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102 On the Agency of Feelimfs in the Fanmtion of Habits .
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I . On the Agency of Feelings in the Formation of Habits . Those who have been accustomed to observe with attention the processes of their own minds during the passage from childhood to youth , and from
youth to mature age , will be readily disposed to sympathize with the complaints of the ingenuous minds which perceive with wonder and dismay that as their intellects become enlightened , their feelings grow cold , and that added years take from the depth and strength of their sensibility . The experience of this change" feelin g is one of the severest trials to which the mind is exposed in the progress of life , and there are probably few who are
wholly exempt from it . Happily , it is only temporary , easily explained , and ( like most otf > er processes of our moral being ) satisfactorily justified . It may be useful to point out the purposes for which our feelings are bestowed , and the reasons why they are more vivid in childhood than in an after period , and by what means they are renovated and purified in the progress to old age .
When the age of enthusiasm and romance is passing away , when the realities of life press on our attention , we perceive , by degrees , that our sensfbififies are less easily acted upon , by circumstances , and that impressions from external objects are less deep and permanent than formerly ; and are apt to imagine , with a kind of horror of ourselves , that the sources of feeling are dried up , that the world is gaining an undue dominion over us , that the
forms and hues of the spiritual creation are gradually fading away , and that they will soon disappear for ever from our mental eye . We turn from the booka which used to aflbrd a full measure of excitement , lamenting that we can no longer find *• thoughts that breathe , and words that burn : " the breezes of spring , though soft and sweet , no longer fill us with the intoxicating delight which formerly allied us with the carolling birds and sporting
lambs : we no longer spring trom our light slumbers , at an untimely hour , to welcome the rising sun , and worship him as a God . The tale of distress which formerly would engross every faculty , causing tears to flow from our
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I recollect tliat Mr . Sandercock ,, who lives in Yorkshire , was , for a while , his assistant in the school . And by last Saturday ' s post I wrote to him , acouaantiBg him with your design , and entreating an answer . He is a very slow correspondent . Btrt if I get any intelligence from him , or any other , it shall be soon communicated to you . I > f . Ward ' s papers were left with Mr . Ward , bookseller , in Cornbjll , who is dead •« and must now be in the hands of Mr . Johnson , bookseller , in Legate Street , with whom I have no acquaintance . But he might be applied to . I am obliged to you for your good will to the ancient testimonies . * And am , Rer . Sir , with true esteem , Your most humble and obedient servant , N . Lardner . To Rev . Dr . Birch .
* First published in 1764 .
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ON THE AGENCY OF FEELINGS IN THE FORMATION OF HABITS ; AND ON THE AGENCY OF HABITS IN THE REGENERATION OF FEELINGS .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Feb. 2, 1829, page 102, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2569/page/30/
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