PERIOD OF RELIGION. 465 



sympathy, which arose in necessity, arises a second- 

 ary sentiment, the Love of Esteem ; and hence 

 wars, which at first were waged merely in self-de- 

 fence, or to win food-grounds and females necessary 

 for the subsistence and perpetuation of the clan, are 

 now waged for superfluities, power, and the love of 

 glory ; commerce, which was founded in necessity, 

 is continued for the acquisition of ornaments and 

 luxuries ; science, which at first was a means of life, 

 provides wealth, and is pursued for fame ; music and 

 design, which were originally instincts of the hand and 

 voice, are developed into arts. It is therefore natural 

 for man to endeavour to better himself in life, that he 

 may obtain the admiration of his comrades. He de- 

 sires to increase his means or to win renown in the 

 professions and the arts. Thus man presses upon 

 man, and the whole mass rises in knowledge, in 

 power, and in wealth. But owing to the division 

 of classes resulting from war, and also from the 

 natural inequality of man, the greater part of the 

 human population could not obey their instinctive 

 aspirations ; they were condemned to remain station- 

 ary and inert. By means of caste, slavery, the 

 system of privileged classes, and monopolies, the 

 People were forbidden to raise themselves in life ; 

 they were doomed to die as they were born. But that 

 they might not be altogether without hope, they were 

 taught by their rulers that they would be rewarded 

 with honour and happiness in a future state. The 

 Egyptian fellah received the good tidings that there 

 was no caste after death ; the Christian serf was con- 

 soled with the text, that the poor would inherit the 

 kingdom of heaven. This long and gloomy period of 

 the human race may be entitled Religion. History 

 2 G 



