Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-03-13

laws passed by the senate OF heaven, having
run their circuit, dissolved and returned to
their respective fountains, the dove enters the
Ark with the stick, and man reduced 10 one
small family, commences aneto the career lite
But 10 what extent the Improvements of the
Antedeluvians were furnished by those who sur
vived the memorable administration of Divine
Rule; or to what degree those could have been
useful under the change which the raging wa
tiers had wrought, is problem for the solution
of which, we have no certain data. Nor is it
certain as to what particular period the Pos,de'
luvians from their numbers and conditions, re-
quired more art, more science, more discovery
and invention than they might have inherited
from Noah, who was master of the ARK IN which
the means Of continuing the chain OF human ex-
istence, were divinely and safely deposited. In
the language of metaphor, however, 1t was
midnight. Atthis dark and sombre epoch, when
the elements of art lay concealed in nature
when the powers and faculties of man, were a
gain hidden from himself, something in the
complicated machinery ofhuman confederation,
addressed human beings and called them to in
vention Men were thus urged from necessity,
to the creation of means calculated to protect
them from external invasion, and 10 afford them
internal support Intent on this, different plans
were devised by different individuals; and these
in their turn adopted or rejected according to
their fitness for meeting the exigencies of an in
FAINT community. But from the limited powers
of man in his incipient state of domestic con-
vention, it is but rational to infer that many in
ventors outlived their inventions, and enjoyed
the greater advantages ofsuperior plans. Thus
to the exit of favorte offspring, amid accla-
nations Of general Joy at the celebration OF ma
tural improvement. But in times OF innovation
every caution should be enlivened with fear,
and attempered with reason. The enraged ge-
MUS of one individual has sometimes drawn
whole nations from the bosoms OF their laws,
and from the inmost recesses of their salutary
habits. Church an6 state have commingled
their powers, and the rights Of the people have
been steamed away in a crucible OF anarchy and
oppression. Christianity, with political dag
ger concealed under the sable Vestments of her
priesthood, has too often sharped it TO The work
of death upon the shivered fragments OF herFA-
THEIRS law. We might descend to particulars:
but this would be 10 travel with dyed garments
in scenes of carnage: it would be to rctrace
path hovcn up with the graves ofpoitical sys-
TENS, made dreary by the tombs OF the good CT
tizen, and the enraged Partizan, the political
and the gospel preacher Long and
dreary was the night during which men were
governed by error, ambition, human awe and su-
perstition. But the morning came: it was ush
cred in by revolution in Christian principles
A man appeared in opposition to established
forms; and while he brought upon himself the
temporary vengeance Of the world, he opened
their eyes so that they saw the everlasting light
which shone in darkness-The helmet OF Pluto
was wrested from his hands by the valiant Luz
Their. who, by the sword of the gospel, gave
system OF TeliSiouS i'"
CHRIST, and training the soldier OF the Cross,
for the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.
Nor have attempts to improve the arts and
sciences escaped the consequences common to
,irulence, prejudice and ambition. The race
Of genius has generally been converted into
1etes,able war, and the ground oiimprovement
turned into a field Of battle; and while the bones
IF the slain have remained bleaching as me-
mento to the Jolly and cruelty Of man, prisons
nave been erected, and the crime OF improve
nent punished by long and dismal ncarcera-
ion. And in the absence Of savoge confinement,
invaluable Improvements have been held up as
,rines, by subjecting their authors to TORTURE,
upon the rack of the public press. Nor have
thousand minor powers been wanting to aid in
he chaslisement Of the most useful men, as
we'll as in the misrepresentation Of the most sa-
utary measures He whose reflections have ne
,er been sufficien, to uadeeeire his o,cn mind,
mas not unfrequently prafed TO the temporary de-
riment Of real improvement. The literary FoP,
md the scientific coXcoMB, have striven with
he credulous and ignorant; and these, for