CHAPTER VIII.

INFLUENCE OF THE NATURAL LAWS ON THE HAPPI

NESS OF INDIVIDUALS.

A FORMIDABLE objection has often been stated against the Natural Laws, namely, that although, when viewed abstractly, they appear beneficent and just, yet, when applied to individuals, they are undeniably the causes of extensive, severe, and unavoidable suffering; so that while, theoretically, the moral horizon appears to be cleared up, nevertheless, practically and substantially, the obscurity and intricacy remain undiminished. In answer, I have to observe, that, as the whole is just an aggregate of all the parts, if any natural institution, when viewed in its operation in regard to the race, is found to be just and beneficent, it cannot well be cruel and unjust to individuals, who are the component parts of that whole; and this, accordingly, I humbly conceive to admit of something approaching to demonstration. The form of dialogue is perhaps the best way of illustrating the subject, and if, in imitation of some of the classic fables, we suppose the suffering individuals to make an appeal to Jupiter, the law of gravitation may be thus exemplified.

It happened in a remote period, that a slater slipped from the roof of a high building, in consequence of a stone of the ridge having given way as he walked upright along it; he fell to the ground, had a leg broken, and was otherwise severely bruised. As he lay in bed suffering severe pain from his misfortune, he addressed Jupiter in these words: 'O Jupiter, thou art a cruel god, for thou hast made me so frail and imperfect a being, that I had not

faculties to perceive my danger, nor power to arrest my fall when its occurrence showed how horrible an evil awaited me. It were better for me that I had never been.' Jupiter, graciously bending his ear, heard the address, and answered: " Of what law of mine dost thou complain?' 'Of the law of gravitation,' replied the slater; 'by its operation, the slight slip which my foot made upon the stone, which, quite unknown to me, was loose, precipitated me to the earth, and crushed my organized frame, never calculated to resist such violence.' 'I restore thee to thy station on the roof,' said Jupiter, 'heal all thy bruises, and, to convince thee of my benevolence, I suspend the law of gravitation as to thy body and all that is related to it; art thou now content?'

The slater, in deep emotion, offered up gratitude and thanks, and expressed the profoundest reverence for so just and beneficent a deity. In the very act of doing so, he found himself in perfect health, erect upon the ridge of the roof, and, rejoicing, gazed around. His wonder, at so strange an event, having at last abated, he endeavored to walk along the ridge to arrive at the spot which he intended to repair: But the law of gravitation was suspended; and his body did not press upon the roof. There being no pressure, there was no resistance, and his legs moved backwards and forwards in the air without his body making progress in space. Alarmed at this occurrence, he stooped, seized his trowel, lifted it full of mortar, and made the motion of throwing it on the slates; but the mortar, freed from the trowel, hung in mid air; the law of gravitation was suspended as to it also. Nearly frantic with terror at such unexpected novelties of existence, he endeavored to descend to seek relief; but the law of gravitation was suspended as to his body, and it hung poised at the level of the ridge, like a balloon in the air. He tried to fling himself headlong down, to get rid of the uneasy sensation, but his body floated erect, and would not move downwards.

In an agony of consternation, he called once more upon Jupiter. He, ever kind and compassionate, heard his cry and pitied his distress, and asked, 'What evil hath befallen thee now, that thou art not yet content; have I not suspended, at thy request, the law which made thee fall? Now thou art safe from bruises and from broken limbs; why, then, dost thou still complain?'

The slater answered, 'In deep humiliation, I acknowledge my ignorance and presumption; restore me to my couch of pain, but give me back the benefits of thy law of gravitation.'

'Thy wish is granted,' said Jupiter in reply. The slater in a moment lay on his bed of sickness, endured the visitation of the organic law, was restored to health, and again mounted to the roof that caused his recent pain. He thanked Jupiter anew from the depths of his soul, for the law of gravitation, with its countless benefits; and applied his faculties to study and obey it during the remainder of his life. This study opened up to him new and wonderful perceptions of the Creator's beneficence and wisdom, of which he had never even dreamed before; these views so excited and gratified his moral and intellectual powers, that he seemed to himself to have entered on a new existence. Ever after he observed the law of gravitation, and, in a good old age, when his organic frame was fairly worn out by natural decay, he transmitted his trade, his house, and much experience and wisdom, to his son, and died thanking and blessing Jupiter for having opened his eyes to the true theory of his scheme of creation.

The attention of Jupiter was next attracted, by the loud groans and severe complaints of a husbandman, who addressed him thus: 'O Jupiter, I lie here racked with pain, and pass the hours in agony without relief. Why hast thou created me so miserable a being?' Jupiter answered, 'What aileth thee, and of what institution of mine dost thou complain?' The husbandman replied, 'The earth which

thou hast made will yield me no food, unless I till and sow it; and no increase, except it be watered by thy rain. While I guided my plough in obedience to thy law, thy rain came, and it fell not only on the earth, but on me; it penetrated through the clothes which I had been obliged to make for myself, because thou hadst left me naked; it cooled my skin, which thou hadst rendered delicate and sensible; it disordered all the functions of my organized frame, and now rheumatic fever parches my blood, and agonizes every muscle. O Jupiter, thou art not a kind father to thy children.'

Jupiter heard the complaint, and graciously replied, My physical and organic laws were established for thy advantage and enjoyment, and thou hast grievously infringed them; the pain thou sufferest is intended to reclaim thee to thy duty, and I have constituted thy duty the highest joy of thy existence; but say, what dost thou desire?'

The husbandman answered, 'What, O Jupiter, signify the purposes of thy laws to me, when thou hast denied me faculties to discover and obey them?-Frail and fallible as I am, they cause me only pain; deliver me from their effects, and I ask no other boon?'

Thy prayer is granted,' said Jupiter; I restore thee to perfect health, and, for thy gratification, I suspend the laws that have offended thee. Henceforth water shall not wet thee or thine, thy skin shall feel cold no more, and thy muscles shall never ache. Art thou now contented?'

'Most gracious Jupiter,' said the husbandman, 'my soul is melted with deepest gratitude, and I now adore thee as supremely good.'

While he spoke he found himself afield behind his team, healthful and vigorous, jocund and gay, and again blessed Jupiter for his merciful dispensation. The season was spring, when yet the chill blast of the north, the bright blaze of a powerful sun, and rain, interchange in quick and varying succession. He drove his plough along, the rain descended, but it wet not him; the sharp winds

blew, but they chilled no fibre in his frame; the flood of heat next poured upon his brow, but no sweat started from its pores; the physical and organic laws were suspended as to him.

Rejoicing in his freedom from annoyance and pain, he returned gladly home to meet his smiling family, after the labors of the day. It had been his custom in the evening to put off the garments in which during day he had toiled, to clothe himself in linen fresh from the fold; to sup on milk prepared by his wife, with savory fruits and spices; and to press his children to his bosom with all the fervor of a parent's love: and he used to feel a thrill of pleasure pervading every nerve, as they acknowledged and returned the affectionate embrace.

He looked to find the linen clean, cool, delicately dressed, and lying in its accustomed place; but it was not there. He called to his wife to fetch it, half chiding her for neglect. With wonder and dismay depicted in every feature, she narrated a strange adventure. With the morning sun she had risen to accomplish her wonted duty, but, although the water wetted every thread that clothed other individuals, it moistened not a fibre of his. She boiled it on a powerful fire, and applied every means that affection, enlightened by intellect, could devise, but the result was still the same; water glided over his clothes, and would not wet them. 'The physical law' (said the husbandman within himself) is suspended as to me; henceforth water wetteth not me and mine.' He said no more, but placed himself at table, and smiled over his lovely family. He lifted his youngest child upon his knee, a girl just opening in her bloom, pressed her to his bosom, and kissed her ruddy cheek. But he started when he experienced no sensation. He saw her with his eyes, and heard her speak, but had no feeling of her presence. His knee was as stone; his bosom as marble; and his lips as steel; no sensation penetrated through his skin. He placed her on the floor, looked wistfully on her form, graceful,