Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-04-16
Origin and Destiny.

Origin and Destiny.
The absolute significance Of human life
is not diminished, rather is II enhanced,
by the tale which science has TO tell of its
remote beginnings, and the long and pain
ful struggles by which II has attained to so
much as its present culture and intelli-
gence. Man has been the architect of his
own fortunes. The strength of every OBJ
stacle to which he has opposed himself,
and which he has overcome, has become a
part of him, as the resistance which gem
tlemen overcome at "the liIr is SO much
added 10 the quality of their muscles and
their brain. Perfect through sufferingi
That is the motto not only of the Galilean,
but of the universal human Christ, which
is, God helping 1t, its own redeemer.
No matter what was once. What am 1
now?" said some one who had been re-
preached with an inglorions beginning.
But humanity need not say this. 1t can
bravely court inquiry into its remotest an
tecedents. Because they were so humble
the more honorable the achievements that
have since been made. would not snare
one page from the great volume of mans
struggles with the opposing forces of the
world. Dearer is he to my Imagination
for all his mighty toll. Had he begun in
some exalted sphere and from thence fall
en- TO lower, then might very well take
shame for him. But as it is he mas been
continually lessening the imperfection of
his adaptation to his conditions of life.
"Whither goest thou ?" is the true chal-
lenge, and so as he is going in the right di-
rection am satisfied
And let us not lament that an enlarging
universe tends TO dwarf the relative pro-
portions of our planet and our race. 1
would not have the universe less in order
that 1 might be more. Only let me be a
vital part of it, and the more IL is the more
am I. would identify myself with It so
thoroughly that its fortune shall be mine.
Is it not honor and glory enough to be a
part ever so small, of such a universe; to
be this consciously and ioyfully, and to
see to ii that you are no minus quantity,
but add something TO the vast amounts of
thought, and love, aud character already
in the world?
So long as men can think and feel, can
Toll and love, AS they can now, no compar-
ison need be very odious TO them. By the
grace OF God am what 1 am, whatever be
my relative significance, whatever be my
origin or destination. Said dear friend
to me not long ago: "If one really had no
faith in Immortality do you think it would
pay for him TO live decently the little time
that he is here ?" Decently9 Yes, divine
ly.
The pathway Of our duty lies In sunlight,
And And we must tread it with as nrm step,
Ihough II should terminate in cold oblivion
As II Elysian pleasures at its close
Cleaned pAlpable to sight As things Of earth"
But let a man do his duty in this spirit,
and an assurance comes to him beyond all
argument that no wind of death shall
quench his flaming soul, but only make it
burn with greater warmth and purer love.
With such surroundings, with such op-
portunities, thrilling with such high pas
sions, ministered to with such delights of
beauty, and truth, and good, why should
we be troubled by the conviction that our
little world may be one of the least of all
that culver with the pulse of universal life?
Why should we be troubled by the suspi-
cion that among those shining orbs, that
seem meant only for our eyes, there may
be worlds inhabited by intelligences so ex-
alted that dog can know more of his mas
ter's thought than we could know of theirs?
L hope it is so. l would rather be the fly
upon the wheel of such a chariot, than sit a
pampered king in one of meaner make.
In this sense, at least, I am willing to be
damned for the glory of God, damned TO a
lower place in the full ranks of spiritual
existences. The light that those intelli-
gences wear upon their foreheads shall one
day circle the brows of our humanity.
Their highest glory is a prophecy if not of
what awaits our individual effort, of what
awaits that grand being, human society,
which is immortal on the earth. But If
there be such great intelligences we know
them not. What we do know is that life
for all its burdens and it sorrows is still
fair and sweet, and that we can live in
such way as TO make it even sweeter and
fairer for those who shall succeed us than it
has been for us. What we de know is that
we can claim no such exclusive privileges
as have been claimed for us, and still that
we can share with many others all the
transcendent bounty of the world. He
must be hard TO satisfy who is not satisfied
with this.
The good, great man three treasures love and light
And calm thoughts, regular infants breath,
Aud three hrm friends more than day and night
Himself, his Maker, and the angel DeAth7"
--ReU. John ". ChGdioick, in the Christian
Register