New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-12-11

LIE In is Origin, Gradaiions, Forms and Issues
4 SERMON


Spgr'si Ft,aosrassal4s fcr ~ Ns,- lsrs Trih-asl
I'm" A. he Lora Gos .s n,s Of t,. co., Of A. s-e-s
a. ar-ata-s mo he ao'r' no trs,. Of - H>rr a.
b. a-csn- a. -9r< s1-L
To the intelligent and con,empls,ive mind, il i,
to well known 70 need even the declaration ths,
the sresiest mystery in the created universe 10
Life. Whether regard be had 10 the life Of angels
devils. men. beasts. birds, fishes or plants still
the whole subject Of rifal action IS encOmpssseG
with mystery and has given rise to speculstions
without end on the part Of Psychologists, philoso.
piers, meiaphyscians and divines. Science has
specialized even is microscopic ewes 70 look
with more searching scrutiny into tins structure OF
all living organisms and % detect. ID possible
tie latent principle which constitutes the pripula
mobile OF all their functions. Induction and theory
have strained their powers well nigh 10 paralysis
IN the attempt 90 solve the mighty problem. and
Theo.ogy has been tam to read out 10 Philosophy.
from tie letter OF the Sacred page. the secret
which has been pursued ia vain through every less
halowcd path OF investigation. Still, the desired
result has not been reached The exulting Eure-
81 has not been uttered either IN the laboratory
the dissectIng-roOm or the schools of the saraAs.
The enigma has continued 10 battle all the pro-
Founders OF solutions-ihe heart Of Natures mys-
terry has not been plucked out. even hy the most
vigorous efforts of the wisest OF her sons relying
solely on the light OF her intelligence Il would
be easy to bring before my hearers a multitudinous
array oihypotheses advanced by illustrious names.
the subject of the ritoi priacips-somc of which
have found this principle In heat, some IN HIGHT,
some in electricity. some IN the nervous influence
some in what they term a Nisns F0rnaiirus. and
some in the direct and immediate agency Of the
Deity--as for instance Dr. Prtchard. who SAYS.
ia concluding an elaborate essay on the subject
" The development of forms according TO their
generic specific and individual dycrsities not less
in the vegetable than IN the animal world, can only
be accounted for by sscrbiug It to the universal
energy OF the Creator "a verdict that Is undoubt-
eddy IN It's substantial ayermens, but still al
iordus as little or no light as to the rationale of
the process.
In view then of All the failures which have
hitherto marked the efforts OF science and phloso.
ply 20 enucleate this central mystery of creation,
10 may seem AZ FIRST blush, to SAVIOR of presump-
tion "a think Of profering a view which shall
stand any better chance OF intelligent reception.
And whether the fact that this view claims 70 be
ina but Of special divine illumination vouch-
sailed to It's propounder shall secure It any more
ar any less attention, remains 90 be determined
Certain. however, It Is, that among the sublime
disclosures which the Church OF the New Jeru-
salem ventures to regard Its prerOgatise is that
of the true nature origin and operation of Life IN
sli rs various spheres. In making this announce
ment, u = pruper 20 say that we do not rely upon
simple 0VfhOrdy for rs receptlon-that we do not
profess ~ command, but only 10 invite belief by
an exhibition al rational evidence. Our creden-
tails are not a stern maHdamus, but a gentle com
aeHdQaus w ash no man 10 make the slight
est concession 10 any position advanced, except so
far as he sees the most ample ground for Welding
t. These doctrines and disclosures do not require
to 20 begging Tor assent. They carry their own
evidence with them. when canddy surveyed.
Yet of this. rs OF all testimony bearing upon the
deeper things OF God the Creator, we cannot dis.
xuse from ourselves the fact that its reception
" Ill be governed very much by the moral state of
those 10 " HON u IS addressed. II does not follow
that II will be recognized As true simply because
Il IS true aud incapable OF sound rciutstion. In
everything which involves a spiritual element
which conducts us forth out OF the region OF the
senses aud of the grosser understanding, there is
usually All obstacle 70 be encountered ia certain
innate rcpugnance TO this species OF reasoning
which is exceedingly adverse to the cause OF truth
IL is often sufficient 10 stlhe the force of the most
luminous demonstration, so that one mind shall
complain OF the utter want OF evidence, when %
another the evidence comes home with over
heiming power. The grounds of this are often
times very little suspected. Men bat little dream
what IL is that secretly prompts them, as Cowper
expresses Il;
"- To darken and put OUT