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But the great reason why man should labor is found in his natural consciousness of free-agency, whereby he gathers not only knowledge, but pride at his success. In spite of the intellectual acknowledgment of the omnipotence of God, man has a sense of independence which gives encouragement and dignity. This is as God will have it; our joy, ambition, pride, success, excite no envy in his bosom.

The utility of pride is very evident. Our fears of the future are based upon the unknown: and that which our own pains discover,—that which our own daring, or ingenious patience overtakes, is an assurance, in the consciousness of knowledge, under the divine delusion of free-agency, of the diminution of the external powers over us, and of our fertility of expedient in troubles unforeseen. The knowledge is not much in itself; but pride magnifies its attainment, and belittles the terror of that which we know not. A great joy is success. We rejoice, not so much in possession, as in possession by means of our own wit, patience, or labor. A fortune is but a fortune to him who inherits it,—a something to be valued at what it will do, buy, or bring: but to him who wins a fortune there is this compensation, that it is the representative of wit and energy which command fortune. What wonder then, when the thriving, toiling father loves to increase his wealth, while his prodigal son, who never earned an honest dollar, cares only to squander it?—The glory of all things to man is, not only that he may possess them, but that his image may be stamped upon them, and this

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