The Relation of Science and Religion.pdf - Online Christian Library

MAN'S PLACE IN THE WORLD. 269As the contrary lines of conduct are so oftenfollowed, and even vindicated as permissiblein the competitions of life, we needto show with some care that the law of benevolenceis uniformly regarded as a law ofhuman conduct even when its requirementsare unfulfilled. This becomes obvious if welook along another line of observation. Ifwe pass from what a man does to his fellowmento what he is seen to expect ofthem, we at once perceive that the authoritativefeature alleged to belong to the principleof benevolence is admitted by him. Heresents the selfishness from which he has suffered,complains of the unmanly act whichfound its pleasure in his injury, and an appealto public opinion, on any occasion sufficientlyimportant to involve a question ofthe interests of society, at once calls forthgeneral condemnation of the selfish act as areal injustice.That such a form and direction of thoughtbelongs liaturally to man has been furthershown by the ready assent of the young tothe law of benevolence, and their unhesitatingtest of their seniors by reference toit. If their irritability and resentment have