30 The Spiritual Life.
time,and suchahelp-bringer thisarticlewould
fainbe.
Oneofthesedifficultieswasputto me some
time ago by a friend and fellow-wayfarer m
connection with somecounsel given as to the
purification of the body. Me did not inany
waytraversethestatement made,butsaidwith
muchtruthand insight thatfor mostof usthe
difficulty lay more with the Inner Man than
with his instruments; that for the most of us
thebodieswehadwere quite sufficientlygood,
or,attheworst, neededalittle tuning,butthat
therewasadesperateneedfortheimprovement
of the man himself. For the lack of sweet
music,themusicianwasmoretoblamethanhis
instrument, and if he could be reached and
improvedhisinstrument mightpassmuster. It
wascapableof yieldingmuch bettertonesthan
those produced from it at present, but those
tonesdependedonthe fingers thatpressedthe
keys. Said my friend pithily and somewhat
pathetically: "Icanmakemybodydowhat 1
want; thedifficultyisthat/donotwant."
Hereisadifficultythateveryseriousaspirant
feels. Theimprovingofthemanhimselfisthe
chief thingthatis needed, and theobstacle of
hisweakness,hislackof willandof tenacityof
purpose,isa farmoreobstructiveonethancan
