Page:Letters on the Human Body (John Clowes).djvu/38

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18
ON THE EXTERNAL FORM

the left? For how very improbable it is, in the first place, that in a great city there should be more than six score thousand persons, who, literally, did not discern between their right hand and their left hand! And, in the second place, how much more improbable, even supposing the fact literally true, that it should have found a place in the Holy Records of the ALMIGHTY, unless it had related to a want of discernment of another, and infinitely more important kind, viz. the incapacity to distinguish between the GOOD and the TRUE, thus between the principles of the former in the will, and of the latter in the understanding!

But, my dear Sir, it is greatly to be feared that there are many Ninevites at this day, who, like those of old, cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; or, to speak without a figure, who cannot, or do not, distinguish between the principles of GOOD and the principles of TRUTH. Let me earnestly caution you then, as you value the possession of all that is wise and good, against being betrayed into this miserable and mischievous folly. With this view, let me counsel you to consider, again and again, that your mind, like your body, hath two arms and hands, or two operative powers, the one of the will, and the other of the understanding; or, to express it otherwise, the one