| Show PRINCIPLE though a person may perform per forra a good goo d act or utter a noble sentiment from the spontaneity of his good nature we would sooner trust for all emergencies the person who acts and utters well from deliberate forethought generous impulses are admirable but he who is governed by impulse habitually is as liable to do unintentional intentional wrong as unintentional good though his afterthought may condemn ai bis wrong wrong doing not so with him who desiring to do good always al wa s considers cons I 1 iders that dedoes he does and is is gouvernel go governed vernel by a careful estimate of ra results his aati actions as are the unfailing fruit of conscientious motives and though thereby sometimes less flattering to his vanity being less noticed by thi the world they cannot but continually add I 1 to 0 o his dignity of character and peace 0 of f mind A life regulated by principle has the consistency sis tency of a plan and its whole is necessarily more harmonious perfect and beautiful than one spent spat under the spur put of impulse indeed if the entire acts c ts of an impulsive life were good they would reflect less credit than an equal measure of acts inspired by principle for action strictly judged gentake ged takes take s its moral and merit from s the intention that originated it moved by passionate impulse one may P harm and yet do dorund gund it esthe is the purpose therefore and not the result that must be cre credited difed to the actor the good done upon principle is never thus hus done accidentally or unintentionally the doer has a clear motive and mows just what he is doing he acts too 00 not like the man of impulse per haps laps solely because the aci act is self plea curable su rable but because it is right and good in itself he cannot be true to his convictions vict ions and act othera otherwise ise As order is heavens first law so principle is the he chart and compass of such a man with all and especially with the young it is a matter of the first moment to subjugate impulse and cultivate principles i where virtuous virtu principle is the law lav of life all is well or if failing thereby sometimes in our temporal purposes and desires we shall have the solid reward of f a conscience void of offense |
