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NO. 6
TUK TWO OFFIOKS.
105
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Tliu mini wlio gives himself up to lus
and passion, and looks to the immediate
gratification of carnal desires, ovcr-ridos
the dictates of his belter judgment, sets
aside the authority of conscience, immed.
ialuly fulls in the scale of being, and be
comes a stumbling block rather than the
noble creature he might have been.
While thus submitting to the evil impuls
es of liis nature, floating down the stream
of misery and death, the .warning voice
still chides him. Now and then he list
ens until reproof comes back upon him
with greut power. In order to drown
this self-condemnation, ho once more
plunges himself into the sea of vice and
dissipation, rendering his life unhappy
mid undeserving. Now this principle,
whatever we may call it, that lends us to
decide between right and -wrong, belongs
equally to the great, and small, the high
and low of all ranks and classes. This is
the guide. The learned may have a clearer
discernment of outward duty than others;
but it is because of their clear perception
and more accurate knowledge of the re-
lations of things. Upon this rests the ex
planation of their superior judgement.
If none arc destitute of the guide, why
preach duty to the world ? There is a
world within, and a world without; that
is, a subjective and an objective world.
Many things in the objective world the
mind seizes most icadily when presented.
When we talk of laws, relations, results,
etc., the listner will observe; why yes,
I never thought of it before. The only
hope wc have of reclaiming the drunkard
in the gutter, lies in the fact that his own
conscience condemns his course. This
conscience lies within, restraining and
checking people from the wrong course.
Now comes the moral teacher, He pre
sents the matter in a strange light, and
one which commends itself to the consci.
ousucss of his listner. This sets the way.
waid man to thinking. Thus the teacher
becomes a means of education, elevating
the masses, and producing human happi
ness. Their iutlucncc is wholesome in
the highest degree. If thore were no
moral or intellectual capacities to receive
and appreciate the teaching of such men,
their efforts would prove futile, or rather,
there would bo no such men, for they
themselves would not possess the requi
site capacities. We conclude then that
this is a wise provision and should be
supported. The objective leader, then,
shares his cilice with the subjective, and
thus fulfills his mission to men. There
is a difference between a leader and a
guide. There may be a guide who is
neither leader nor commander. A com
mander might be lost in the wilderness
were it not for the suggestions of his
guide. lie has the power to resist all
monitions of his guide; but he must suf
fer the consequences. So it is with the
operations of the inner world. The con
science may suggest, warn, and chide,
but the willst'iuding in the commander's
place, may disregaul its call and set aside
its authority. The individual thus robs
conscience of its ofllce, steals from his
best friend, and depreciates the gift of
God.
All men are influenced by those around
them. They combine then the two lead
erships, the subjective and the objective.
If men are to be effective beings, the of.
fice of leadership cannot bo abolished.
See the raft floating upon the water it is
of no use in its present form. Build it
into a ship and set it afloat. No, bring it
buck and place it in a steam engine, in
working order. It avails nothing vet.
There must be behind all this, the skillful
engineer to make the propelling power
effective, and give direction to its move
ments. Now it becomes useful and not
before. So it is with the individual. The
ship and machinery are all in order, and
further; the will sits enthroned in the
upper sanctuary of the mind, and the con
science is present to suggest and guide.
These are the engineers to make propel
ling power effective. These are leaders,
the one commanding, tue other piloting.
Each, then, combines the two ofllces, to
a large degree, in his own person. lie is
meritorious in each capacity. Wocnnnot
shift responsibility if we would. Lot us,
then, hope for the lime when men shall
listen to tht dictates of their better judg
ments; when they shall be governed by
the nobler impulses of their natures; and
when character and reputation shall bo
secure among the habitations of men.
S.
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