Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1843-10-04
For the TeIegraph.
= MAN WHOLLY THE CREATURE OF
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS


10 which the following is. in part, reply
Il has always been common for men 10
say Of eny nsso doctrine that its tendency
is 10 immortality and vice Of every kind
before determining, and very frequently
even before asking. is il true. or In har-
moDy with nature. Whereas the first Ia
quiry ought 10 be, is it reasonable, is i
consistent, does it harmonic with what is
demonstrated and known to be truth.
When people are prepared to answer these
questions, they will be prepared 10 say
what the tendency and legitimate effect Of
any doctrine will be. Till they possess this
qualification they ought 10 suspend judge
men,. Ifany theory is proved to be false,
the effects Of its practical application will
be only evil; ifrue. only beneficial. It
is acknowledged by all that truth on any
subject is better than error, although the
error may have been cherished as truth
long and fondly.
The effects Of practical application of
true principles promise to be so diferen;
from those of erroneous ones, that few
seem TO have full confidence in such trial.
It's feared every thing will De subserted
and brought into disorder by it, But as
many principles as are true will be strength
ened by The addition of another principle
in harmony with them. Any doctrine
that harmonizes with truth must of neces-
sity be true, and will be productive of virtue
and happiness. II one theory is found
toagree perfectly with another theory both
must be true, or both must be false. But
it is cot certain that one oflwo doctrines
is true because there is clashing between
them. Error may clash or harmonic
with error, but truth always harmonizes
with truth. and always clashes with error.
Shutting ourselves away from light and
investigation can never make Us wiser or
better. Ian far from supposing have
arrived at all the truth upon this subject.
Ihope further thought and inquiry will
BE- elected by any thing ! shall say upon
it.
The word circumstance, think may
with proprieIy be used as nearly syuony-
nous with cause. We ask what were
the circumstances that led 10 such and such
courses OF conduct, or what caused or in
doced person to actthus and so. shall
use the words cause and circumstance in
terchangeably.
The doctrine is, that man is the creature
Of circumstances. Tha. be is so to very
great extent all admit. Some think TO
make him wholly so. would make him a
being OF chance. But I think it is not
those who hold 10 this doctrine that justly
can be charged with making man crea-
ture Of chance; for they believe there is
no action or effect produced without an ad-
eouate cause. To make man creature
of chance, il must be shown that he acts
without motive or inducement, or, all
things being equal, that he acts differently
at different times under the influence o.
the same motives. If our actions proceed
from chance, SO must all other effects. /
person at one time could plunge himse
into the fercest fame and not be burned
and at another time under like circum
stances be destroyed by the fire, with pro
priety enough we should call it chance
work. So if persons conduct, at on
time, in certain conditions and surround
ed by peculiar circumstances, is commend
able, and al another time under precisely
the same circumstances. grossly immora
and vicious, i. would be chance, not th'
effect Of cause
If we did not see that every thing is III
result Of adequate causes, and that tn
sane causes always produce the same el
fecis, other things being equal. we shoul
know nothing upon what to depend. W
should as soon do one thing as another
accomplish any given object. and be q
likely TO fsil as 70 succeed aIter using eve
ry means We might as soon warm on
selves at cake Of leo as by CLOWN
FIRE. We should as soon think Of slakiD
our thirst with melted iron as with co
water! Things similar in kind wou
happen in every department OF nature al
art.