CHARACTERS AND PASSIONS OF LIFE. 



469 



important science ; to let it feel its own power, and accustom it to wield 

 the sceptre intrusted tb it with dexterity and steadiness. Where this is 

 accomplished, the violent passions can never show themselves^ — they can 

 have no real existence ; for we have already produced evidence that they 

 are nothing more than the simpler affections, discordantly associated, or 

 raised to an improper pitch. Where this is accomplished, the sea of life 

 will, for the most part, be tranquil and sober, — not from indifference or the 

 want of active powers, but from their nice balance and concord ; and if, 

 in the prosecution of the voyage, the breeze should be fresh, it will be still 

 ^ friendly, and quicken our course to the desired haven. Finally, wherever 

 this is accomplished, man appears in his true dignity — he has achieved the 

 great point for which he was created, and visions of unfading glory swell 

 before him, as the forthcoming reward of his present triumph. 



LECTURE„ X. 



ON THE LEABING CHARACTERS AND PASSIONS OF SAVAGE AND CIVILIZE© 



LIFE. 



In the preceding lecture but one I stated, as may, perhaps, be remem= 

 bered by many of the audience before me, that, of the numerous and 

 complicated faculties which form the nice mechanism of the human mind, 

 sometimes one, sometimes another, and sometimes several in conjunction, 

 * appear peculiarly active and prominent, and acquire a mastery over the 

 rest ; and that such effect is, in different instances, the result of different 

 causes, as peculiarity of temperament, peculiarity of climate, or pecuHarity 

 of local or national habits and associations. Let us pursue this subject, 

 and make it a groundwork lor the present lecture. 



All violent passions are evil, or in other words, produce, or tend to pro- 

 duce, unhappiness : for evil and unhappiness are only commutable 

 terms. There is no proposition in morals that admits of clearer proof. 

 Some violent passions are evil intrinsioally ; others as extremes of those 

 that ,are good ; and all of them as refractory and hostile to the legitimate 

 control of the understanding. For happiness, as we had lately occasion 

 to prove, is a state of disciplme ; and is only to be found, in any consider- 

 able degree of purity and permanency (without which quahties it is un- 

 worthy of the name,) in a regulated and harn.onious mind ; where reason 

 is the charioteer, and reins, and guides, and moderates the mental coursers 

 in the great journey of life, with a firm and masterlv hand. 



It may, hence, be supposed, that the greatest degree of violence and 

 unhappiness to be met with any where, is among savages; since, un-^ 

 questionably, it is here that the traces of discipline are most feeble and 

 obscure. And such, in fact, is the concurrent opinion of morahsts and 

 civilians. But it is an opinion which should be given with some degree 

 of hesitation. It is true so far a? the sin>pler passions, and especially 

 those of the selfish class, are concerned, — passions which are more or 

 less common to all countries and conditions ; but civil life has passions 

 peculiar to itself, and passions, too, of peculiar force and obstinacy, that 



Grow with its 2;rowth, and strengthen with its strength, 



