The Double Search Studies in Atonement and Prayer Other Books by the Same Author ELI AND SYBIL JONES: THEIR LIFE AND WORK. 12mo, 300 pages. (1889) PRACTICAL CHRISTIANITY. 12mo, 206 pages. (1899) A DYNAMIC FAITH. 12mo, 105 pages. (1901) A BOY’S RELIGION FROM MEMORY. 16mo, 145 pages. (1902) GEORGE FOX; AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY. 12mo, 2 vols., 584 pages. Illustrated. (1903) SOCIAL LAW IN THE SPIRITUAL WORLD. Studies in Human and Divine Inter-relationship. 12mo, 272 pages. (1904) THE DOUBLE SEARCH STUDIES IN ATONEMENT AND PRAYER BY RUFUS M. JONES, A.M., Litt.D. Professor of Philosophy in Haverford College 1906. PHILADELPHIA, THE JOHN C. WINSTON COMPANY COPYRIGHT, 1906 BY THE JOHN C. WINSTON COMPANY CONTENTS PAGE INTRODUCTION 9 CHAPTER I THE HISTORICAL AND INWARD CHRIST 21 CHAPTER II THE ATONEMENT 57 CHAPTER III PRAYER 89 Introduction “We are always gathered around the Divine Centre of our being; and, indeed, if we could withdraw from it, our being would at once be dissolved away, and we should cease to exist at all. But, near as it is to us, often we do not direct our eyes to it. When, however, we do so direct our gaze, we attain to the end of our desires and to the rest of our souls, and our song is no more a discord, but, circling round our Centre, we pour forth a divinely inspired chorale. And in the choral dance we behold the source of our life, the fountain of our intelligence, the primal good, _the root of the soul_.” _Plotinus, Ennead VI._ INTRODUCTION. There is a famous myth in Plato’s Symposium told to explain the origin of love. This myth says that primitive man was round, and had four hands and four feet, and one head with two faces looking opposite ways. He could walk on his legs if he liked, but he also could roll over and over with great speed if he wished to go anywhere very fast. Because of their fleetness and skill these “Round people” were dangerous rivals in power to Zeus himself and he adopted the plan of weakening them by cutting each one of them in two. In remembrance of the original undivided state each half, ever since unsatisfied and alone, seeks eagerly for the other half. Each human being is thus a half--a tally--and love is the longing to be united. The two halves are seeking to be joined again in the original whole. Such in briefest compass is the myth.