compared with inspiration conceived of as a breath of life. The
scriptural doctrine is that the man who does the will finds himself able
to breathe more deeply of the truth of God; and that the very breath
itself will satisfy him, and by satisfying him convince him that it is
the breath of life.

There is an old story of a student who decided to learn the meaning of a
strange religion which was taught and practiced by priests in a far-away
corner of India. The student thought to disguise himself, to go close to
the doors of the temple and to listen there for what he might overhear
of the principles taught by the priests. One day he was detected and
captured by the priests and made their slave. He was set to work
performing to the utmost the duties for which the temple called. His
response was at first rebellious. In the long years that followed the
spell of the strange religion was cast upon him. He began to learn not
as an outsider, not as one merely studying writings and rituals, but as
one enthralled by the system itself. In this old story, inadequate as it
is, we have a suggestion of the way in which the biblical revelation
lays its spell upon man. The outside study is, indeed, worth much, but
the true understanding comes inside the temple to him who carries
forward the work of the temple.




CHAPTER III

THE BOOK OF HUMANITY

We have seen that the understanding of the Scriptures presupposes at