The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-09-01
IAN IMPORTANT DIFFERENCE

Living by Rule and Living by Principle
The Former Helps One to Do Right, the
Latter to BE Right.
A rule is a measure or standard by
which something is tested. The pri-
mary meaning Of the word "rule"
(reqetldr) is straight piece of wood
by which the divergence Of any thing
TO which it may be applied may be de-
termined. Then, again, it means a
maxim or precept, to which action or
conduct is to be conformed A prin-
@ciple Lprincipium), on the other hand,
is beginning, a starting point. AS
applied to any process, principle de-
notes something which regulates it
from the start. 1t is something initial,
underlying, fundamental. AS ap-
piled to conduct or character, rule is
something which seeks to conform it
from without; q principle is something
which tends to determine it from
within. The rule is laid on with a
view to Strengthening what is crooked,
or tending to become so; principle
operates upon the wrong tendency at
dts seat and starting-point, with view
to overcoming the cause which pro-
duces the trouble. Rules of life may
be likened to the splints and plaster
forms which are put upon broken
arm to hold it to its place; principles
are like the vital forces which are
silently knitting together the fractured
bones, healing the bruised flesh and
restoring all the former vigor and free
dom of the injured member. Good
rules are like the thongs which held
Ulysses firmly bound to the mast of
his ship, and prevented him from land
ing at the SIRENS isle; good principles
are like the sweet music in Orpheus'
soul, which enabled him to pass by
edisdaining the notes of the enchant-
resses. The pledges by which men
bind themselves to abstinence from
sinful indulgence are rules; the free
resolves by which the soul chooses for
itself a different range of pleasures
which graduallywork revolution in
the desires and tastes, so that the evil
indulgence is no longer craved, are
principles.
The difference between rules and
principles is an important one. Rules
are external; principles internal. Rules
warn and restrain; principles guide
and inspire. Rules tell you that you
are wrong; principles enable you to
get right. Rules help you to do right;
principles help you to be right. Rules
relate more to conduct; principles
more to character.
There are two ways of trying to live
a good life which correspond to these
distinctions. Many excellent persons
live chiefly by rule. They are regular,
faithful, systematic and punctual in
the performance of their duties. They
look upon duty as what is due from
them to their fellows and to society.
They have certain obligations, and
they will pay the debt. This is GER
tainly excellent, and seems to be all
that society can demand. And yet in
such lives there is lacking a subtle and
important thing. Right doing is too
much a matter of debit and credit.
The spirit Of free helpfulness and
spontaneous service has not trans
formed the life, and made its labor no
mere doing of what is due, but a
natural and almost inevitable ex-
preston Of principles which are within
1T Duty is done too much from the
negative motive, as debts are often paid
because the debtor dare not leave them
longer unpaid. 1t is true that it is a
thousand-fold better to do duty for any
reason than not to do it at all, and that
If we can not do it for the highest
reason, we must do it nevertheless.
But there is a better reason for doing it
than simply because we shall be guilty
and uncomfortable if we do not, and we
shall only do duty in way most help
full to others and to ourselves when we
come upon the plane of that reason.
The reason is that it is Gods will,
and that therefore our highest
usefulness, influence, growth and
happiness can only be attained
by its performance. As sooon as we
get this view Of it, the light of
new motives shines in upon it. The
impulse to do it is no longer impaired
from without, but springs from within.
We do not longer goad ourselves to do
it; it has grown easy and natural, be-
cause no longer done by rule, but from
principle.
The whole plan of God in the educa-
ton of the race illustrates these dis
tinctions. The Old Testament is chiefly
a dispensation of rules; the New Testa-
ment, Of principles. 1t is in this fact
that the fulflment of the Old by the
Now is seen. 1t brought into clear
view the principles of obedience and
love. manifested them perfectly in a