The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1858-09-30

snip of beautiful! or sublime scenes, he
would never have felt the presence Of Goo
IN the material universe, nor had thai
profound insight into the WAYS of His
ever-working providence that has invest
| ed his Psalms with such a halloweG in.
terest. In this history of David we sec
that even miraculous power did not dis
daln to recognize the use of ordinary
means. The simple life of a shepherd
boy trained him for one of the grandest
theatres on which man ever acted. 1t
awakened thoughts and feelings, inspired
impulses, quickened affections, that not
only educated the mind of a nation, but
for many centuries have proved bless
ing aud a JOY to the most cultivated in
tellect, to the Christian piety of the world.
Had God chosen he might have made his
intellect an image-chamber of the universe
by direct inspiration, and, with the quick
ening touch of his hand, opened ali the
founts OF feeling to send forth sWeeter and
healthier waters than those which mirac-
ulousl y rolled their glad stream along the
pathway of Israel in the desert. But
there was "more excellent way" Bet
ter for him, better for the world, that the
seal of Heaven should be set Oh the ordi-
nary incidents, the everyday scenes of
life, and that out of these, by slow and
painful strife, soul of strength and maj
esty should emerge
If We would enjoy our work, we must
accept it as divine thing and put our
whole heart in it. Work that is mere
contract with men--work that has exclu-
siye reference to hours and tasks-is not
work in that truer sense which CONVEYS
the meaning of labor as an institution or
dalned by God to renew the face of extcr-
nal nature, and to restore mans sove-
reignty over the inferior orders of crea-
tion. Industry and sbill-the strong
muscle, and resolute will, the cultivated
remove q portion Of the curse
that rests on the globe. Machinery may
lessen the ''sgedt Of tie 6row,', and sci
ence may raise productive crops in the
place of the thorn and thistle The land
scape may smile beneath the tolls of
cheerful peasantry, while enterprise, COM
the services of philosophy and
art, may build cities and expand its mag
niicent system of trade and commerce
over continents and oceans. These are
vast results. But work, as divine Or
dinance, has far nobler ends to accom-
plish. To subdue nature-to bring the
soil, the atmosphere, the wa ers under its
convert the earth into home
it for man: this is the humblest part oil
It's Office. If our lost sovereignty over
the material universe, so far as delegated |
70 man, Is thus to be recovered, the sove-
,eign must be prepared for his empire
md rule. Of what avail will be the re-
of the palace if the royal
mind is not clothed with a dignity,
glory in unison with its high cnthrone-
nent? Work, therefore, is designed to
lssist in preparing man for this foretold
sccndency over matter. But work, by
tself, can never contribute to this result.
4 moral spirit. which Christianity breathes
nto all true industry and business, must
penetrate our work. 1t will then refine
md ennoble our being; and as the "siC
lays Of toll are tributary in Gods econ
my to the Sabbath, so all our labor will
,lend with religion in purifying and ex-
ltiDg our nature.