The Man of Integrity
There are times in the life of every man who takes his stand on high moral principles when his faith in, and knowledge of, those principles is tested to the uttermost, and the way in which he comes out of the fiery trial decides as to whether he has sufficient strength to live as a man of Truth, and join the company of the free, or shall still remain a slave and a hireling to the cruel taskmaster, Self.
Everyone who stands by high moral principles faces times when their faith in and knowledge of those principles are tested to the utmost. How a person comes through that fiery trial decides whether he has the strength to live as a man of Truth and join the company of the free. Otherwise, he will remain a slave and a hired servant to the cruel taskmaster, Self.
Such times of trial generally assume the form of a temptation to do a wrong thing and continue in comfort and prosperity, or to stand by what is right and accept poverty and failure; and so powerful is the trial that, to the tempted one, it plainly appears on the face of things as though, if he chooses the wrong, his material success will be assured for the remainder of his life, but if he does what is right, he will be ruined for ever.
Such trials generally involve a choice. A person can do wrong and continue to live in comfort and prosperity, or stand by what is right and accept poverty and failure. The trial is so powerful that, on the face of things, the choice seems clear. If the person chooses wrong, material success will seem assured for the rest of life. But if the person does right, it will seem that they will be ruined forever.
Frequently the man at once quails and gives way before this appalling prospect which the Path of Righteousness seems to hold out for him, but should he prove sufficiently strong to withstand this onslaught of temptation, then the inward seducer, the spirit of self, assumes the garb of an Angel of Light, and whispers, "Think of your wife and children; think of those who are dependent upon you; will you bring them down to disgrace and starvation?"
Often, a man immediately loses heart and gives way before the terrifying prospect the Path of Righteousness seems to offer him. But if he is strong enough to resist this attack of temptation, the inner seducer, the spirit of self, disguises itself as an Angel of Light. It whispers, "Think of your wife and children. Think of those who depend on you. Will you bring them to disgrace and starvation?"
Strong indeed and pure must be the man who can come triumphant out of such a trial, but he who does so, enters at once a higher realm of life, where his spiritual eyes are opened to see beautiful things; and the poverty and ruin which seemed inevitable do not come, but a more abiding success comes, and a peaceful heart and a quiet conscience. But he who fails does not obtain the promised prosperity, and his heart is restless and his conscience troubled.
A man must be truly strong and pure to come through such a trial triumphant. But if he does, he immediately enters a higher realm of life, where his spiritual eyes open to beautiful things. The poverty and ruin that seemed inevitable do not come. Instead, he finds more lasting success, a peaceful heart, and a clear conscience. But a man who fails does not gain the promised prosperity. His heart is restless and his conscience troubled.
The right-doer cannot ultimately fail, the wrong-doer cannot ultimately succeed, for
Those who do right cannot ultimately fail, and those who do wrong cannot ultimately succeed, because
"Such is the Law which moves to Righteousness, Which none at last can turn aside or stay,"
"This is the Law that moves toward righteousness. In the end, no one can turn it aside or stop it."
and it is because justice is at the heart of things—because the Great Law is good—that the man of integrity is superior to fear, and failure, and poverty, and shame, and disgrace. As the poet further says of this Law:
Justice is at the heart of things, and the Great Law is good. Because of this, a man of integrity rises above fear, failure, poverty, shame, and disgrace. As the poet also says of this Law:
"The heart of it is Love, the end of it Is peace and consummation sweet—obey."
"At its heart is love, and at its end is peace and sweet fulfillment. Obey."
The man who, fearing the loss of present pleasures or material comforts, denies the Truth within him, can be injured, and robbed, and degraded, and trampled upon, because he has first injured, robbed, and degraded, and trampled upon his own nobler self; but the man of steadfast virtue, of unblemished integrity, cannot be subject to such conditions, because he has denied the craven self within him and has taken refuge in Truth. It is not the scourge and the chains which make a man a slave, but the fact that he is a slave.
A man may deny the Truth within him because he fears losing his present pleasures or material comforts. He can be hurt, robbed, degraded, and trampled on. This is because he has first hurt, robbed, degraded, and trampled on his own nobler self. But a man of steadfast virtue and flawless integrity cannot be subjected to such treatment. He has rejected the cowardly self within him and taken refuge in Truth. It is not the whip and chains that make a man a slave, but the fact that he is a slave.
Slander, accusation, and malice cannot affect the righteous man, nor call from him any bitter response, nor does he need to go about to defend himself and prove his innocence. His innocence and integrity alone are a sufficient answer to all that hatred may attempt against him. Nor can he ever be subdued by the forces of darkness, having subdued all those forces within himself; but he turns all evil things to good account—out of darkness he brings light, out of hatred love, out of dishonour honour; and slanders, envies, and misrepresentations only serve to make more bright the jewel of Truth within him, and to glorify his high and holy destiny.
Slander, accusations, and malice cannot affect a righteous man or provoke him to respond bitterly. He does not need to defend himself or prove his innocence. His innocence and integrity alone are enough to answer all that hatred may attempt against him. He can never be overcome by the forces of darkness, because he has overcome all those forces within himself. Instead, he turns all evil things to good use. He brings light out of darkness, love out of hatred, and honor out of dishonor. Slander, envy, and false portrayals only make the jewel of Truth within him shine brighter. They also glorify his high and holy destiny.
Let the man of integrity rejoice and be glad when he is severely tried; let him be thankful that he has been given an opportunity of proving his loyalty to the noble principles which he has espoused; and let him think: "Now is the hour of holy opportunity! Now is the day of triumph for Truth! Though I lose the whole world I will not desert the right!" So thinking, he will return good for evil, and will think compassionately of the wrong-doer.
A man of integrity should rejoice and be glad when he is severely tested. He should be thankful for the chance to prove his loyalty to the noble principles he has embraced. And he should think: "Now is the time for a sacred opportunity! Today is the day of triumph for Truth! Though I lose the whole world, I will not abandon what is right!" Thinking this way, he will return good for evil and think compassionately of the wrongdoer.
The slanderer, the backbiter, and the wrong-doer may seem to succeed for a time, but the Law of Justice prevails; the man of integrity may seem to fail for a time, but he is invincible, and in none of the worlds, visible or invisible, can there be forged a weapon that shall prevail against him.
People who slander, speak ill of others, and do wrong may seem to succeed for a time. But the Law of Justice prevails. A man of integrity may seem to fail for a time, but he cannot be defeated. In no world, visible or invisible, can a weapon be made that can overcome him.