It
declares him possessed of powers of love and hate, which defy
mathematics; a being above all price, to whom honesty may be more than
'the best policy,' even the loving obedience of a child to a loving
Father. It declares society to be no mere framework tied together by
interest, but a brotherhood, like a living soul, having a common Father,
Saviour, and Home. In place of supply and demand, policy, interest, it
enunciates but one word, _love_.
It would be worse than useless if we had come so far in reasoning, and
obtained no practical result, which might be embodied in each man's
action. We have shown the existence of this tendency, and the powers
that are antagonistic to it. We cannot prove the result, for there is no
analogy in any preceding case which history affords; we cannot calculate
the strength of the opposing powers, for the issue lies in man's
volition, which is above mathematics. Yet practically, the result, as
far as regards us individually, is as valuable as though this were
possible. The result depends upon the world's decision, and each man is
responsible for his part of that decision, whether he will give his
heart to outward or inward prosperity. If he would have his children, to
unnumbered generations, rise up to bless the age in which he lived, and
him who lived therein; if he would do what he can to make his country's
civilization perpetual, and his own life truly happy, let him give up
all thought of _laissez faire_, 'it will last my time,' and begin to
lead an earnest, thoughtful life, sacrificing, if need be, something of
outward prosperity for the sake of fulfilling his duty in love and
action to his fellow men and to God.
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