Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-02-19

combined exercise OF by the exercise Of one the sab
stitute ofothers they all harmonized and administered
to our convenience. Man, by his instincts, by the ne
cessities ofh nature and without his intention is
daily carrying out the designs which God meant he
should do. He is not merely gregarious ANIMAL he is
Il social beng-has natural rights, and moves in a
sphere within certain limits (which intrude
The interest of herd of animals is not promoted by
that ofanother; while with man, social being, the
case quite the reverse Heis being under the in
huence of passions-of love, anger fear jealousy, ha
tired
Why do we find man a revengefu being 7 Because
the fire in his heart prompts him to strike the blow the
moment injury is received. When he is outraged
and his quarrel he becomes instantly salts
fed-hs feelings soothed and his anger appeased.
But when he does not receive this sympathy from his
felovman, instantly the fire OF hell RACES IN his BOSOM
Here proof conclusive, that he was intended to be
social being.
The gains of commerce prompt men to brave all the
dangers of the and to endure all the hardshps of
climate. The object is not to acquire knowledge, not
to discover continents. The farmer cutvates the
earth for the sake of reapng its fruits the mechanic
tolls at his trade for the sake OF compensaton the type
founder works for his wages. Each one is moved by
the desire of gain-but knowledge is the inevitable
sequence. The results are good, and are made so by
God. Emulation is another powerful handspring in
promoting the happiness of man and contributing to the
fund of human knowledge. When it is improperly di
rected, however, when ambition prompts to tram
pie upon the rights of his fellow beingto enhance his
greatness by expressing Others to make his pow
er dreaded by erecting pyramid OF human skulls, then
emulation is perverted from its legitimate purpose 1t
WlGnerlnp
God gave this principle of emulation to man for wise
and beneiicent ends-that he should employ, to the
best advantage, the talents he possesses and
make the general results subservient to the great
end of human intelligence and human happiness
Without the principle Of emulation, the intellectual ia
cult of man would remain forever in torpid nactivi
ty. Our lands would remain covered with foress-the
treasures of the earth would lie undsturbed in their
hidden recesses-the would not bear its broad
bosom the commerce of the various nations-our cities
would be lakes OF standing water, from which noxious
The Professor here gave illustration to show what
mighty results were accomplished by the operation of
spirit OF emulation III the great city of London, with
Its population numbering millions no statesman on
earth could conrive plan by which they could be reg
uarly supplied with the necessaries of life; and any
who would be rash enough to undertake the task,
would show by the act that he incompetent to
achieve the object Yet the desire of gain, prompting
direct their labors in the most profitable chan
nels of business and trade enables the vast population
OF that city to receive daily supply OF all the
ries of life, and in this way object is accomplished
which would battle the skill ofthe profound states
man on earth Here we see the providence and good
of God working out great and important results
from the operation of simple causes. The diversified
pursuits of man. yet the mutual dependence of one
upon another, resembled band of musicians, where
each is ignorant of every instrument but his Yet
the whole combined, swell into a grand anthem, and
produce sweet and harmonious strains of music
Thus, the great Creator by making each perform
his allotted function in life, acconlplishes an object
which would defy the skill of the greatest statesman
earth.
The eternity of God and the necessity fhis existence
themes upon which the Professor discoursed
in his clear eloquent and forcible style. The mind in
contemplating the chain OF cause and effect may travel
back till it is lost iii the of nnty yet after all
the chain is not broken Oft; there is something upon
which the last link must be suspended. If we
ceve Of time when nonentity reigned then it must
have regned for ever, for without creator nothing
could have been created The volume of nature,
Independent OF the book of revelation tells with
err1ng certainty, that "a great First Cause.-The
causa causarum-the author of all causes has existed