The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware register., 1824-11-11
SERIOUS aErENC-zoWs.

ccilcs tho vain '.o.aa SC Of mankind, vet there
are qualities of the human character much
more deserving of respect, and virtues that
arc much more aniablc. The respect Of So
ccty, however, is not always bvcn to the
most mcritorious, but to those who best
please the fancy of their patrons and hence
the reason why the man who possesses wit,
cloqucncc and erudition sufficient to please
the jocular, persuade the simple, AID CON
found the vulgar, receives the universal suit,
rage Of the multitude, in preference to him
who, by his Silent but cXalted virtue, merits
the esteem and admiration oi mankind, but
lattcrs not their vanity by seeking It. Of
this description is the man Of true picty, or
him who places am entire confidence N his
Goblet the deserts ofbuch q man be what
they may, all he seeks is the appreciation OF
! his Maker and possessed OF that, the world,
with al, its stiles, badges, and ac-ia.nationa
is too poor to merit Lis attic tian; he finds
that the virtue which he possesses is the
most valuable OF all, and IS therefore, bS no
means disposed to sacrifice his real jewel Ior
that which has only the appearance Of one ;
for, the condition OF man is such that the
happiness Of To-day depends Oh the prospect.
Otto morrow; and the proportion Of certainty
with which VIC can calculate future bliss,
regulates the degree of present cnjoymcnts
Who then can be 50 happy as The pious
man.
There exists class of mcA, who, although
the kindness of Providence hath prevented
them from falling into tlc labyrinth of the
wild enthusiast, yet, i'll the pride ofthcir own
greatness, they have forgotten the Author OF
their being, and the source from whence all
their blessings Gow. What they possess
they conceive to be their own, and imagine
themselves to have an intisputable right Of
using it in whatever way their inclinatlons
may direct, without being accountable for its
product to any bit themselves. The time
however, will conc, when they also, to then
sorrow, will discover the dclusiGn-whcn all
borrowed merit will be teatroyed-all false
pretcnsions exposed, and their claim to hon
our and advancement be alone determined
bv their own intrinsic worth. How will vt
stand this tcst-yc who have no power but
that Of influence, nor any respect Gut that OF
wealth or yc who pride yourselves on youl
own excellence, and presume to stand il
judgement over the works OF Godt 1rue
pety is the only virtue that will keep a mar
clear from the trammels of the worlt-tha
will point out to him the road to truth, ant
fit him for the enjoyment of thatlhappines
which is ultimately destined for the good
But ii is not sufficient that he acknoWlcd'
the existence Of God, or attend to the com
mon principles Of morality; he who woul'
be truly pious man, must be religious
man for religion is morality refined. III
must remember the Author OF his being, ant
consider his bounty and beneyolcncc--h'
must reverence and love lis heavenly Fathe
he must regard him as his dearest friend
and place in him a full and entiHc confidence
he must raise his mind in gratitude To-
every favor which he daily and hourly re
ceivcs.-in short, lie must be so completel.
tho child Of God, that his whole mind mus
be encilCled with affection tor this best o
Fathers, es en- as child for Il found parent
Happy the man who has attained to this cA
altcd degree of excellence; lis life will be
peace and happiness, because it WILDE q Iii
Of virtue and picty.
The keen wind ofthc mountain shakes III
tattcrcd garment Of the care-woln traveller
as he bcndsbcforc the storm =; but the pcltln
:, of the tempest impedcs not his course; mop
- auimates his mind-his home IS present I
Ills yiew-domcstic affection cheers hahcar
and the expected smile Of welcome gives "
pour to his limbs In fancy he beholds til
cheerful blaze on his cottage hcarth, and ~
stems quicken, but the whillwind arises an
the forest oak trembles to its root the blu
lightning darts across the hlackened hofizol
and the shricks of dlsmay are heard aiar II
reaches the Threshold OF his clay beiit nut
all within is silent as the grave Tor there II
nartncr of his cares lies a stitlened corp
The gloom of dispair shivers at his heart
hc sinks on the earth and rises no more.