DISCOURSE XXIII.

TIMES IMPROVE AS THEY ADVANCE.

ECCLESIASTES vii. 10:

SAY NOT THOU, WHAT IS THE CAUSE THAT THE FORMER DAYS WERE BETTER THAN THESE? FOR THOU DOST NOT INQUIRE WISELY CONCERNING THIS.

THERE is a prevalent disposition amongst mankind to be discontented with the present state of things, to magnify its inconveniences, to speak of its evils, and to consider it inferior to the past, which they view with regret, or less advantageous than the coming time, which they impatiently wish to arrive. Those who look forward to better times are the young, the sanguine, the inexperienced. Those who look back to what has been, to what they think will be no more, are the aged. In teaching how to preserve consistency of character, when representing the peculiarities of the aged, the critic and the poet make him the praiser of time past. He forgets the influence of youthful feelings, and

attributes to the happy combination of circumstances what arose from the busy and cheerful way in which his time was spent, from the activity and energy with which he pursued his course, from the enjoyment he had, which must in some respects subside as his capacity to receive it fails. When the appetite is sated, he forgets that the feast which the bounty of nature provides is still as abundant and rich. When a love of retirement and rest creeps upon him, he forgets that society has the same, perhaps increasing, power to interest which it always possessed. When institutions change, his prejudices and prepossessions keep him from perceiving that they are improved.

Whether it belong to age, or be the language of general discontent, at whatever period it may dwell in the breast, the disposition to praise the past at the expense of the present, to undervalue what is, in comparison with what has been, prevails now, and did prevail three thousand years ago. Had it not, the admonition of our text would never have been written. This admonition is addressed to all periods whenever the fault which it reproves is found, and as this advice rests on correct views of human nature and a just estimate of Divine Providence, what Solomon exhorted the Jews to shun, we may advise each other not to do" Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this."

In such an inquiry it is evident that the fact is assumed, that the former days were better; that things have gone backward; that there has been degeneracy, not improvement; that experience has not controlled the tendency to evil; that advantages existed which have been neglected and lost. Were this not the assumption that is blamed, the inquiry would be most important. You could do nothing so likely to check the evil and to improve the condition of mankind as to ask what is the cause of the melancholy change. By tracing this, you might do something to prevent its growing worse. The inquiry is culpable and unwise, because it is seeking what is not to be found; it is attempting to account for a state of things only in the distempered mind of the inquirer. Instead of asking why it is so, he should open his eyes to see how it is; and then he would find that the difficulty which he attempts to solve, is imaginary. The text is, therefore, an assurance that the present state is not worse than the past; that it has advantages in the changes which have taken place; that it is the duty of man to see and improve these, and not indulge mistaken views, vain regret, and useless discontent.

To shew that the former days were not better than these, it is not necessary to enter into a very minute comparison, nor into a very full enumeration of facts; and it would be of little practical importance for us to select the times in which Solomon lived, and the times which preceded, to confirm the

truth. Our own times, as those in which we are most interested, shall furnish the comparison with any which have preceded; and there are a few facts which scarcely admit of dispute, and which clearly shew that in comparison with the past, we have reason to be grateful, instead of having cause to repine.

We must be aware that civilization has advanced, and has in it more good than evil. Its progress, therefore, improves the times. Within the period of authentic history, the accommodations of mankind were very little superior to the condition of the brute creation. The great portion, the poor, were miserably fed, miserably clothed, miserably housed. Even the powerful and the great were destitute of innumerable accommodations now considered by the common people essential to their comfort. All the inventions of the arts have for centuries been contributing to supply the wants of society, increasing and facilitating their means of subsistence. Trades have multiplied; the means of employment have been augmented nearly in proportion to the increase of population, though not so as to obviate the ill effects of thoughtless and ignorant improvidence; life, the great and sublime object of creating power, is more abundant, and enjoyment is proportionally increased. The cultivation of the soil has become an art which science has enlightened and assisted. The rearing of cattle, improved in all their useful qualities for food and other service, has,

even to the brute creation, caused a large increase of the enjoyment of life. Commerce has taken its adventurous voyage, and widely diffused the skill and the productions and the advantages of particular and often distant spots, for the common benefit of the world. The extensive division of labour increases the supply, improves the quality, and cheapens the cost, and effects the rapid spread of articles of general use. And if it be said that this state of things creates artificial wants, it quickens ingenuity, spurs invention and industry, and thus largely contributes to the improvement and happiness of society. All the efforts of ingenuity, skill, and industry, by which the communication with distant parts is facilitated, by which mutual dependence and mutual convenience are increased, are so many proofs that men do not inquire wisely when they presume that the former days were better than these.

We must be aware that human life is enjoyed with greater security, for a longer period, and with greater exemption from evil, than in former times. The protection which is afforded to person and property by the improved administration of justice, by the destruction of barbarous feudal customs, by the gradual approaches towards an equalization of the rights of mankind, will be generally conceded. We walk secure; we sleep in peace. We fear not darkness. Alone, we are protected by the allpresent force of the terror of the law; and, excep