t)f the Will over Senfatioti, 477 



of foul, which indicated, which demonftrated, 

 the fentiment we are now endeavouring to fup- 

 port! We deny not the peculiar aid and prefence 

 of heaven, in thofe monncnts. But we alfo 

 maintain, that the fpirit of true religion, at 

 all times a rational, a calm, a maniy fpirit, 

 tends of itfelf to diminifti the influence of fenfe, 

 and confequently to fheath the pungency of 

 fenfation. 



Mental ftrength, like that of the body, de- 

 pends in no fmali degree, upon habit. He who 

 has never been accuftomed to exert the authori- 

 tative dominion of his will over his fenfes, will 

 be puny and tender. The calls of appetite will 

 be, to him, imperious and irrefiftible. WhiKt 

 the man, who has been ufed to deny thefe calls, 

 will, with comparative eafe, endure the abfence 

 of fenfitive good, and the prefence of fenfitive 

 fuffering. Hence, the fuperior fortitude with 

 which many of the weaker fex, whofe frames 

 feem to be naturally more irritable to pain, 

 endure the molt dreadful operations. And 

 hence too, that fuperior patience, which man- 

 kind often acquire from the long endurance of 

 afRi(5lion. 



But, whatever judgment we may form upon 

 this queftion, as to the dire^ and immediate 

 power of the will over the perceptions of fenfc, 

 — its indirect and mediate influences cannot be 

 difputed. Whenever we can divert the thoughts 



to 



