To such persons the statement which I
have made above may be useful. Let them



THAT WHICH WE SEEK. 33

look back to it, and reflect upon it. God
has givea them powers for doing the work
which he has assigned to them. That work
is expressed in one word — ^the comprehen-
sive name Religion. That work they should
have begun and perseveringly pursued from
their earliest days. But they have done
otherwise. They have wandered from duty,
and been unfaithful to God. They have
gone far from him, like the unwise prodigal,
and wasted the portion he gave them in
vicious or unprofitable pursuits. They have
cultivated the animal life; they have lived
' according to the flesh.' They need to cul-
tivate the spiritual life; to live 'according
to the spirit.' There is an animal life, and
there is a spiritual life. Man is born into
the first at the birth of his body ; he is born
into the second' when he subjects himself to
the power of religion, and prefers his ration-
al and immortal to his sensual nature. Dur-
ing his earliest days, he is an animal only,
pursuing, like other animals, the wants and
desires of his body, and consulting his pres-
ent gratification and immediate interest. But
it is not designed that he shall continue thus.
24 OUR POWER TO OBTAIN

He in made for something better and higher
He has a nobler nature and nobler interests.
