Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1839-05-03
TIE WORTH OF TIE MIND
BY REV. ORvILLE DEWEY.

The mind-how little is it known or
considered! That all which man pcrma.
nently is.-the inward being, the divine
energy, the immortal thought, the bound
less capacity, the infinite spraIon-how
few value this, this Wonderful mind, for
wha, it is worth! How few see il-,ha,
brother mind-in others; see it in all the
forms of wretchedness and spendor alike
though fenced around with all the artificial
distinctions Of socie,y-see it, through the
rags with which poverty has clothed it,
beneath the crushing burhens Of life,
midst the close pressure Of worldly trou
bles. wants, and sorows-see it, and &C.
knowledge and cheer it in tina. humble lot,
and feel that The nobility of earth, that the
commencing glory Of heaven, is tbere'-
Nor is this the worst, nor the strongest
view of the case. Men do not feel the
worth Of their own minds. They u,e very
proud, perhaps; they are proud Of their
possessions; they are proud of their minds,
it may be, as distinguishing them; bu,
the intrinsic, the inward, the infinite ,corM
of their own minds, they do no, perceive.
How many man is there who would feel.
ii he were introduced into some marnifi
cent palace, and were led through a sue
cession of splendid apartments. filled with
rich and gorgeous lurnl,ure-would feel.
say. as if he, lofty immortal being as be is
were but an ordinary thing amidst The tin.
seled show around him; or would feel a.
il he were more ordinary being, for TIE
pershng glare Of things, amidst which he
walked! How many man. who as he
passed along the way side, saw the chair.
Of Of wealth rolling by him, would forget
the intrinsic and eternal dignity of his own
mind, in poor, degrading envy of tina,
vain pageant would feel himself to be an
humber creature. because, not in mind,
but in mensuration he was not quite so
high! And so long as this is the case, do
minds, That they know what they possess
within them? Huw many. IN fact, feel a..
iflhat inward being, that mind. were re
spectacle, chiefly because their bodies lean
on silken couchcs. and are fed with costly
luxurles! How many respect themselves,
and look for respect from Others, 10 proper
ton ashley grow more rich. and live more
splendld'y, not more wlsely.--and fare
more sump'uously every day Surely it is
not strange, while oil lhls is true, That men
should be more attracted by objects o.
sense and appetite, than by mira Giles of wis
dom and love. And it is not strange tho,
the spiritual riches which man is exhor,ed
10 seek, are represented in scripture as "bid
treasures;" for they are indeed hidden in
the depths of the soul--hidden, covered up
with worldly gains, and pomps, and van
ties. II is not strange that The kingdom OF
heaven, that kingdom which is within, is
represented as treasure buried in q field ;
the flowers bloom. and the long grass
waves there, and men pass by and say it is
beautiful; but this very beauty, this very
luxuriance, conceals the treasure. And 81
it is in this life, tina, luxury and show, fash
ion and outward beauty. worldly pursuits
and possessions, attract the eyes OF men
and they know not the treasure that is hid
den in every human soul.
Yes, the treasure--and the treasure tina,
10 in every soul. The difference that exists
among men is not so much in their nature,
no, so much in their intrinsic power, as in