Page:Education and Life; (IA educationlife00bakerich).pdf/222

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dim faith the universe had become to him a vast merciless machine; he was filled with an indefinable fear. But over his soul came the spirit of Indignation and Defiance, and he shook off fear of all that is evil, and all that may happen of evil. In his words: "The Everlasting No had said: 'Behold, thou art fatherless, outcast; and the Universe is mine (the Devil's)'; to which my whole Me now made answer: 'I am not thine, but Free, and forever hate thee!'" This is but the first step, and only by the "Annihilation of Self" does he awake to a "new Heaven and a new Earth." Now nature is seen to be the "Living Garment of God." The Universe is no longer "dead and demoniacal," but "godlike and his Father's." He looks upon his fellow man with an "infinite Love, an infinite Pity," and enters the porch of the "Sanctuary of Sorrow." Happiness is no longer the aim; happiness cannot be satisfied. "There is in man a Higher than Love of Happiness; he can do without Happiness, and instead thereof find Blessedness!" "Love not pleasure; love God. This is the Everlasting Yea." The Temple of Sorrow (the Christian Temple) is partly in ruins, but in a crypt the sacred lamp still burns for him, and for all. Applied Christianity is action. He says: "Do the Duty which lies nearest thee: thy second Duty will already have become clearer." Thy opportunity is in whatever thy condition now and here offers thee. "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy whole might." Christianity "flows through all our hearts and modulates and divinely leads them." Of immortality he says: "Know of a truth that only the Time-shadows have perished, or are perishable;