The Elements of Character | Page 6

disappeared; but, alas for human nature! the spirit that delighted in
their use has hot wholly passed away; the flame and sword it uses now
are those of malignity and hatred; it does not scorch or wound the body,
but only burns and slays the reputations of those whom it assails.
Forgetting that the Lord has declared, "judgment is mine," it hesitates
but little to pass its condemnations upon those who differ from itself;
and if Christian commandments are urged against it, it passes them by
with a sneer, or openly sets them aside as too narrow and imperfect for
the present age. While shrinking from the dangers that lie in wait for
those who devote themselves to one idea in morality or reform, we
should beware of falling into the opposite extreme of indifference on
these same points; and should be sure to give them their full share of
consideration. The ultra conservatism, that holds fast to existing
customs and organizations merely because they are old, or from the
love of conservation, is quite as fatuous as the radicalism that would
destroy the old merely because it is old, or from the love of destruction.
He whose conscience knows no higher sanction or restraint than the
Statute Book, is not enough of a Christian to be a good citizen; while
he who does not respect the Statute Book as the palladium of his
country, is not a citizen worthy the name of Christian. While striving to
remain unbiased by the clamor of party, or the violence of individuals,
we should with equal care avoid the opposite error of looking with
approval, or even with indifference, upon usages or institutions whose
only claim to our forbearance lies in laws or popular opinions whose
deformity should be discovered, and whose power should melt away
beneath the light and warmth of a Christian sun.
True religious life consists in doing the will of God every moment of
our lives. His will must bear upon us everywhere and at all times.
Where the mind is absorbed in some one object of reform, this constant
devotion to duty is almost, if not quite, impossible. The mind becomes
so warped in one direction that it loses the habit, and almost loses the
power, of turning in any other. Hence we rarely hear the word duty
from the lips of the reformer. He constantly descants upon rights or
wrongs, while duties seem forgotten. Thus we hear perpetually of the
rights or of the wrongs of man or of woman, of the citizen, or of the

criminal, and of the slave; but the duties of these classes seem to have
passed out of sight. Now it is only when all shall fulfil their several
duties that the rights of all can be respected; and if peace on earth, and
good-will towards men are ever to reign, it must be when piety and
charity shall go hand in hand,--when the human race shall unite as one
to fulfil its duties towards God and towards each other.
Violence of every kind springs from a desire to do one's own will.
Egotism is the sure accompaniment of wrath. The love of God never
constrained any man to villify his brother. He who is bent on the
performance of duty,--who desires simply to do the will of God, is firm
as a rock, but never violent. He prays, with the poet,--
"Let not this weak, unknowing hand, Presume thy bolts to throw; And
deal damnation round the land, On each I judge thy foe." He
remembers that judgment belongs to God; and that the Lord taught us
to pray, "Forgive our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass
against us"; and surely none can hurl denunciation upon a fellow-sinner
if from his heart he offers that prayer.
Possibly the ground may be taken that we should forgive our own
personal enemies, but not the enemies of the Lord, against whom the
reformer directs his wrath. But is the arm of the Lord shortened that he
cannot avenge his own wrongs? and who among mortals is so pure or
so strong that he may dare to say, the Lord has need of him for a
champion?
It is deemed just that a soldier should suffer severe punishment if he act
without orders, taking upon himself the authority of a commanding
officer. How much more is he worthy of condemnation who puts
himself in place of God, and under pretence of doing him service,
presumes to transgress his explicit commands.
We are prone to fancy that when we are fond of talking about any
object we are fond of the object itself; but this by no means follows of
course. We may delight in talking about philanthropy while our hearts
are burning with hatred,