92 



Ghazzali's Alchemy of Happiness. 



nity, but merely rely upon the mercy of God, uotwithstan cl- 

 ing God declares in his holy word, " man can have nothing 

 without exertion." 1 When they say that God is gracious 

 and merciful, they speak correctly. But they are not aware 

 that Satan is deceiving them with it, hindering them from 

 obedience and worship, and preventing them from en- 

 gaging in that cultivation and commerce that would pre- 

 pare them for eternity. 



The sixth class who indulge in error, are those who, ex- 

 alted with pride, think that they have already attained and 

 are perfect : and they say, " we have reached such a state 

 that transgressions do us no harm : we are like the sea, 

 which is not polluted by filth falling into it." These fool- 

 ish people are so ignorant, that they do not know that" to 

 be like the sea," means to attain such a degree of calm 

 that no wind can put them in movement and that nothing 

 can cause any perturbation in their minds. These persons 

 on the contrary, if an individual fail to treat them with 

 honor and respect, or if in conversation the individual do 

 not address them as, my lord or dear sir, or speak a word 

 that touches their reputation, they bear him a grudge for a 

 long time, and even perhaps attempt to do him an injury. 

 And if a person take a piece of money or a morsel of bread 

 from them, the world becomes too straight for them, and 

 every thing looks dark. These foolish people have not 

 even yet reached manhood. They are weak in their own 

 souls, and are in subjection like slaves to passion and anger. 

 If it were not so, how could they be so inconsiderate and 

 presumptuous ? Beloved, the falsehood and error of these 

 people appear from this consideration. When inadver- 

 tently any of the prophets fell into sin, even a little and 

 venial sin, they would spend years in mourning and lament- 

 ation over it, and occupied themselves in endeavors to obli- 



1 S. 53 : 40. 



