GENERAL ARTICLES
the other of the two great powers that are
contending for the supremacy of the world.
It is not necessary for us deliberately to choose
to come under its dominion. We have only
to neglect to ally ourselves with the
KINGDOM OF LIGHT.
If we do not co-operate with the heavenly
agencies, Satan will take possession of the
heart, and will make it his abiding place.
The only defense against evil is the indwell-
ing of Christ in the heart through faith in
his rigliteousness. Unless we become vitally
connected with God, we can never resist the
unhallowed effects of 'self-love, self-indulgence,
and temptation, to sin. We may leave off
many bad habits, for a time we may part com-
pany with Satan; but without a
VITAL CONNECTION WITH GOD,
through the surrender of ourselves to him
moment by moment, we shall be overcome.
Without a personal acquaintance with Christ,
and a continual communion, we are at the
mercy of the enemy, and shall do his bidding
in the end,
“The last state of that man is worse than
the first. Even so” said Jesus, “shall it be
also unto this wicked generation.” There are
none so hardened as those who have
SLIGHTED THE INVITATION
of mercy, and done despite to the Spirit of
grace. ‘The most common manifestation of
the sin against the Holy Ghost, is in per-
sistently slighting Heaven's invitation to re-
pent. Every step in the rejection of Christ
is a step toward the rejection of salvation,
and toward the sin against the Holy Spirit.
In rejecting Christ the Jewish people com-
mitted the unpardonable sin; and by refus-
ing the invitation of mercy, we may commit
the same error. We offer insult to the
Prince of Life, and put Him to shame be-
fore the synagogue of Satan, and before the
heavenly universe, when we refuse to listen to
His delegated messengers, and instead listen
to the agents of Satan, who would draw the
soul away from Christ. So long as one does
this, he can find
NO HOPE OR PARDON,
and he will finally lose all desire to be recon-
ciled to God.”
x x
“Pray without ceasing.”
Taoism
I. H. Evans
(Concluded)
L.ao-1s7’s teachings seem to dwell
largely upon the qualities of humility,
conformity to nature, passionlessness,
contentment, etc. Writing on content-
ment, he said: “There is no greater sin
than looking upon the covetable ; there is
no greater evil than discontent; there is
no greater disaster than acquisitiveness.
Hence, the enough of contentment is al-
ways enough.” “He who knows con-
tent is rich.” On humility, he said:
“Concentrate your efforts upon gentle-
ness, and see how far you can be like an
infant. ‘Take disinterested and dispas-
sionate views of things, and see how far
you can be without blemish.” “When
your meritorious work is done, and fame
is thereby gained, to retire to the back-
ground is the Tao of heaven.” Again
“water,” says L.ao-tsz, “benefits all things,
and yet humbly occupies the lowest
places, which all men dislike. The rea-
son why the large rivers and the seas
are able to act as kings of the streams
which flow down into the valley, re-
ceiving tribute from them all, is their
skill in taking a lower level than they.”
“Tao Teh King” is full of exhor-
tations to disinterestedness, inaction.
“Those who try their hand at action are
apt to come to grief. Those who grasp
at a thing are apt to see it slip away.
But the highest form of man, by not
making work escapes coming to grief;
and by not grasping at a thing, does not
see it slip away.” “Aim at extreme dis-
interestedness, and maintain the utmost
possible calm.” On this point De Groot
says:
“This absence of passion is ex-
pressed by the word ‘emptiness.’
plies placidity, contentedness, freedom
from care, and means in particular purity
It im-