in each. Hence also the
consciences of men at a similar evolutionary level speak alike on broad
questions of right and wrong, good and evil. On these the "voice" is
clear. But there are many questions whereon past experience fails us,
and then conscience fails to speak. We are in doubt; two apparent duties
conflict; two ways seem equally right or equally wrong. "I do not know
what I _ought_ to do," says the perplexed moralist, hearing no
inner voice. In such cases, we must seek to form the best judgment we
can, and then act boldly. If unknowingly we disregard some hidden law we
shall suffer, and _that_ experience will be added to our sum total,
and in similar circumstances in the future, conscience, through the aid
of this added experience, will have found a voice.

Hence we may ever, having judged as best we can, act boldly, and learn
increased wisdom from the result.

Much moral cowardice, paralysing action, has resulted from the Christian
idea of "sin," as something that incurs the "wrath of God," and that
needs to be "forgiven," in order to escape an artificial--not a
natural--penalty. We gain knowledge by experience, and disregard of a
law, where it is not known, should cause us no distress, no remorse, no
"repentance," only a quiet mental note that we must in future remember
the law which we disregarded and make our conduct harmonise therewith.
Where conscience does not speak, how shall we act? The way is well known
to all thoughtful people: we first try to eliminate all personal desire
from the consideration of the subject on which decision is needed, so
that the mental atmosphere may not be rendered a distorting medium by
the mists of personal pleasure or pain; next, we place before us all the
circumstances, giving each its due weight; then, we decide; the next
step depends on whether we believe in Higher Powers or not; if we do, we
sit down quietly and alone; we place our decision before us; we suspend
_all_ thought, but remain mentally alert--all mental ear, as it
were; we ask for help from God, from our Teacher, from our own Higher
Self; into that silence comes the decision. We obey it, without further
consideration, and then we watch the result, and judge by that of the
value of the decision, for it may have come from the higher or from
the lower Self. But, as we did our very best, we feel no trouble, even
if the decision should be wrong and bring us pain. We have gained an
experience, and will do better n