New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-01-28
The Problem OF Human Destiny.
ny REV. DE-. DEWEY.
LECTURE I


The course of lectures by Rev. Orvllle
Dewey, on the Problem of Human Destiny, was
opened last evening in the Church OF the Messiah
before a numerous audience. The special interest
OF the problem, said DR.. Dewey, which he proposed
to discuss consisted in the fact OF the existence Of
evil Without this, the condition OF man on earth
would present few mysteries. Floating down the
easy current of existence, he would be par
tsker Of enjoyment he would observe, but would
not question and content with the present, would
not attempt TO explore the future for the solution o.
his doubts. But evil exists. 1t throws its dark
shadow over the fsrest scenes Of our present life
We are exposed to physical evil, which is pain, and
to moral evil, which is sin. An irresistible instinct
has always compelled the human intellect to ply
into the reason of this condition OF our being.
1t may be said that the subject is above our com
prehension. Man, in attempting to penetrate its
depths has been compared to fly, attempting to en-
plain the revolution of a wheel by which he is car
ried round But with this mock modesty, said DR..
D., do not sympashize. Ii Is the sentiment of the
atheist or skeptic 1t proceeds from arrogance rash
er than humility. Even the famous saying OF SO.
crates that he kne nothing but his own ignorance
had lis origin in intellectual pride. For my own
part continued the lecturer, make no claim to this
philosophical ignorance. venture TO believe that
know something about the subject and stand here to
tell wha, it is. Not that pretend to have wholly
faihomed its infinite depths. have not exhausted
its ilimtable wealth. Nor does the emigrant to
California exhaust the aflgenl stores OF her golden
pIacers But this fact does not forbid engaging
In the research with confidence, for We may be GER
tain that some precious fruit will await labor.
For after all, it is probem which we propose 20
discuss And problem. by its etymology pro taho
Greek. means something which is thrown out tor con
sderation, something 10 be examined on ali SIDES,
like ball which is 10 be kept rolling. We may com
pare the universe to a ball, wound round with the
mysteries Of life, Of which we endeavcr To catch
glimpse In Its rapid revolution, even II we cannot
fathOm its vast pIofunditles. After series OF com
ments the argument of LeionitL, as set forth IN
the Th6Odice, DR.. ID. said that he should explain
the existence of evil on the following principles
1t limitation OF the attributes OF the Deity TO
assert that he cannot make contradiction possible.
The illustration il often used that God cannot make
two mountains without valley between them. But
the question does not involve the consideration OF
power in the slightest degree. II is not correct TO
say that God cannot do the thing, but that the thing
cannot be- Ii absurdlty, Ia the nature OF things
1t follows from the nature OF triangle, that the sum
Of its angles rs equal to three night angles IL can
not be Otherwise. To ask whether God could not
make triangle, the three angles Of which should be
equal to FIVE seven right angles, is the same as 70
ask whether he could construct hsure, whioh
should be triangle and not triangle at the same
time, or in other words, whether he could make an
imposslbility possible
Applying these principles 10 the quesuon Oh TIC
origin OF evil DIR. b argued that the present system
is created is not seltexstent, does not depend on
its own inherent energies. Hence. 1t must be
limited. This is involved IN the fact OF creation.
The thing created cannot share the fulness OF the
Creator The finite must by the nature OF the case
be inferior to the Infinite on which II depends:
Hence il must be imperfect, and hence EVIL natural
and moral 1t is inherent in the very idea OF Gre
alton Its absence would be an impossiolllty, would
imply contradiction for II the created beng we're
moi liable to evil i. would be perfect but perfection
is an attribute of the Creator The creature and
the Creator on this supposltion, would De IDENTICAL
Evil must therefore be Inevitable in any system Oh
creation.
The same thought may be presented IN another
leht All created being mus. begin some whefe.
The fact of beginning implies infancy, or imperec-
tion or in other wolds evil. The first time thing
is done the result must be inferior 10 the excellence
which comes from long practice. ms is announcer
illustration of the iDevtableness OF evil In creaed
system. . ..,,., NJ Nh.
moral freedom Of man, DR., ID showed that evil was
an essential contns gent IN the discipline oy when ne
vas trained 10 virtue and happiness. This point
was elucidated by variety Of considerations Win
which the lecture was finally brought to close