Page:My Religion.djvu/182

 brought up in the Church; they asked for some outward sign which should make them believe in the doctrine of Jesus. Jesus explained that this was impossible, and he told them why it was impossible. He told them that they could not believe because they were not of his sheep; that is, they did not follow the road he had pointed out. He explained why some believed, and why others did not believe, and he told them what faith really was. He said: “How can ye believe which receive your doctrine one of another, and seek not the doctrine that cometh only from God?” (John v. 44).

To believe, Jesus says, we must seek for the doctrine that comes from God alone.

“He that speaketh of himself seeketh (to extend) his own doctrine, δόξαν τὴν ἰδίαν, but he that seeketh (to extend) the doctrine of him that sent him, the same is true, and no untruth is in him.” (John vii. 18.)

The doctrine of life,, is the foundation of faith, and actions result spontaneously from faith. But there are two doctrines of life: Jesus denies the one and affirms the other. One of these doctrines, a source of all error, consists of the idea that the personal life is one of the essential and real attributes of man. This doctrine has been followed, and is still followed, by the majority of men; it is the source of divergent beliefs and acts. The other