to work on matter for the acquisition of material and corporeal
good, and that, in such, the spirit is of necessity too wedded to matter
to rise above it. This objection will be considered by and by; but I
would just observe, in passing, that the objector must have studied very
carelessly the material world, if he suppose that it is meant to be the
grave of the minds of most of those who occupy it. Matter was made for
spirit, body for mind. The mind, the spirit, is the end of this living
organization of flesh and bones, of nerves and muscles; and the end of
this vast system of sea and land, and air and skies. This unbounded
creation of sun, and moon, and stars, and clouds, and seasons, was not
ordained merely to feed and clothe the body, but first and supremely to
awaken, nourish, and expand the soul, to be the school of the intellect,
the nurse of thought and imagination, the field for the active powers, a
revelation of the Creator, and a bond of social union. We were placed in
the material creation, not to be its slaves, but to master it, and to
make it a minister to our highest powers. It is interesting to observe
how much the material world does for the mind. Most of the sciences,
arts, professions, and occupations of life, grow out of our connection
with matter. The natural philosopher, the physician, the lawyer, the
artist, and the legislator, find the objects or occasions of their
researches in matter. The poet borrows his beautiful imagery from
matter. The sculptor and painter express their noble conceptions through
matter. Material wants rouse the world to activity. The material organs
of sense, especially the eye, wake up infinite thoughts in the mind. To
maintain, then, that the mass of men are and must be so immersed in
matter, that their souls cannot rise, is to contradict the great end of
their connection with matter. I maintain that the philosophy which does
not see, in the laws and phenomena of outward nature, the means of
awakening mind, is lamentably short-sighted: and that a state of society
which leaves the mass of men to be crushed and famished in soul by
excessive toils on matter is at war with God's designs, and turns into
means of bondage what was meant to free and expand the soul.

Elevation of soul, this is to be desired for the laborer as for every
human being; and what does this mean? The phrase, I am aware, is vague,
and often serves for mere declamation. Let me strive to conv