270 PURPOSE AND GENERAL CONDITION 



constituted on the principle of only being able to realize 

 happiness for ourselves when our fellow-creatures are also 

 happy ; it is therefore necessary that we both do to others 

 only as we would have others to do to us, and endeavour 

 to promote their happiness as well as our own. There is 

 even a higher law, which has long been announced, but 

 never acted on to any considerable extent, that our greatest 

 happiness is not to be realized by each having a regard for 

 himself, but by each seeking primarily to benefit his fellow- 

 creatures. When man comes to have confidence in his own 

 nature, he will begin to act on this principle, and the result 

 will be a degree of happiness such as we only see at present 

 faintly shadowed forth in the purest and sweetest charities of 

 life a happiness from which there will be no class excep- 

 tions. 



The question whether the human race will ever advance far 

 beyond its present position in intellect and morals, is one 

 which has engaged much attention. Judging from the past, 

 we cannot reasonably doubt that great advances are yet to be 

 made ; but if the principle of development be admitted, these 

 are certain, whatever may be the space of time required for 

 their realization. A progression resembling development 

 may be traced in human nature, both in the individual and in 

 large groups of men. The individual is in childhood under 

 the influence of the propensities and instinctive aptitudes ; in 

 youth, he is swayed by marvellousness, the love of the beau- 

 tiful, the imaginative ; in full maturity, he passes under 

 (comparatively) the domination of reason. In perfect ana- 

 logy, a nation is at first impulsive and unreasoning ; afterwards 

 it is conducted by the second class of sentiments, (the age of 

 mythologies, hierocracies, man and idea worships;) finally, 

 its institutions approximate to an accurate regard for 

 what is convenient and profitable, under the control of justice 

 and humanity. The advance of knowledge favours the 

 progress of the moral conditions, and in improved moral 

 conditions knowledge becomes more sound. In tolerably 

 favourable circumstances, this tendency onward never fails to 

 make itself visible ; and it is evident that, though many 



