ho is surrounded by
the latter, and is every day and every hour under the necessity of
exercising his will-power to resist their surging violence, will, if he
rightly uses these powers, become strong; he may not have as much
opportunity for study as the celibate, being more engrossed in material
cares; but when he rises up to a higher state in his next incarnation,
his will-power will be more developed, and he will be in the possession
of the password, which is CONTINENCE.

A slave cannot become a commander, until after he becomes free. A man
who is subject to his own animal desires, cannot command the animal
nature of others. A muscle becomes developed by its use, an instinct or
habit is strengthened in proportion as it is permitted to rule, a mental
power becomes developed by practice, and the principle of will grows
strong by exercise; and this is the use of temptations. To have strong
passions and to overcome them, makes man a hero. The sexual instinct is
the strongest of all, and he who vanquishes it, becomes a god.

The human soul admires a beautiful form, and is therefore an idolater.

The human spirit adores a principle, and is the true worshiper.

Marriage is the union of the male spirit with the female soul for the
purpose of propagating the species; but if in its place there is only a
union of a male and a female body, then marriage becomes merely a brutal
act, which lowers man and woman, not to the level of animals but below
them; because animals are restricted to certain seasons for the
exercise of their procreative powers; while man, being a reasonable
being, has it in his power to use or abuse them at all times.

But how many marriages do we find that are really spiritual and not
based on beauty of form or other considerations? How soon after the
wedding-day do they become disgusted with each other? What is the cause
of this? A man and a woman may marry and their characters may differ
widely. They may have different tastes, different opinions and
different inclinations. All those differences may disappear, and will
probably disappear; because by living together they become accustomed
to each other, and become equalized in time. Each influences the other,
and as a man may grow fond of a pet snake, whose presence at first
horrified him, so a man may put up with a disagreeable partner and
become fond of her in course of time.

But if the man allows full liberty to his animal passions, and