RATIONAL LIFE 319 



of man expands, as the range of knowledge and of 

 intelligent interest widens. Food is not the end of 

 his effort. If the animal lives to eat, he eats in order 

 to live ; he even finds life s work in passing from his 

 meals. Ever as life advances, work carries within it 

 life s grandest interests. What is even more than this, 

 work becomes a law for man s life, not by the con 

 straint of a physical necessity, but by the higher 

 constraint of rational law. Industry becomes life s 

 distinction. To the rational agent it seems clear, ever 

 clearer as he works on, and reflects more patiently, 

 seeking companionship with wisdom in his daily 

 pursuits that the law of his existence is the full use 

 of his powers. 



Sure, He that made us with such large discourse, 



Looking before and after, gave us not 



That capability and godlike reason 



To fust in us unused. 1 



The duty and dignity of work are manifest. Carlyle 

 found ready assent for his preaching of the gospel of 

 work. The people had always recognised it. They 

 hailed his teaching, because his words had force akin 

 to the energy of life itself. Everywhere in human 

 life, it is rational law, not physical, which is pre 

 eminent. Let the law of justice stand for symbol 

 here. This is a law whose authority finds acknowledg 

 ment everywhere ; in rougher fashion, where primitive 

 conditions of social life prevail; in more formal 

 manner, where constitutional law reigns. This is a 

 law which finds homage in popular assemblies ; and 

 makes a single man strong against intrigue, if only 

 violence is restrained. This is a law which changes 



1 Hamlet, Act iv. Sc. 4. 



