Page:The astral world, higher occult powers; (IA astralworldhighe00tiff).pdf/73

 absolute in this: The second sphere of love is objective, is not self-existent and self-sufficient; it depends upon having an object to call it forth. The constitution of mind is such that, in its consciousness, it can not love an object without having perceived it, the perception being either an ideal one or a real one. The love in point of quality depends, for its perfectness, upon the perfectness of the object. Not so with the infinite and divine love which is self-existent and self-sufficient. Wherever it acts, it acts subjectively, not objectively, though it is objective in its manifestation. Said Jesus of Nazareth, who was deeply learned in this love, in speaking to the Jew who was to become his disciple: "Ye have heard it said by those of old time, Thou shalt love thy neighbor and hate thine enemy; but I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you; that you may be the children of your Father which is in heaven; for he causeth his sun to shine upon the evil and the good, and he sendeth his rain upon the just and unjust." Notice the figure. The sun shines not objectively. It shines of its own nature. If the earth were to be blotted out of existence, the sun would shine on still; and if every other planet in the solar system should refuse to receive its light, the sun would continue to shine. Its light and heat go forth in their own plenitude. Therefore if you and I wish the sunlight, we have but to stand forth; but the sun does not shine or send forth his heat because we are here. It does not shine objectively but subjectively upon us. The sun, as a type of the divine wisdom, continuously gives