BOOK II PART II
ture in sympathizing with any person, the ex-
tending of our sympathy depends in a great
measure upon our sense of his present condi-
tion. It is a great effort of imagination, to form
such lively ideas even of the present sentiments
of others as to feel these very sentiments; but it
is impossible we coued extend this sympathy
to the future, without being aided by some cir-
cumstance in the present, which strikes upon
us in a lively manner. When the present misery
of another has any strong influence upon me,
the vivacity of the conception is not confined
merely to its immediate object, but diffuses its
influence over all the related ideas, and gives
me a lively notion of all the circumstances of
that person, whether past, present, or future;
possible, probable or certain. By means of this
lively notion I am interested in them; take part
with them; and feel a sympathetic motion in