Page:Men of Letters, Scott, 1916.djvu/266

240 240 GEORGE MEREDITH'S LETTERS — to understand and take Nature as she is — is to get on the true divine highroad." So the senses bring him raw experience and the mind burns out the dross and the spirit fuses the residue into shining law, and within this resolute framework his character rises to an altitude whence it may sweep all hori- zons equally. His ultimate sympathies were com- plete. All the episodes and movements of his time — literary, political, social, philosophical — were lit up by the strong beam of his mind. And this effect of a complete cross-section of life, cut clean from peak to pit, is really augmented by the comparative few- ness of the friends to whom this collection is addressed. It is not a complete collection, but it traces half a dozen deep friendships without a lapse ; and all the normal episodes of existence seem thus to rotate in turn before his sight and receive his vivid judgment. It is a case of bodily sickness? Read the letter beginning " The principle of health is this : to make good blood plentifully and dis- tribute it properly." Is it a case of spiritual per- plexity? The clear passage that follows flies to offer guidance : — Belief in the religion has done and does this good to the young : it floats them through the perilous sensual period when the animal appetites most need control and transmutation. If you have not the belief, set yourself to love virtue by understanding that it is your best guide both as to what is due to others and what is for your positive personal good. If your mind honestly rejects it, you must call on your mind to supply its place from your own resources. Otherwise you will have only half done your work, and that is always mischievous. Pray attend to my words on this subject. . . . We grow to good as surely as the plant grows to the light. The school has only to look through history for a scientific assurance of it. And do not lose the habit of praying to the unseen Divinity. Prayer for worldly goods is worse than fruitless ; but prayer for strength of soul is that passion of the soul which catches the gift it seeks.