Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1831-10-13
From the Gambler Observer.
THE END OF LIFE.
The reflection that the happiest earth,

The reflection that the -happiest earth
" state must soon end, serves as an ei-
iectual restraint upon clation of mind ey-
en- in the most prosperous condition OF hu-
manity. The flower is not So fading, the
rainbow tints not so soon gone as human
life. How vain the hope to erect per-
manent fabric upon the fast passing cur
rent Of earthly existence. We have but
little more time than just to look about us
upon man and his works, to be introduc-
ed to an acquaintanceship with the beau
ty and harmony Of created nature, as far
as it can be known in this the vestibule Of
our being, when we are called to bid a
dicu to all below, to see the sun and the
fair face of the world no more, to see no
more those whom we love, and whose
friendship is our rurest happiness. The
rich man cannot long retain his grasp up
on his wealth, the great man will soon be
thrown from the cniinence, which it has
cost him so much labor to reach, the
beauty, so much priced, will be so chang
ed into delormity that disgust will sue
ceed admiration, and earthly pleasures
will not have even the power of pleasing
in the retrospect, so utterly will they have
passed away.
The sons of aflliction too will shortly
be at rest. Pain will lose the power of
embntering existence. Apprehcndcd
dangers will cease to.crrify, and present
ills to modest. The oppressor and the
oppressed, the slave and his master, all
will lie down in the silent house appointed
for all the living, where the wicked will
cease from troubling and ihe weary will
be ut rest.
The term allotted for the triumph of
guilt will soon expire. A few days and
is violence will not be feared. Vice will
90 to meet its reward, and the short pc
riod of its success will BE- iorgo'. n, in
the endless ages of its punishment. The
depression of virtue will shortly be suc-
ceedcd by its eternal cyaNation. All its
trials aid prosecutions, the scorn of the
contemncr, and the cruelty Of the enemy,
will be no more remembered in the un-
ending triumph which vii hail it upon its
admission into those brighter realms for
which it has been preparing thro' much
sorrow.
The busy multitudcs wlich now throng
all the ways of life will s,on be silent.
a part will come to thar grave in the
midst of the anyieties ofbusiHcss, and a
part in the attractive engagements ofplea-
sure. Some, at dist,nce from their
friends, will sink beneath the influence of
unrcgarded sickness, and some will find
unavailng all the eXctions OF oilicious
friendship. One upon an crrand ofmcr-
cy and love, another in the execution of
some neiarious scheme. will fall to rise no
more. The places which now know the
present generation will soon know them
no more forever. What is life? In the
language ofscripture, it is a vapour which
appearcth but Il little time and then van
isheth away. For what purpose is the
vapor suffered just to appear, and where
will it 90 when the human eye can no
longer discern it, These are questions
OF vast import. Viewed in this light 'lilc
is net to be mentioned but with songs Of
praise, not to be thought on but with ties
of JOY, the mighty basis of eternal bliss
Life is that which is to rejoice or to sut-
fer ctcrnally. Every day is preparing it
for the one condition or for the other
Every day is drawing a line of beauty or
of dclormity, Of light and purity, or Of
darkness and dcpraviiy, upon the canvass
painted for eternity, on which our own
eye will be forever fixed, and which will
be viewed with pleasure, or turned away
from with contempt by higher Beings.
/ The vicissitudes through which each
individual now alive must pass, are
known only to Him who orders all the 60
ings of man. The cloud of adversely
which now hangs over the prospect of
some, may be succeeded by the sunshine
Of prosperity. Those who are now ga-
ly directing their bark over the smooth
sea Of life, may soon be cast upon the
rock or engulphcd in the quicksand.- -
The vigor OF health, may be followed by
the languor of disease, and the power Of
reasoning by the incohercnt ravings of
insanity. Long before the end of life
many wish to take refuge in the grave
from sorrows which render existence a
burden.
J But whatever are the scenes through
which our path will lead us, it becomes
us TO be ever ready to obey the summons
which no man can resist, and which,
though it may be a little deferred, will,
without constant vigilance, surprise us by
its uncxpcctedness. The lamp of our
faith should be ever burning to light up
our way through the dark valley of the
shadow of death. Unhappy is he who
deScends into his tomb with no other light
than the dim ray which human reason
can supply. lie can look forward to no
resurrection morn, when new heaven