Nor has ever any great work been accomplished by human creatures, in which instinct was not the principal mental agent, or in which the methods of design could be defined by rule, or apprehended by reason. It is therefore that agency through mechanism destroys the powers of art, and sentiments of religion, together.
And it will be found ultimately by all nations, as it was found long ago by those who have been leaders in human force and intellect, that the initial virtue of the race consists in the acknowledgment of their own lowly nature and submission to the laws of higher being. “Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return,” is the first truth we have to learn of ourselves; and to till the earth out of which we were taken, our first duty: in that labour, and in the relations which it establishes between us and the lower animals, are founded the conditions of our highest faculties and felicities: and without that labour, neither reason, art, nor peace, are possible to man.
But in that labour, accepting bodily death, appointed to us in common with the lower creatures, in noble humility; and kindling day by day the spiritual life, granted to us beyond that of the lower creatures, in noble pride, all wisdom, peace, and unselfish hope and love, may be reached, on earth, as in heaven, and our lives indeed be but a little lessened from those of the angels.
As I am finishing this Fors, I note in the journals [[138]]accounts of new insect-plague on the vine; and the sunshine on my own hills this morning (7th April), still impure, is yet the first which I have seen spread from the daybreak upon them through all the spring; so dark it has been with blight of storm,—so redolent of disease and distress; of which, and its possible causes, my friends seek as the only wise judgment, that of the journals aforesaid. Here, on the other hand, are a few verses[10] of the traditional wisdom of that king whose political institutions were so total a failure, (according to my supremely sagacious correspondent,) which nevertheless appear to me to reach the roots of these, and of many other hitherto hidden things.
“His heart is ashes, his hope is more vile than earth, and his life of less value than clay.
Forasmuch as he knew not his Maker, and him that inspired into him an active soul, and breathed in him a living spirit.
But they counted our life a pastime, and our time here a market for gain; for, say they, we must be getting every way, though it be by evil means.[11] Yea, they worshipped those beasts also that are most hateful; (for being compared together, some are worse than others,[12] neither are they beautiful in respect of beasts,) [[139]]but they went without the praise of God, and his blessing.
Therefore by the like were they punished worthily, and by the multitude of beasts tormented.
And in this thou madest thine enemies confess, that it is thou who deliverest them from all evil.
But thy sons not the very teeth of venomous dragons overcame: for thy mercy was ever by them, and healed them.