will, and veneration, and anecdotes and fables about him, and delight of good men and women in him. 16. More sweet than odours caught by him who sails Near spicy shores of Araby the blest, A thousand times more exquisitely sweet, WHERE THE CONSCIENCE OF THE PEOPLE IS AROUSED INIQUITY WILL BE ROOTED OUT 1. The peoples lack faith; not that individual faith which creates martyrs, but that social faith which is the parent of victory; 2. The faith that arouses the multitudes; faith in their own destiny, in their own mission, and in the mission of the epoch. THE REDEEMING POWER OF THE SOCIAL CONSCIENCE 3. And yet as one shake is sufficient to precipitate into crystals a liquid saturated with salt, so, at the present time, it may be that only the least effort is needed in order that the truth, already revealed to us, 4. Should spread among hundreds, thousands, millions of men, and a public opinion become established in conformity with the existing conscience, and the entire social organisation become transformed. It depends upon us to make this effort. 5. When that faith shall be not only on our lips but in our hearts; when our acts shall correspond to our words, and virtue shall sanctify our life, as liberty has sanctified our intelligence; 6. When we appear before men as seekers after Good, and they say of us amongst themselves: These men are a living religion,-thinkest thou our appeal to the peoples will not meet with a ready response? 7. THE TIME'S ABUSE 8. If not the face of men, The sufferance of our souls, the time's abuse, If these be motives weak,-break off betimes, And every man hence to his idle bed; But if these, As I am sure they do, bear fire enough To kindle cowards, and to steel with valour To prick us to redress? 9. If necessity breeds no heroism, the people are not worth their own redemption. 10. Thou hast taken a pledge from thy brother for nought, and stripped the naked of their clothing: WOE TO 11. Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink, and thou hast withholden bread from the hungry. 12. Thou hast sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken. 13. Therefore snares are round about thee, and sudden fear troubleth thee. 14. For when once the social conscience is aroused, Striding the blast, or heaven's cherubim, horsed Shall blow the horrid deed in every eye, That tears shall drown the wind. 15. Where the social conscience is awake, the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment. 16. He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found; yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night. CHAPTER IX NOTHING SHORT OF ENTIRE COMMITMENT CONSECRATES OUR LIFE 1. He that has dedicated his mind to virtue and to the good of human society, whereof he is a member, has consummated all that is either profitable or necessary for him to know or to SELFRENUNCIA TION do towards the establishment of his peace. 2. The victory is most sure For him, who, seeking faith by virtue, strives Of conscience. 3. The way of life is wonderful; it is by abandonment. 4. Let us cast off whatsoever hindereth, entangleth, or burdeneth our flight, until we attain that which satisfieth, beyond which nothing is, beneath which all things are, of which all things are. 5. The man who consecrates his hours At once he draws the stings of life and death. 6. Without labour there is no arriving at rest, nor without fighting can the victory be reached. CONSTANT 7. If thou art unwilling to suffer, thou refusest to be crowned, but if thou desire to be crowned, fight manfully, endure patiently. EFFORT |