272 ON THE HUMAN FACULTIES, 



early use of clubs, and bows and arrows ; but 

 as he soon became acquainted with the working 

 of metals, and iron being the most abundant, he 

 would thence learn to manufacture out of that 

 mineral the means by which he could still more 

 effectually attack his opponents, or divide the 

 flesh of such animals as he destroyed for his own 

 subsistence ; and this gave rise to the invention 

 of spears, swords, and knives. 



Thus from acquiring a knowledge of defending 

 himself against his natural enemies, and of sup- 

 plying himself with the animal food which his 

 constitution required, he gradually learned also 

 to attack and defend himself against those of his 

 own species, to whom he might voluntarily or 

 accidentally be opposed ; which eventually 

 led to the discovery of gunpowder, cannon, and 

 fire arms, as well as to the erection of those forts 

 and castles, through the agency of all which, so 

 many important events have since occurred. And 

 thus from the original helplessness of man, and 

 from the inventions to which that has given rise* 

 our most valuable manufactures, and our arts in 

 general, have reached a perfection, to which, 

 without those excitements, they could never have 

 attained. 



Having adverted to those circumstances in the 

 creation which appear to have been intended to 

 develope and call forth the intellectual faculties 

 of man, we shall now take into consideration 



