Page:The Message and Ministrations of Dewan Bahadur R. Venkata Ratnam, volume 2.djvu/196

 the grave; and Divine Nemesis invariably follows every act of neglect or disobedience. He is doubly ignorant who is not aware of his own ignorance; and he is doubly pitiable who is not conscious of his own spiritual blindness. If, as Cowper says,

"Freedom has a thousand charms to show That slaves, howe'er contented never know;"

how deplorable is the fate of the creature who is morally enthralled! The evils of sin, like the pain of a disease, must be felt to be remedied. Punishments and rewards are intended to be correctives and incentives; and that they may successfully serve their purpose, there must be an antecedent sense of violation or obedience. Health and palsy may be equally