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| Our tainted nature's Solitary Boast |
Having learnt of the destiny towards which we are moving, the next step is to study the means by which it is to be most surely attained. It becomes necessary for us to acquire the science of human actions, of the nature of our different impulses, of the sources of good and evil influences, and of the laws which regulate human action so as to make it most efficient for its purpose. We have to learn what are the elements that constitute a conscious and responsible human action in the natural and the supernatural spheres, what is the action of God and what the action of man in the general result, what are our dangers, what aids are offered to us, what is the nature and what the kinds of virtue and vice. This science is one of the most practical of all sciences, and bears most closely upon human development. Social life has its attendant sciences that aid its progress, sciences of health, of law, of crime, of education, of politics, of economics. Beyond all these it is important that men should know something of the science which deals with the law of God and the methods of our salvation, which makes our lives advance the glory of God, the highest evolution of our race, and our eternal happiness. Who shall teach us this? God Himself through religion and revelation, through our conscience and intercourse with Him in prayer. Beseech Him that His word may be "a lamp to your feet and a light to your paths" (Ps. cxviii. 105).
