Take particular notice of God’s first command

Did you ever take particular notice of God’s first command to our race, —“ Replenish the earth and subdue it? ” Now, instead of subduing the earth, and turning the very elements to the greatest and best account, by ascertaining the numberless uses to which they could be applied, our whole race, from the beginning of the world, have been subduing one another. All their strength, all their ingenuity, all their resources, have been employed for the destruction of each other.

The history of the world is only one black disclosure of the designs formed, the means used, and the projects executed or attempted, to subdue one another. The historian finds hardly any thing else to mention. This has been the great vortex which has swallowed up all the wealth and the strength and the thoughts of nations from generation to generation.

But within the last fifty years the minds of a few persons in a few countries have been turned to the subject of subduing the earth, and ascertaining what they could make out of it. The experiments have been numerous, splendid, and the results astounding. The very ends of the world are now brought together, and the moral effect of this among the nations is, that men begin to feel that they belong to one brotherhood. What, then, may we expect when all minds in all countries shall be waked up to this great subject, and the ingenuity of man be turned into this new and beautiful channel, as our benevolent Creator at first commanded!

Next fifty years

What improvements may we not confidently expect in the next fifty years! Long before the expiration of that period we may have done with steam, have found something much more useful. Who can tell what we shall yet make out of the earth, as we come truly to the task of subduing it. Who can tell but we may yet tame the volcano, or hitch on to the lightning, or ride above the clouds! Who can but we may yet turn icebergs and earthquakes to some public benefit!