76 MORAL CONDITION OF THE CHILD 



gardless of other virtues or other persons. The 

 instructed spirit says: development can only be 

 in God. All other growth is but losing the way, 

 and consequently losing the goal. 



There is not, then, in normal human nature a 

 single bias unopposed, but an impulse met by a 

 higher faculty, operating under the guidance of a 

 higher law, and for a more ultimate end.* The 

 condition of struggle with the flesh will end with 

 the earth-life. The conditions of spiritual strug- 

 gle are eternal. There are hints, which we may 

 be in no situation to analyze or criticise, though 

 not irrational in their suggestion, that angels who 

 had not the fleshly bias at all, yet fell while in the 

 situation of a pure spiritual condition. 



If any one shall say that this discussion is 

 academic only; that there is no individual adult 

 that is normal, none whose nature is not damaged 

 by some sin of his own, we will not join issue 

 on the point. Its introduction was necessary to 

 show what kind of a thing is the human nature 

 which the child inherits. 



To many it seems that the impulse of the flesh 

 is too strong for the spiritual nature to resist. 

 That if we may not use the word 1 1 bias, ' ' at least 

 that the impulse sinward has the preponderance. 



*Lydston states this truth in a little different way when he says: "It is fair to 

 say that the human being is an animal primarily possessing instinctive tendencies to 

 crime, but who is subjected under civilized conditions to certain inhibitory influences 

 that have accumulated through the ages, and which prevent the average man from be- 

 coming vicious or criminal. When these inhibitions or restraints are removed, criminal 

 act result." ("Diseases of Society," 27) He is speaking of crime, and hence speaks of 

 external inhibitions; we are analyzing the tendency to sin, and hence bring to view the 

 Internal inhibitions. 



