Law of Mans Being, 255, 



tions, a sense of obligation to act in accordance with 

 these relations, and strength of will to carry out the 

 demands of Obligation, would be as perfect an outfit 

 for man as we find in the animals, in their self-limit- 

 ing and self-directing instincts. This outfit would be 

 perfect in its action, but occupying a field where un- 

 limited progress would not only be possible, but 

 the natural result. It is the belief of many that 

 man was created in this state. However that may 

 be, he is in no such condition now. He makes sad 

 mistakes, when he does the best he knows ; and he 

 w^eakly, or perversely, gives up to impulses which 

 he knows ought to be restrained. If we were to 

 judge by the results of human life alone, we should 

 conclude that there is no law of man's being. For 

 nothing can be greater than the differences of char- 

 acter between men of the same city and, oftentimes, 

 of the same family. Searching for a law among so 

 many discordant elements, to one compelled to 

 judge of man's nature only from these results which 

 he daily sees, would seem, at first, to be a hopeless 

 task. Is man then without a law of his being which 

 may guide him in his higher life ? While animals 

 have a law within them, which is like gravitation 

 to the planets that guides them forever in their or- 

 bits, has man no impulse which will tend to direct 

 his course? Are the best specimens of humanity, 

 after all, only accidents? We think not. And 

 we think that law and guide of action within man 

 will be found in THE SENSE OF OBLIGATION, when 

 considered in all its demands, and in relation to all 

 the other provisions made for him. 



