262 Instinct, 



upon other powers. If it is instinct that preserves 

 an animal, it is also true that it is through his in- 

 stincts that we most easily destroy him. Deceive 

 his senses, and he will destroy himself, by his own 

 instinctive act. That which was made to preserve 

 him, becomes the surest means of his destruction. 



So the worst acts the world has ever witnessed, 

 have been performed under the stimulus of Obliga- 

 tion, arising from mistaken views of relations. The 

 persecutions, the burnings and stonings, — the mar- 

 tyrdoms in all ages, — are the horrid work of this 

 highest instinct, guided by ignorance. It is hke the 

 power that drives the engine safely on its way, when 

 the road is in perfect order, but which brings ruin 

 and death, when the rails are broken or misplaced. 

 Obligation demands results in accordance with 

 the great end of man's being, which it constantly en- 

 forces, and ever keeps potentially present as the 

 basis of every act ; as the love of life is present as 

 the basis of every lower instinctive act. But it has, of 

 itself, no power to comprehend the relations which 

 will secure the best results. For this light, or con- 

 dition of right action, it must depend upon the com- 

 prehending power, whether that be INTELLECT, 

 REASON or MORAL REASON, or all of these combined, 

 But this action of Obligation alone would plain- 

 ly be defective as an aid in reaching the great end 

 which it commands us to seek. It can go with safe- 

 ty, only as the comprehending power furnishes the 

 conditions, and this furnishes the conditions by in- 

 vestigating all agencies, and the tendencies of all 

 courses of action ; that is, the great work of the 



