356 THE REIGN OF LAW. 



acter, and secondly by contrivance in so com- 

 bining them as to make them operate in the di- 

 rection we desire. And it is in this search that 

 we discover the intimate blending and insepa- 

 rable connexion between mental and material 

 laws — that is, between the forces which operate on 

 the material frame and the forces which operate 

 on the Mind and Character of Man. 



And here we come on a great subject — the 

 function of Human Law as distinguished from Na- 

 tural Law. Just as the Will of the individual can 

 operate upon itself by the use of means, some of 

 which are known instinctively, whilst others are 

 found out by reason ; so can the collective Will 

 of Society operate upon the conduct of its mem- 

 bers in two ways — first, directly by authority ; 

 and secondly, indirectly by altering the condi- 

 tions out of which the most powerful motives 

 spring. This last is a principle of government, 

 which has been distinctly recognised only in 

 modern times, and which admits of applications 

 not yet foreseen. The idea of founding Human 

 Law upon the Laws of Nature, is an idea which, 

 though sometimes instinctively acted upon, was 



