Season 2 Podcast 56 Precious Bane Pt I

Season 2 Podcast 56 The Precious Bane Part IIn Book I of John Milton’s Paradise Lost, Satan and his angels are cast out of heaven. Satan in awful majesty rises out of the lake of fire and exclaims:Is this the Region, this the Soil, the Clime,Said then the lost Arch-Angel, this the seatThat we must change for Heav'n, this mournful gloomFor that celestial light?   Be it so, since heWho now is Sovran can dispose and bidWhat shall be right: farthest from him is bestWhom reason hath equaled, force hath made supremeAbove his equals.   Farewell happy FieldsWhere Joy for ever dwells: Hail horrors, hailInfernal world, and thou profoundest HellReceive thy new Possessor:   One who bringsA mind not to be chang'd by Place or Time. In trying to make a heaven of hell, Mammon, one of the chief devils, builds the city Pandemonium.Mammon led them on,Mammon, the least erected Spirit that fellFrom heav'n, for ev'n in heav'n his looks and thoughtsWere always downward bent, admiring moreThe riches of Heav'ns pavement, trod'n Gold,Then aught divine or holy else enjoy'dIn vision beatific: by him firstMen also, and by his suggestion taughtRansack'd the Center, and with impious handsRifl'd the bowels of their mother EarthFor Treasures better hid.   Soon had his crewOp'nd into the Hill a spacious woundAnd dig'd out ribs of Gold.   Let none admireThat riches grow in Hell; that soil may bestDeserve the precious bane.    In this and the next podcast I use the term “precious bane” to represent anything that can be both a blessing and a curse. It is the idea that a curse can be turned into a blessing or a blessing can be turned into a curse.  We have a choice, a thing that is denied Satan and his fallen angels.A familiar scripture related to the concept of ‘precious bane’ is found in the last verses of Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. When we think of a yoke, we often think of a yoke of oxen and consider the analogy of two oxen yoked together pulling a heavy burden. When reading the above scripture, almost immediately comes to a Christian’s mind, ‘bearing the cross of Christ. Christ said, “And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:27)When the rich young man came to Christ and asked, “Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” The Savior answered, “One thing thou lakest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.” The postscript was, “And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.” (Mark 10: 17-22)