"Human life has faculties, emotions, loves and hatreds, suitable
to its manner of existence. And it has its own peculiar destiny. It
goes back to God, to be judged as to its conduct when its earthly
career terminates.

"And the Spiritual Life of which we are speaking has powers or
faculties necessary to the maintenance of its existence, and to the
discharge of the duties appropriate to the sphere in which it
moves. For instance: it has powers to draw from God the nourishment
it requires; it has powers to see or discern spiritual things; it
has powers to distinguish holy people; it has powers to love truth,
and to hate falsehood; it has powers to suffer and sacrifice for
the good of others. It has powers to know, and love, and glorify
its Maker.

"Those possessed of this Spiritual Life, like all other beings, act
according to their nature.

"For instance: the tree grows in the woods, and bears leaves and
fruit after its own nature. The bird flies in the air, builds its
nest, and sings its song after its own nature. The wild beasts roam
through the forest, and rage and devour according to their own
nature. If you are to make these or any other creatures act
differently, you must give them a different nature. By distorting
the tree, or training the animal, or clipping the wings of the
bird, you may make some trifling and temporary alteration in the
condition or conduct of these creatures; but when you have done
this, left to themselves, they will soon revert to their original
nature.

"By way of illustration. A menagerie recently paid a visit to a
northern town. Amongst the exhibits was a cage labelled 'The Happy
Family,' containing a lion, a tiger, a wolf, and a lamb. When the
keeper was asked confidentially how long a time these animals had
lived thus peacefully together, he answered, 'About ten months.
But,' said he, with a twinkle in his eye, 'the lamb has to be
renewed occasionally.'

"As with these forms of life, so with men and women and children.
The only way to secure conduct of a lasting character different
from its nature is by effecting a change in that nature. Make them
new creatures in Christ Jesus and you will have a Christlike life.

"The presence of the powers natural to Spiritual Life constitutes
the only tr