76 THE CREED OF SCIENCE, RELIGIOUS AND MORAL. 



reduction in its exclusively selfish form, through the 

 growth of sympathy and benevolence; but as in the 

 former, so in this case, there are determinable limits fixed 

 by the nature of things, which can never be passed. 



Sense and self can never be set aside or annihilated. 

 But it is conceivable and possible that, though narrowed 

 in certain directions, unprofitable to society as well as to 

 the individual, they may find the means of a better life, 

 may become ennobled by entering into alliance with the 

 higher parts of our nature ; sense finding the advantage 

 of a union with the affections and the soul, and the self- 

 regarding instincts finding their best and highest life and 

 sustentation from a certain incorporation of the social, 

 or altruistic, sentiments. Sense, in short, may rise to 

 soul, and the life for others might be the best life of self. 

 This is possible, this is the true ideal, and undoubtedly 

 there is some tendency in this happy and beneficial 

 direction. The coarsely sensual and the narrowly selfish 

 life is being slowly left behind us; but the process is 

 slow, slow as all evolutionary processes, and the history 

 of mankind makes us aware of fatal lapses and retro- 

 gressions. For twice before in the history of morals and 

 religion once under Buddhism, and again under Chris- 

 tianity this very idea of love and labour for others has 

 emerged, and twice it again became submerged by a 

 strong return and reassertion of the old selfish and violent 

 impulses. Once again, and for the third time, this senti- 

 ment has appeared, and seems slowly struggling to assert 

 itself in the hearts and moral consciousness of men. 

 Shall it this time succeed and triumph, as the one surest 

 means of bringing in righteousness and securing the 

 salvation of man on the earth ? We cannot be sure ; we 

 can only hope it will advance ; but the question how far 

 men's hearts are really fitted for the reception of the 



