51 



selves this supreme pleasure, except when 

 prevented by selfish considerations. 



Now, Gall and Spurzheim have repre- 

 sented the office of the superior intellectual 

 faculties and sentiments as afFordino; mo- 

 tives and possessing powers tliat can, and 

 ought, to control and educate the inferior 

 propensities. But there have been, and 

 are some who seem to wish it believed that 

 human actions are under the control of thesev 

 inferior propensities ; allowing, indeed, that 

 the fear of great personal evil may deter us 

 from compliance with their urgent solicita- 

 tions. They also represent the absence of 

 guilt but as the result of the want of tempta-^ 

 tion. Yet, if we inquire why such degrad- 

 ing and disgusting views of human nature 

 are presented to us ? Why opinions are 

 inculcated which tend to weaken virtuous 

 efforts by declaring their inefficacy ? We 

 find that the authors of them, from a re- 



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