Thelastlectureleftusinastateofexpectancy。Whatmaythepracticalfruitsforlifehavebeen，ofsuchmovinglyhappyconversionsasthoseweheardof？Withthisquestionthereallyimportantpartofourtaskopens，foryourememberthatwebeganallthisempiricalinquirynotmerelytoopenacuriouschapterinthenaturalhistoryofhumanconsciousness，butrathertoattainaspiritualjudgmentastothetotalvalueandpositivemeaningofallthereligioustroubleandhappinesswhichwehaveseen。Wemust，therefore，firstdescribethefruitsofthereligiouslife，andthenwemustjudgethem。Thisdividesourinquiryintotwodistinctparts。Letuswithoutfurtherpreambleproceedtothedescriptivetask。
Itoughttobethepleasantestportionofourbusinessintheselectures。Somesmallpiecesofit，itistrue，maybepainful，ormayshowhumannatureinapatheticlight，butitwillbemainlypleasant，becausethebestfruitsofreligiousexperiencearethebestthingsthathistoryhastoshow。Theyhavealwaysbeenesteemedso；hereifanywhereisthegenuinelystrenuouslife；andtocalltomindasuccessionofsuchexamplesasIhavelatelyhadtowanderthrough，thoughithasbeenonlyinthereadingofthem，istofeelencouragedandupliftedandwashedinbettermoralair。
Thehighestflightsofcharity，devotion，trust，patience，braverytowhichthewingsofhumannaturehavespreadthemselveshavebeenflownforreligiousideals。Icandonobetterthanquote，astothis，someremarkswhichSainte-BeuveinhisHistoryofPort-Royalmakesontheresultsofconversionorthestateofgrace。
“Evenfromthepurelyhumanpointofview。”Sainte-Beuvesays，“thephenomenonofgracemuststillappearsufficientlyextraordinary，eminent，andrare，bothinitsnatureandinitseffects，todeserveacloserstudy。Forthesoularrivestherebyatacertainfixedandinvinciblestate，astatewhichisgenuinelyheroic，andfromoutofwhichthegreatestdeedswhichiteverperformsareexecuted。Throughallthedifferentformsofcommunion，andallthediversityofthemeanswhichhelptoproducethisstate，whetheritbereachedbyajubilee，byageneralconfession，byasolitaryprayerandeffusion，whateverinshorttobetheplaceandtheoccasion，itiseasytorecognizethatitisfundamentallyonestateinspiritandfruits。Penetratealittlebeneaththediversityofcircumstances，anditbecomesevidentthatinChristiansofdifferentepochsitisalwaysoneandthesamemodificationbywhichtheyareaffected：thereisveritablyasinglefundamentalandidenticalspiritofpietyandcharity，commontothosewhohavereceivedgrace；aninnerstatewhichbeforeallthingsisoneofloveandhumility，ofinfiniteconfidenceinGod，andofseverityforone’sself，accompaniedwithtendernessforothers。
Thefruitspeculiartothisconditionofthesoulhavethesamesavorinall，underdistantsunsandindifferentsurroundings，inSaintTeresaofAvilajustasinanyMoravianbrotherofHerrnhut。”[143]
[143]Sainte-Beuve：Port-Royal，vol。i。pp。95and106，abridged。
Sainte-Beuvehashereonlythemoreeminentinstancesofregenerationinmind，andtheseareofcoursetheinstructiveonesforusalsotoconsider。Thesedevoteeshaveoftenlaidtheircoursesodifferentlyfromothermenthat，judgingthembyworldlylaw，wemightbetemptedtocallthemmonstrousaberrationsfromthepathofnature。Ibeginthereforebyaskingageneralpsychologicalquestionastowhattheinnerconditionsarewhichmaymakeonehumancharacterdiffersoextremelyfromanother。
Ireplyatoncethatwherethecharacter，assomethingdistinguishedfromtheintellect，isconcerned，thecausesofhumandiversityliechieflyinourdifferingsusceptibilitiesofemotionalexcitement，andinthedifferentimpulsesandinhibitionswhichthesebringintheirtrain。Letmemakethismoreclear。
Speakinggenerally，ourmoralandpracticalattitude，atanygiventime，isalwaysaresultantoftwosetsofforceswithinus，impulsespushingusonewayandobstructionsandinhibitionsholdingusback。“Yes！yes！”saytheimpulses；“No！no！”saytheinhibitions。Fewpeoplewhohavenotexpresslyreflectedonthematterrealizehowconstantlythisfactorofinhibitionisuponus，howitcontainsandmouldsusbyitsrestrictivepressurealmostasifwewerefluidspentwithinthecavityofajar。Theinfluenceissoincessantthatitbecomessubconscious。Allofyou，forexample，sitherewithacertainconstraintatthismoment，andentirelywithoutexpressconsciousnessofthefact，becauseoftheinfluenceoftheoccasion。Ifleftaloneintheroom，eachofyouwouldprobablyinvoluntarilyrearrangehimself，andmakehisattitudemore“freeandeasy。”Butproprietiesandtheirinhibitionssnaplikecobwebsifanygreatemotionalexcitementsupervenes。Ihaveseenadandyappearinthestreetwithhisfacecoveredwithshaving-latherbecauseahouseacrossthewaywasonfire；andawomanwillrunamongstrangersinhernightgownifitbeaquestionofsavingherbaby’slifeorherown。Takeaself-indulgentwoman’slifeingeneral。Shewillyieldtoeveryinhibitionsetbyherdisagreeablesensations，lielateinbed，liveuponteaorbromides，keepindoorsfromthecold。Everydifficultyfindsherobedienttoits“no。”Butmakeamotherofher，andwhathaveyou？Possessedbymaternalexcitement，shenowconfrontswakefulness，weariness，andtoilwithoutaninstantofhesitationorawordofcomplaint。Theinhibitivepowerofpainoverherisextinguishedwhereverthebaby’sinterestsareatstake。Theinconvenienceswhichthiscreatureoccasionshavebecome，asJamesHintonsays，theglowingheartofagreatjoy，andindeedarenowtheveryconditionswherebythejoybecomesmostdeep。
Thisisanexampleofwhatyouhavealreadyheardofasthe“expulsivepowerofahigheraffection。”Butbetheaffectionhighorlow，itmakesnodifference，solongastheexcitementitbringsbestrongenough。InoneofHenryDrummond’sdiscourseshetellsofaninundationinIndiawhereaneminencewithabungalowuponitremainedunsubmerged，andbecametherefugeofanumberofwildanimalsandreptilesinadditiontothehumanbeingswhowerethere。AtacertainmomentaroyalBengaltigerappearedswimmingtowardsit，reachedit，andlaypantinglikeadoguponthegroundinthemidstofthepeople，stillpossessedbysuchanagonyofterrorthatoneoftheEnglishmencouldcalmlystepupwitharifleandblowoutitsbrains。Thetiger’shabitualferocitywastemporarilyquelledbytheemotionoffear，whichbecamesovereign，andformedanewcentreforhischaracter。
Sometimesnoemotionalstateissovereign，butmanycontraryonesaremixedtogether。Inthatcaseonehearsboth“yeses“and“noes。”andthe“will“iscalledonthentosolvetheconflict。
Takeasoldier，forexample，withhisdreadofcowardiceimpellinghimtoadvance，hisfearsimpellinghimtorun，andhispropensitiestoimitationpushinghimtowardsvariouscoursesifhiscomradesoffervariousexamples。Hispersonbecomestheseatofamassofinterferences；andhemayforatimesimplywaver，becausenooneemotionprevails。Thereisapitchofintensity，though，which，ifanyemotionreachit，enthronesthatoneasaloneeffectiveandsweepsitsantagonistsandalltheirinhibitionsaway。Thefuryofhiscomrades’charge，onceenteredon，willgivethispitchofcouragetothesoldier；thepanicoftheirroutwillgivethispitchoffear。Inthesesovereignexcitements，thingsordinarilyimpossiblegrownaturalbecausetheinhibitionsareannulled。Their“no！no！”notonlyisnotheard，itdoesnotexist。Obstaclesarethenliketissue-paperhoopstothecircusrider——noimpediment；thefloodishigherthanthedamtheymake。
“Lasssiebettelngehnwennsiehungrigsind！”criesthegrenadier，franticoverhisEmperor’scapture，whenhiswifeandbabesaresuggested；andmenpentintoaburningtheatrehavebeenknowntocuttheirwaythroughthecrowdwithknives。[144]
[144]“’Lovewouldnotbelove，’saysBourget，’unlessitcouldcarryonetocrime。’Andsoonemaysaythatnopassionwouldbeaveritablepassionunlessitcouldcarryonetocrime。”
Sighele：Psychollogiedessectes，p。136。Inotherwords，greatpassionsannultheordinaryinhibitionssetby“conscience。”Andconversely，ofallthecriminalhumanbeings，thefalse，cowardly，sensual，orcruelpersonswhoactuallylive，thereisperhapsnotonewhosecriminalimpulsemaynotbeatsomemomentoverpoweredbythepresenceofsomeotheremotiontowhichhischaracterisalsopotentiallyliable，providedthatotheremotionbeonlymadeintenseenough。Fearisusuallythemostavailableemotionforthisresultinthisparticularclassofpersons。Itstandsforconscience，andmayherebeclassedappropriatelyasa“higheraffection。”Ifwearesoontodie，orifwebelieveadayofjudgmenttobenearathand，howquicklydoweputourmoralhouseinorder——wedonotseehowsincanevermoreexerttemptationoverus！Old-fashionedhell-fireChristianitywellknewhowtoextractfromfearitsfullequivalentinthewayoffruitsforrepentance，anditsfullconversionvalue。
Onemodeofemotionalexcitabilityisexceedinglyimportantinthecompositionoftheenergeticcharacter，fromitspeculiarlydestructivepoweroverinhibitions。Imeanwhatinitslowerformismereirascibility，susceptibilitytowrath，thefightingtemper；andwhatinsubtlerwaysmanifestsitselfasimpatience，grimness，earnestness，severityofcharacter。Earnestnessmeanswillingnesstolivewithenergy，thoughenergybringpain。Thepainmaybepaintootherpeopleorpaintoone’sself——itmakeslittledifference；forwhenthestrenuousmoodisonone，theaimistobreaksomething，nomatterwhoseorwhat。Nothingannihilatesaninhibitionasirresistiblyasangerdoesit；for，asMoltkesaysofwar，destructionpureandsimpleisitsessence。Thisiswhatmakesitsoinvaluableanallyofeveryotherpassion。Thesweetestdelightsaretrampledonwithaferociouspleasurethemomenttheyofferthemselvesascheckstoacausebywhichourhigherindignationsareelicited。Itcoststhennothingtodropfriendships，torenouncelong-rootedprivilegesandpossessions，tobreakwithsocialties。Ratherdowetakeasternjoyintheastringencyanddesolation；andwhatiscalledweaknessofcharacterseemsinmostcasestoconsistintheinaptitudeforthesesacrificialmoods，ofwhichone’sowninferiorselfanditspetsoftnessesmustoftenbethetargetsandthevictims。[145]
[145]Example：BenjaminConstantwasoftenmarveledatasanextraordinaryinstanceofsuperiorintelligencewithinferiorcharacter。HewritesJournal，Paris，1895，p。56，“Iamtossedanddraggedaboutbymymiserableweakness。Neverwasanythingsoridiculousasmyindecision。Nowmarriage，nowsolitude；nowGermany，nowFrancehesitationuponhesitation，andallbecauseatbottomIamUNABLETOGIVEUPANYTHING。”Hecan’t“getmad“
atanyofhisalternatives；andthecareerofamanbesetbysuchanall-roundamiabilityishopeless。
SofarIhavespokenoftemporaryalterationsproducedbyshiftingexcitementsinthesameperson。Buttherelativelyfixeddifferencesofcharacterofdifferentpersonsareexplainedinapreciselysimilarway。Inamanwithaliabilitytoaspecialsortofemotion，wholerangesofinhibitionhabituallyvanish，whichinothermenremaineffective，andothersortsofinhibitiontaketheirplace。Whenapersonhasaninborngeniusforcertainemotions，hislifediffersstrangelyfromthatofordinarypeople，fornoneoftheirusualdeterrentscheckhim。
Yourmereaspiranttoatypeofcharacter，onthecontrary，onlyshows，whenyournaturallover，fighter，orreformer，withwhomthepassionisagiftofnature，comesalong，thehopelessinferiorityofvoluntarytoinstinctiveaction。Hehasdeliberatelytoovercomehisinhibitions；thegeniuswiththeinbornpassionseemsnottofeelthematall；heisfreeofallthatinnerfrictionandnervouswaste。ToaFox，aGaribaldi，aGeneralBooth，aJohnBrown，aLouiseMichel，aBradlaugh，theobstaclesomnipotentoverthosearoundthemareasifnon-existent。Shouldtherestofussodisregardthem，theremightbemanysuchheroes，formanyhavethewishtoliveforsimilarideals，andonlytheadequatedegreeofinhibition-quenchingfuryislacking。[146]
[146]ThegreatthingwhichthehigherexcitabilitiesgiveisCOURAGE；andtheadditionorsubtractionofacertainamountofthisqualitymakesadifferentman，adifferentlife。Variousexcitementsletthecourageloose。Trustfulhopewilldoit；
inspiringexamplewilldoit；lovewilldoit，wrathwilldoit。
Insomepeopleitisnativelysohighthatthemeretouchofdangerdoesit，thoughdangerisformostmenthegreatinhibitorofaction。“Loveofadventure“becomesinsuchpersonsarulingpassion。“Ibelieve。”saysGeneralSkobeleff，“thatmybraveryissimplythepassionandatthesametimethecontemptofdanger。Theriskoflifefillsmewithanexaggeratedrapture。
Thefewertherearetoshareit，themoreIlikeit。Theparticipationofmybodyintheeventisrequiredtofurnishmeanadequateexcitement。Everythingintellectualappearstometobereflex；butameetingofmantoman，aduel，adangerintowhichIcanthrowmyselfheadforemost，attractsme，movesme，intoxicatesme。Iamcrazyforit，Iloveit，Iadoreit。Irunafterdangerasonerunsafterwomen；Iwishitnevertostop。
Wereitalwaysthesame，itwouldalwaysbringmeanewpleasure。
WhenIthrowmyselfintoanadventureinwhichIhopetofindit，myheartpalpitateswiththeuncertainty；Icouldwishatoncetohaveitappearandyettodelay。Asortofpainfulanddeliciousshivershakesme；myentirenaturerunstomeettheperilwithanimpetusthatmywillwouldinvaintrytoresist。JulietteAdam：