The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1858-11-11

-aiuty Is, LOT lnefe is nothing man-iIke Ii
that stolid insensibility to the present, anc
, that overweening partiality for the past
which reverse outright every just STANDARD
pf Judgment, and deprive US, with al ILL
concealed vindictiveness, of our foothol.
among the staple facts of the age. n,
wise man reflects the least credit on him.
Seii, or honors the scheme Of provideatia
progress as it evolves its mystery and MAJ.
inIiicence from generation TO generation
5y undertaking to-day and reserying his
heartiest plaudits for yesterday. So far
from this being the genuine outworhinc
Of nature, it is false and corrodng NOR
bldness that betrays its birth in cvnieaI
contempt for what is truly grand and no.
bic. Such spirit does violence t. al
our better instincts. To-day is Gods dis
pensation to our needs It's His embod
mcnt 10 US of divine purposes and ailns-
His Offering to our hopes-His Invocation
to our activity and ambition-His great
ensign, hung ou, from the overlooking
heavens for Us TO watch and follow. The
past was His appeal to other minds and
other hearts and although j: were a grave
error to suppose that we are 10 tsrn our
eyes away from His former manifestations.
YET it is the plainest dictate both Of phi
losoPhy and faith to believe that the pres
ent is q divine gift to US in much more
impressive sense than the past For the
present is a specific proyiden.ial adapta-
/ tion 10 US Il is the correlatire Of our
tastes, sentiments. and capacity
/ prophecy Of the Infinite TO us. and. pri-
mArily. to Us alone We are in close, ian
mediate contact with its objects; and on
Us. as means Of discipline, direction, and
exaltauon, their agency IS to be exerted,
OF utterly fail in their main end Moth
Ing, then, in the past can be on the same
level in interest and momentousness with
the present; nothing can have titae o.
the same value; for nothing that the world
has hitherto seen can come recommended
to our acceptance with such tokens of the
Almightys direct presence.
But apart from this general aspect Of
the present. as connected with the princi-
pies and pursuits of life, there is the addi-
tional motive, already i1timated, of the
nigh and intEinSie worth OF this age, taken
in relation to the developments Of intel
lectual. moral, social manhood. Allow
liberal drawback on the aye for its f),ly,
extg4vaCanee. aud irrational often lpious,
thinking, and s;i.. i Is true-torcib.g true
that manhood never stood at the attitude
/; now stands never had such an investi-
turs o;rights, privileges, and possibilities
never had such openings into the wealth
If the universe. Nor IS this sudden en-
haaeemeu: Of human power 70 be a,tribl;- I.
ed 10 & happy coincidence Of favorable
circumstances and, moreover, il IS but in /
al iIconsiierablc degree the fruit Of the .
past. Admit, IS We gladiy may, Our obli- T.
cations 70 other generations, i jS ueyer.ne- .
.e>s = t4et that this age occupies its OWE
independent Srouad, and enjoys It's oEa .
Distinctive hoGogs. Not only has !, great .
y extended the preoccup:ed rea.s4s OF
thought, bat it has catered on territories, !
vast 1ud wonderful, Of It's own, aud an
nexel them u sure possessions u p-iacaly .
value 4 The terra colHtQ Of II olGer date. T
1t mas established, and weli-0igh perfected. .
sulae Of the elder SCIENCES while 1t has .
been equally successful in l-ying the
.Uuada.;ons and raising the massive super .
structure Of sciences tor whicG IN. yolab- .
..ary Ut uur ancestors had nvt even names. I.
In the inventions thai u.-.ii2y : aud Eacil I
.tate labor; in those app:cl;lsns u skill /
and ingenuity that tend % give Us mastery !.
over the physic4i forces Of nature; In bei- .
ter modes Of intercourse IN ine practical .
unfulding, through commerce aud inter I.
national ,4w. ef th- enngbl.ng idea OF hu- .
maa Brotherhood; aud above all. because
ho!ier than all. IN those selecter forms OF
thought thar lItt m2n above EilIse.f, aud
introduce him 70 the fellowship u the In
GuiIe, the p-esen; century : wItaou: Il
va Whether Ee look, therefore. - the
actual discoveries Of the age, or :; the
great lsad;ag sentiments thst pervaie al
active aud iar-re4ehiu- El;ads, Or ~ the
fresh. bu9yant, hum2u.ziug spirit all
abroad IN the hearts of men, the day in
whlah We live Is fa.s Il most striking sISni-
ecauce. '; Is day to 90 thAuktui for.
a 5zy 10 bless with such thaaksgiyiBss a.
only rise from our nature when II is c9a-
seious Of birth into larger freedom Of
.hough; aud action day that brings
the resources OF humanity within It's grasp,
and altes;s. even 10 :he seuses, a s.ory
within reach II realization.
One Of the distinctive features Of life
In the nineteenth century / fJuai N tue
fact ,ha, The domain VI action aud eBj9y-
meut has been gcea.Iy Eiienei- Without
supposiag that any faculties Of activity
anl happiness hsye been creA.ed. ~ NAY
assert thst the multiplication OF objects TO
call forth the energies O. CIR nature has
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