Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1815-06-03
The Modern Lay-Preacher.
NO. V.

The Modern Lay-Preacher.
NO. V.
g Sorrow is better than laughter; for
6: by the sadness of the countenance the
Sc hearts made Observation-Disclosures.
Temporal Affections are most frequent
" the instruments used by the over-rui'
ing power to remind man ofhis entire de
pendence upon Supreme Being. They
act as wholesome chastisement to his
vanity and devotion to worldly pursuits;
in all of which, it most unfortunately hap
pens, he either loses sight. Or is forgetful
of the Author of all his blessings.
The language of our text may apper
like an enigma to some TO others the
lesson it conveys may seem not only pa
rodoxical but odious but to the reader
who calmly refects upon the numerous Vi
cissitudes of our nature, upon the uncer-
tain tenure of human existence, this short
passage opens volume of truths of the
NEST important natures For it is bet
ter to go to the house of mornlag than to
90 to the house of feastins.''-In the gay
and noisy scenes of life, where 6 laugh
ter'' and friyolity abound. we witness
nothing to enlarge or elevate cur ideas OF
human character; but on the contrary,
these incidents often furnish deplorable
and disgusting pictures Of inteliactual de-
eredation. The hundreds, who daily as
semb!e round the festive board, and in-
termingle in observation-disclosures Of laugh
ter,n may possibly en- ny some temporary
delight; but it is the delight and gratTi-
cation of mere moment, more evanes-
cent than the breath that is respired on
the occasion for & as the cracking Of
thorns under a pot is the laughter of a
fools
He who glides down gently with The
stream of fortune, unruflled by any unto
ward winds or crooked passages She
who encounters no impediments in his
pursuits, and no disappointments to his
hopes, is often misguided, by success, In
to most deplorabIe error. Intoxicated
by prosperity he begins to think only OF
himself, and from being a mere creature.
he starts the impious idea of his being the
Creator of his own good fortune. But
never having tasted of the " sweets OF
adversely he buoys up his wicked ate
vain hopes, until some terrible and mn
looked for blast of Providence, destroys
them in moment:
6 Tis Heaven alone
Whose power resistless by all human
force,
Derides our prudence and our shallow
foresight,
By interposing the minutest accidents,
Unthought of, unforeseen by mans dim
eyes,
Tears from the wealthy what ne thought
secure"
But although " sweet are the uses O.
adversity," it is not pretended to be af-
tirmel that social man is always to have
his = countenance" clad in the = Lirery
Of acoe." On the contrary, Solomon Of
ten expressly declares s there is time
for au-thinss "a time to weep and a
time to be merry - and the spirit of eur
Holy Religion breathes nothing more cal
culated to raise the spirits or lrradlate
the countenance with JOY, than the annun-
citation Of :. Glad tidings OF Peace and
Good will to Man,
The Author of our Being has benei-
Gently endowed US with faculties for the
full enjoyment of rational qualification !,
aud it is a vile return of his bounty to re-
ect or abuse them. 1t is to this point
that the .hodern Ley Preacher wishes to
tasten the attention of his readers.-Use
but abuse not the gifts OF GoD.-Ihey are
as a talent committed to your charge; Il
as wise and prudent stewards you should
faithfully employ them to the greatest adj
| vantage" AS the sparks ny upwards"
so is the lot of humanity to drink of the
cup of :. sorrow :" and he whose $ heart
S made better" by the draught, will as
suredly reap his reward.
6 Convinced,
* That Heav'n but tries our virtue by al
fiction;
;. That oft the cloud, which wraps the
present hour,
{ Serves but to brighten all our future
days T. 8