Page:The Praises of Amida, 1907.djvu/70

 have the words of the Great Sutra for this. "There is a cross-wise cutting of the paths of evil, which are spontaneously closed against us; when we enter the Way there remains no obstacle before us. Though the travellers be few in number, yet the Pure Land never fails. It draws us to itself spontaneously." Though all creation should desert the Buddha, Buddha will never forsake His own, though but few walk along the Way, yet the Pure Land will never fail them. When once a man has set his foot on that road, his salvation will work itself out spontaneously, and the Buddha will draw him unto Himself. All things work themselves out for us spontaneously,—the Road, the Divine Strength, the closing of the Paths of Evil, the guiding of our footsteps to the Gates of Light. 9. In days of old we were told of persons who forsook Buddhism, on the ground that, in spite of its thousands of Precepts, it taught that there were defiled hearts as well as pure ones,