NORTH.
Well – I will. I remember the time, Seward, when there was a great clamour for a Standard of Taste. A definite measure of the indefinite!
TALBOYS.
Which is impossible.
NORTH.
And there is a great clamour for a Standard of Morals. A definite measure of the indefinite!
TALBOYS.
Which is impossible.
NORTH.
Why, gentlemen, the Faculty of Beauty lives; and in finite beings, which we are, Life changes incessantly. The Faculty of Moral Perception lives– and thereby it too changes for better and for worse. This is the Divine Law – at once encouraging and fearful – that Obedience brightens the moral eyesight – Sin darkens. Let all men know this, and keep it in mind always – that a single narrowest, simplest Duty, steadily practised day after day, does more to support, and may do more to enlighten the soul of the Doer, than a course of Moral Philosophy taught by a tongue which a soul compounded of Bacon, Spenser, Shakspeare, Homer, Demosthenes, and Burke – to say nothing of Socrates, and Plato, and Aristotle, should inspire.
BULLER.
You put it strongly, sir.
TALBOYS.
Undeniable doctrine.
NORTH.
Gentlemen, you will often find this question – "Is there a Standard of Taste?" inextricably confused with the question "Is there a true and a false Taste?" He who denies the one seems to deny the other. In like manner, "Is there a Right and Wrong?" And "is there accessible to us an infallible measure of Right and Wrong" are two questions entirely distinct, but often confused – for Logic fled the earth with Astræa.
TALBOYS.
She did.
NORTH.
Talboys, you understand well enough the sense and culture of the Beautiful?
TALBOYS.
Something of it perhaps I do.
NORTH.
To feel – to love – to be swallowed up in the spirit and works of the Beautiful – in verse and in the visible Universe! That is a life – an enthusiasm – a worship. You find those who would if they could, and who pretend they can, attain the same end at less cost. They have taken lessons, and they will have their formalities go valid against the intuitions of the dedicated soul.
TALBOYS.
But the lessons perish – the dedicated soul is a Power in all emergencies and extremities.
NORTH.
There are Pharisees of Beauty – and Pharisees of Morality.
SEWARD.
At this day spiritual Christians lament that nine-tenths of Christians Judaise.
NORTH.
Nor without good reason. The Gospel is the Standard of Christian Morality. That is unquestionable. It is an authority without appeal, and under which undoubtedly all matters, uncertain before, will fall. But pray mark this – it is not a positive standard, in the ordinary meaning of that word – it is not one of which our common human understanding has only to require and to obtain the indications – which it has only to apply and observe.
SEWARD.
I see your meaning, sir. The Gospel refers all moral intelligence to the Light of Love within our hearts. Therefore, the very reading of the canons, of every prescriptive line in it, must be by this light.
NORTH.
That is my meaning – but not my whole meaning, dear Seward. For take it, as it unequivocally declares itself to be, a Revelation – not simply of instruction, committed now and for ever to men in written human words, and so left – but accompanied with a perpetual agency to enable Will and Understanding to receive it; and then it will follow, I believe, that it is at every moment intelligible and applicable in its full sense, only by a direct and present inspiration – is it too much to say – anew revealing itself? "They shall be taught of God."
SEWARD.
So far, then, from the Christian Morality being one of which the Standard is applicable by every Understanding, with like result in given cases, it is one that is different to every Christian in proportion to his obedience?
NORTH.
Even so. I suppose that none have ever reached the full understanding of it. It is an evergrowing illumination – a light more and more unto the perfect day – which day I suppose cannot be of the same life, in which we see as through a glass darkly.
TALBOYS.
May I offer an illustration? The land shall descend to the eldest son – you shall love your neighbour as yourself. In the two codes these are foundation-stones. But see how they differ! There is the land – here is the eldest son – the right is clear and fast – and the case done with. But – do to thy neighbour! Do what? and to whom?
NORTH.
All human actions, all human affections, all human thoughts are then contained in the one Law – as the subject of which it defines the disposal. All mankind, but distributed into communities, and individuals all differently related to me are contained in it, as the parties in respect of whom it defines the disposal!
SEWARD.
And what is the Form? Do as thou wouldst it be done to thee!
NORTH.
Ay – my dear friend – The form resolves into a feeling. Love thy neighbour. That is all. Is a measure given? As thyself.
SEWARD.
And is there no limitation?
NORTH.
By the whole apposition, thy love to thyself and thy neighbour are both to be put together in subordination to, and limitation and regulation by – thy Love to God. Love Him utterly – infinitely – with all thy mind, all thy heart, all thy strength. This is the entire book or canon – the Standard. How wholly indefinite and formless, to the Understanding! How full of light and form to the believing and loving Heart!
SEWARD.
The Moon is up – how calm the night after all that tempest – and how steady the Stars! Images of enduring peace in the heart of nature – and of man. They, too, are a Revelation.
NORTH.
They, too, are the legible Book of God. Try to conceive how different the World must be to its rational inhabitant – with or without a Maker! Think of it as a soulless – will-less World. In one sense, it abounds as much with good to enjoy. But there is no good-giver. The banquet spread, but the Lord of the Mansion away. The feast – and neither grace nor welcome. The heaped enjoyment, without the gratitude.
SEWARD.
Yet there have been Philosophers who so misbelieved!
NORTH.
Alas! there have been – and alas! there are. And what low souls must be theirs! The tone and temper of our feelings are determined by the objects with which we habitually converse. If we see beautiful scenes, they impart serenity – if sublime scenes, they elevate us. Will no serenity, no elevation come from contemplating Him, of whose Thought the Beautiful and the Sublime are but shadows!
SEWARD.
No sincere or elevating influence be lost out of a World out of which He is lost?
NORTH.
Now we look upon Planets and Suns, and see Intelligence ruling them – on Seasons that succeed each other, we apprehend Design – on plant and animal fitted to its place in the world, and furnished with its due means of existence, and repeated for ever in its kind – and we admire Wisdom. Oh! Atheist or Sceptic – what a difference to Us if the marvellous Laws are here without a Lawgiver – If Design be here without a Designer – all the Order that wisdom could mean and effect,