The righteous man. The righteous man is invincible. No enemy can possibly overcome
or confront him, and he needs no other protection than that of his own
integrity and holiness. As it is impossible for evil to overcome good, so
the righteous man can never be brought low by the unrighteous. Slander, envy,
hatred, malice can never reach him, nor cause him any suffering,
and those who try to injure him only succeed ultimately in bringing ignominy upon themselves.
The righteous man, having nothing to hide, committing no acts which requires
stealth, and harboring no thoughts and desires which he would not like others to
know, is fearless and unashamed. His step is firm, his body upright,
and his speech direct and without ambiguity. He looks everybody in face.
How can he fear any who wrongs none? How can he be ashamed before
any who deceives none? And ceasing from all wrong, he can never be
wronged. The righteous man, performing all his duties with scrupulous diligence and living
above sin, is invulnerable at every point. He who has slain the inward
enemies of virtue, can never be brought low by any outward enemy. Neither
does he seek any protection against them, righteousness being in all sufficient protection.
The unrighteous man is vulnerable at almost every point. Living in his passions,
the slave of his prejudices, impulses, and ill formed opinions, he is
continually suffering, as he imagines, at the hands of others. The slanders,
attacks and accusations of others cause him great suffering because they have a basis
of truth in himself, and not having the protection of righteousness, he endeavors
to justify and protect himself by resorting to retaliation in species argument, and even
to subterfuge and deceit. The partially righteous man is vulnerable at all those points
where he falls short of righteousness. And should the righteous man fall from his
righteousness and give way to one sin, his invincibility is gone, for he
has thereby placed himself where attack and accusation can justly reach and injure him,
because he has first injured himself. If a man suffers or is injured through
the instrumentality of others, let him look to himself, and, putting aside
self pity and self defense, he will find in his own heart the source
of all his woe. No evil can happen to the righteous man who has
cut off the source of evil in himself, living in the all good,
and abstaining from sin in thought, word, and deed, whatever happens to
him is good. Neither can any person, event or circumstance cause him suffering,
for the tyranny of circumstance is utterly destroyed. For him who has broken
the bonds of sin. The suffering, the sorrowing, the weary, and
the broken hearted ever seek a sorrowless refuge, a haven of perpetual peace.
Let such fly to the refuge of the righteous life. Let them come now
and enter the haven of the sinless state. For sorrow cannot overtake the righteous.
Suffering cannot reach him who does not waste in self seeking his spiritual substance.
And he cannot be afflicted by weariness and unrest whose heart is at peace withal