity. The function of evil in nature is not to cause us suffering and pain exclusively, but also to furnish us with an opportunity for building up our moral character, to become perfect like the Father which is in heaven.' We ought to remember that "the Gods in bounty work up Storms about us, That give Mankind occasion to exert Their hidden Strength, and throw out into practice Virtues that shun the day, and lie conceal'd In the smooth seasons and the calm of Life."-Addison.
Virtue is Life, and, as such, is truly its own reward ; it is no authority for putting on an air of injured innocence, or for a display of hypocritical martyrdom. The righteous are ever tranquil in adversity; they care not for the mock, impotent sympathy of their kind ; nor do they deviate, in the least, from the strict path of truth and rectitude. Cheerfully do they welcome adversity when it comes, believing that
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