Page:Letters on the Human Body (John Clowes).djvu/42

22 letter with a short lesson of counsel on the interesting subject of which I have been treating, by earnestly cautioning you against the separation of the principles of right and left, or of will and understanding, of goodness and truth, or of charity and faith, in your own mind and life. For this purpose, accustom yourself to reflect continually, that the separation of these principles is only another name for their destruction. Let it be your constant labour then to join them together, by assigning to each its proper value and importance. I do not mean to say, that each is of equal value and importance, because assuredly, in point of rank and precedence, the will is entitled to pre-eminence over the understanding, goodness over truth, and charity over faith; but then I would insist, that it is perfectly consistent with this pre-eminence, that understanding, truth, and faith, should have their proper post of honour allotted them, and should at all times be cherished, cultivated, and consulted, as the brethren, friends, and necessary counsellors of will, of goodness, and of charity. Give then to the principles of will, of goodness, and of charity, as constituting properly your right side, the ascendancy in your mind and life, but give, at the same time, to understanding, to truth, and to faith, a proximate dignity and interest, as constituting properly the left side; and rest assured