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THE RIGHT SOLUTION
tions to the historical sense should take place, by the introduction into the midst of the narrative of certain impossibilities and incongruities, that in this way the very interruptions of the narrative might, as by the interposition of a bolt, present an obstacle to the reader, whereby he might refuse to acknowledge the way which conducts to the ordinary meaning " (Origen's Writings, A.N.C. Lib., p. 313. Accordingly those admitted to the inner circle were given to understand that certain occurrences were interwoven in this 'visible' history which, when considered and understood in their inner meaning, give forth a law which is advantageous to men and worthy of God" (Ibid. 322).
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Such mainly are the reasons why it has become so very difficult to unravel the mystic thought in our day. Lack of an illumining light, that is to say, of the scientific knowledge about the nature of the soul and, to a great extent also, the preconceived bias and the superstitious awe born of a literal or historical reading of mystic books, are the causes which have stood in the way of the subsequent explorer of these underground mazes and crypts of mythology.
It must be obvious now that it was not for mere nothing that repeated hints were thrown out as to the mystical nature of the composition of the various books. The writers knew that men "shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned into fables (2 Timothy iv. 4), taking them, of course, in their literal sense, as if constituting history. In another place we have the definite injunction against the historical exegesis so much made an article of faith in this age :--
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"Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith; so do"-1 Timothy i.4.
In the same strain it is said:
"But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness."-Ibid. iv. 7.
"O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding prof and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called "-Ibid. v. 20.
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The writer was a professor of the Science of Life, and can have nothing but contempt for the kind of sciences which deny the existence of spirit or soul :
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