He is strong enough,--he has
sufficient reason and knowledge to decide it for the Highest, if he
would. But, with national culture goes national luxury,--the more
civilised a community, the greater its bodily ease,--the more
numerous the temptations against which we are told we must fight.
Spirit flies forward--Body pulls back. But Spirit is one day bound
to win! We have attained in this generation a certain knowledge of
Soul-forces--and we are on a verge, where, if we hesitate, we are
lost, and must recoil upon our own Ego as the centre of all desire.
But if we go on boldly and leave our own Ego behind, we shall see
the gates of Heaven opening indeed, and all the Mysteries unveiled!
How often we pause on the verge of better things, doubting whether
to rise or grovel! The light in us is darkness, and how great is
that darkness! Such is the state of mind in which I, your preacher,
have found myself for many years! I do not know whether to rise or
grovel,--to sink or soar! To be absolutely candid with you, I am
quite sure that I should not sink in your opinion for confessing
myself to be as outrageous in my conceptions of mortality as many of
you are. You would possibly pretend to be ashamed of me, but in your
hearts you would like me all the better.
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