Page:The Other Life.djvu/59

 vance in regeneration, our spiritual forms become more and more beautiful.

Thus a poor creature, crooked and bleared and blighted in body, but loving God and the neighbor sincerely, may possess a spiritual form of exquisite proportions and beauty. On the other hand the most enchanting face and figure in the world may conceal a spiritual body of hideous ugliness—an ugliness occasioned by pride, falsehood, avarice or the supreme love of self.

The spiritual body has, however, a considerable influence in moulding the natural body to its own likeness. If our natural life were indefinitely prolonged, it would probably effect this in all cases. The features of old people reveal their spiritual history. What sweetness and serenity in some faces! what pinched, selfish, anxious, scowling expressions in others! If sin had committed no ravages in the soul, old people would be as beautiful as infants.

How often also are the homeliest features ennobled and beautified by the sweetness and purity of a great and gentle spirit! How often are the fairest lineaments sensualized and darkened by wicked lusts and false persuasions, as the knightly face of Sir Launcelot was marked and marred by "the great and guilty love he bore the queen!"