odern faith. Let
us be as clear as possible upon this. God is concerned by the health and
fitness and vigour of his servants; we owe him our best and utmost; but
he has no special concern and no special preferences or commandments
regarding sexual things.

Christ, it is manifest, was of the modern faith in these matters, he
welcomed the Magdalen, neither would he condemn the woman taken in
adultery. Manifestly corruption and disease were not to stand between
him and those who sought God in him. But the Christianity of the creeds,
in this as in so many respects, does not rise to the level of its
founder, and it is as necessary to repeat to-day as though the name
of Christ had not been ascendant for nineteen centuries, that sex is
a secondary thing to religion, and sexual status of no account in
the presence of God. It follows quite logically that God does not
discriminate between man and woman in any essential things. We leave our
individuality behind us when we come into the presence of God. Sex is
not disavowed but forgotten. Just as one's last meal is forgotten--which
also is a difference between the religious moment of modern faith and
certain Christian sacraments. You are a believer and God is at hand
to you; heed not your state; reach out to him and he is there. In the
moment of religion you are human; it matters not what else you are,
male or female, clean or unclean, Hebrew or Gentile, bond or free. It
is AFTER the moment of religion that we become concerned about our state
and the manner in which we use ourselves.

We have to follow our reason as our sole guide in our individual
treatment of all such things as food and health and sex. God is the
king of the whole world, he is the owner of our souls and bodies and all
things. He is not particularly concerned about any aspect, because he is
concerned about every aspect. We have to make the best use of ourselves
for his kingdom; that is our rule of life. That rule means neither
painful nor frantic abstinences nor any forced way of living. Purity,
cleanliness, health, none of these things are for themselves, they are
for use; none are magic, all are means. The sword must be sharp and
clean. That does not mean that we are perpetually to sharpen and clean
it--which would weaken and waste the blade. The sword must neither be
drawn constantly nor always rusting in its sheath. Those who have had
the wits and soul to come to God, will have the wits and soul to find
out