Evidently, then, there are strong advantages in guidance through the
spirit. But natural guidance has advantages no less genuine. Human
life is a complex and demanding affair, requiring for its ever-
enlarging good whatever strength can be summoned from every side.
Probably we must abandon that magnificent conception of our ancestors,
that spirit is all in all and nature unimportant. But must we, in
deference to the temper of our time, eliminate conscious guidance
altogether? May not the disparagement of recent ages have arisen in
reaction against attempts to push conscious guidance into regions
where it is unsuitable? Conceivably the two agencies may be
supplementary. Possibly we may call on our fellow of the natural world
for aid in spiritual work. The complete ideal, at any rate, of good
conduct unites the swiftness, certainty, and ease of natural action
with the selective progressiveness of spiritual. Till such a
combination is found, either conduct will be insignificant or great
distress of self-consciousness will be incurred. Both of these evils
will be avoided if nature can be persuaded to do the work which we
clearly intend. That is what goodness calls on us to effect. To
showing the steps through which it may be reached the remainder of
this chapter will be given.
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