Page:The Message and Ministrations of Dewan Bahadur R. Venkata Ratnam, volume 2.djvu/214

 appeal to One infinitely higher than man for the removal of a need of the spirit. As it springs from a pressing sense of an urgent want, it is but natural that the soul should turn and look up to a Power above for help and guidance. The hungry-child turns to its mother for food; the hungry soul turns to its benign Mother for spiritual food. The beggar "writhing under the inclemencies of weather" knocks at the hospitable door; the sinner "smarting day and night under the compunctions of conscience" knocks at the merciful door of God. The seeker of knowledge resorts to the teacher for instruction; the soul in quest of wisdom seeks the feet of Him who is the Supreme Teacher of all. The patient implores the aid of the physician; the sick soul implores the aid of the AH-wise Doctor, who alone can cure the dreadful malady of sin. In all these cases the action is instinctive and spontaneous, the natural outcome of a deep-felt want. The child, the beggar, the student or the patient does mt act in consequence of elabo-