New-York daily tribune., 1858-10-20
Newpork DAILY Icibnms
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

THE IMMUTABLE RIGHT: An oHArrcs prLIvrsEpsE'
S sSssrrr Aug ST. isss By AsDSrw P. PrAsOOy syo,
PIP. Is. Crosby, Nichols Co.
Anniversary discourses are not apt to be made
the vehicles of general truth. II u few happy hits
are effected on some point which, for the moment,
claims the public ear-if the audience are alter
nately excited and sOOthed by wellsOunding pc
riods-if certain semblance of novelty either in
the treatment of the subject or the mode of Illus
tration is attained the aim Of the holiday occasion
is accomplished, and the hearers disperse in ad-
miratiOn of the orator and oblivion of his words.
In the oration now before US, We find striking
exception to the prevailing rule. Abstaining from
all cap-trap illusions to topics which are sure " to
bring down the house." DIR. Peabody at once an
nounces as the subject Of his discourse. the grounds
of moral obligation, and the bearing of true
theory Of the question on education, literature, aud
government. The relation of expediency to right
is set forth in the following paragraph:
Expediency is an ancillary term and idea II restes
to cans Lot to ends to the route not To the terminus
Justice purity benevolence and veraciy are not ex-
pedient but these vrtues being regarded rs the ends
the termin certain modes Of secdlture, speech and
conduct expedent as means toward those ends as
the details of the right but neither create nor neu-
trslize il. Let illustrate its office by analoges
derived from physical science. investigate by pure
mathematics the laws of the lever and the pulley aud
reach certain formulas which rsprssont what these
powers ought TO effect were the lever rigid bar OF
iniexibe strength, without weight-were tho pulley
flexible current of force passing round the wheel with
ont friction. But the weight of the lever, and the
friction and imperfect fexibity of the pulley oblige
to insert among the constants in my formulas ce;-
tain variable elements. l do not depart from those
e. e,p a.tor hat into
them merely fit them for use, BY applying un-
changed, the principles which they involve to the
known conditions OF the materials Of which my me-
chanical powers must be constructed Or, to vary
the imstration am q navigator. l take my Obser-
walton from the or the stars; aud it indicates
certain course, which alone carry me to my port
Of destination, and which should steer were there
no interruption. But have to cross certain ocean
currents and their direction and velocity compel ms
to keep my helm point two farther north south,
in order that may actually navigate my vessel
the which my observation gives me. The un.
changing lights Of heaven are my guide: simply
apply their Indications 10 the known and inevitable
conditions OF the medium through which am sailing.
Now, expedency IL to right what practical mechanics
or navigation is 10 pure mathematics. Expediency is
concrete right II never modify, much less can it
supersede the right. Its sole province il the adapta
on of the abstract law Of right to the variable condi-
tons under which we are constrained 10 will speak
ard act. Expediency, then Is in standard
Of right.
The bearing Of revelation on moral decisions is
forcibly illustrated:
We arrive, then, at the only possible standard OF
right-revelation from the Mind which alone compre-
hends all beings aud objects, all illnesses and addpta
tious. might, in some important aspects. hken'the
Bible TO Euclids Elements Of Geometry Euclid
created truth; but he first codied that portion Of
eternal truth which appertains to space and dimen
sions. There spiritual mathematics, necessary and
eternal laws Of spiritual teing nnoTeated GSsva M with
through men specially inspired tor that express end
The Bible is the geometry the mechanics, the astrono
my, of the spiritual universe The English Deis. OF
the ast century used for their wachwOri Christian
ty az old the creation" and Thought that they aimed
a death.blow at the religion of the Bible when they
pronounced it identical with natural religion. On the
other hand, the highest and most venerable aspect of
Christanityis that in which regard il the relg
ion Of nature It is TO the spiritual what mathematical
law are to the material luniverseabsolue, necessary
eternal everlasting trath that which always was
and ever will be. Revelation did not create IT, but by
prophecy and miracle promn gated it, and gave 1t It's
position and relations ia time and space. II was before
the word made flesh: il will equally be when tho
written word shall be superseded by the open vslono OF
heaven.
An American mathematician, who nes no superior
anC ng the living in recent series OF scientific in4u-
res took his stand outside vt tho visible creacon as
sumed merely the existence Of brute matter aud certain
Fundamental mathematical laws, AMI sought TO deter
niue prior what the proportions and relations u te
universe must be according to those laws The result
was demonstration Of the coincidence, pcint LOT !
point, of this priorr universe with the exstng u
verse; together with an equally clear den9h,'rat'cn,
that the soul OF man in which mathematical m"sate
innate and the universe in which they are enpoaieu'
have the same Greater. Now, suppose Dein3 Way |
could occupy, with reference to the entire spiftna
family the same position which our natoemateian
holds az 20 the ma.eIr, creation Let sach oeing
ignore slsystems; let him essune SIMPLY the one
Of right the being of God, aud tho exstehee OF "a
created moral aaents: and lei him On tns basis con,
struet moral system in de.si-e system wllcn shan
for ever maintain harmony between God and 's ints-
hgent children as mathematical laws maintain hay.
mony between God and bic clustering wersds-tha.
system could not but correspond even 70 the mnrest
precept prohibition, ard sanetlon with the morality
Of the gospel. To this Chrst-given eth!cal com-
pend, who can addf Who can take from It What
imaginable case ofebgatioD dOest not meet 10 what
imaginable case is departure from It safe ! We can
conceive Of other principles titan those which II
embodies. Nor Is il law for men alone: /. nl. 10
law wherever being is. Range In thought from planet
to planet from star to star imagine the forlas and
aspects ct life in them various "a must be the con-
binatons Of their eemen,s the nightly paroyena u
their several frmaments-stil you can imagine no |
other law you conceive of no possible condi'ioe
Of being in which the Sermon on the Mount wcud n
have the validity which il has With Nor as you
look into the depths Of eternity, can ycn conceive
any stage degree Of attainment in which that cou-
pend Of duty shall not be sAe and sofic'em 'aw for
angels and Just men made perfect '''.8
In its application to literature, the doctrine Of
immutabIe right is e1empI6ed in the case of Mi