selected as representative of Blake, as containing his most
characteristic doctrines clothed in striking form, this is the book to
be chosen. Place a copy of _The Marriage of Heaven and Hell_ in the
hands of any would-be Blake student (an original or facsimile copy,
needless to say, containing Blake's exquisite designs, else the book is
shorn of half its force and beauty); let him ponder it closely, and he
will either be repelled and shocked, in which case he had better read no
more Blake, or he will be strangely stirred and thrilled, he will be
touched with a spark of the fire from Blake's spirit which quickens its
words as the leaping tongues of flame illuminate its pages. The kernel
of the book, and indeed of all Blake's message, is contained in the
following statements on p. 4, headed "The Voice of the Devil."

All Bibles or sacred codes have been the causes of the following
Errors:--

1. That man has two real existing principles, viz. a Body and a
Soul.

2. That Energy, called Evil, is alone from the Body; and that
reason, called Good, is alone from the Soul.

3. That God will torment Man in Eternity for following his
Energies.

But the following Contraries to these are True:--

1. Man has no Body distinct from his Soul, for that called Body is
a portion of Soul discerned by the five Senses, the chief inlets of
Soul in this age.