Scripture history, not one of which has stood to the present time. Meantime, amid all the advances in that science; all that has been said, or thought, or done, one fact is remarkable. The geologist proves that the world has stood many thousands of years, and we cannot deny it. He points to fossil remains, and tells us of orders of animals that lived many ages before the Mosaic period of the creation of man. The Bible tells us that MAN was created about six thousand years ago. Now, the material fact is, that amid all the fossil remains of the geologist, and all the records of past times, there is no proof that man has lived longer than that period; but there is abundant proof to the contrary. Amid all on which the geologist relies to demonstrate the existence of animals prior to the Mosaic account of the creation, he has not presented us with one human bone, or with one indication of the existence of man. Other fossil remains, other bones he has disinterred in abundance; but not one that belonged to the human species. So on all coins, medals, historical records, cities, monuments. There are no historical records that go back to such ancient times. There are no monuments of unknown cities; no tombs, no mausoleums that bespeak the existence of man amid the fossil remains of extinct orders of animals. We wander in the past among decaying ruins. We are amid broken arches, pillars, tombs. We look upon the splendid Coliseum; the mighty pyramid; the falling tower; the ivy-bound column; the ruined temple; we brush the dust from ancient inscriptions, and decipher these solemn records, and make the past generations speak out amid their silent monuments; and there is not a solitary voice that disputes the record of the Jewish historian about the recent origin of man, or that points to a time when he lived anterior to the bliss of Eden.* * Compare Lyell's Geology, vol. ii. pp. 156, 157. Edit. Phil. 1837. At the interesting period of the world, therefore, in which we live, the friends of science and of revelation have equal cause to congratulate themselves and each other. The great battles have been fought. The human intellect is bowing before the authority of revelation. And could the mighty dead who have carried the achievements of science farthest, pass before us this day, they would come, in the main, profoundly bowing before the authority of Christianity. There would be seen Newton, "placed by common consent at the head of the race," laying all his honours at its feet. There Locke, having explored the deepest recesses of the human mind, and taught its laws, as Newton did the laws of the heavens, in like manner would be seen bowing to the authority of revelation. There Bacon, the father of the inductive philosophy; the man on whose principles Brahe, and Kepler, and Newton, and Laplace have acted, and who has given form to all modern science, comes with this impressive apothegm on his lips: "A little philosophy inclineth a man to atheism; but depth in philosophy bringeth men's minds about to religion; for while the mind of man looketh upon second causes scattered, it may sometimes rest in them, and go no farther; but when it beholdeth the chain of them confederate and linked together, it must needs fly to Providence and Deity." ."* There would be seen Hale, learned in the law, adorning the Christian profession by a most humble life; and there Davy, advancing at the head of chemical science; and there Cuvier, who has given a new form and impulse to the investigation of fossil remains, coming with the result of all that profound investigation, and contributing all these results to confirm the Bible. These are the lights of men-bright suns that spread their beams over all the firmament of science. Science and religion are two mighty and majestic rivers. Long, indeed, did they flow asunder. Essays, Civil and Moral. They traversed different regions, and brought down fertilizing influences, like gold, from far distant lands. Now they meet -not in angry floods; nor to dash and foam and strew the world with ruins-but they mingle their waters gently in one broad stream that flows forth with majestic volume to enrich and bless the world. XIII. The Desire of Reputation.* THE subject on which we propose to address you at this time, is, THE DESIRE OF REPUTATION. Our aim will be accomplished if we can set before you the reasons why that desire is implanted in the human bosom; its value as a principle of action; the modifications under which it appears, and the perversion to which it is liable; the true principles which are to guide us in seeking it, and the field which is now open, especially in this country, to secure an honoured name. We have selected this subject because there is not a heart before us that does not beat with a generous desire to be known and to be remembered; because there is no aspiration of the bosom that is more likely to become perverted, and to be a source of injury; because, for the young especially, it is desirable that the proper metes and limits of its indulgence should be laid down with care; and because we are persuaded, when properly understood, it may be made an important auxiliary in the cause of learning, patriotism, virtue, and even true religion. We will not despise or condemn any thing which we believe to be an original law of our nature, however it may have been abused; we will not believe that any thing which God has implanted in our bosoms may not contribute to the most exalted excellence of man. * An address before the Phoenix and Union Societies of Hamilton College, July 28, 1841. The desire of an honoured name exists in all. It is an original principle in every mind, and lives often when every other generous principle has been obliterated. It is the wish to be known and respected by others; to extend the knowledge of our existence beyond our individual consciousness of being; to be remembered, at least, for a little while after we are dead. Next to the dread of annihilation-the most fearful thought which crosses the human soul-we dread the immediate extinction of our names when we die. We would not have the earth at once made level over our graves; we would not have the spot where we sleep at once forgotten; we would not have the last traces of our existence at once obliterated from the memory of the living world. We need not go into an argument to prove that this desire exists in the human soul. Any one has only to look into his own heart to find it always there in living power and in controlling influence. We need not ask you to cast your eyes upon the pages of history to see the proofs that the desire has found a home in the heart of man. We need not point you to the distinguished heroes, orators, and poets of past or of modern times; nor need we attempt to trace its operations in animating to deeds of noble daring, or its influence on the beautiful productions of art. down into far distant ages, and anticipating the judgment of future times, he said: Ovid showed it when looking "Jamque opus exegi: quod nec Jovis ira, nec ignes, Nec poterit ferrum, nec edax abolere vetustas, Cùm volet illa dies, quæ nil nisi corporis hujus METAMOR. Xv. 871. |