The Arkansas advocate., 1831-03-23

NneafSu uy tnc lHSCTlp- tion2 Life IS such wandering, the world IS such q structure; and over many :: door iorbldding all entrance, and over many may labyrinth, Is written the start ling inscription that tells us of our igno- rances and anisounces to us unseen and imaginable wonders. The ground ss tread upon is not dull, cold soil, not the mere paved way, on which the footsteps oI the weary and busy are hastening, not the mere arena on which the war of mcr- cantile competition is waged; but i've tread upon enchanted ground.'
 And then, if the soul communicates With the outward world, through mystc- rious processes, what power has that world-its objects, its events, it's chan ges, its varying hues, ils man;-tos,ss;; voices, whatmysterious power have they to strike the secret springs of the soul within!
 ]" It may be a sound-- tone of fmusic-snmmcr's eyc--or spring, hower-the wind-the ocean-which
 shall wound,
 Striking tine electric chain, wherewith
 we're darkiy bound,
 And how, and why we know not, nor ecu
 trace
 Home to its cloud this lightning of the mnti.''
 Butifnature is bound with almost ma- gic spells of association to our maturer years, what pnrc and fresh mystery is it to our childhood! An! Childhood beautiful mystery l-how does nature lie all around thee, as a trcasure-house Of wonders! Sweet and gentle season of being! whose flowers bring on the period of ripening, or bloom but to withcr and fade in their loveliness; time of thick coming joys and tears ,f e.. .;.;. ti that pass quickly away, as ii they did not belong 10 thee, of joys that finger and abide long, and yet make the long day short time of weakness. yet of power to charm the eye of sagos from their love; Child- hood! what mystery art thou, and what mysteries dost thou deal with: What mystery is there in thy unfolding facul- l ties, that call forth wonder from those. that gaze upon thee, and seem to thy selfattimes. .almostas ifthey were strange "reminiscences of an earlier heinz, What mystery is there in thy thoughts, when thou art first struggling 10 grasp the in- finite and efernaii when thou art told of immortal regions where thou shalt wander onward and onward forever, and sayest, even 10 the teaching voice of au- thority, s.It cannot, father! it cannot be!o
 And there are mysteries, too, thickly strewed all along the moral path of thie wonderful being. There arc s.rnysteries of ourholy religion" Wonders of heav- enly mercy are displayed in its triumphs over the human soul. Gracious inferpo- sition, too, of the teaching Spirit and succouring Providence, hold the mfr. mites aHd struggles of tic faithfi1I.
 And the results, moreover, of this great aid solemn trial of human nature, thatis passing on earth, arc as mysteri- ous as the process--the heavenly inter- position and the human effort, and these. too, alike mystcrious-the heavenly in- deposition, certain, but indefinable; the l human will strangely balanced some- 7 where, but no body can tell where, be. tween necessity and freedom.
 l Goodness, in tho heart, is mystery. No language can define it, which does not equally need definition. No man can know, but by an inward experience in reality inexprcssible. Goodness is a breathin the soul, we know not from whence; it cometh and it goeth, like sthc wind that blowcth where it listeth; : it is the inspiration of the Almighty.
 And sin!-how greatan tremendous is that mystery! That beneath these serene and pure heavens, which beam with the benignity of their Maker; that, amidst the fair earth, amidst ten thou- sand forms of perfection--tIlat where all else is perfect, the spoiler would have gone forth to mar and 10 crush the nos blest and the fairest: this is ssthe mystery of iniquity that hath been hidden for I ages," and is not yet fully unfoIded.-- T This was the theme that tasked and tried the meditalions of the old philosophers, Uade nazasm at qudre2 ssNhcnce is evil and why? Noble minded old men! sages of the elder world! when l look at the busy and giddv throng, that think of noll- ing but pleasure and gain, that question not this mysterious life nor this mighty sphere, bat to ask fer tssle way to gratlii- cation ard profit, l turn to you with yeii- orafiop and afro sl rS,x..f s,f cr,;r ri | uov