Page:Spiritual Reflections for Every Day in the Year - Vol 3.pdf/313

 things of time, which is a demonstration that they were not created for eternity:—as, on the other hand, the abilities of man, which enable him to look out of time, are an equal proof that He was created to live for ever.

"There is this difference between intellect in man, and the rest of the animal creation. Their intellect teaches them to follow the lead of their senses, and make such use of the external world as their appetites or instincts incline them to: and this is their wisdom. But the intellect of man is associated with an immortal principle; and, being in connection with a world above that which his senses reveal to him, he can, by aid from the Lord, control his senses, and bring under his instinctive appetites, so as to render them obedient to the governing power of his nature: and this is his wisdom."

It follows, therefore, from the above distinguishing characteristic, that man has the ability to control the, lower appetites of sense, which the brutes cannot do. Man can check a bad passion; can set a higher good above a lower; can prefer things eternal to things temporal: but the brutes can do neither, It may be added, as a further consequence, that man can change his state, either for the better or the worse, according to the use or the abuse of the above faculty; but the brutes, as they are unable to exalt themselves to a higher state, so they are unable to degrade themselves to a lower. They can neither add to nor diminish their present stock of life: when they die they perish.

The life of man, therefore, consists in his twofold capacity to receive from the Lord such a portion of the Divine love and wisdom as shall enable him