Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-09-06

q moment ne eAptTlehCes icIiSIl}, LII
contemplating the happy issue Of some
favourite project, his JOY is cloude4 by
the continued distractions which
crowd the path oflife, and if the event
should not realize his wishes, is bias
ted by interminable anguish. If the
~unfavorable state of the weather or a
course of untoward circumstances, pre-
vent the completion ola f%avourite de-
sign or cause the failure of an intended
excursion, he exclaims against the ic-
kleness of mature, and rails at the OBJ
stacles which caused this delay. He
does not consider, that The finger Of
Providence directs the operations OF
men, and over-rules their actions for
their good. Fin the course Of bust
ness, an unexpected change in the mar
ket or an unfortunate bankruptcy
should occur, by which he is deprived
Of anticipated profit or involved in con-
siderable embarrassment, he is seized
with paroxisms Of anger, and blinded
by passion and despair.-He is unable
to see and embrace those favourable
appearances which to cooler heads and
clearer eyes are obvious. Should the
giant grasp Of death sever from him a
relative orfriend upon whom he doat-
ed with fond attachment, and to whom
his soul was knit by affection and graf.
itude, he pours forth his grief in USE
less lamentations, and yielding to the
agony of sorrow, refuses consolation.
BY not restraining his desires and ex-
p~ectations within reasonable limits, he
exposes himselft TO disappointment in
every triaing vicissitude Of life, and by
the exorbitancy Of his wishes renders
its sting more certain, its recurrence
more frequent.
A man of this character, whose mind
is in a state of perpetual irritation is
evidently incapable of enjoying any
permanent degree of contentment or
happiness. He is like a thermometer,
continually changing with every varia-
| ing in the atmosphereof his fortune; oc-
casionally elevated by prosperity, & de-
pressed by adversely, without power to
| accelerate the one or retard the other.-
His life resembles a rapid torrent,
whose course is obstructed by jutting
promontories and opposing rocks; "a
| painst which the current loans with
impotent violence, curls in a thousand
eddies, and rolls along in all the turbu-
lcnce Of pcwer.
How different, on the contrary, are
, the actions Of him who is controlled by
reason, and guided by moderation
The varied evils which chequer his
course are appreciated ro higher than
they deserve, and though he acutely
feels, he firmly bears them. Knowing
the uncertainty Of all earthly enjoy
ment he does not place implicit rell-
ance upon any future blessing, nor m
meet his only hope of felicity with the
accomplishment of some favourite
scheme. Thus he avoids that perpe-
tual anxiety which would harrass his
mind and disturb his quiet. If by the
opposition of elements, or the current
| Of Uncomfortable events, his designs are
marred, and wishes frustrated, he does
not accuse the organization Of nature,
or ascribe to the blind influence OF des-
tinv, the impediments he experiences.
He describes in everymovementthe same
mysterious hand, which guides the
universe in its course, and directs the
minutest actions of men. If those to
whom his affairs were intrasted have
violated their faith, and je%opardized
his f%ortune; if afflicted by any OF the
| visitations to which human nature is
exposed or threatened with a long train
of calamities, he dose not relapse into
Incidence, but struggles with manly for
titude against the approaching evils,
and if he is not enabled " surmount,
he gains sufficient constancy, to bear
them. If in the dispensations OF Prov
idence, the friends of his. soul, the part
ner ofhis bosom or the beloved author
| of his being should be removed from
him by death, though he feels their loss
with %agonized %sensibility and acknowl-
edges a pang the most severe which
humanity can experience, he does not
resign himself to despair, or close his
mind to every ray of comfort, but per-
ceivine in il the hand Of him "who
| chasteneth whonsoever he loveth, and
scourgeth every son whom he receiv-
eth" he resigns himself with submis-
sion to the blow, and though he grieves,
il is not without a hope that they will
be again Joined in everlasting union.
By thus accustoming himself 10 the va
r~ia,ions in life, he learns to bear them
with euuanimity, with frmness, n to
live contenIed with every situation in
which his heavenly Father may place
him.
Thus flowing with calmness and Sc
~renity, his life resembles a majestic
stream whose bed is interspersed with
rocks over which the current slides
" J ~ofiou uhlIp SC 2rce.