Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1898-07-01


himself The pupil is under the tuteage Of
the master only while he is unable TO study
with industry and success by himself. The
Jews were subject to the ceremonial law in the
rude ages Of the worlds infancy, till they
were prepared for the liberty of the gospel Of
Christ And in a still grander sense the moral
law makes itself felt in the conscience only
till perfect love prompts the soul to do spontan-
eously what law would otherwise enoin.
But this ideal perfection of love is rarely. if
ever, reached in this life. The clouds of pre-
iudice or self-interest or ignorance dim the
splendor of this full-orbed sun which rises and
begins to shine in the Christian heart. There
fore Conscience lends her aid to conduct the
soul in the way of righteousness. Yet she is
not opposed to love, but works wholly in her
interests.
If a horse is intelligent and trained, he
will keep the beaten track without the guild
ance Of the driver; if very intelligent he may
remember the way homeward for twenty
miles. turn aside for obstacles and other
vehicles-all without any use Of the rens.
But a fractions colt would require constant
guidance and restraint. Now conscience is the
bit and curb Of the soul; and as a matter of
fact. all Of us need it, as the horse does his.
But at the same time he who is wisest and
YO9t NlisPo9CN ICCis IL lhc lcd9ts ana II love mad
her perfect work in the heart we should cease
TO feel 1t at all. If the soul were in a state of
ideal perfection, its holy impulses. its wise and
all-embracing love, would lead it always to act
Alright, without the help Of conscience. But
when the soul is in fallen state, diseased by
SIM 1t must fall back on conscience for guild
ance
1t is in this way that there often arises in
human experience seeming conflict between
love and duty. Affection may prompt us to
grant the request of a friend, but duty may
iorpld It, n sincere regard for the interests of
MS FAMILY may impel a bankrupt to conceal
Poruon OF ms property from his creditors; but
justice iorblds 1t. some OF the bitterest trials
Oh me are When the claims of law thus clash
with the claims OF love. And m all such
cases the demands OF law are imperative.
When conscience utters her voice she is
Always TO De opeyed, no matter what dear
affections oppose; tor she speaks IN behalf of
deeper, broader affection, which a perfect
aoGl would ieel II Is only when love Is short
slghted or partial that conscience Is opposed
To- IT, The good aunte who gives the child its
I'LL OF Sweetmeats does not love the child as
wisely and as well as the mother who refuses
the indulgence. Conscience forbade Brutus 20
spare ms ualtorous sons; not that he was
wrong IN loving them but that ne should love
ms country too 1t torbids our pampering to
the wees OF a friend, because deeper love for
MN would prompt US to oppose his vices.
Accordlngly' as the soul advances in pure
Christian love- these conflicts Will be less and
less frequent When affection acquires
deeper insight INTO HE 1t VIII prefer to bestow
upon ITS object permanent to temporary
good; 1t VIII regard future interests as we'll as
htan = on n. 70 n al
IN Its embrace, 1t viii prefer the general good
to the individual; until at length 1t will be
hke the divine love, which goes out impair
tlaIly TO all, and seeks their eternal good.
linen duty VIII no longer clash with love.
The guidance OF law will be no more needed;
not that It Will he destroyed, but that It's func-
tons Will be fulfilled by the coming OF
higher spirit which the law but foreshadowed.
We see, then, how harmonious are the re-
latlons between these two active forces of the
soul. Love Is indeed the king born to rule
supreme IN human hearts. But in most hearts
the king is as yet child Ignorant and imma-
ture. conscience is the vice-gerent who rules
the realm during the kings minority, to whom
even the king IS subject for the present. But
the laws OF the vice-gerent are only such as
the royal will Will sanction when mature. And
as the king becomes OF age, the other has less
and less to do, until finally the rightful SOW
ereign rules supreme.
But, unhapplly, in most human lives this
orderly process of development is more or less
interfered with. In actual experience con-
science and affection do not maintain their
evenly balanced relations, but the one or the
other predomnates. Some men fail to appre-
clate the supremacy OF conscience, and turn all
their attention to culuvating the amlable
graces of character. Others magnify law and
duty, and neglect the culture OF the affections.
In both cases there is much to admire; and in
our admiration we often fail to perceive the
defects of each.
We find two striking examples of this in the
two most famous poets OF England-Shakes-
peare and Milton.
If there ever was sweet, sensitive soul, it
was Shakespeares. He seems to have won
the love OF all who knew him intimately.
=" My Darling Shakespeare" Sweet Swan of
Avon,' are the affectionate words Of rough
Ben Johnson, his rival. His nature was in
tenSelV sympathetic he knew how to forget