Page:The astral world, higher occult powers; (IA astralworldhighe00tiff).pdf/196

 continues to do so until, by its development, another nature with its needs is brought into conscious existence, and neglected. Then the unsatisfied demands of that other nature impart disquiet to the being, and he begins to search after gratification. It is in this way that lust is begotten. It is never felt until the demand of some need is neglected, and it is an immutable law that such neglect must beget lust; and hence whoever feels the demand for gratification of any sort hears the voice of God within proclaiming a neglected demand, a perishing need. He sees the cherubim of God standing at the gate of Paradise, with a drawn sword of flame turning in every direction, guarding the tree of life. Thus man's lusts proclaim his imperishable needs, and, when truly understood, they are but the echo of God's voice calling upon him to return and live.

The child naturally comes under the dominion of its lusts through ignorance. It feels the disquieting inflence of its neglected needs; it feels discontented and unhappy, and therefore it seeks gratification in such direction as experience has taught it it might sometimes be found. He early learns the pleasures of sense. He could not comply with the demands of his physical nature without knowing them; hence, when he feels a demand for something—he does not know what—what more natural than that he should seek sensual gratification. Thus it is according to the figure, that man partakes of the forbidden fruit before his eyes are opened to know good and evil. His first disobedience is in consequence of his ignorance of the nature and requirements of his needs; and, seeking to obtain gratification, he violates the true law of his being.