Further along in the line of the evolution of the soul, ideals of happiness pursued by man are simply futile and childish; the awakening to a realization of this is a commonplace, world-wide experience, and only repeated embodiments can purge the soul, educate the minds of men, and turn their attention to the only true and lasting ideals of happiness.

PAIN.

Physical pain beyond a certain point ceases to be pain and becomes an ecstasy.  The same beneficent law controls mental and spiritual agonies.  They each have their limit.  To the keenest of sorrows, the deepest of griefs our Maker has spoken:  “Thus far shalt thou go, and no farther.”  Nurse them as we may, draw them as deeply as we can into our soul’s recesses, and make them, in our morbid states, idols to cherish, they yet lose their power to hold our souls in subjection.

Both physically and mentally, the nerves of feeling refuse to respond.  They have their limitation, and time holds for every heart-breaking experience a consolation.  If it were not so, this world would be turned into a vast, howling lunatic asylum.  Unseen and unrecognized by stricken hearts, “The Angels of His, who do His pleasure” stand ever ready to pour healing balm upon all our wounds, and to teach the great, eternal truth that afflictions are the real educators of the soul.

FOES IN THE HOUSEHOLD.

“A man’s foes shall be they of his own household.”  This saying referred to the religious differences which the great prophet saw would arise in consequence of his peculiar teachings.  There are no ill feelings between people so rancorous and lasting as those which spring from such causes, and as hate is but love inverted, the nearer and dearer the relationships, the more bitter is the feeling likely to be engendered.  Proverbially, family feuds are the most deadly and difficult to eradicate.

The friend, the relative who knows you best, who has seen you in your hours of weakness when you have been entirely “off guard,” is the one who can most injure you should anything occur to sever your hearts.  There is no help for this save in that growth of charity and forbearance one toward another which teaches us to seek not our own, but to try to help each other in the great struggle of life.

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Who are the “pure in heart?” Those who aspire to the good, and sacrifice self to attain it.  What is virtue?  That which is best for the individual; not on either the animal or the spiritual plane alone; but in every lawful expression of the nature; the epitomization, and spiritualization of all past “karma” from the sod up to God.

THE INNER LIFE.