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and profanation。 There is no skepticism； no atheism but that。 Could
it be received into common belief； suicide would unpeople the planet。
It has had a name to live in some dogmatic theology； but each man's
innocence and his real liking of his neighbor； have kept it a dead
letter。 I remember standing at the polls one day； when the anger of
the political contest gave a certain grimness to the faces of the
independent electors； and a good man at my side looking on the
people； remarked； 〃I am satisfied that the largest part of these men；
on either side； mean to vote right。〃 I suppose； considerate observers
looking at the masses of men； in their blameless； and in their
equivocal actions； will assent； that in spite of selfishness and
frivolity； the general purpose in the great number of persons is
fidelity。 The reason why any one refuses his assent to your opinion；
or his aid to your benevolent design； is in you： he refuses to accept
you as a bringer of truth； because； though you think you have it； he
feels that you have it not。 You have not given him the authentic
sign。 If it were worth while to run into details this general
doctrine of the latent but ever soliciting Spirit； it would be easy
to adduce illustration in particulars of a man's equality to the
church； of his equality to the state； and of his equality to every
other man。 It is yet in all men's memory； that； a few years ago； the
liberal churches complained； that the Calvinistic church denied to
them the name of Christian。 I think the complaint was confession： a
religious church would not complain。 A religious man like Behmen；
Fox； or Swedenborg； is not irritated by wanting the sanction of the
church； but the church feels the accusation of his presence and
belief。 It only needs； that a just man should walk in our streets；
to make it appear how pitiful and inartificial a contrivance is our
legislation。 The man whose part is taken； and who does not walt for
society in anything； has a power which society cannot choose but
feel。 The familiar experiment； called the hydrostatic paradox； in
which a capillary column of water balances the ocean； is a symbol of
the relation of one man to the whole family of men。 The wise
Dandini； on hearing the lives of Socrates； Pythagoras； and Diogenes
read； 〃judged them to be great men every way； excepting； that they
were too much subjected to the reverence of the laws； which to second
and authorize； true virtue must abate very； much of its original
vigor。〃 And as a man is equal to the church； and equal to the state；
so he is equal to every other man。 The disparities of power in men
are superficial； and all frank and searching conversation； in which a
man lays himself open to his brother； apprizes each of their radical
unity。 When two persons sit and converse in a thoroughly good
understanding； the remark is sure to be made； See how we have
disputed about words！ Let a clear； apprehensive mind； such as every
man knows among his friends； converse with the most commanding poetic
genius； I think； it would appear that there was no inequality such as
men fancy between them； that a perfect understanding； a like
receiving； a like perceiving； abolished differences； and the poet
would confess； that his creative imagination gave him no deep
advantage； but only the superficial one； that he could express
himself； and the other could not； that his advantage was a knack；
which might impose on indolent men； but could not impose on lovers of
truth； for they know the tax of talent； or； what a price of greatness
the power of expression too often pays。 I believe it is the
conviction of the purest men； that the net amount of man and man does
not much vary。 Each is incomparably superior to his companion in
some faculty。 His want of skill in other directions； has added to
his fitness for his own work。 Each seems to have some compensation
yielded to him by his infirmity； and every hindrance operates as a
concentration of his force。 These and the like experiences intimate；
that man stands in strict connexion with a higher fact never yet
manifested。 There is power over and behind us； and we are the
channels of its communications。 We seek to say thus and so； and over
our head some spirit sits； which contradicts what we say。 We would
persuade our fellow to this or that； another self within our eyes
dissuades him。 That which we keep back； this reveals。 In vain we
compose our faces and our words； it holds uncontrollable
communication with the enemy； and he answers civilly to us； but
believes the spirit。 We exclaim； ‘There's a traitor in the house！'
but at last it appears that he is the true man； and I am the traitor。
This open channel to the highest life is the first and last reality；
so subtle； so quiet； yet so tenacious； that although I have never
expressed the truth； and although I have never heard the expression
of it from any other； I know that the whole truth is here for me。
What if I cannot answer your questions？ I am not pained that I
cannot frame a reply to the question； What is the operation we call
Providence？ There lies the unspoken thing； present； omnipresent。
Every time we converse； we seek to translate it into speech； but
whether we hit； or whether we miss； we have the fact。 Every
discourse is an approximate answer： but it is of small consequence；
that we do not get it into verbs and nouns； whilst it abides for
contemplation forever。 If the auguries of the prophesying heart
shall make themselves good in time； the man who shall be born； whose
advent men and events prepare and foreshow； is one who shall enjoy
his connexion with a higher life； with the man within man； shall
destroy distrust by his trust； shall use his native but forgotten
methods； shall not take counsel of flesh and blood； but shall rely on
the Law alive and beautiful； which works over our heads and under our
feet。 Pitiless； it avails itself of our success； when we obey it；
and of our ruin； when we contravene it。 Men are all secret believers
in it； else； the word justice would have no meaning： they believe
that the best is the true； that right is done at last； or chaos would
come。 It rewards actions after their nature； and not after the
design of the agent。 ‘Work；' it saith to man； ‘in every hour； paid
or unpaid； see only that thou work； and thou canst not escape the
reward： whether thy work be fine or coarse； planting corn； or writing
epics； so only it be honest work； done to thine own approbation； it
shall earn a reward to the senses as well as to the thought： no
matter； how often defeated； you are born to victory。 The reward of a
thing well done； is to have done it。' As soon as a man is wonted to
look beyond surfaces； and to see how this high will prevails without
an exception or an interval； he settles himself into serenity。 He
can already rely on the laws of gravity； that every stone will fall
where it is due； the good globe is faithful； and carries us sec