1st. Let us notice human reason and improve

ment.

The faculties of man develope gradually, and his progression knows no limits. His understanding and useful attainments may be ever advancing towards their perfection. But, because the animals of the earth possess not the guidance of reason and the defence of improvement, the Creator has endued them for their safety with a proportionably greater number of instincts than man. With what uniformity each animal pursues that course of life, for which it was destined; how unerringly it selects that food, which is proper for its subsistence, and constructs those habitations, which are adapted to its state and its necessities!

On the other hand, man, destitute of the nice and accurate instincts of animals, as well as of the effectual means which they possess, of procuring their provision, must have been the most forlorn of all creatures, although destined to be lord of this lower world, were he not an intelligent being, essentially exalted in his very nature, and of vastly superiour improvable faculties. What may be the essential difference between the intellectual reason of a human being, and the sensitive operations of reasoning in an amimal, appertains not to me at present to describe. Suffice it to say, the understanding in man and his conscience constitute him an intelligent and accountable being.

We behold one class of beings, and only one, dwelling on all the face of the earth, capable of constant and useful progression. None of the animals are essentially benefitted as to their faculties or situation, by age and experience. But man, as to all his diversified tribes, and the improvement of seventy years, scarcely makes a beginning, as it respects the knowledge, and the noble objects, to which he may attain. At death, his advances towards perfection, are nipt in the bud. What a characteristick, what a pre-eminence then, have

all mankind, above all the other creatures, which exist on our globe.

2dly. The figure of the human body is essentially different from all animal bodies.

Throughout, it is a more completely organized and finished piece of divine mechanism. Man, as it respects his animal frame, evidently holds the first rank in relation to the species of animals. He is distinguished from them also in a very striking manner by the erectness of his form. See the beasts naturally bending towards the earth, as if created for the purpose of grovelling in the dust, and solely its kindred. But see man, from the erectness of his posture by nature, looking towards the heavens, as if of higher birth, and destined at last to soar on high. By an infinite number of muscles and articulations in the structure of the human frame, man is capable of a far greater variety of easy movements and useful purposes, than any of the animal species, particularly in the nicer operations of the arts, without which they could neither have been invented nor practised. The human body, in its various members, and in the symmetry of the whole, exhibits remarkably pleasing and elegant proportions. Its adaptation to perform delicate and useful operations, plainly evinces the intention of the Creator to favour the cultivation of all the arts necessary for the purposes of life, for convenience and ornament.

The varied clothing of the animals of the earth, is in direct contrast to that of man. All animals are clothed by the gift of nature; but the garments of man are the work of art. And this is one grand characteristick mark, by which they may easily be distinguished. Thus we may be led to see by contrast, that the figure and condition of the human body are strikingly different from all animal bodies.

3dly. The human countenance is essentially different from that of any of the animals.

Some animals have a visage far more engaging than others. But how insignificant the appearance, compared with the beautiful and interesting countenance of a human being! Some animals by their looks discover docility; some, cunning; and others, sagacity. But intelligence with far superiour paintings, is delineated on the fine and delicate lines of the human countenance. The variety of ideas and emotions continually arising in the mind, communicates to the countenance a habit of quick and various flexibility, which renders it capable of expressing suddenly upon the features, every thought. Says Dr. Smith,* Expression, in a low degree, belongs even to the animals. This we know; for we see them brighten with joy, and gambol with pleasure they languish in sickness, and writhe in pain. Their eyes sometimes sparkle with love, or flash with rage; and even the tear of distress may be seen to roll down their cheeks. But the expression of the human countenance is incomparably more various than that of any animal. Such is the mysterious union and sympathy between the human soul and body, that, in the delicate and flexible human countenance there is hardly the slightest movement or emotion of the mind which has not its external character or symbol. Thus even the looks and features, though a silent, are an impressive language. Time will not allow me to treat of the diversity and beautiful intermixture of colour, and its varied changes in a human countenance, which, by contrast, we discern to be evidently and strikingly different from that of any of the animals.

The features are, however, greatly affected by the existing state of society; and, with the refinement of its manners, susceptible of extraordinary degrees of cultivation. That dull and inflexible gloom and vacancy of countenance, which distinguish savage life, are the necessary consequence

*To whose writings I am indebted for the substance of this, and the succeeding discourse,

of vacuity of thought. The few occasions, that occur, to call the various talents of the mind into rigorous operation, necessarily leave it to languish in a state of inaction. Thus in a savage we see nature in its original rudeness, without the added powers of art and science. But, as society advances in its progress, as invention and calculation are encouraged, and the interchange of thought accelerated, the mind, in its perceptions, becomes more quick and penetrating.

All the features of the human countenance are modified, and its whole expression, in a great measure, formed by the state of society, in which men exist. Every idea and every emotion, which are excited in the mind, affect, in some degree, the human visage, the index of our feelings, and contribute to form its infinitely various lineaments. Paucity of ideas, and of objects to call forth the understanding or the passions, marks the countenance with a vacant and unmeaning aspect. Agreeable and cultivated scenes enliven and animate the features, and tend to render them regular, soft and refined. Wild and solitary forests impress on the countenance some image of its own rudeness. The infinitely diversified attentions of men, in polished society, give great flexibility and the most delicate variety to the expression of the counte

nance.

4thly. The human voice is a criterion by which man may be readily distinguished from any of the animals of the earth.

Speech is the prerogative of man, a faculty of which no animal can be taught to participate. Animals can make those varied sounds, which are necessary to call their young, or give them warning of their danger. But the power of communicating thoughts by words, belongs to man alone. No animal has ever had the faculty of speech; but all the tribes of human beings have enjoyed this gift. Language, as to the characters and structure, is

different in different nations; still the great end is the same in all, to express the thoughts of the mind by words.

The voice of man, in singing the praises of his Maker, is far superiour to the musical sounds of any animal, both for melody and sentiment. The birds of the air warble their pleasant notes; but they have not the power of articulate harmony. Vocal musick is impressively instructing and highly pleasing. Let us call to mind some person that is dumb, and then we may have some just views of the vast superiority and striking difference, which exist between the power of the human voice, and those mere sounds of nature, of which animals are capable. The gift of speech, with that of musick, is one of the greatest blessings both for entertainment and benefit, ever conferred on man as it respects his animal frame. And although animals can make sounds necessary to their situation, yet the human voice is a criterion, by which man may be readily distinguished from any of the animals of the earth.

Some of the most prominent characteristicks of human identity have been noticed. There are many and definite traits, by which all mankind are distinguished as of one species of beings. I would mention the peculiarities of the eyes, nose, forehead, cheeks, mouth, chin, and the covering of the head. The formation of the hands, fingers, and nails, the calf of the leg, and the feet, may be considered as among the numerous class of distinctions. But a sufficient number of particulars have been brought to view and illustrated to establish the present subject, the identity of man.

REFLECTIONS.

The present subject is worthy of attention. Its principles are as old as the bible, and as ancient as the creation of the first human pair. They are as interesting as the present prospects and future des