292 PRESENT-DAY RATIONALISM 



as zve cannot follow the abstract reasoning in his mind, 

 which supplies him with the final motive for choice. 



All this is common experience, and the two extremes 

 prove it; because the drunkard has "let himself go". 

 He has allowed the law in his body to get the upper 

 hand ; and has not willed the law of his mind to contest 

 the lust for drink. He has become a complete automaton. 

 What volition he had is practically gone. 



On the other hand, the true Christian has overruled 

 the law of his body. He has acquired such an ascendency 

 over his inclinations to evil, so that he too has also become 

 an automaton ; but for goodness ; such is now habitual to 

 him, and all inclination for wrong-doing has gone. He 

 will now certainly act righteously when a choice is pre- 

 sented to him. 



He has become a " natural law " for good unto 

 himself, as the drunkard has become a natural law to 

 himself for drunkenness, though they stand at the very 

 opposite poles of conduct. 



I think we may also see how Altruism could now 

 arise from abstract reflection. We start from parental 

 affection in animals, and the automatic care for offspring, 

 till they become independent ; but rarely longer ; for 

 although it is said that weak animals, as Ccrvida, Bovidce, 

 etc., herd together for mutual aid ; yet if one is sick the 

 others worry it to death ; or if a wolf of a hunting pack be 

 shot, the others fall upon it as prey. These facts show 

 that there is more self-interest than altruism in herding. 



But when we come to man, who can entertain ab- 

 stract reflections about other men as well as himself, his 

 first altruistic idea would probably be " do not do to 

 others what you do not wish them to do to yourself". 



This is the primitive and purely negative law, ex- 

 emplified in the old Jewish morality. 



