414 LESSONS FKOM NATURE. [CHAP. XIII. 



really aimed at by the great body of those so interested in 

 the cause we are discussing. 



All who have at heart the welfare of their country must 

 desire the wide diffusion of a spirit of self-control and rational 

 subordination, and the depression of the more selfish and 

 brutal instincts of our nature. 



Men are moved to action by a variety of motives, such as, 

 Motives 1, their admiration of what is virtuous ; 2, their 



which move 1 . . 



men to act. admiration for what is beautiful ; 3, their admiration 

 for what is true ; 4, their sympathy for some or all of their 

 fellow-men ; 5, the desire of their own greatest good ; 6, the 

 hope of reward; 7, the fear of punishment; and 8, the 

 gratification of their instincts and passions. 



This being so, let us see what is likely to be the effect of 

 a wide-spread belief that an absolutely perfect, omnipresent, 

 omnipotent, all-holy God will distribute to every one in a 

 future life rewards and punishments exactly proportionate to 

 every deed, word, and thought, for which in this life their 

 will is responsible, that will having the power of self-deter 

 mination : 



1. The admiration of virtue, goodness, and truth, is inten 

 sified and rationalised as of the essence of the ALL-PERFECT 

 a reasonable object for our utmost love. 



2. Sympathy for our fellows acquires a basis which else it 

 lacks, and this belief can never be the reason of that sympathy 

 resulting in an unjust action, as, under the governance of an 

 all-holy God, we cannot really benefit a friend by any evil, 

 though kindly-intentioned act. 



3. The natural desire for our own greatest good is thus 

 seen to coincide absolutely with the law of &quot;right.&quot; 



4. The hope of reward and fear of punishment are inten 

 sified and again directed to a coincidence with the same law 

 of &quot; right.&quot; 



5. The gratification of our instincts and passions, in con 

 travention of the law of right, is impeded by the influence of 

 motives, which are at once the highest and the most powerful. 



On the other hand, if we are so unhappy as to disbelieve 



