158 TheSpiritual Life.
beperfect, dothisor that," but, "Thou shalt
beperfect,andtheLawofLifeisThus,"
AndisitnottruethatNaturespeaksinsuch
fashion? Isit not true that from the lipsofNature, physical,wewillsay,theresoundsever
thecategoricalimperative? Man,ignorantand
foolish,unknowing thelawsthat surroundhim,
desires to follow the promptings of his own
untrainedwill, drivenperhapsbythedesiresof
thelowernature andhearinginthemthevoice
that allures and compels. From the lips of
Nature drop sternlythe words, "Thoushalt."
Answersthe will of Man ableto choose, " 1
willnot." Andthentherefallsuponthesilence
butthetwowords, "Thensuffer."
Such is the way in which physical nature
teachestheinviolabilityoflaw. Man,following
hisownuntrainedwill, strivestofollowit,bea
fenceof physicallawaround himornot. He
dashes himself againstthe iron wall hecannot
break,andthepainofthe bruising,theanguish
of the mutilation, teaches him that law is
inviolable and unchangeable, that it must be
obeyed or the disobedient will perish in the
struggle.