Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1843-07-26
From the N, Y. Beacon.
Man, a Supers:iaions animal.

Man, a Supers1iGious animal.
five Wond know man in all his subtle
~, we must deviate into the region of mir
acIes ard sorcery. The things that are
not, and cannot be, but have been imagn-
ed, and thereupon believed, compose the
burden GA large part OF the records of the
human mind. To observe the progress Of
these deusions, and their reflex influence !
The crimes and cruelties they have caused !
as to commit is one of the most instructive {
stutIes in which we can be engaged. L. |
IS here that man is most Astonishing, and
that we contemplate with most admiration |
the discursive range Of his faculties, !
But If recollection OF The example ofthe (
.credu!ousress otthe human mind may IN
oae view supply nourlshment TO our pT'de,
it sliI more obvious y teaches US sobrlety
and humility. Nun in his Legitimate
+sphere is under the guidance of reason !
ii is by this that he arrives at conclusions,
exercises prudence. aud subsidies to his
use the powers around him. Yet attimes
what more irrational than man! NOlcon
tent with making use OF the powers and
advantage which nature has bestowed up
! on him, he busies himself with his
taneie5, undertakes to portray lndepend
Ienty Of matter power whose existence
| is only m anile6t.d iE cOnueXlon with ma
ter. aud in the wIidness Of his dream cOh-
lures up, and then worShips with trem-
bling, demoniacal influences, which have
mo manifestation in nature at all; peopIme
space with gods Of every shape and stZH,
Wnh angels to take charge coOcernlng
! him, lest at any time he dash his foot
against stone" and with devils like lions,
prrpetualiy gong about 10 pelp!ex hIm
and 10 do han injury. Having familiar
+ lZed his mind with the conception Of these
beings, he aspIres to hold communion
with them. He conceives ofthe Deity as
walking in the garden with him in the
cooi OF the cay" and admonIshes himself
not TO forget to entertain strangers, Tor
that some in so doing have enlelt tanned an
gels unawares." He passes at once to
the Idea of 10y the aid otsone supra mate
rial aijy) breaking Ia upon the uniformity
fnatgre's operations, deems such violence
10 the natural order of things, not only
possible but probable, as displays OF pow
er 90 the part Of ImmaterIal beings. VA
natural phenomena are imagined, and nat
; ural cnes have solemn portents associated
with them. IL teors obey the direction OF
a solemn Provrdence; tempe>ts are raised
Or aI!nyed at word the hcaEeny bodies
are arr S,ed In their course the dead are
! restored 10 life :: diseases are looked upon
rs tn infections of evil spirits, r,qairn2
} eyorciSm for their cure; converse Is held
5 with departed spirits; The secrets Of the
world unknown are disclosed: the Wahd
Of The magician becomes the usignium Of
d'vi""ly delegated authority and the eX-
i uI5j!i2n OF the marvellous The onSy reqpi.
: sire tcslimonial Of i"tallibiii'v-
I'haS readily do men come involved
in the mazrs Of superstition, when once
} they have departed from the path of sure
, NnoWlcd ge. .~..:...:. ....
J. Founded on the Pref to Godwin's Lives of tht
S NecromAncels, :@=....* ..:.-
= God commanded Noah to make an ars
, $50 feet long, 81 feel inches wide, ant
( IS f,et hi15, with a window. door, " low
Ger, second and third stories, - Gen. vi.
; rs, l6. 49,. .::.......
e fie also commanded him to .aEe int
u the ark with him, his family, two Of" ever,
+ living thing Of all aesb,' all c.e5n beaS
Il and fowls by sewers, and fooIfor himsei
: and them.-Gen. Vi. , vii .>..<...~
a a + T.. Ndtoralis.s tell US there are abouta mil
). J Lon distinct, primitive species o.! animals
: Ifthare were two OF each kind in the arI;
y There were two millions 10 BEGIN With
u bu: ad hitting there were only one million
- and saying nothing OF The Clean beasts an
< toH Is " by sevens,, - and allowing only on
foot by two for each animal, there wou
have been Is, 452 animals ln.t he ark, TIA
ieng but o4s thirteenth part Of the num
: Der! And this exclusive Of The necessar
food, which must have occupied SIX time
. as much room as he anlmaIsli ~:..> -.
- Anvperson who has sutiicien,lalthto De
= : Iieye thus far, can probably believe " til
u windows OF heaven were opened" II
d "fyun.ains Of the great deep were broke
: |un." and taat the " mountains were cover
: ed :" or, in other words, the wafer res
= Ave miles high!-B0st0a Iarest53 ator.
y DISTRESSING STATE OF THE US1VEEs
q SHY OF OXFORD. ....