Page:The astral world, higher occult powers; (IA astralworldhighe00tiff).pdf/50

 out of the relation which the mind sustains to the body. What need, I ask, did Alexander's body feel, which demanded that he should have all the kings and potentates of earth on their knees before him? What did he want of the wealth of the earth? and what made him weep because there was not another world to conquer? Was it his body? I tell you, Nay; there were perishing needs within him that would not give him rest till they were supplied; and, ignorant of the nature of those needs, he sought to supply them by the gratification of his selfish nature. Not heeding the voice of God, he took his sword and rushed upon mankind, and made that the balm for the healing of his restless spirit; and when he had conquered the world, and had it at his command, he was more miserable than before; simply because he had entered farther into the broad road leading to destruction and death. He felt the bitter agony of soul consequent upon a departure from the straight and narrow path. This lust was not the lust of his body—it was the lust of the spirit. It was a desire for self-gratification that arose, because the needs existing in consequence of neglecting the demands of the spirit were not supplied. He sought gratification in a way in which he thought he could obtain it; but he was sadly disappointed in the result.

The miser, in every age, has been trying to obtain happiness by getting gold. A French miser, who, like a great mass of mankind, thought wealth would make him happy, sought for it, and was so successful as to obtain it. He possessed his untold millions, and yet desired more; and he found that the more he pos