The Rodney telegraph. (Rodney, Miss.) 1838-1840, 1839-05-25
THE WORTH OF TT7E. MIND.
ny REV. oRvlLLE DEWEY.

The sWOkiH OF I11E*MxNUe
~ REV. oRvlLLE DEWEY.
The mind-how little is il known or con-
sidered! That all which man pog1panently
is--the inward being, lll6 dirin6 epergy, the
igaqnQrtal lho1t 81 d eity, the
M a. 4 how. 1ow xaile this, this
Emln6. for what It is worth! How
1S1 - lhe< brother mind-in others
= q H III The forms cf wretchcdness and
: ] III bike slough fenced around with
Wa artificial distinctions of society; see
= fhfpagh the rags with which poverty has
fIQthed il, beneath the crushing bur,hens of
lifos amidst the close pressure Of worldly |
troubles, wants and sorrows; see it and ac-
knowledge and cheer it in that humble lot,
Abd feel that the nobility Of earth, that the
commencing glory Of heaven, is there? Nor
us this the worst, nor the strongest view of
the case.-Men do not feel the worth of
their own minds. They are very proud,
perhaps; they are proud of their possessions;
they are proud of their minds, as it may be,
as Distinguishing them; but the intrinsic, the
inward, the infinite ,r0rH of their own minds,
they do not perceive. How many man is
there who would feel, if he were introduced
into some magnificent palace, and were led
through succession of splendid apartments,
filled with rich and gorgeous furniture
would feel, say, as if he, lofty. immortal
being as he is, were but an ordinary .hing
amidst the tinselled show around him; OF
would feel as if he were more ordinary
being, for the perishing glare Of things, a
midst which he walked! How many man,
who as he passed along the wayside, saw
the chariot of wealth rolling by him, would
forget the intrinsic and eternal dignity of his
own mind, in poor, degrading envy Of that
vain pageant-would feel himself to be an
humber creature, because, not in mind, but
in mensuration, because not quite SO high!
| And SO long as this is the case, do you be-
lieve that men understand their own minds,
that they know what they possess within
Them? How many, in fact, feel as if that in
ward being, that mind, were respectable,
chiefly because their bodies lean on sllken
touches, and are fed with costly Injuries!
How many respect themselves, and look for
respect from others, in proportion as they
grow more rich, and live more splendidly,
not more wisely, and fare more sump,uously
every day! Surely it is not strange, while
all this is true, that men should be more at
tracted by ojects of sense and appetite, than
by miracles of wisdom and love- And it is
not strange that the spiritual riches which
linan is exhorted to seek, are represented in
Iscripture as "hid treasures" fo- they are
Indeed hidden in the depths of the soul
hidden, covered up with worldly gains, and
pomps, and vanities. 1t is not strange that
, the kingdom of heaven. that kingdom which
ia il YSifh sEa; sSs os&asrs bloom, aud 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 so /
> is in this life, that luxury and show, fashion
!; and outward beauty, worldly pursuits an'
: possessions, attract the eyes of men, am
8 they know not that the treasure is hidden IL
a every human soul.
:, The difference that exists among men i
e not SO much in their nature, not SO much il
|, their intrinsic power, as in the power q
g communication. To some it is given to EN-
II body their thoughts; but all men, more Q
e less, feel those thoughts. The very glor
IS of genius, the very rapture of piety, whe
e rightly revealed, are diffased and spread Q
n broad, and shared among unnumbered mind;
4 When eloquence and poetry speaks-whe
10 the glorious arts, statuary, painting, an
N music-when patriotism, charity, virtue
n speaks to us, with all their thrilling powe
ID do not the hearts of thousands glow with
r kindred Joy and ecstacy? Who's here S
sr humble, who so poor in thought or in affe'
st ton, as not to feel this? Who's here SO loy
Or so degraded, had almost said, as not SOM
'; times to be touched with the beauty of goo
r ness2 Who's here with heart made
le such base materials, as not sometimes 10 n
u spond, through every chord of it, to the ca
IA of honor, patriotism, generosity, vntut
ID What glorious capacity is this! A pow'
le to commune with God and angels.-a r.
Election of the brightness Of heaven mi
20 ror that collects and concentrates within
= self all the moral splendors of the univers
8 la light kindled from heaven, that is to shin
or brighter and brighter forever! For VIII
ID then, my friends, shall we care as We Dug
Il TO care for this? What man can bear aho
= with him-what office, what array, VIII
is apparel, that shall bcget such reverence
i. the soul he bears with him? What circur
rs stances of outward splendor can lend sut
m imposing dignity to any being, as the throl
Of inward light and power, where the spa
reigns for ever? What work Of man sha
Is be brought into comparison with this va
"a of Gods will speak of it in its charact
IN II say thought, a bare thought--and yel
a. say, what is it-and what is its power al
OF mystery9 Breathed from the inspiration
g the Almighty; partaking OF Infinite at9