revelation. In the words of the text, with those in connexion, we are taught the identity of the human race. God that made the world, and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples, made with hands; neither is worshiped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things: And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth. These words teach us, that all mankind, throughout all the world, are of the same origin: Or, in other words, That God created Adam and Eve, and that from them the whole human race have descended. But mankind exist under such different varieties of stature, of complexion, and of features, that we might be led to conclude, they are not all of the same descent, had we not the word of God for our guide. In establishing the identity of the human race, I shall in the first place, contrast some of the peculiarities of the human body with the bodies of the animals of the earth. And the vast difference between them will be an argument in favour of human identity.

1st. 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 tribes, particularly in the

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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 are 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 And this is one 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.

art.

2d. 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 Doctor 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

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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.

3rd. 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, and of which no animal can be taught to participate. Animals can make those varied sounds, which are necessary to call their young, or to 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 mankind have enjoyed this gift. Language, as to the characters and structure, is different in different nations; but 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, or deprived the gift of speech, 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 confered 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. I shall proceed in the second place, directly to establish the identity of the human race. And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth. This expression teaches us, that all human beings upon the globe have the same kind of animal life. But the present discourse is designed, from natural and moral causes, to reconcile those varieties of figure, of features, and complexion, which exist among the human species. Some of the principal varieties in the aspect of mankind will be noticed. And I would observe in the first place, that the Esquimaux, the Laplanders, the Samoiedes, and the northern tribes of the Tartars, have their head and breast uncommonly large, the neck uncommonly short, the eyes, hands, and feet uncommonly small. The cause is doubtless owing chiefly to the climate; as they live in the northern parts of the globe, in which regions intense and almost perpetual cold reigns. The natural effect of a climate so cold, is to restrain the growth and expansion of the limbs most remote from the centre of warmth and circulating heat in the body. The natural consequence is, the size of the hands and feet are greatly diminished; whilst the head and breast, which receive the most forcible impulse of the blood, will be proportionably enlarged. And as the head and breast are so greatly expanded, the neck is apparently shortened. Moreover the inhabitants of those cold regions are habitually raising their shoulders to protect their necks from the uncomfortable effects of intense frost and cold; and their heads seem to rest on their breast, or sunk down even below their shoulders. This appearance is what gave rise to the fable of tribes, who had no necks. But should any of us be removed to those regions of the north, we should readily contract their habits, and by the intensity of the cold, should begin

to be assimilated to them, and in a few generations should partake of all their peculiarities. For illustration, suppose a tree, in a warm climate, to have a long and slender body, and very extended limbs. Let a young shoot of the same be transplanted to a cold climate, and re-produced for a few centuries; the body of the tree would become much shorter and thicker, and its branches not so extensively spread. In consequence of the unremitted constriction of cold, a particular habit of body, or disposition of features becomes incorporated into the system, and gives a form to the person, and lineaments to the features more or less strongly marked, as far as the cause is found to operate. On this same principle we may account for the dark and brown complexion, and the coarseness and roughness of the countenances of the inhabitants of the frozen regions. rough and harsh features are the natural result of the corrugations and distortions occasioned by the climate. In our own climate when a person is exposed to the severities of a bleak, north wind in a severe, cold morning, for only one hour, how is his visage changed by a momentary roughness and brownness. Coarse living, unpolished society, and severity of climate are reasons sufficient to account for all the peculiarities and irregularities of complexion, features, and stature, which characterize the inhabitants. of the regions of the north.

Their

2d. I shall now take a view of some of the fairest complexions of any people upon the globe. But such inhabitants must be found where climate is congenial by its temperature, and where the cultivation of the arts and sciences is carried to its greatest perfection. Some of the Europeans and the Americans in the United States are intended. Their residence is in the northern, temperate zone, where climate is favourable to a fair and ruddy complexion; and where learning and polished society are calculated to produce lively and interesting features in the counte.