The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-03-18
Moral Readings.
The Benevolence of God.

brief reports, which show TINT some topics
are discussed with great felicity and beauty.
We copy the following; ofwhich we invite
alhto read every world
Dr. Potter's fourth Lecture was on the Be
nevolence Of God, MS illustrated by the adap-
tntion Of certain principles of our mental con-
sltution TO the differing circumstances oflife.
The first illustration this was derived
from the different effects of slight and insur-
mountabe impediments in the way ofour de-
slres. A slight impeachment to the attain
incnt Of desired end increased and inflam-
cd our desres an insurmountnble difficulty
on the other hand, had the effect almost 10
eXtinguish and annhilate desire. In this pc.
cuar constitution ofthe mind, we saw very
munilcstly the beuevolence ofour Creator
Slight obstacles were thus made to help us
10 the attainment of our desires; while seri-
GUS and insurmountable ones drove us mt
once to some other pursuit which perhaps
secured our happiness equally as well.
The same truth WINS illustrated by the oper
alton Of the principle of fear The first inn
pulse of fear was 10 flight; the next was, if
flight was impossible or dishonorable, to pre-
paro us TO meet the danger-to produce eau
lion; and tIe next, to rouse or courage TO
master the danger. But, if vanquished and
overcome in the contest, the final effect of
fear was to pnralyZc our energies and so
bring MS into such n state as would he most
likely to commend us to the mercy of the |
cOnqueror, whether man or beast. Here IL
glin we could see the bcnevoIence ofGod in
the constitution of the mind.
The same bencvolence was illustrated in |
the operation of the intellectual taculries.-
Take for example the memory. The in
stinct Of the memory led us to shun these
places and associations which were sugges-
tive Of painful recolcctions, and TO dwell on
chose things which were pleasant. The nc
ton ofmemory in an aged person beautiful
ly illustrates the bcnevOlcncC of its consttii-
zion. In old age memory went back TO child
hood and youth, and gathered around it the
pleasant recollections ofthose joyous periods
oflife, and thus encirclcd the end ofife with
pleasing and delightful pictures. This pecu-
iiarity Of memory enabled the uged also to
Sympalhisc with children, and to he their
advisers aud their guides 1t made them
likewise the valuable chroncers and trans
niilters Of unrecorded events and facts 10
coming generations. And these facts were
not to the equally aged, or to
those advanced TO manhood, but to the youth
iul, who would be most deeply impressed by
ihem and longest retain them for pleasure or
Tor profit. Now all this Swallowed forth the ;
of that God who thus consttut-
ed the faculty Of memory in man.
The action of the imagination in the differ
ent periods oflife, illustrated this same be-
ncvolcnce. In childhood tho Imagination
was the gymnasium ofthe mind, in which all
the faculties were kept in lively exercise and
supplied with ample materials ofenjoyment
AN that was necessary to The happiness of
the child was TO give his imagination full (
play. {
The lecturer here protested most earnest {
" against lhc conduct Of those parents who c
and burdeued their children with (
a variety Otrich and expensive toys. 1t was,
he said, wofu mistake, TO suppose that
these things promoted the real happiness of
children: they were, on the contrary, real
impcdimenls to their happiness. They n
unused but for The moment, and were then ,
thrown away or broken up in disgust. A !;
few sticks and blocks were vastly better for I
the happiness of the child; with these, by
ihe exercise of the ever active Imagination $
Of child, he would construct and recon y
struct various objects of interest aud pleas f
are. These were sufficient to give full play t
to the Imagination: and this was all that was |
necessary to his happiness. Over manag- r
much training and ednca,ing-was +
decidedly Injurious. The mind should be d
suffered to range and cater for its own hap :
pness, and this it would do iflelt to ITSELF In
his we saw the bcnevolcnce of our Creator.
The operations ofthe Imagination in youth, q
yIro very different from those in childhood, E
yer equally benevolent The youth was look
nag forward to some profession or occupa-
ion in life, as n means Of subsistence, Of hon
or and renown; and with these matters, the =
Imagination was chiefly occupied. 1t pictur-
I'd To the youth the pleasures and advantages II
IF his chosen pursuit. And this not only S
afforded him happiness in the prospect, but
and encouraged him in the pur- :
suit of his chosen object. =
Then, again, in old age the operations of .
he imagination were equally conducive to
,ur happiness. How vivid, brilliant and {
beautiful were the scenes of childhood and n
'oulh to the old man. With what pleasure Il
loes he contemplate the events and the en- b
oyments ofyounger years. lie lives in the Il
'ast-he lives over his chidhood-and he p
ives in the distant future-and that life, by
he aid of his Imagination, is rendered pic
uresque and beautiful beyond any thing else.
low benevolent is this arrangement
Other illustrations of the Divine benevo-
ence might be drawn from the operations
# the imagination in surrounding the objects
f our affections with halo which others
ouId not perceive. This was very manifest
II the attachments formed between children. -,
These were often ardent, and greatly con-
luced TO the happiness oftho parties; but they II
would never have been formed if the parties -
lad seen each other in the same light which
thers saw them. So in the case of two low m
rs. What Illusion the Imagination of the OF
over threw around the object Gifts love. This Sc
vas designed and adapted to promote the
appiness ofthe parties
The benevoence of God was very fully u
not only in the peculiar operations p
f particular principles or faculties of the
lind under different circumstances, as al
eady illustrated, but also in the wonderful