24 



with great force to the feelings of the human mind, and, undoubtedly, 

 there is a great deal in what he said. That is one argument in support 

 of freedom of the will. But there are others. We may say, for instance, 

 that every language proceeds on the supposition of the freedom of the will. 

 How do you explain those words in the English language which are used to 

 signify determination, choice, or judgment, without supposing freedom 

 of choice and ability to judge and determine ? And if we turn to other 

 languages we shall find that it is the same in the French, German, Greek, or 

 Hebrew, as it is with us. In fact, the whole consensus of States and 

 peoples, who have and do use language, supports the conclusion that 

 language supposes freedom of will. Again, to appeal to other facts 

 I do not wish to enter on the theological arguments founded upon 

 prayer and praying to the Supreme Being, because we are discussing 

 the more scientific aspect of the question, and it is well to lay aside 

 for a moment the theological but, when we wish to influence an 

 angry man, do we not entreat him ? When a father wishes to persuade 

 his child, does he not use the arguments of persuasion, and does he not, 

 in following such a course, presuppose freedom of will in the child 

 he seeks to persuade ? Again, in politics also, what do we mean by 

 a petition or prayer to Parliament ? Is not that a process intended to influence 

 the intelligence of the representatives of the nation ? And what is meant by 

 sending those representatives to Parliament, but that they are to exercise 

 their intelligence and their wills for the benefit of the nation ? 



Mr. Herbert Spencer has advanced somewhat beyond Mr. Hume and 

 Mr. Priestley. He has, with great plausibility, told us that there are 

 certain nerve currents, and that these are evidenced in what he calls 

 nervous energy and force. This is perfectly true : there is, doubtless, 

 such a thing as nervous energy, and such a thing as force, which are 

 exhibited in the raising of the hand, the movement of the foot, or in 

 any action of the body. In all this he has surpassed Hume and Priestley, 

 but after all he has not established anything as to this nervous energy 

 which Dr. Carpenter and other physiologists had not taught. (Hear, 

 hear.) To support his other and more dangerous tenets he has appealed in 

 terms of some eloquence to the consciousness of each individual. But 

 individuals differ and disagree. Whose consciousness shall we take ? Our 

 own is preferable to that of another man's, especially when, like Mr. Spencer, 

 he lowers us in the scale of moral beiags. But the question being as to the 

 nature of men in general, must be determined by the voice of preponderating 

 testimony. But how, it may be asked, are the suffrages to be collected ? In 

 every civilised nation the induction has been already made, the suffrages 

 taken ; the case has been tried, and the decision is on record ; the verdict has 

 been given without reference to the controversy in dispute. 



What, let me ask, is the object of Parliament in making a law ? What 

 is in the mind of the Legislature when it passes a law for the benefit of the 

 nation at large ? Does it not forbid, condemn, and impose a punishment for 



