ustibleness of nature is
an immortal youth. The wild fertility of nature is felt in comparing our
rigid names and reputations with our fluid consciousness. We pass in the
world for sects and schools, for erudition and piety, and we are all the
time jejune babes. One sees very well how Pyrrhonism grew up. Every man
sees that he is that middle point whereof every thing may be affirmed
and denied with equal reason. He is old, he is young, he is very wise,
he is altogether ignorant. He hears and feels what you say of the
seraphim, and of the tin-peddler. There is no permanent wise man except
in the figment of the Stoics. We side with the hero, as we read or
paint, against the coward and the robber; but we have been ourselves
that coward and robber, and shall be again,--not in the low
circumstance, but in comparison with the grandeurs possible to the soul.

A little consideration of what takes place around us every day would
show us that a higher law than that of our will regulates events; that
our painful labors are unnecessary and fruitless; that only in our easy,
simple, spontaneous action are we strong, and by contenting ourselves
with obedience we become divine. Belief and love,--a believing love will
relieve us of a vast load of care. O my brothers, God exists. There is
a soul at the centre of nature and over the will of every man, so
that none of us can wrong the universe. It has so infused its strong
enchantment into nature that we prosper when we accept its advice,
and when we struggle to wound its creatures our hands are glued to our
sides, or they beat our own breasts. The whole course of things goes to
teach us faith. We need only obey. There is guidance for each of us, and
by lowly listening we shall hear the right word. Why need you choose so
painfully your place and occupation and associates and modes of action
and of entertainment? Certainly there is a possible right for you that
precludes the need of balance and wilful election. For you there is a
reality, a fit place and congenial duties. Place yourself in the middle
of the stream of power and wisdom which animates all whom it floats,
and you are without effort impelled to truth, to right and a perfect
contentment. Then you put all gainsayers in the wrong. Then you are
the world, the measure of right, of truth, of beauty. If we will not
be mar-plots with our miserable interferences, the work, the society,
letters, arts, science, religion of men would go on f