THE SOUL OF MAN

THE SOUL OF MAN.
THE blessings, 0 man ! of thy external part, are health, vigour, and proportion. The greatest of these is health. What health is to the body, even that is honesty to the soul.

That thou hast a soul, is of all knowledge the must certain, of all truths the most plain unto thee.

Be meek, be grateful for it. Seek not to know it, it is inscrutable.

Thinking, understanding-, reasoning, willing, call not these the soul! they are its actions, but they are not its essence.

Think not with Arabia, that one soul is parted among all men; neither believe thou with the sons of Egypt, that every man hath many : know, that as thy heart, so also thy soul is one.

Doth not the sun harden the clay ? doth it not also soften the wax ? as it is one sun that worketh both, even so it is one soul that willeth contraries.

As the moon retaineth her nature, though darkness spread itself before her face as a curtain, so the soul remaineth perfect, even in the bosom of a fool.

She is immortal; she is unchangeable; she is alike in all. Health calleth her forth to show her loveliness, and application anointeth her with the oil of wisdom.

Although she sliall live after thee, think not she was born before thee. Slie was concrcated with thy flesh, and formed with thy brain.

Justice could not give her to thee exalted by virtues, nor mercy deliver her to thee deformed by vices. These must be thine, and thou must answer for them.

Suppose not death can shield thee from examination ; think not corruption can hide thee from inquiry. He who formed thee of thou knowest not what, can he not raise thee to thou knowest not what again.

Canst thou think too greatly of thy soul ? or can too much be said in its praise ? it is the image of him who gave it.

Remember thou its dignity for ever; forget not how great a talent is committed to thy charge.

Whatsoever may do good, may also do harm. Beware that thou direct her course to virtue.

Think not that thou canst lose her in the crowd ; suppose not that thou canst bury her in thy closet. Action is her delight, and she will not be withheld from it.

Her motion is perpetual: her attempts are universal; her agility is not to be suppressed. Is it at the uttermost parts of the earth ? she will have. it: is it beyond the region of the stars'! yet will her eye discover it.

Inquiry is her delight. As one who traverseth the burning sands in search of water, so ia the soul that searcheth after knowledge.

Guard her, for she is rash; restrain her for she is irregular;

correct her, for she is outrageous; more supple is she than water; more flexible than wax ; more yielding than air. Is there aught can bind her ? ,

As a sword in the hand of a madman, even so is the soul to him who wantetlhdiscretion.

The end of her search is truth; her means to discover It are reason and experience. But are not these weak, uncertain, and fallacious ? how then shall she attain unto it ?

General opinion is no proof of truth, for the generality of men are ignorant.

Perceivest thou of thyself, the knowledge of him who created thee, the sense of the worship thou owest unto him ? are not these plain before thy face ? and behold! what is there more that man needeth to know ?

R Nicoll