The spiritual life

(Martin Jones) #1

240 The SpiritualLife.


Hehascalleddownthefirefromheaven;well


for him if he shrinks not from its scorching.


Andwelltoo forhim, if, likethe Red Indian


at the torture-stake,he can face an unsympa-


theticworldwithasereneface,howeversharply


thefiremayburn.


What ofthe famousqualifications forinitia-


tionwhichhemustnowseektomakehisown?


Theyare notasked forin perfection, butsome


possessionofthemthere must beeretheportal


mayswingopentoadmithim. Inthejudgment


passed on him,which opens orbars the gate-


way, the whole man is taken into account.


Withsome,sogreatlyareotherqualitiesdevel-


oped, that but a small modicum of those


specially demanded weighs down the scale.


With others, more average in general type,


highdevelopmentoftheseisdemanded. It is,


sotospeak,a general stature thatis expected,


andthestatureismadeupin manyways. A


candidate may be of great intelligence, of


splendid courage, of rareself-sacrifice,of spot-

lesspurity, andbringing such dowerwith him


maylacksomewhat inthespecialqualifications.


Something of them,indeed,he musthave. If


hehavenosenseof the differencebetweenthe


realandunreal; if hebepassionately addicted


tothejoysoftheworld; if he havenocontrol

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