THE PREVAILING PRINCIPLE. 323 



porters, reward and punishment, got footing in the world ; but it is 

 not so easy to discover the good they have effected. Very few are 

 candid enough to acknowledge, that society acts on an erroneous 

 principle, in adopting these incentives ; yet people are practically de- 

 parting from them. Though the brave defenders of our country are 

 still subjected to the soul -blighting lash, parents and preceptors are 

 beginning to perceive that misrule produceth punishment that mo- 

 rality is best served by teaching an abhorrence of vice, instead of a 

 mere dread of its attendant penalty, and an admiration of virtue, 

 instead of a mere desire for its concomitant reward. Still the young 

 are too much pitted against each other. Emulation, the nurse of 

 every contentious feeling the seed of a whole harvest of " envy, 

 malice, and all uncharitableness," is ripening new Napoleons per- 

 petuating that insatiable hunger and thirst, which superiority only 

 can satisfy, and power only slake. We talk of a generous emulation 

 we may as well talk of an innocent vice. Emulation is excited to 

 selfishness a strong preference of ourselves to others. It may be 

 said, Is not this natural ? I do not know : at least it is not right 

 it is not expedient, as a principle of action. In the mind of an en- 

 lightened being, his object should supersede himself: if that be ad- 

 vanced, it ought to be little matter who advances it. And whatever 

 be the object, whether relating to social or scientific improvement, 

 surely it would be best attained by those whom the natural motive 

 animates, than by those stimulated by the artificial one. The first 

 would advance together, yield the way where it would serve the 

 cause, and participate the means of advancing it, which any fortu- 

 nate chance might reveal ; while the latter must lose time, energy, 

 and enjoyment, in the contentious endeavour to repress or supersede 

 rivals, and be often even encumbered with the means of success, be- 

 cause they will not share the secret, or admit of aid in its adoption. 



Man, unlike every other animal, must advance. He has advanced 

 in every art but the art of being happy : in that, it may be said, he 

 retrogrades : for, are not all the improvements of which he is so 

 proud, carried forward, at a vast expense of human suffering ? How 

 much of this may be owing to the false stimulant to his labours that 

 he has adopted! This, while he fondly believes it the engine of 

 human advancement, is, in fact, the perplexing, counteracting agent, 

 that mars the power with which his Maker has endowed him ; it con- 

 founds all his noblest efforts; and, by preventing unanimity and 

 natural energy, forbids their realizing for him happiness. 



The Christian creed professed, and the social system practised, are 

 direc fl y opposed to each other; and as long as the latter is practised, 

 the; former can only be professed. The great scheme of Christianity 

 holds forth one great prize, which may be won by all : the petty 

 scheme of social policy holds forth some paltry prizes, which, while 

 contended for by many, can be gained only by a few. In the latter 

 case, the consequence of success to one, is failure to several. Does 

 that embitter possession to the fortunate candidate? Does it not 

 rather give a zest to success ? Can this consort with the Christian 

 principle ? and is there so complete a distinction between happiness 



