Page:Letters on the Human Body (John Clowes).djvu/35

Rh He intended to mark and describe the principle of, and by the left hand the principle of , because you will discern that this interpretation of the terms right and left is the only key, by which to unlock the deep and edifying meaning of each passage.

For let us apply now this key to the interpretation of the precept, “Let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth,” calling the understanding of, with all its knowledge, the left hand, and the will of , with all its affections, the right hand, and what shall we discover to be the interesting result? Shall we not read, in the Divine precept, a salutary caution to the following effect, viz. that in the doing of alms, or, what amounts to the same, the exercise of charity, good ought to be done from a principle of good, and for the sake of good, and not without that principle, inasmuch as that is not good. Thus, in the exercise of charity, man ought not to consult his understanding only, since it is possible that this principle may be under the influence of the love of self, and of the world; but he ought to consult the will of, that so all his charitable exertions may be governed, guided, and sanctified by that will.

Let us apply the above key also to the Divine declaration, “He shall set the sheep on the right hand,