Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1836-06-10
FRIDAY, JUNE 10, 1886.

me inspiration, and imbuc his mind with !
something Of the same spirit. In obedience
to the same law, and for a kindred object,
the poet and man of taste, traverse the fair
top, and watch the forked lightnings, and
the foaming pillows Of the great deep, and
hold converse with the spirits of the mighty
dead. The image of all that is beautiful
and all that is grand in the conceptions Of
man, or in the works of God, they seek 10
enstamp on their own minds by familiar
contemplation. Our moral nature also is
subject to the same law. So delicate in
deed is its texture, and so easily is it i'm.
paired, that we can hardly come in contact
with what is morally impure, without being
injuriously affected. Accustomed by scenes
of vulgarity, or impurity, or profaneness,
The moral feelings lose their sensibility. and
BY degrees cease to be excited in view Of
vice. The contemplation Of moral virtue
on the other hand quickens the moral sens
Utilities, adds 10 the conscience new power
of discrimination, and enlarges the heart.
Every parent in his deep and ceaseless SO
licitude in regard to the associations of his
children. feels and admits the universally
and energy of this law. Most beautifully
has the inspired writer illustrated it when
ho says, 1--WE all with open face, beholding
as in a glass, the glory of the Lord, are
changed into the same image, from glory 10
glory, as by the spirit Of the Lord )" and
with admirable wisdom has he also said
sub 1%tsoeuer things are pure, whatsoever
things are lovely. whatsoever things are Of
good report, think Of these things"
What subject then. it may well be asked.
can be presented TO our CONCENTRATIONS SO
vast as the infinite mind What works so
grand as his, 80 curiously contrived, so ex-
quisitely finished , What law SO compre-
h~ensive, so just, so perfect as his law p
What wisdom so profound, SO exhaustless
as his ? What moral purity so spotless p
By degrading in our own conceptions, the
character and government of God, as the
profane person necessarily does, we shut
ourselves out from a most important and
effectual means of our own intellectual and
moral improvement.
Habits of profaneness also must necessa-
rily tend to weaken the apprehension of
moral obligation generally. The virtues,
it has been said are in their nature grega-
rious ; they grow up and flourish together,
and, with equal truth it may be said, they
anguish and die together. It. could not be
expected that tho man who %profanely trifies
with the character and attributes of his
Maker, would in other respects perform the
duties Of piety towards him and where
the claims Of piety are disregarded, it can.
not be expected that the obligations of be
nevolence towards men will be very dis
tinctly recognized. Ia this expectation, in
itself so probable, verified by facts Are
not profare men generally worshippers OF
the god Of this world, and Sabbath break
ers? And d. we not too frequently find
profanencss associated with falsehood, and
fraud, and drunkenness, and debauchery,
and perjury, and indeed with every crime
All history proves that there is an affinity
among the vices. One being admitted to
a home in the bosom, is naturally inclined
to open the door TO all the rest. Legal in
vestigalions 60 on this principle. A wit
ness proved TO be Of bad general character
as 10 truth, is not to be believed, unless
corrobora,ed by other witnesses. A man
convicted Of murder, or robbery, or theft,
or forgery, or other Infamous offence, il
presumed to bo SO utterly devoid of mora
principle that he is not permitted to testify
at all. Nor is the man who denies the ex
!stence off God and a state of retrlbution
after death. The law presumes that the
man who has committed such an offence
against his Creator or his fellow man, ha:
SO far extinguished all moral principle in
his own soul, that he is prepared for the
damning sin of perjury. And what think
you--would that there were no occasion tC
ask the question-what think you Of the
woman who can pollute her lips with oaths
and curses ? Is she not by universal consen
lost to all that is pure and lovely and o
good report? 1t would be interesting tc
follow out this principle in it's application
to politics and public morality /; but thu
would be aside of my present purpose. /
is indeed admitted that this tendency ma,
be and frequently is, resisted to a create
or less extent, by countervalling habits o
motives, such as the force Of education
pride Of character, respect for public opin
ion or sympathy. Yet this by no mean
disproves the existence of the tendency
1t simply shows that it is not irresistible.