y means, of accomplishing the earthly
aim of mankind? That I cannot refer them to any other object but this,
that I can have no other intent with them, is unquestionable. But is
this, my intent, fulfilled in every case? Is nothing more needed but
to will the best, in order that it may be accomplished? Alas! most of
our good purposes are, for this world, entirely lost, and some of
them seem even to have an entirely opposite effect to that which was
proposed. On the other hand, the most despicable passions of men,
their vices and their misdeeds, seem often to bring about the good
more surely than the labors of the just man, who never consents to do
evil that good may come. It would seem that the highest good of the
world grows and thrives quite independently of all human virtues or
vices, according to laws of its own, by some invisible and unknown
power, just as the heavenly bodies run through their appointed course,
independently of all human effort; and that this power absorbs into
its own higher plan all human designs, whether good or ill, and,
by its superior strength, appropriates what was intended for other
purposes to its own ends.

If, therefore, the attainment of that earthly goal could be the design
of our existence, and if no further question concerning it remained
to Reason, that aim, at least, would not be ours, but the aim of that
unknown Power. We know not at any moment what may promote it. Nothing
would be left us but to supply to that Power, by our actions, so much
material, no matter what, to work up in its own way, for its own ends.
Our highest wisdom would be, not to trouble ourselves about things
in which we have no concern, but to live, in each case, as the fancy
takes us, and quietly leave the consequences to that Power. The moral
law within us would be idle and superfluous, and wholly unsuited to a
being that had no higher capacity and no higher destination. In order
to be at one with ourselves, we should refuse obedience to the voice
of that law and suppress it as a perverse and mad enthusiasm.

* * * * *

If the whole design of our existence were to bring about a purely
earthly condition of our race, all that would be required would be
some infallible mechanism to direct our action; and we need be nothing
more than wheels well fitted to the whole machine. Freedom would then
not only be useless, but even contrary to the purpose of existence;
and good-will would be