Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1835-02-19

Mr.. WAINwRIoHT's ELECTION SERMON
The Sermon preached before the Executive
and Legislative Department of the State Go.
vcrnment, by the Rev. Dr. Wainwright, has
been published. The Discourse, is on tho
inequalities of individual wealth the Ordi-
nance Of Providence, and essential to Civil
zation. The following extract will convey
ali idea of the sentiments which it conveys
! "But follow out the consequences resulting
from diversity III the condition Of men, and
YOU will see accumulated reasons TO assent
to and admire this ordination of Providence.
No one who has for moment thought of the
subject can doubt, that III order to the com
fort even of civilized society, very many diff
terent occupations must be performed, and
must be carried on at the same tme--lands
must be TILED houses must be built, fabrics
for clothing must be made, implements Of
various kinds must be formed, and vessels
must be constructed and navigated. 1t is
equally obvious that the division oi labor is
essential to giving full effect to these occu-
pations. In addition to these employments,
there are various other trades and professions
to be filed, and also different Offices for the
due maintenance of the laws--and without
laws no civilized community can hold togeth-
,cr. If you obige every man to be his own
mechanic, farmer, manufacturer and naviga-
tor. aud to do his share of the ma agstracy, up
OH some principle Of rotation, it is Obvious
that we can none Of us enjoy as many or as
great advantages as we do under the present
system; and it is equally obvious that all these
various occupations receiving only the divid-
ed attention Of an individual must very fast
90 backward, and the knowledge and dexter
ity, which men now possess IN their various
employments in proportion 10 the undivided
attention they give to them, must be con-
stantly and rapidly diminished take it for
granted that no man, even in very moderate
! circumstances, would choose to relinquish the
comforts and conveniences he now possesses
in his humble habltation. He would not like
to be deprived of his glazed windows which
let in the light while they exclude the wind
/ and the cold, or of the various domestic utcn-
! sils Of iron and earthen ware, in which his
/ simple meals are cooked and served up,--or
! the different fabrics of linen, silk,
! woollcn and leather, which supply himself
! and his family with clothing; nor would he
! choose to exchange his convenient tools of
! trade for the stone axe, and the flint knife OF
/ the Indian. Yet such would be the incvta-
bic result were the benign and admirable
principle Of the division of labor to be banish-
! ished from society. How then is it to be
! maintained but by holding forth to ev-
| cry man 4 stimulus to activity, ingenuity and
enterprise, in the hope of be,tcrng his condi-
+ ton Many employments essential to the
! existence Of civilized society are yet so un-
! pleasant in themselves that no one would un-
! dertake them but from the excitement Of such
! n motive. But were all men to be made cqua
and obliged by the laws Of society to contin-
ne so, there could be no such animating I'm.
pulse to the exertion of our bodily or mental
! powers. Who is SO ignorant of himself and
! of human nature as not to know that, until
! we have secured the kind assistance of hab
+, it, labor of every description is irksome, ant
that the hope of advancing ourselves, is the
i exciting principles that overcomes our natu
! raj love of ease, and sharpens all the human
faculties. Strike this out of the social state
t and we should deterlorate year by year, til
, we dropped down to the degraded level o
savages. Now this important, this essenta
!, principle cannot subsst without the distinc
ton Of rich and poor"