The Wilmingtonian., 1823-12-11
FOR THE wILAINGToNIAN.
Christian Hope contrasted aoith the
Misery Of Infdelity.
GcoNcLUDED.]

|
Christians find comfort amidst all their afllic-
tions and dstresses, they have good and gra-
Icious God to go to, who has in much mercy andl
loving kindness pledged his faithful word to hear
them when they cry, and will send them hopel
and deliverance from his "holy hill" But what
lshal console him who lives without God in the
world, who has no interest in the redeemer; heI
lis utterly unacquainted with the Con of Jeshurun
who alone can support him under all the suiler-
Iings and trials, which may be his portion in some
period ofhis life, probably at the last period when
he is least able to bear them He scorns 10 bend
Ibis stubborn knee and lift up his heart in prayer;
for he has been taught TO consider all religion as
IA mode of superstition, as Priestcraft, as an en-
CINE of state, as the folly of dotarels. On what
then can he depend On what on himself! This
poor, shivering, shortlved, helpless animal, call.
ed Man, depends upon himself, and bids defiance
to his Maker. Proud of his own scanty reason,
proud of the little science he has been able to
collect, he doubts not, but that by his own skill
and ingenuity he will be able 10 extricate himself
from every difficulty, and that the strength he
possesses will support him whenever he is as.
saulted by calamity. Poor MORTAL how little does
wretched and nfrm than a man abandoned to
his own guidance, without the communicated
grace Of God: And how, indeed, does this proud
boaster support himself! After all his arrogant
lpretensons, he is like q babe in leading strings,
|forsaken by its nurse. Consult experience Does
he not veit his rage and grief in the btterest
Expressions Of resentment in curslng, and in bias
lpheming Is not his own heart torn with the
conflict of violent passions, when all should be
lstill and serene See him stretched all pale and
Ilanguid on the bed Of sickness; horror and dis
|may mark his bloodess countenance, he has no
Ilove either to God or man, he trusts in neither.
IDoes not the pistol, the dagger, or the poisoned
lcup too frequently close the melancholy scene OF
aggravated misery! He gnashes with bis teeth,
Icurses God, curses man and dies.
He fas--but he falls, not ripe like shock Of
Icorn, or like wheat come to maturity He falls
Iby his own hand, and hopes for that peace which
1.-The world and its vanities could not bestow, in
1.-THE grave.
To become as though he had never been, is
1.-THE greatest blessing to this HEROIC PmLosopHEH r.
lthis liberal minded man, this enlightened despi-
,ser of the holy Trinity. To be as though he had
never been is the ultimate hope OF this enlisht-
frightened. this self.applauding philosopher! How
lgloomy, dreary, fororn and dismal, are all his
Views in life Little does he know of that health
lof mind, that serene cheerfulness, that divine
Icomplacency, which soothes the resigned CHRIs
fran; who, whenever his soul has tendency OF
account of trials or adverse providences to be dis
auieed within him, he is taught by the Bible (and
lhe believes it) to "hope in God," he enjoys the
Hight ofa reconciled Fathers countenance, beam
ling upon him with the most animating warmth
and the brightest illumination; like the day.
lsprng from on high" chasing away the shades
lof night. HE stands as rock in the sea; the
waves beat on its base, but eternal sunshine set
tiles on its head.
But in what manner do the greater part endea
Ivour 70 subdue the sense of their Affections BY
eagerly running into amusements and diversions
lof every kind, the most puerile and nugaory. Dis
sipation of mind is their only resource. They re-
solve not to think, they determine not to feel
but can they keep their resolution Dreadful,
fear, the intervals of their diversions They
do indeed contrive to drive away the reflection
during the noisy mirth of festivity, or the daz
zling scenes of fashionable gaiety; but neither
the noise nor the glitter can continue always
without interruption. At night, when they lay
their heads on their pillows, serious thoughts
viii spontaneously obtrude themselves, however
lunwelcome; and become the more importunate
las they have been the more obstnatcly resisted
imagination can with difficulty conceive more
distressing situation, than that of him who has
spent the whole day in running away from him
selG but is obliged at the close of it, TO meet the
phantom which has haunted him, and which by
The help of company and dissipation he has esca'
ped, till the bell announces the midnight hour
The musical Instruments sleep The wine nc
onger holds its colour in the cup. The lamps
which tazzled him with the brightness Of theil
hlstre, and charmed with the varlegated colours
of the rainbow, are extingushed. All is still ane
dark.
And now the miserable man is in his cham bel
alone, silent; and whether he will or rot, must
ticommune with himself, and be still. The dark
), ness and gloomness Of the night is but an imper
. feet emblem of his soul in its present state. Has
ii he one CLEAN of comfort No, not one; he has
shut up every avenue to light and cheerfulness
'e Does he kneel to pray! Alas, to whom should he
pray with bis iniidel principles He has no God
to whom to pray. The PniLosopHERs have rob
l;lbetl him of his God; but can they cure his dis
teases, or ward off death, or give him sleep even
las AZ, hnur3 He b.s acknowleflpe,d M