The spiritual life

(Martin Jones) #1

SpirituftlLifefortheManoftheWorld. 3


remember,Islargelydependent upon theutter-


anceofthosewhoseeit and arebraveenough


tospeakit,andthousandswelcomeatruththat


theyknowtobetrue,buthavenot thecourage


tospeakitoutwhile speechis still confinedto


theminority. Itisthereforethemoreimportant


that I may not be held in anything I say to


compromise in any fashion the messagewhich


here is normally delivered. For my opinions


are mine, as yours are yours,and in speaking


hereto-night I speak thetruthas I seeit,not


desiringthatanyshallaccept itwho asyetsee


it not,andleastofalldesiringthatanyword of


mineshallrenderheavierthe burden orgreater


thedifficultywhichyou (turningto Mr.Camp-


bell),sir, havetoface.


Nowthecomplaintwhichwehearcontinually


from thoughtful and earnest-minded people, a


complaintagainstthecircumstancesof theirlife,


isperhapsoneofthemostfatal. "Ifmycircum-


stancesweredifferent fromwhattheyare,how


muchmoreI could do; ifonlyI were notso


surroundedbybusiness, sotiedbyanxietiesand


cares,so occupiedwiththework of theworld,


thenIwouldbeabletoliveamorespirituallife."


Nowthat is not true. No circumstances can


evermakeormarthe unfoldingof the spiritual


lifeinman. Spiritualitydoesnotdependupon

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