Berkeley and Jefferson intelligencer. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va.) 1802-1810, 1806-07-11
From tle Dartmouth Gazette.

from the DARTMOUTH Sazeues
= Lean not on earth. twill pierce thee %
M the heard
AN immortal mind cannot long be de-
lighted withthe pleasures Of time. Il
must De fed with nobler, with hea.
vsnly food. Earth with al its enjoy
ments win be Forgotten, riches will es-
cape the misers eager grasp, and mirth
Zee before the votaries Of pleasure
Empty, then, re.the vain pursuits Of
earthly good Regardless Of the sublime
enioyments Of futurity, we eagerly grasp
1t the world, till, like the dagger Of the
ASSASSIN, il pierces 10 the heart. The
hopes Of the thoughtless multitude reach
not beyond the veil of liiae but the
Christiah's hope hrightens witifthe de-
Gays Of nature. No eloUds Of anxiety
darken the sun ofhis prosperity. No =.
farming fears disturb his midnight re-
pose. Hope Is an anchor TO his soul,
which, admidts al the storms sflife, di,
reefs him forward, with enraptured joys
TO seatS Of immortal Bliss. He = leans
not OH earth, p no |; his trust ise;n HIM
whoSe promise never fails. When af-
flictioas asaail, and poverty threatens
him, when death knoeks o. HE door, he
reposcs in the arms Of faith, he can easi.
lyp part with the world, for this 10 not his
portion. Bot where is the inadslto look
Tor enjoyment, when his body sleeps IN
the dust Does he hope bis existence
will then be at an end / he starts with
horror At the thoaght! Reason conviu:
ees him Of its absurdity. r. % F3 ~ 7.
| Religion brightens inthe shade Of re-
tirement. The hurry of business, and
the rude scenes Of mirth, drown the wills.
per of conscience, and quench the vital
spark ofreligion. The Christian will of.
ten retire To- converse with his Cod
There he enjoys his- sweetest moments,
there he tastes the pleasures which II 10
not in. the power of earthly objects to Of.
ford. When he withdraws from noise
and disturbance, when he meditates at
/ leisure on these great truths, which have
never been seriously enough considered,
/ it is almost impossible that he should not
| be affected with them. Intercourse with
the world cools jurisdictions for religion,
and darkens the hopes Of future enjoy.
| ment, 10 ths same proportion that it in
cfeasss our attachment to the present.
If we would breathe \ purer air, we mus.
shun the noxious yapors ofviee, We mus,
/ fee from il, a more dangerous than the
plague or the pestilence. Ye friends ol
humanity when you behold the greatei
part Of mankind eagerly pursuing TIL
I flssting Joys of immortality. then re,
tire and heave sigh for human depravi
J ~; bit retire notin vain. Resolve q
gun Your foliies and immerge not again
III sinful pleasures. ri f
All the moments Of ohr lives are
counted. Let Us employ them well Of
! iii, We shall Rotfnerease their number,
ills fixed and lessons continually. Il
then our sfeasure on earth I twill van
ish In The hour Of distress. Ii il in
heaven! Twill increase inyalur through
aboundless eternity. 81 50
Youth and beauty may fail before the
! corfoding hand oftime, like the tender
j flower before the chilling blasts 9of au-
tumn. Thebrightest morning may soon
be overcast with clouds and storms oil
adversely may drive US far from the
smiles and caresses Of oyr friends hap.
! py beyond expression, if4in these mo.
ments religion be our guide. This will
smooth the furroMed front Of age, and
blunt the barbed arrow Of death. This
win brighten our hopes when all Other
enjoyments have faded, when gaity ceas-
/ es 70 please, and mirth can no longer de-
light.