truth. The necessity of this will appear still more evidently from another property of conscience, which it possesses in common with many other mental manifestations, viz. that if it be not encouraged, and if its notices be not received and attended to, its sensibilities become obtuse, and it ceases to perceive at all its slighter admonitions; in fact, the individual is not aware of their existence; and such is the progress of evil, that after a time they are no longer excited by the contact of vice. And if such be the natural consequence, when its admonitions are only not attended to, how much more is this the case, when they are resisted, where there is a refusal to entertain them, and an obstinate and fatal perseverance in overcoming the uneasy feelings which are the result of early disobedience. By degrees, there will occur a considerable diminution in the strength and frequency of the good impression, and that which now produces the recoil, "Is thy servant a dog, that he should do this thing," by and bye terminates in the actual commission of the crime so intensely deprecated.

What an important charge, then, is committed to parents and instructors in the development of this principle that by which we learn to see, and hear, and taste, and discern evil at its first approach; that which in its after influence accuses or justifies; punishes by blame, or recompenses by approbation; leads the broken repentant heart to the cross of the Saviour; produces dependence upon divine assistance, and saves

from the wretchedness of remorse: for conscience is a judge from whose tribunal there is no possibility of flight; there is no chance of escaping the operation of its unbending laws; its inflexible decisions are ever operative; for although forgiveness may be obtained of those whom we have injured, conscience never forgives, and can only be appeased by having all its guilty stains washed in the blood of the Lamb.

So much for the physical education of this principle; the mode of developing its sensibilities will more particularly consist in the formation of good, and in the subjugation of evil principles and dispositions, which will come before us in a subsequent part of this work.

334

CHAP. XII.

OF THE WILL-DEFINITION OF ITS POWER AND EXTENSIVE INFLUENCE-ITS AGENCY UPON THE ANIMAL FUNCTIONS-ELUCIDATED BY EXAMPLES—INFLUENCE OF THE WILL UPON THE DETERMINATIONS OF MAN— IT SHOULD be guided BY PRUDENCE AND CAUTION— INFLEXIBILITY-FEEBLENESS OF THE WILL-VACILLATION OF PURPOSE—ITS CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES THE WILL A TALENT TO BE IMPROVED ITS WANDERINGS TO BE CONTROULED BY REASON, AND BY REGULATING THE PASSIONS-BUT REASON IS INSUFFICIENT, EVEN WHEN AIDED BY THE ASSOCIATED VIRTUES AND THE WILL CAN ONLY BE THOROUGHLY GOVERNED BY CHRISTIAN MOTIVES BASED ON CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLE-IT IS INFLUENCED BY THE STATE OF THE ANIMAL FRAME, AS IN THE HYPOCHONDRIAC AND IN EXTreme old agE—BUT MORE FREQUENTLY BY A WANT OF STEADY PRINCIPLE-hence THE OBJECTS OF EDUCATION WILL BE TWO-Ffold the INFLUENCE OF THE WILL SHOULD BE ON THE SIDE OF THAT WHICH IS GOOD-BUT IT IS IN FAVOUR OF THAT WHICH IS EVIL-HOW IS THIS EXPLAINED-NOT BY REASON, BUT BY REVELATION-IT IS ONLY TO BE RESTORED BY OMNIPOTENCE-OBJECTS OF EDUCATION TO INSTRUCT THE WILL, AND ENNOBLE ITS TENDENCIES, BY INCULCATING A PRINCIPLE OF OBEDIENCE, AND ENLISTING THE PASSIONS IN ITS SERVICE-THE CHARACTER IS CONSTITUTED BY THE WILL IN ACTION -THE DIFFICULTY OF SUBMITTING THIS PRINCIPLE TO THE DIVINE GOVERNMENT, &c.

IX. Will.

THE extraordinary and extensive influence of this faculty deserves our most attentive and detailed

consideration. By the will, is intended, not merely the function of volition, which man possesses in common with the lower animals; a power which presides over some of the organic functions, (particularly of the loco-motive apparatus,) and influences others; but a deeply rooted, governing principle of action; a manifestation of mind most widely operative; capable of the most useful, but often employed to bring about the most baneful results. It is a faculty, which is, not only not coincident with the volition of animals, which is only an ephemeral act, arising from a present and fugitive impulse; but which peculiarly distinguishes man by its originating in the immaterial principle; by its being under the government of reason; and by its possessing some marked and abiding features, which though too readily moulded by circumstances, do yet retain enough of their primitive cast to be again recognized under every change of form and sentiment; yea, even under the disguise of passion and prejudice.

The influence of the will upon the animal functions is exemplified in the continued and energetic perseverance of exertion, in spite of every contravening obstacle, while there still remains a ray of hope that the object of desire and of pursuit may be accomplished. In this way, it will triumph over every difficulty; the most imminent danger will not retard the progress; the prospect of death itself will not appal; animated by hope, and supported by fortitude, the animal powers

are raised to the performance of efforts, which would appear almost incredible; and which are not to be found in the brute creation, because they want that perfect principle, which can only result from the union of the soul with the body, and from its deeply-felt and abiding influence. The power of this faculty is elucidated by its enabling the man to surmount the cravings of nature, and to rise superior to its most pressing wants, as in those miserable instances in which patients have submitted to the severest privations, with an obstinacy and firmness of purpose altogether invincible. No matter what may have been the powerful principle, which first called into exercise this important property of the will; whether this may have been a fixed determination thus to escape from the calamities of present scenes; whether it may have been the offspring of superstition prompting a wish to imitate the lengthened fasting of our Saviour; or may have resulted from maniacal hallucination; the motive for this powerful effort of the will is not material: it is only intended in this place to demonstrate the existence of the faculty, and the mode in which it serves to distinguish man from animals.

This astonishing influence is also still farther elucidated by the remarkable instance related by Dr. Cheyne, in his " English Malady," of an individual who had the power of dying when he pleased. It is well known, that there are in the human body some functions entirely under the influence of volition, and others which are only