156 VOLITION 



case the will is tried very severely, often, many 

 of us have felt, beyond its strength. But, by 

 persistent effort, a man of character may gradu- 

 ally reinforce the weaker of the two impulses 

 until the tendency for which he strives becomes 

 a habit. Then the battle is won : the will has 

 triumphed. The will may be assisted in this 

 struggle by the infliction of punishment by the 

 association, that is to say, of pain with the 

 successful predominance of the impulse which 

 it is desired to subdue. Punishment, or penance, 

 may be self-inflicted, and may be used by the 

 will itself as an instrument to weaken a persis- 

 tent assailant. So St. Paul by " buffeting " his 

 body and " leading it about as a slave," accus- 

 tomed unruly impulses to live in servitude. 



This is, however, a triumph which is reserved 

 for the strong. An impulse may be naturally so 

 forceful, or have been so encouraged by habit, 

 as to be irresistible : the will may choose the 

 better, but, however fortified by conscious reason, 

 cannot turn us from the worse, and our prayer 

 must be to be spared from the temptation. So a 

 drunkard or debauchee may be well aware that 

 he is ruining himself may wish in his heart that 

 he could resist his proclivities but is unable to 

 fight against them. The tempter may, however, 

 be subdued if the assistance of a rival impulse can 

 be enlisted against it. Drunkenness, which will 

 not yield to the reasoned counsels of moderation, 

 may be conquered by other impulses, if the alle- 

 giance that is given to them is complete. Fear 

 may be driven out by blood-thirstiness. Instinct 

 must be countered by instinct : but our will may 

 assist us to set up this antagonism. One who is 

 enslaved by a passion may, by an effort of 

 will, conjure into activity an impulse that is 

 derived from the aesthetic or from the ethical 



