OF THE ANIMATED CREATION. 259 



but in the main constrained, through primordial law, to go 

 on ever brightening and perfecting, yet never, while the pre- 

 sent dispensation of nature shall last, to be quite perfect ! 



The sex passion in like manner leads to great evils. Pro- 

 vidence has seen it necessary to make very ample provision 

 for the preservation and utmost possible extension of all 

 species. The aim seems to be to diffuse existence as widely 

 as possible, to fill up every vacant piece of space with some 

 sentient being to be a vehicle of enjoyment. Hence this 

 passion is conferred in great force. But the relation between 

 the number of beings, and the means of supporting them, is 

 only on the footing of general law. There may be occasional 

 discrepancies between the laws operating for the multiplica- 

 tion of individuals, and the laws operating to supply them 

 with the means of subsistence, and evils will be endured in 

 consequence, even in our own highly favoured species. But 

 against all these evils, and against those numberless vexations 

 which have arisen in all ages from the attachment of the 

 sexes, place the vast amount of happiness which is derived 

 from this source the basis of the whole circle of the domestic 

 affections, the sweetening principle of life, the prompter of all 

 our most generous feelings, and even of our most virtuous 

 resolves and exertions and every ill that can be traced to it 

 is but as dust in the balance. And here, also, we must be on 

 our guard against judging from what we see in the world at 

 a particular era. As reason and the higher sentiments of 

 man's nature increase in force, this passion is put under 

 better regulation, so as to lessen many of the evils connected 

 with it. The civilized man is more able to give it due con- 

 trol ; his attachments are less the result of impulse : he studies 

 more the weal of his partner and offspring. There are even 

 some of the resentful feelings connected in early society with 

 love, such as hatred of successful rivalry, and jealousy, which 

 almost disappear in an advanced state of civilization. The 

 evil springing, in our own species at least, from this passion, 

 mav therefore be an exception mainly peculiar to a particular 

 term of the world's progress, and which may be expected to 

 decrease greatly in amount. 



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