The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-01-16
THE ATTRIBUTES OF MAN.
BY WALLACE R. srRUBLR.

Man is perhaps the most singular con-
stituted being in the high scale of Heav-
ems mysterious workmanship. And, il
we except the Heavenly intelligences,
he stands pre-eminent among all the
works of God.
Uniting in himself thousand modif-
cations Of matter and the endless varie-
ties Of mind by his spiritual part con-
nected with things terrestrial; by his
immateriality claiming alliance with q
higher and nobler work, above mortal
ity; in his complex nature tending to
the tomb, and yet rising superior to its
ravages; ever converging to corruption
and the darkness OF the grave, and yet
eosncious of undying energies within, he
presents us with u problem in the sci
ence of beings the solution OF which can
only be realized by a direct communi-
cation from the Creator to the creature,
of whose mysterious formation and at
tributes ice are now representatives.
Man seems to unite in himself the di-
versities of created nature, and stands
forth not unaptly for the contemplation
OF intelligence as an epitome OF beings
an abridgement of the universe. Upon
the primitive condition and ultimate
destination of man it cannot be
Necessary for Us to dwell here. Ma
ture, ambition and inspiration unite
in their testimony that he left
the hands of the Creator combining
in himself the elements of an existence
superlative in its character and bound
less in its prospects. Endowed with the
high and eminent attributes-intelli-
genee, volitlon and emotion is
distinguished as occupying the summit
Of Creations visible pyramid, and pre-
pared to move forward forever with firm
and unfettered tread in the paths of
virtue, science, and moral illumination.
The phenomena attendant upon the
original formation Of man stamped upon
him the signature OF his value, and inti-
mated in no obscure way the part he
was to act in the great drama OF exist
ence. The manifestations OF nature, his
own consciousness, and the affirmation
Of the being who made him, all gave
notice that he was destined to run
high career mid the eventful and un-
known fortunes OF creation. There is
beautiful passage in Ovid, although well
known, 1 shall insert it here. After
speaking Of the creation of all the IRA
tional animals, he proceeds thus:
y creature OF more exalted kind
Was wanting vet, and then was man designed,
Conscious OF thought, OF more capacious breast,
For empire formed and 1T to rule the rest"
"Thus. while the mute creation downward bend
Their course, and TO their earthly mother tend,
Man looks aloft and with erected eyes
Beholds his own hereditary skies"
Mans intellectual dominion is almost
without limit. His knowledge of the
present compared with the past and
reaching forward to the future enables
him to arrange and classify important
and kindred facts upon the grand prin-
ciples of induction, and hand them down |
to future generations rs the well attested
record OF experience. New and more
ample fields of discovery constantly
open before him, and he only ceases to
learn with the termination of his earthly
existence. And 1t is not all improbable |
that the virtuous and good beyond the
tomb will continue to increase the sun
of knowledge by observation, instruc-
tion and intercourse, till universal ma
ture shall be spread out before the eyes
of the heavenly inhabitants as bound
less exhibition of the infinite God. 1t
is the distinguished prerogative Of man,
while all the lower creatures with which
he finds himself surrounded are necessa-
rily confined within the narrow limits