Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1819-11-02
MORAL REFLECTIONS.

"Lean not on earth, twill pierce thee to the heart
An immortal mind cannot long be de-
lighted with the pleasures of time. 1t
must be fed with nobler, with heavenly
food. Earth with all its eDjoyments will
be forgotten, riches will escape the mi
ser's eager grasp, aud mirth flee before
the yotaries of pleasure. How empty,
then, are the vain pursuits of earthly
good Regardless of the sublime enjoy
ments Of futurity, we eagerly grasp at
the world, till like the dagger Of the as
sassin, it pierces to the heart. The hopes
of the thoughtless multitude reach not
beyond the vail of time; but the chris
iian's hope brightens with the decay Of
nature. No clouds OF anxiety darken
the sun of bis prosperity. No alarming
fears disturb his midnight repese. Hope
is an anchor to his soul, which amidst all
the storms OF life, directs him forward,
with enraptured joy, TO seats OF immortal
bliss. He leans not on earth !" no, his
trust is in Him whose promise never fails.
When afflictions assail, and poverty
threatens him, when death knocks at his
door, he reposes in the arms of faith; he
can easily part with the world, for this is
not his portion. But where is the inidel
TO look for enjoyment, when his body
sleeps in the dust Does he hope his
existence will be at an end He starts
with horror at the thought! Reason con.
vinces him Of his absurdity.
Religion brightens in the shades Of re-
tirement The hurry OF business, and
the rude scenes Of mirth, drown the whis-
pers Of conscience, and quench the vital
spark Of religion. The Christian will
often retire to converse with his God.
There he enjoys his sweetest moments,
there he tastes the pleasures which it is not
10 the power of earthly objects to afford.
When he withdraws from noise and dis
turbance-when he meditates at leisure on
those 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 our affections for religion, and
darkens the hopes of future enjoy ment, 10
the same proportion that it increases our
attachment to the present. Ii we would
breathe purer air, we must shun the
noxious vapors Of vice, we must flee
from it, as more dangerous than the
plague or the pestilence. Ye friends Of
humanity; when you behold the greater
part Of mankind eagerly pursuing the
fleeting vanities Of time, and forgetting
the joys of immortality, then retire and
heave sigh for human depravity; but
retire not 10 vain. Resolve to quit Your
follies ere you again immerge in sinful
pleasures.
All the moments Of our lives are count
ed. Let us employ them we'll or i'll, we
shall not increase their number, it is fixed
and lessons continually. Is then our
treasure on earth 1t will vanish in the
hour of distress. Is it in heaven 1t will
increase in value through boundless
eternity.
Youth and beauty may fall before the
corroding hand Of time, like the tender
flower before the chilling blast of autumn.
The brightest morn may soon be overcast
with clouds-and storms of adversely
may drive us far from the smiles and Ca
resses of our friends; happy beyond ex-
preston, if 10 these moments religion be
our guide. This win smooth the fur
rowed front Of age, and blunt the barbed
arrow of death. This will brighten our
hopes when all other enjoyments have
fed, when gaiety ceases to please, and
mirh Can no longer delight.