Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-06-06
Between
Man and Mar


LAWS.
Between Between
1ou ana Man. Man and Man.
NatuIal Revealed. National international.
or Municipal.
constitutional Canon Common Equity.
or Ecclesiastical. Law.
Public OF Private OF
Criminal. Civil
l do not by any means propose to dis
cuss IN general the constituent elements
OF Lava task which / may say, with
no mock humility, ] am utterly incom-
petent TO fulfill / am quite content to
contine myself to the consideration of
what denominate the Law of Proportion;
and this particular Law chiefly as il is
related to spiritual things.
by this Law Of Proportion, ] simply
mean the recognition of the proper re-
lation as to magnitude, degrees, and obli-
cations which exists between different
parts OF our several duties, and between
these different parts and the whole Of any
particular duty Ii is, in other words
the harmony that arises from the due
balancing of all these parts, an equitable
adjustment or adaptation of them all
m such manner as 10 satisfy an en-
ightened and efficient conscience.
IL Is law which in things mechanical
and mathematical and in other domains
that are really scientific, is allowed to be
absolutely essential and obligatory, the
violation of which can be attended only
by confusion, unrest, disaster, if not
total destruction. Even in things
scenic and artistic, it is accepted as
equally essential for complete enjoy
ment
When we reach the highest domain of
all, that of our moral and spiritual life.
this same law of proportion attains its
greatest significance, and is, of a right
the most imperious in its demands.
l venture to assert that in almost
every instance of disorder, injury and
ruin as evidenced in the moral and
spiritual life of the individual and. of
course, of the community likewise. il
may all be traced directly or indirectly
in the main, directly-to a neglect or
violation of this same fundamental and
inexorable law.
Sociologists and philanthropists may
abound in theories and conclusions upon
this prolific subject But while such
theorists have, undoubtedly, their place
in discussions Of this nature, religion is
pre-eminently concerned in them. and il
must busy itself to fathom any mystery
that may be connected with any evil
that may exist
IL is indeed largely because Of its con-
corning itself with the creed and the con-
duct Of men that il must always command
the attention Of those who are really
practical, shaping as il does the passions
that are the strongest in governing man
kind
Religion that is true is only another
name for God The best way. therefore.
90 find what is true religion, is to find out
as best we can what is true concerning
God. Religion in us is our resemblance
to Him. who is ever best pleased with
those things in His creatures which are
most eminent in Himself.
Now, nothing is more eminent in God
than a regard for law; and one Of the
most essential elements of law is that of
proportion. Inasmuch, therefore, as sin
is the transgression of law, it necessarily
follows that sin is the enemy Of proportion.
Evidences Of this enmity are apparent
in various and diverse directions; but
however diverse these directions may be,
the result is always an injury TO true re-
ligion.
To proceed with a more direct appli-
cation Of these general remarks: Consider
the brightest function of the soul, that Of
love. How often even its purest form
the love which a parent and child may
feel for one another, or which may exist
between husband and wife-it may, il
does, exist in such a degree as practically
to exceed that which they ought to feel
towards God. II may be said that the
one kind Of love is different from the other
kind Of love, but that seems 20 me like
what is called begging the question.
Love is love, and while | might, for the
sake of argument, be willing TO have my
criticism confined 70 the question of de-
groes, yet practically again by going, in
our love for human beings, beyond the
proportion that properly belongs to them,
and thus depriving God Of His just pro-
portion, we do violence TO the very nature
Of love
And when we consider how altogether
essential il is that we should as to our
love for God be without blame, and how
"a transgression Of law in that relation is
sure TO lead TO its violation in other di-
rections, there is no room for doubt as to
the grave importance of having due regard
to this fundamental matter Of proportion.
We may be sure of Gods delight in
seeing such family love. But He is, in
the best sense of the term, a jealous God:
and must have that kind and proportion
Of our love which will free us from all
charge OF disobedience or OF practical
idolatory.
This Law of Proportion as 10 love is
violated again where, in their love for
those who are not their husbands and
wives, men and women give 20 them
that measure Of il which belongs ex-
olusively to those whom God hath joined
together in holy wedlock. This viola
ton of the law is responsible for a vast
share Of that baseness Of passion, that
impurity Of conduct, that estrangement
between man and wife, and all other at
tendant evils which constitute so large a
part of the shameful side of the social
history Of our day
When we reach the domain Of the
mind or intellect. we find the same
violation Of the law Of Proportion, and
results Of a most pernicious character.
II is right enough that we should exercise
our powers Of reasons and of thought
and subject 70 their examination the
many things which so constantly come
or may be brought under our observa-
ton
But oven so, there is also to be exer-
cised our power Of Judgment. by which
we are 10 discriminate between these
many things, to arrange them according
20 the proportion Of their worth and
usefulness. Oftentimes, our intel
lectual life is frittered away or idly spent
in the consideration of things which in
themselves are, as TO value and i'm
portance, incomparably beneath other
things that we neglect, either wholly OF