2. Then there is the Present to be considered. What is it that troubles us in the time that is upon us, and makes it so critical for the future? Is it not the uncertainty and confusion of moral issues? It is so difficult to read the meaning of experience unti] it is past. Looking back, it is clear enough that the right act always means a song afterwards, and the wrong can bring nothing but a sigh. But how are we to know it the time? The meaning of the immediate hour is too dim for us to see its face, and read its expression. Thus when we are confronted with tthe truth, we often can only see the difficulty, or it may be the loneliness of obeying it. If only we could see the issue of things ithe obstructions would be lost in the honour of serving such a cause. What we want then is an immediate motive to truth weigh heavy with us now.
Or we come upon a sudden claim of right. But it looks costly, unnecessary, disagreeable—a dull job, a fruitless task. It is only in later days, perhaps years, that we shall
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.