Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-02-28

THE CHIEF END OF MAN.-Rev Mr.. Richardson,
of the Salem street Church, preached discourse
the above subject yesterday afternoon, taking for
his text the passages cited in the Assembly Cate
chsm as proofs that the chief end of man is to go-
rify God and enjoy Him forever
He remarked that the subject was suggested bv
the recent lecture of Dr. Holmes but that it was not
his object to contradict single sentiment of the lee
ture. He simply took occasion, interest in the
theme having been awakened, to discuss this funda-
mental question of mans being:-''What is that
central, leading, ultimate object in mans crea
ton, which if missed, Mistaken lost sight of ignor-
ed, denied, his existence becomes far failure?,
The Westminster Assembly did not get up the oues-
ton it originated with the first man. and has been
discussed in all ages much as now. Let us be
thankful to the Westminster Assembly. They went
further beyond their age than any body of men since
the Apostles and half the churches in this republic
may learn lessons of freedom from that body. Ev-
cry skillful piece of mechanism is made for special
object-it has chief end" So has man. BY all
the manifold parts and arrangements of large
seminary of learning, there is "chief end" to be
accomplished, although many subordinate ends may
be attained, viz. the education of the pupil The
Bible sometimes speaks of the glory of God, and
sometimes of the bessedness ofinteligent beings as
the end of creation. We mean both when we sneak
of either All outer objects the whole universe is
for the right development of man, and are to be
folded up and laid aside a vesture when they have
served their purpose. We better lose all these let
man kill the body, than renounce one essential ele-
ment of character. Taking character, then, in the
sense of that education in the seminary call it the
ultimate end of Gods creation.
But what is the special element or quality of char
acter which Shall give 1t this browning glory! Here
comes the difficulty for answer must include not
particular men, in particular circumstances
but man as a and any answer that excludes the
humblest human being, would be untrue to Scripture
and reason, and reflection upon God Hence to
talk about any great or harmonious development of
| all mans faculties and sentiments, is out of the
| question. Not one in hundred million has or can
in this short life reach this ideal perfection Gods
world graduates few with any such development or
practice of right is supposed. The intellectually
perfect, often morally deficient. Hence talents
the one the FIVE must be left out of the account
in coming to the "chief endn of man. God looks
with almost pity and love upon the most humble
mortal, who is struggling to be right and worketh
righteousness according to his light The question
then has reference to moral character Christianity
alludes to nothing else Man meets the "chief endn
of his life, when the controlling element of his char
acter is oblivious 20 the higher iato This nature which
is the law of God to man. under whatever revela-
ton. This il the embryo of all righteousness The
man is in state TO obey truth far as he finds IT,
The WILL the essence of character is right and al
though he stumble for darkness, within him is
heavens priceless jewel, and eternity will be long
enought to FURNISH 1t, that it will shine as star
forever and ever.
In conclusion, he showed how the texts sustained
this answer and made an earnest appeal to all to
answer this greatest of all questions for themselves
and apply the test found to their own hearts and
lives