ss, why did John practice
it?

Answer.--The change in conditions, alterations and transformations are
necessities of the essence of beings, and essential necessities cannot be
separated from the reality of things. So it is absolutely impossible to
separate heat from fire, humidity from water, or light from the sun, for
they are essential necessities. As the change and alteration of conditions
are necessities for beings, so laws also are changed and altered in
accordance with the changes and alterations of the times. For example, in
the time of Moses, His Law was conformed and adapted to the conditions of
the time; but in the days of Christ these conditions had changed and
altered to such an extent that the Mosaic Law was no longer suited and
adapted to the needs of mankind; and it was, therefore, abrogated. Thus it
was that Christ broke the Sabbath and forbade divorce. After Christ four
disciples, among whom were Peter and Paul, permitted the use of animal
food forbidden by the Bible, except the eating of those animals which had
been strangled, or which were sacrificed to idols, and of blood.(84) They
also forbade fornication. They maintained these four commandments.
Afterward, Paul permitted even the eating of strangled animals, those
sacrificed to idols, and blood, and only maintained the prohibition of
fornication. So in chapter 14, verse 14 of his Epistle to the Romans, Paul
writes: "I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing
unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to
him it is unclean."

Also in the Epistle of Paul to Titus, chapter 1, verse 15: "Unto the pure
all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is
nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled."

Now this change, these alterations and this abrogation are due to the
impossibility of comparing the time of Christ with that of Moses. The
conditions and requirements in the later period were entirely changed and
altered. The former laws were, therefore, abrogated.

The existence of the world may be compared to that of a man, and the
Prophets and Messengers of God to skillful doctors. The human being cannot
remain in one condition: different maladies occur which have each a
special remedy. The skillful physician does not give the same medicine to
cure each disease and each malady, but he changes remedies and medicines
according to the different necessities of the diseases