ULTIMATE EFFECT OF COUNTERACTING INFLUENCES.

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In calculations of this complex and comprehensive character, the real difficulty frequently is to include, and to give due weight to, each of the varied influences, direct and indirect, propelling and counteracting, which are on all sides arising, which are ever at work, and which are ceaseless in their operation. Each must necessarily be taken into account; and the neglect or wrong estimate of any one, destroys the correctness of the sum entire. These principles are important, indeed essential, to bear in mind in the pursuit of philosophy generally. But they are peculiarly so in the due consideration of the subject of the present chapter.

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The ultimate result, however, of all these contending efforts, is to regulate, and render consistent and harmonious, the conduct of the whole, and to prevent the occurrence of contradictions and inconsistencies in our otherwise take place. Probably indeed, the effect of this career which would mutual acting together, and impulse, and counteraction of different powers, and feelings, and energies, and desires, is somewhat analogous to, and correspondent with, that of different men, and parties, and interests in a state; but which all alike finally conduce to the due development and proper working of the entire system, each aiding to modify, and bulance, and equalize, the vigour of the other, and to harmonize the operation of the whole. Thus, the influence of the capacity of deprehension, counteracts the too great power of that of comprehension, and comprehension in its turn that of deprehension; analysis that of judgment, and judgment that of analysis; reason that of genius, and genius that of reason. modifies the impulses and influences of avarice, and conConscience cupiscence, and anger; while they in turn modify those of conscience. So also is it with ambition and avarice, which mutually and reciprocally influence, and are influenced by, not only each other, but by the several other endowments, and powers, belonging to our constitution.

Little doubt can be entertained as to the general moral effect resulting from the influence and exercise of affection and animal attachment, both as regards the kindly feeling of the parent towards the child, and the child towards the parent; as also the many valiant, generous, and truly heroic acts

"Our present state is one of alternation between the active and passive faculties, the latter chiefly prevailing; but the future being will, as we suppose, be active only, and always so."-Isaac Taylor. Physical Theory of Another Life, c. vi.

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All the principles of the human mind have so near a connexion, that one of them can scarce be considerably altered, but it produces a similar alteration in the rest."--Gerard on Taste, pt. iii. s. 6.

Lord Bacon remarks that, as in the government of states it is sometimes necessary to bridle one faction with another, so is it in the government within."-Advancement of Learning, b. ii.

VOL. II.

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which this propensity generates. And yet, on the other hand, it cannot be denied that a large portion of the follies, and even of the vices of mankind, owe their origin to a desire to gratify it, in many cases in a legitimate manner; while numerous other foibles spring from its being exerted in a mistaken, or irregular, or partial mode.

When we bear in mind the extent to which every excitement, and impulse, and endowment throughout our whole constitution, is opposed to and counteracted by some other; the wonder is, not only that the entire system is able to proceed, but that it proceeds with the harmony that it does. The greatest marvel however of all is, that this harmony, and indeed perfection in the operation of the whole, is mainly, if not solely, owing to this counteraction through opposite causes, by which, analogous to the opposite and counteracting principles of attraction and gravitation, heat and cold, moisture and dryness, in the material world, already alluded to,-each of these impulses acquires its proper force, and is restrained from passing the bounds assigned as the limits of its sphere. Thus, as we have already seen, the influences of the body are at once and directly opposed to those of the soul; and those of the medial, moral, and mental endowments, to one another. Hence, the mind not only corrects and counteracts the operation of the emotions, passions, and other medial endowments, but these latter both counteract and correct the operation of each other, and are indeed the most efficient agents in doing so; and, by so doing, subject them to the regulation of the reason. And this is the system of the universe itself; the secret of its security, and the source of its stability.

Not only moreover are these different endowments thus opposed, but, as has already been shown, powers of the same nature are also equally opposed to each other; and not merely do the several intellectual faculties and capacities impel us to different pursuits and actions, but, what is more extraordinary still, the different capacities of the same faculty, even more powerfully and directly contribute to this result, as has already been illustrated during the examination of their nature and operations. By all this, however, not only is each influence restrained within its due bounds; but, as is probably also the result in the material world, by this means every latent principle is developed, and the rivalry of each contending power gives stimulus to them all." And as there is a moral as well as

Lord Bacon remarks, in reference to the need here adverted to, and with characteristic penetration, that “the mind of man is far from being of the nature of a clear and equal glass, wherein the beams of things should reflect according to their true incidence; nay it is like an enchanted glass, full of superstition and imposture, if it be not delivered and reduced.”—Advancement of Learning.

OPPOSITE RESULTS FROM IDENTICAL CAUSES.

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a material atmosphere in the universe; so are our minds as well as our material frames, liable to be affected and controlled in their operations by causes of this kind. And in each case their condition to a large extent depends on the state of the atmosphere around them."

As regards material influences, that of light as well as of air, and the particular character and condition of each of these elements, exercise extensive sway, not merely on the material system and health, but on the mental and moral condition of the individual as well, especially as regards vigour and activity, and demand here to be taken into full account. The influence of intellectual as well as physical light, must also be borne in mind.

Moreover, both in the material and the mental world, results are often produced by certain causes, which are in their nature the most opposite to what might have been expected. Thus, the darker the night, the more visible are the stars; while the intense glare of the sun, so far from enabling us to see it more clearly, is the reason of our being unable to gaze upon it at all. That which, by its light makes all other objects plain, by that same light is itself made obscure. Some men are induced to commit crime through poverty, and the urgent desire to possess more than they have; many more are induced to it through riches, having beyond what they know how properly to use. led on to do that which is wrong from the audacity which they Some men are possess, having no fear to restrain them within the due bounds of propriety and decorum. through fear, not having courage to despise the impulses which Others are urged on to this course lead them astray, boldly to resist vice, and to follow undauntedly the path of virtue and of truth.

In the direction of the course of the operations of the mental system, association is to the action of mind somewhat analogous to what attraction is to the motion of matter. Both mind and matter may be in operation without these causes acting upon them; but it seldom happens that they are not more or less biased or led by them, however apparently independent of such influence their action may be. Even lightning, rapid as is its motion, and etherial as is its essence, is swayed in its current by the attraction of some gross material substances. Thought is far more rapid than lightning; yet it is generally directed in its course by the proximity of topics which, whatever be their character, chance to be akin to those with which it has recently been in contact; and it may indeed be doubted whether any mental operation takes place without being influenced, more or less, by association.'

Vide ante, b. ii. s. 8. p. 63.

7 Nevertheless, as pointed out by Dr. Thomas Brown, "the influence of the primary laws of suggestion, is greatly modified by original constitu

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Thus also we see in the world that different and opposing principles and opinions, instead of exterminating, serve alternately to confirm and establish one another. Rival arts and sciences also, although mutually opposed to, by their very rivalry advance and improve, and essentially contribute to render one another complete. So is it among different nations, and creeds, and callings; each thwarts and counteracts, but by doing so, ultimately accelerates, though it may temporarily retard, the progress of the other. Without competition, there is no external stimulus to exertion. And where no rivalry exists, the progress towards perfection is uniformly tardy.

Every passion and emotion, even those which appear to be mere failings, have their special use, and are turned to important account, in the economy of our mental and moral system. And, as happens in the generation of the human race, one emotion may be the parent of another, which will prove in character its very opposite. Thus, out of the frail frame of despair, will spring the firm and almost irresistible form of valour by which such wondrous feats have occasionally been achieved. It was a brave despair, so generated and thus animated, that resulted in the victories of Marathon and Thermopylæ. And this is the real secret of success in many corresponding cases.

Moreover, as pain stimulates as well as pleasure, we perhaps often in reality gain as much by disappointment as by success. Experience is to be obtained from both, but far more so from the former than from the latter; and, if every article is to be valued according to the price we pay for it, such experience ought doubtless to be estimated very highly.

Nevertheless, it cannot but be admitted that the very different nature of the various intellectual faculties and capacities, and the manner in which certain of them when simultaneously exercised clash as it were with each other, constitutes the reason why the same person is able to shine in but few pursuits at once; which seems however expressly and wisely ordered to effect a due distribution of avocations and studies among mankind. One particular individual seldom attains excellence in more than one art or science; just as, in the animal world, the same creature is seldom if ever gifted at once, and in full perfection, with the powers of flying, running, and swimming;

tional differences, whether these are to be referred to the mind itself, or to variations of bodily temperament."-Lecture on the Philosophy of the Mind, Lect. xxxvii.

9 To the above passage Mr. Sopwith has appended the note which follows:

This observation appears to me to be correct both as regards the special use of all passions and emotions, and also as regards the origin of certain powers of mind from apparently opposite qualities."

CONSTITUTION OF A PERFECT CHARACTER.

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although it may perform each of these indifferently, and one of them with great dexterity. This distribution of attributes extends also to the moral, as well as to the mental constitution of man. Few are eminently endowed with a number of high moral qualities, which are in general so diversified among various people, that that in which one person excels, another is found to be deficient. So also is it with respect to disposition, and other moral characteristics.

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In the constitution of animals, as has already been pointed out, this diversity of endowments-each exerting an impulse in a different direction, and the reciprocal and counteracting influence of these concurrent agencies operating together, and resulting in the free and harmonious economy of the entire system,,-is as fully existent, and is even more clearly demonstrated, as it is probably more important and powerful, than in the case of man.

The actual existence of what might strictly be termed a perfect character,-of a mind in which all the different mental, moral, and medial powers, and qualities, and endowments, are seen to be developed in full perfection, and to their utmost extent, is consequently a combination of which, although we may conceive the possibility, it is probable that we may never experience the consummation. We can suppose that such an example might, but cannot hope that it really will, be witnessed. Such indeed is the constitution of our nature, that we must not expect to find in any individual, even the most highly gifted, more than two or three, at the utmost, of his capacities, and qualities, and endowments, largely possessed; while the others are necessarily, even from this very circumstance, thrown into the shade, and their operation and influence are more or less subdued. In certain instances indeed, as we have seen, the very fact of the extensive existence and full development, and cultivation of certain of these powers, and qualities, and endowments; is not only at variance with, but of itself serves to counteract the corresponding development and growth of the others. The most, therefore, that we can aspire to see attained, even in the greatest characters, is the contemporaneous extensive existence of a few only of the highest of the various powers, and qualities, and endowments, possessed by the soul, those being, moreover, the most suitable one with another to be co-united; to which may be superadded cultivation and acquirements the most judicious and advantageous. In the Deity alone, it may be inferred that such a union is accomplished; and to this we conclude, if we may presume to speculate on such a subject, is owing the absolute infinity of His perfection.'

9 Vide ante, b. ii. c. i. s. 10,

p. 76.

1 Vide ante, b. iii. c. i, s. 7.