FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   75   76   77   78   79   80   81   82   83   84   85   86   87   88   89   90   91   92   93   94   95   96   97   98   99  
100   101   102   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   >>   >|  
gradually annihilated. But they may still manure the soil, and involuntarily help the growth of others. Sooner or later, in one or another form, all come into use." "For all I see, then," quoth Thor, "your devils come to the same end as your gods!" "There is the same kind of difference," returned the philosopher, "as between light and earth,--both of which help the growth of flowers; but light gives color and beauty, earth only the insipid matter. I would rather be the light." "Another thing," proceeded Thor, ignoring this distinction; "admitting all else, how do you account for your region of condensation?" "By the necessity of perfection," answered Balder, after some consideration. "There would be no meaning in existence unless it tended towards perfection. But you have hit on the unanswerable question." Thor shook his head and huge grizzled beard. "German University humbug!" growled he. "Get you into a scrape some day. The cloud's not made in that way, I tell you! Come, let's go back to the inn." "Take my arm," said Balder; and as together they descended the spur of the mountain, he added lovingly, "I'll bring no clouds across your sky, my dear old man!" So the hospitable inn received them. The discussion between the two was never renewed; but Balder held to his creed. He elaborated and fortified what had been mere outline before. No dogma can be conceived which many circumstances will not seem to confirm and justify. But we cannot attempt to keep abreast of Balder's deductions. There are as many theological systems as individual souls; and no system can be wholly apprehended by any one save its author. Mastery of men and things,--supreme knowledge to the end of supreme power,--such seems to have been his ambition,--an ambition too abstract and lofty for much rivalry. Nature and human nature were at once his laboratory and his instruments. His senses were to him outlets of divinity. The good and evil of such a scheme scarce need pointing out. It was the apotheosis of self-respect; but self-respect raised to such a height becomes self-worship; human vision dazzles at the sublimity of the prospect; at the moment of greatest weakness the soul arrogates invincible power, and falls! For, the mightier man is, the more absolutely does he need the support of a mightier Man than he can ever be. No doubt Balder had often been assailed by doubts and weariness; the path had seemed too long and arduous, and
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   75   76   77   78   79   80   81   82   83   84   85   86   87   88   89   90   91   92   93   94   95   96   97   98   99  
100   101   102   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   >>   >|  



Top keywords:
Balder
 

growth

 

ambition

 
perfection
 

respect

 

supreme

 

mightier

 

things

 

knowledge

 

Mastery


author

 
attempt
 

circumstances

 
confirm
 
justify
 

conceived

 

fortified

 

outline

 

individual

 

system


wholly

 

apprehended

 

systems

 

theological

 

abreast

 
deductions
 

divinity

 

invincible

 

arrogates

 

absolutely


weakness

 

sublimity

 
dazzles
 

prospect

 

moment

 

greatest

 

support

 

weariness

 

arduous

 

doubts


assailed
 
vision
 

worship

 

instruments

 

laboratory

 
senses
 

nature

 
abstract
 
rivalry
 

Nature