Page:The New View of Hell.djvu/214

 of its post-natal state. Properly speaking, the musician is not yet born. He has only an embryonic or latent existence in that individual, like that of the angel in the unregenerate man.

Observe, now, the manner of his birth,—for this will illustrate the manner in which every one who becomes regenerate, is born from above and becomes a true child of God. It will show us how we are to be brought out of the state in which we love ourselves supremely, into the opposite state of love to the Lord and the neighbor; or how "the new man" created in the image of the Lord Jesus Christ, comes forth from "the old man" that is "corrupt according to the deceitful lusts." In a word, it will show us how hell is to be escaped and heaven gained.

First, that individual places himself, or is placed, under the instruction of a Master. He becomes a pupil—a disciple or learner. He takes lessons of a music-teacher. He acquaints himself with the rules of the art—certain musical laws—and then reduces these rules to practice. He does not learn all the rules at once, but only a few, and the very simplest at first. When he has practiced these for a time, then he learns other and more difficult rules; and straightway proceeds to reduce these also to practice.

Thus he goes on, learning and practicing the rules of the art. But he finds little pleasure in these first lessons. He compels himself, however, to go through with them.