The nature of Habit considered. 1G7 



This is a most important provision in the organization of the 

 human mind ; — a distinction which shows the wise and benificent 

 care of the Creator, in preserving the essential freedom which is 

 the characteristic attribute of tliat mind, and whicli draws the line 

 of demarcation between Man and Brute; while it at the same time 

 provides a modified principle in the nature of the former, equiva- 

 lent, for the purposes of utility, to the instinct of the Brute. Man 

 is led to labour for the acquisition of relative ideas, which are used 

 as instrumental mediums for the performance of actions, subse- 

 quently to be executed by him, without the conscious intervention 

 of any ideas whatever. 



This is exemplified in what have been termed habits of art, as 

 in playing on musical instruments, &c. We have the most beau- 

 tiful as well as conclusive proofs of it, in the opening energies of 

 the infant mind. The child takes the fluid in its spoon and turns 

 it upside down whilst lifting it to its mouth : by degrees, however, 

 and by means of the gradual exercise of its reflection, it discovers 

 and learns to correct the error : it exercises its unfolding intellect 

 in acquiring the requisite ideas, which it uses to perform this and 

 similar acts ; still however accomplished by an effort requiring 

 considerable caution and attention ; until it can at last teach 

 another child younger than itself to do the same ; for its reflec- 

 tion has laid hold of it and made it a subject of knowledge : but 

 as it grows up the reflection that it bestows on such acts as these is 

 gradually lessened, until they are at last performed, Avithout the 

 intervention of ideas of reflection, and as it were spontaneously j 

 so that it appears as if the reflective principle or intelligent voli- 

 tion had receded, and left some other principle of action to fulfil 

 its deserted functions. 



But surely we ought to regard this not as an annihilation, but as 

 a modification of the cause, as it afi"ects our consciousness. There is 

 such a thing as the concentration of natural power, whereby the 

 most wonderful operations are wrought instantaneously, which 

 would otherwise require a tedious and elaborate process for their 

 accomplishment ; and if there be in this respect any analogy between 

 natural and mental power, we may expect similar phaenomena to 

 be effected by the latter ; and there is an important final cause 



