On this page
-
Text (2)
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Untitled Article
On the System of Malthus . 473 4 *
Untitled Article
We should feel no hesitation in pronouncing the reasoning sophistical , even though we could not discover the precise point of its fallacy . So if a man finds himself surrounded with plenty , Mr . Malthus will fail to convince him that he is in the midst of famine , even though he should seem to prove that the human race increases faster than the means of subsistence , and to shew that meu are born to be starved by all the triumphant progress
of a geometrical progression . But to return to the system itself , which is represented as casting so drearv a shadow over all earthlv hopes- It seems to me to be founded on the most fallacious principles . Its main defect is , that it sets out with regarding man as a mere animal . It takes his high instincts , his dear affections , his most mysterious emotions , as matter of calculation , to be cast up
Min the gross , and estimated by the rules of arithmetical series . It applies its mean and wretched standard to the human heart . It is built on the supposition that the love between the sexes is altogether low and sensual . It assumes that man , in the tenderest and most universal of his sympathies , is in no way distinguished from the beasts that perish . Its fundamental
JB . principles could be correct only as applied to creatures , animated solely by ferocious instinct , and destitute of reason , sentiment , imagination and hope . To such a level does the first calculation of Malthus reduce his species . It is but consistent that a < - ~ system which ultimately throws a 9 shade on the goodness of God should t begin by debasing the character of
, ; - man . The whole of this withering theory is founded on a comparison between the tendencies of the human race to multiply , and the progress of the means of subsistence . If the principles of these calculations be erroneous , all the consequences deduced from them must fail . This I shall now endeavour to establish . And first , the mutual affection
between the sexes is not subject to the reasoning applied to it by Malthus . Who shall dare assert that it has no relations but to time and sense ? It is not of the earth , earthly , it comes over the soul with a aweet and raviarh-
Untitled Article
ing calm , like a breeze from some happier world . It brings with it glorious hopes from afar , and innumerable thoughts of joy , as airy and bright and unearthly , as the fleecy clouds at sunset . It sheds its gentle influence over all the affections , as spring throws a soft green over the visible creation . It steals upon us at
that period of life when the heart is most in need of those cherishing- and ennobling joys which it never fails to supply . Too soon we find the pleasures of our early days gone , and their innocence ready to forsake us . The high and noble beatings of the youthful soul are stopped by the chilling influence of the world . The bright
visions of romantic virtue and sweet dreams of spiritual excellence , which encircled infancy like a charm , are dissolved as the knowledge of life , with its evils increases . Our perceptions of things which are unseen become dim as we grow conversant with the grosser realities of existence . j . _
_ _ , _ , We descend from the high range of imaginary good to the lower scenes where an engrossing selfishness prevails . Evil thoughts crowd upon the mind hitherto unconscious of gust , which too often leave a stain behind them , even when their immediate temptations are most successfully resisted . We are now in imminent- * - —* danger of losing that fine polish and
exquisite enamel of the soul , which is § not only beautiful in itself , but the best safeguard of the loveliest virtues * and the best and purest affections . ' * The debasing spirit of commerce , the wretched pursuit of gain , the exclusive ambition of earthly advancement , and the allurements of worldly joy , tend to deaden our feelings and to
harden our hearts . At this critical period it is that love comes to our aid with protection as potent as that of a " thousand liveried angels !'' It opposes all selfish desires by making another the sharer in our fondest hopes and giving to us an object more dear than our earthly being . It
awakens again our perceptions of all that is great and good around us , within us and above us . When its sweet light dawns on the mind , 4 < the splendour in the grass , the glory in the flower , " almost sparkle in their or iginal lustre . We catch another
Untitled Article
vol . xn . 3 p
-
-
Citation
-
Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Aug. 2, 1817, page 473, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2467/page/25/
-