Judgment is the decision of the mind, the result of comparing two or more ideas. Conscience, sometimes called the moral sense, is that faculty by which we have ideas of right and wrong respecting actions, and corresponding feelings of approbation or disapprobation. It might, also, be claimed the faith faculty. It brings us into relation with the spiritual world and the claims of God and duty. Volition, or choice, is the dominion exercised by the mind over itself, employing or withholding its faculties in any particular action. These are a few of the faculties which link the mind to the body and likewise show its independence.
Thus far we have only considered the origin of life, as confirmatory of man's spiritual nature. There are, however, other themes which point as clearly to the same truth. The functions of the nervous system—sensation and voluntary motion—cannot be explained by any other theory. The nerve-structure only implies a capability of reception and transmission. In other words, it is the telegraph system that conveys intelligence to, and transmits the wishes of the immortal soul. It is true that the active exertions of the power of the soul require a corresponding health in the bodily organs, since the most accomplished artisan cannot exhibit his full powers with imperfect tools and materials; yet, as the injury or destruction of the implement is no proof of the death of the artisan, so the injury or destruction of the body destroys not the soul.
There is no constant relation between the integrity of mind and body. The mind is sometimes an agonizing sufferer, while the body is in perfect health; and only slowly, and by degrees, the mind brings the bodily organs into a sympathetic state. Though the body cannot long resist the influence of mental disease; yet the mind can effectually resist the depressing influence of bodily disease or bodily pain, even to the period of their separation. Paralysis has unnerved and unstrung the whole system and yet the mind has remained uninjured. Such was the case with the great French statesman, Talleyrand, who, with a body like a living tomb, retained his faculties unimpaired. Nor need we more than allude to the rejoicing moment of the dying saint, or the triumphs of the martyr at the stake, to show that the mind can continue in calm serenity, while the body is enduring the most excruciating torments, or losing at once its vitality and power. Joy causes a brilliancy of the eyes. Melancholy produces a directly opposite effect from joy. The emotion of anger urges the circulation of the blood to the utmost vehemence, sometimes producing tremors or spasmodic action of the muscles. It acts also upon the secretions—the saliva, milk and bile— which often become actually poisoned. The sickness and death of many children are caused by taking the milk of an enraged mother.
The independent action of the mind is also manifest in the phenomenon of sleep. That personality is not suspended, is proved by voluntary waking at a predetermined hour.
Dreaming is another proof of mental activity and independence. Then the mind is withdrawn from the ordinary influences of the world around, and lives, as it were, in a world of its own. Hence the adaptability of the dream state to spiritual communication and inspiration, as referred to so often in the scriptures. In examining, thus, a few particulars in which the bodily organization is acted upon by its spiritual inhabitant, we find abundant proof of the independent nature of the soul, as taught in holy writ.
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CHAPTER XIV.
FAITH AND INFIDELITY CONTRASTED.
FAITH AND SCIENCE HARMONIOUS—GREAT MEN, BELIEVERS—THE SAFETY OF SOCIETY DEMANDS RELIGION—THE GOSPEL THE BASIS OF TRUE CIVILIZATION—WHO ARE THE CREDULOUS—CONCLUSION.
We repeat it: there is no antagonism between philosophy and faith. Whatever the seeming oppositions of the present, all in the end will be perfect harmony. The gospel not merely overwhelms but comprehends all philosophy.
The star of science shines very beautifully indeed in its own sphere; but its light at best is a borrowed light, and its beams grow pale and vanish before the glorious sun of righteousness.