Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1852-03-26
Agriculturc-Its Origin and Dignity.

When the earth was untracked by any intelligent
being-when its fertile fields and lofty forests re-
manned untouched by the hand Of cultivation or any
pruning instrument, the Greater moved to de-
sign the formation of man. God saw that the earth
needed yet more inhabitant, for there wGS not
man TO till the ground" The earlhs cultivation
was the first expressed reason for the creation of
Then moved the infinite Designer. He said,
in council with the archangel, and with cherubim
and seraphim, & Let make man in image. af-
ter our likeness; and let them have dominion over
the fish of the sea, and the fowl of the air. and over
the cattle, and over all the earth, and every
creeping thing that creepe1h upon the earth" So
man was created, and stood erect in majesty, and
cast his eye over the spreading fields and flowing
streams, and saw the creeping insect, the fnny
tribes, the feahered inhabitants Of the forest and
field, and the cattle upon thousand hills all made
subject to his dominion.
And while he gazcd with admiring wonder, he
heard the voice of blessing and the voice of COM
mand for God blessed them and said unto them,
Be fruitful and multiply, and replensh the earth,
and sUBDUE IT. He saw the gentle lamb approach
him if to declare her special Iced of his assist
ance, and lowing cattle followed the example set,
and made themselves the first dependents Of their
earthly lord.
God gave to man a wife--a helper in his toll
More delicate and beautiful than man. more gentle
and more dependent; she won his strong love and
God loved the noble and ma estic, and the
woman gentle and amiab'e
The command to subdue the earth rested upon them
and they virtuous and strong. Sin had not en-
tered, but the soil needed tilling. They had heard
the command to cultivate the ground, and stood in
| readiness to obey. Man appeared first practi.
toner in the art of husbandry: and president of the
great agricultural society of earth and time. Such
was our first father before he sinned and such was
the origin of agriculture before sin entered into the
world.
While man yet in his innocence. God was
pleased to provide for him special source of enjoy
ment. 1t was the institution OF Horticulture and
Aborculture. THE Lord God planted garden
eastward in Eden and there he put the man whom
he had formed. And out of the ground made the
Lord Cod to grow every tree that pleasant to the
sight and good for food And the Lord God took
the and put him in the garden of Eden, tt
DRESS 1T IT." Such was the origin Of
Horticulture.
Upon the farmer and the Gardener has the bles
sing of God rested even health and peace since the
morning stars sang together for joy. He who fol
lows their way is the first in obedience to the com
mand Of God-the first in enjoyment of heavenly
bessings-frst in usefulness to his species, and frs
in the proper dignity of his calling.
/ Upon the savage who breaks not the soil with
| cultvating hand the curse of heaven rests, and al
the declining da7 loses its last lingering life wheI
the goes down in darkness, sinks away the
tribe of that chief who teaches not his hands to til
the ground, nor his young men to break the matted
turf The sons of the wild hunter of the forest viii
not be, and from his wigwam will arise no curling
snake but the joyous and hardy sons of the farmer
shall appear the sands of the sea, innumerable-
and the hymn of Praise to God and the shout o
freedom for man, mingling earth's gladness witt
heavens joyfulness shall swell higher and highe
from the cultivated fields and the vine.clad bower
when the savage and the slave, and the fop and tn
fool are seen as exceptions to the producing design
of created wisdom and goodness.--N. E. Farmer.
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