INCARNATION OF THE INTELLIGENCE OF LIFE II. The Childhood of Jesus Christ IV. The Baptism and Preaching of John V. General Idea of the Teaching of John . VI. Temptation of Jesus in the Wilderness VII. Visit to the Marriage Feast at Cana VIII. The first Preaching of Jesus CONTENTS CHAPTER II II. Abrogation of the Law of the Sabbath III. Healing of the Woman on the Sabbath Day V. Abrogation of Outward Ceremonies VI. Abrogation of the Outward Temple 111-172 PREFACE ୮ I REASON without faith had already brought me to despair and to a denial of life, but when I once really examined into the life of humanity, I became convinced that despair cannot be the destiny of men, and that people have lived, and are now living, by faith. I saw around me people who, having this faith, derived from it an idea of life that gave them strength to live and strength to die in peace and in joy. I could not explain to myself by mere reason this idea. tried to arrange my life after the lives of those who believe, tried to become one with them, to fulfil the same rules of life and laws of conduct, imagining that in this way the idea of life would be revealed to me also. The more closely I came into communion with the people, lived their life, and fulfilled all the outward religious ceremonies they are accustomed to observe, the more strongly I felt two antagonistic forces struggling within me. On the one hand, a full and complete idea of life, which even death cannot destroy, grew upon me; on the other hand, I discovered much that is false in this outward confession and worship of God. I perceived that the people, through their ignorance and want of leisure or inclination for reflection, may be unable to discover what is false; but that it is impossible for me not |