按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
doing； but by simply relaxing and throwing the burden down。 This
abandonment of self…responsibility seems to be the fundamental
act in specifically religious； as distinguished from moral
practice。 It antedates theologies and is independent of
philosophies。 Mind…cure； theosophy； stoicism； ordinary
neurological hygiene； insist on it as emphatically as
Christianity does； and it is capable of entering into closest
marriage with every speculative creed。＇174＇ Christians who have
it strongly live in what is called 〃recollection；〃 and are never
anxious about the future； nor worry over the outcome of the day。
Of Saint Catharine of Genoa it is said that 〃she took cognizance
of things； only as they were presented to her in succession；
MOMENT BY MOMENT。〃 To her holy soul； 〃the divine moment was the
present moment； 。 。 。 and when the present moment was estimated
in itself and in its relations； and when the duty that was
involved in it was accomplished； it was permitted to pass away as
if it had never been； and to give way to the facts and duties of
the moment which came after。〃＇175＇ Hinduism； mind…cure； and
theosophy all lay great emphasis upon this concentration of the
consciousness upon the moment at hand。
＇174＇ Compare these three different statements of it： A。 P。
Call： As a Matter of Course； Boston； 1894； H。 W。 Dresser：
Living by the Spirit； New York and London； 1900； H。 W。 Smith：
The Christian's Secret of a Happy Life； published by the Willard
Tract Repository； and now in thousands of hands。
＇175＇ T。 C。 Upham： Life of Madame Catharine Adorna； 3d ed。；
New York； 1864； pp。 158； 172…74。
The next religious symptom which I will note is what have called
Purity of Life。 The saintly person becomes exceedingly sensitive
to inner inconsistency or discord； and mixture and confusion grow
intolerable。 All the mind's objects and occupations must be
ordered with reference to the special spiritual excitement which
is now its keynote。 Whatever is unspiritual taints the pure
water of the soul and is repugnant。 Mixed with this exaltation
of the moral sensibilities there is also an ardor of sacrifice；
for the beloved deity's sake； of everything unworthy of him。
Sometimes the spiritual ardor is so sovereign that purity is
achieved at a stroke we have seen examples。 Usually it is a
more gradual conquest。 Billy Bray's account of his abandonment
of tobacco is a good example of the latter form of achievement。
〃I had been a smoker as well as a drunkard； and I used to love my
tobacco as much as I loved my meat； and I would rather go down
into the mine without my dinner than without my pipe。 In the
days of old； the Lord spoke by the mouths of his servants； the
prophets； now he speaks to us by the spirit of his Son。 I had
not only the feeling part of religion； but I could hear the
small； still voice within speaking to me。 When I took the pipe
to smoke； it would be applied within； 'It is an idol； a lust；
worship the Lord with clean lips。' So； I felt it was not right
to smoke。 The Lord also sent a woman to convince me。 I was one
day in a house； and I took out my pipe to light it at the fire；
and Mary Hawkefor that was the woman's namesaid； 'Do you not
feel it is wrong to smoke？' I said that I felt something inside
telling me that it was an idol； a lust； and she said that was the
Lord。 Then I said； 'Now； I must give it up； for the Lord is
telling me of it inside； and the woman outside； so the tobacco
must go； love it as I may。' There and then I took the tobacco
out of my pocket； and threw it into the fire； and put the pipe
under my foot； 'ashes to ashes； dust to dust。' And I have not
smoked since。 I found it hard to break off old habits； but I
cried to the Lord for help； and he gave me strength； for he has
said； 'Call upon me in the day of trouble； and I will deliver
thee。' The day after I gave up smoking I had the toothache so
bad that I did not know what to do。 I thought this was owing to
giving up the pipe； but I said I would never smoke again； if I
lost every tooth in my head。 I said； 'Lord； thou hast told us My
yoke is easy and my burden is light；' and when I said that； all
the pain left me。 Sometimes the thought of the pipe would come
back to me very strong； but the Lord strengthened me against the
habit； and； bless his name； I have not smoked since。〃
Bray's biographer writes that after he had given up smoking； he
thought that he would chew a little； but he conquered this dirty
habit； too。 〃On one occasion；〃 Bray said； 〃when at a prayer…
meeting at Hicks Mill； I heard the Lord say to me； 'Worship me
with clean lips。' So； when we got up from our knees； I took the
quid out of my mouth and 'whipped 'en' ＇threw it＇ under the form。
But； when we got on our knees again； I put another quid into my
mouth。 Then the Lord said to me again； 'Worship me with clean
lips。' So I took the quid out of my mouth； and whipped 'en under
the form again； and said； 'Yes； Lord； I will。' From that time I
gave up chewing as well as smoking； and have been a free man。〃
The ascetic forms which the impulse for veracity and purity of
life may take are often pathetic enough。 The early Quakers； for
example； had hard battles to wage against the worldliness and
insincerity of the ecclesiastical Christianity of their time。
Yet the battle that cost them most wounds was probably that which
they fought in defense of their own right to social veracity and
sincerity in their thee…ing and thou…ing； in not doffing the hat
or giving titles of respect。 It was laid on George Fox that these
conventional customs were a lie and a sham； and the whole body of
his followers thereupon renounced them； as a sacrifice to truth；
and so that their acts and the spirit they professed might be
more in accord。
〃When the Lord sent me into the world；〃 says Fox in his Journal；
〃he forbade me to put off my hat to any； high or low： and I was
required to 'thee' and 'thou' all men and women； without any
respect to rich or poor； great or small。 And as I traveled up
and down； I was not to bid people Good…morning or Good…evening；
neither might I bow or scrape with my leg to any one。 This made
the sects and professions rage。 Oh！ the rage that was in the
priests； magistrates； professors； and people of all sorts： and
especially in priests and professors： for though 'thou' to a
single person was according to their accidence and grammar rules；
and according to the Bible； yet they could not bear to hear it：