A philosophical treatise on the passions ... / [T. Cogan].

  • Thomas Cogan
Date:
1800
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A philosophical treatise on the passions ... / [T. Cogan]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    dreams perpetually flowing from one inexhaudible fource, but as interruptions to an ufual or defirablc date, by adventitious caufes. Happinefs appears to be our birth-right, of which all the painful fenfations raifed by hatred, are the profeffed guardians. The wifli for happinefs is perpetual and unlimited, while our evil affections expire with the caufes which gave them exidence. Nor can malevolence extend it- felf to every individual in the creation, in a manner dmilar to the contrary virtue. That happy cultiva. tion of our natures which infpires a benevolence to- wards all animated beings, cannot pofdbly have a per- fect contrad or complete parallel in the mod uncul- tivated and brutalized. This would conditute a fe- rocity of character which can fcarcely be found in the mod infane. When tyrants cruel and ferocious are diffufing mifery in the wantonnefs of their pow- er, their conduct does not proceed from univerfal hatred : but from fome low policy of felf-defence ; from an infernal fpirit of revenge for fuppofed inju- ries ; from inordinate felf-love, which creates an infenfibility to human woes; from pride, vanity and exceflive ignorance, which induce them to ima- gine that they fhall be revered as deities, becaufe they imitate the dedructive thunder of heaven ; and to dream that their favourite idol Power, can only be made known and edablifhed by deeds which ex- cite condernation and horror! Indeed
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