IN THE REALM OF MIND. 339 



we should be able to know what that conduct will 

 be. That is to say, if we knew all the motives 

 which are brought by external things to bear 

 upon his mind, and if we knew all the other mo- 

 tives which that mind evolves out of its own powers, 

 and out of previously acquired materials, to bear 

 upon itself ; and if we knew the constitution of 

 that mind so perfectly as to estimate exactly the 

 weight it will allow to all the different motives 

 operating upon it, — then we should be able to pre- 

 dict with certainty the resulting course of conduct. 

 This is true, not only as an abstract concep- 

 tion, but as a matter of experience in the little 

 way towards perfect knowledge along which we 

 can ever travel. We can predict conduct with 

 almost perfect certainty when we know character 

 with an equal measure of assurance, and when we 

 know the influences to which that character will 

 be exposed. In proportion as we are sure of 

 character, in the same proportion we are sure of 

 conduct. There is no certainty in the world of 

 Physics more absolute than some certainties in 

 the world of Mind. We know that a humane 

 man will not do a uselesslv cruel action. We 



