CHAPTER II : COMMODITY.

WHOEVER considers the final cause of the world, will discern arnmultitude of uses that result. They all admit of being thrown into onernof the following classes; Commodity; Beauty; Language; andrnDiscipline.rnrnUnder the general name of Commodity, I rank all those advantagesrnwhich our senses owe to nature. This, of course, is a benefit which isrntemporary and mediate, not ultimate, like its service to the soul. Yetrnalthough low, it is perfect in its kind, and is the only use of naturernwhich all men apprehend. The misery of man appears like childishrnpetulance, when we explore the steady and prodigal provision thatrnhas been made for his support and delight on this green ball whichrnfloats him through the heavens. What angels invented these splendidrnornaments, these rich conveniences, this ocean of air above, thisrnocean of water beneath, this firmament of earth between? this zodiacrnof lights, this tent of dropping clouds, this striped coat of climates,rnthis fourfold year? Beasts, fire, water, stones, and corn serve him.rnThe field is at once his floor, his work-yard, his play-ground, hisrngarden, and his bed.rnrn     "More servants wait on manrn     Than he'll take notice of."--rnrnNature, in its ministry to man, is not only the material, but is also thernprocess and the result. All the parts incessantly work into eachrnother's hands for the profit of man. The wind sows the seed; the sunrnevaporates the sea; the wind blows the vapor to the field; the ice, onrnthe other side of the planet, condenses rain on this; the rain feeds thernplant; the plant feeds the animal; and thus the endless circulations ofrnthe divine charity nourish man.rnrnThe useful arts are reproductions or new combinations by the wit ofrnman, of the same natural benefactors. He no longer waits forrnfavoring gales, but by means of steam, he realizes the fable ofrnAeolus's bag, and carries the two and thirty winds in the boiler of hisrnboat. To diminish friction, he paves the road with iron bars,rnand, mounting a coach with a ship-load of men, animals, andrnmerchandise behind him, he darts through the country, from town torntown, like an eagle or a swallow through the air. By the aggregate ofrnthese aids, how is the face of the world changed, from the era ofrnNoah to that of Napoleon! The private poor man hath cities, ships,rncanals, bridges, built for him. He goes to the post-office, and thernhuman race run on his errands; to the book-shop, and the humanrnrace read and write of all that happens, for him; to the court-house,rnand nations repair his wrongs. He sets his house upon the road, andrnthe human race go forth every morning, and shovel out the snow,rnand cut a path for him.rnrnBut there is no need of specifying particulars in this class of uses.rnThe catalogue is endless, and the examples so obvious, that I shallrnleave them to the reader's reflection, with the general remark, thatrnthis mercenary benefit is one which has respect to a farther good. Arnman is fed, not that he may be fed, but that he may work.