Article September 22, 1898 Issue

PAIN AND PLEASURE

BY E. D. WAGNALIS

Does it make any difference to the body whether it is forced to indulge so-called pleasant dissipations, or is pierced with a sword? Does the flesh recognize either? Certainly not. This, then, clears the body of all guilt. But you say that I can recognize the difference. Who or what is this "I" that claims to be cognizant of pleasure or pain? We have already admitted that the body could have nothing to do with it. We feel that we can prove that this "I" lied from self-deception.

To be able to cognize anything there must be intelligence. There is but one Intelligence, and that one is God. God made all that was made, therefore it must be in His likeness, hence all that ever was made is good. There is nothing else above, below, or within this grand creation,—no place for anything else, for God is All-in-all.

Thus we see most conclusively that God is All and that there is naught beside Him. It is equally apparent that pain or sensual pleasure, sickness or sin, are not His creation, which embraces all. We must admit, therefore, that these claims do not, cannot exist, never existed, never came from anywhere but from our self-deceived consciousness. Remove this self-deception by pouring in the real, the undeniable spiritual facts, and we find in its stead the peace, joy, and love which were always there, but which we refused to recognize, preferring rather to make this deception a reality.

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