large/12430/twooldfaiths_1901_librivox_64kb_mp3/twooldfaiths_12_mitchell_64kb_131
large/12430/twooldfaiths_1901_librivox_64kb_mp3/twooldfaiths_12_mitchell_64kb
English
12430
It was not, like Islam, an "easy way." Whether in withdrawal from social observances deeply tainted with idolatry, the refusal to participate in sacrificial ceremonies insisted on by the rulers, or in the renunciation of indulgences inconsistent with a saintly life, the Christian profession required self denial at every step. IT WAS NOT LIKE A SLAM AN EASY WAY WHETHER IN WITHDRAWAL FROM SOCIAL OBSERVANCES DEEPLY TAINTED WITH IDOLATRY THE REFUSAL TO PARTICIPATE IN SACRIFICIAL CEREMONIES INSISTED ON BY THE RULERS OR IN THE RENUNCIATION OF INDULGENCES INCONSISTENT WITH THE SAINTLY LIFE THE CHRISTIAN PROFESSION REQUIRED SELF DENIAL AT EVERY
ast with Christianity.] If the reader should have followed me in the argument by which these conclusions have been reached the contrast with the Christian faith has no doubt been suggesting itself at each successive step. [Sidenote: Christianity not propagated by force.] Christianity, as Al Kindy has so forcibly put it, gained a firm footing in the world without the sword, and without any aid whatever from the secular arm. So far from having the countenance of the State it triumphed in spite of opposition, persecution, and discouragement. "My kingdom," said Jesus, "is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now is my kingdom not from hence.... For this end came I into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Every one that is of the truth, heareth my voice."[78] [Sidenote: Nor by worldly inducements.] The religion itself, in its early days, offered no worldly attractions or indulgences. SLAM THOSE ESPECIALLY HAVING RESPECT TO THE FEMALE SEX HAVING USED AN INHERENT WEAKNESS WHICH DEPRESSED THE SOCIAL SYSTEM AND RETARDS ITS PROGRESS IF THE READER SHOULD HAVE FOLLOWED ME IN THE ARGUMENT BY WHICH THESE CONCLUSIONS HAVE BEEN REACHED A CONTRAST WITH THE CHRISTIAN FAITH HAS NO DOUBT BEEN SUGGESTING ITSELF AT EACH SUCCESSFUL STEP CHRISTIANITY AS ALKINDY HAS SO FORCIBLY PUT IN GAINED A FIRM FOOTING IN THE WORLD WITHOUT THE SWORD AND WITHOUT ANY AID WHATEVER FROM THE SECULAR ARM SO FAR FROM HAVING THE COUNTENANCE OF THE STATE IT TRIUMPHED IN SPITE OF OPPOSITION PERSECUTION AND DISCOURAGEMENT MY KINGDOM SAID JEWISH IS NOT OF THIS WORLD IF MY KINGDOM WERE OF THIS WORLD THEN WOULD MY SERVANTS FIGHT THAT I SHOULD NOT BE DELIVERED TO THE JEWISH BUT NOW IS MY KINGDOM NOT FROM HANDS FOR THIS END CAME I INTO THE WORLD THAT I SHOULD BEAR WITNESS TO THE TRUTH EVERYONE THAT IS OF THE TRUTH HEARETH MY VOICE THE RELIGION ITSELF IN ITS EARLY DAYS OFFERED NO WORLDLY ATTRACTIONS OR INDULGENCES
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