Cheraw gazette and Pee Dee farmer. [volume] (Cheraw S.C.) 1838-1839, 1839-01-23
FILTHY STILL.

FILTHY STILL.
1t is an impressive consdera ion, that at
somo future period, the character possessed
by any person will be confirmed to him,
withou, the possibility of change. Such a
state is so dlssiniIar to the present, that it
is now inconceivable by US, or is destitute
ofrealty in our experience. The present
world is full of fluctuations, and changes
not indeed of frequent radical changes Of
character; yet changes from circumstance
to circumstance, and from condition to con-
di;ion. The external forms Of character
change the man is not what he was. He
VS. sober man once, andhe has become
drunkard or he was a drunkard
and become sober rich, and become
poor poor, and become rich ; an honest
man, but now rogue or n rogue, and
now honest. Once elevated nowdcpres-
sed /; or the reverse. The life of
man Eis thus .scere of constant
changes no one can tell what he will be
Tomorrow, by what he is to-day.
But day is coming in which there vii
be no more changes; death we suppose
sets this seal OH the character. Aswe pass
away from tic earth we encr upon fixed
state Of existence, where the essential part
of the character remains 70, ever the same.
This sentiment is fully developed in the
case Of Lazarus and the rich man, The
one was fix"d in society and circumstances
agreeable 10 him the other in a condition
O! unhapplncss without mitigation.
When the sinful being who has lived
without God in the world. finishes his NOR.
al nfr, ne descends, Ike Dives, to that
place from which there is no exit. He may
l1ok away TO the heavenly fields, and be-
holds some ofhis former associates, happy;
but between him and them, is the gulf which
none can pass. His condition is fixed !;
his agony unavaillng /; his entrcaties for
drop Of water, unheard. He that is filthy,
shall be filthy still, for ever and he tha is
holy, shall be holy sill. Such is the speci-
ficsnnformation OF the Bible.
If these things are so, how eventful is the
brief term of life which we spend in this
world. 1t is the season when character
is formed which is 10 b. retained to etern
ty !; and although the circumstances there
will be unlike nose here, yet he radical
state Of the heart will be retained. The
unholy passion may be endure without
the means Of qualification and this may
be the gnawlng of the worm that never dies.
The passion for place and power, may be
r timed, W il. there is not the remotest
room for the ends Of ambition to be an.
swered. The lust for gold. (the aurt sacra
famesi may not be rooted out Of the soul
while gold itself is for ever beyond the
reach.
So may the feeling Of revenge he fe,
and felt perpetuaiy, in eternity, while the
objects Of vengeance are beyond the reach; !;
or if The hated Object is before you, suffer-
ing the same woe as you do, and. and your
maliciousnoss against him. the very act adds
to your own tormcnts. The string of the
passions, instead Of giving relief, as in thi
world. is ike thr ranking of a dart in fes.
:in ,ouo. Every movement is an
increase OF agony, for he is filthy still. H
unholiness clings to him ; his depraviiy
his garment. He is loathsome to himself.
AID to all others o what world lof won.
ders What scene Of discomfort and
woe
But he that is holy, shall be holy still.
Here the scene is reversed tie heart be
ing in unison with all others, and with God
himself, there is nought 10 excite unsas-
ness, nor to occasion pain. The passions
are all pure the employmcnts are all plea.
sing the child Of God, retaining the love
10 goodness exercised here, has there a
sufiiciency to fill and satisfy his most en-.
larged desires ; his treasures are safe, and
they with him there. God is the only
source Of delight to him and he is ever
Interchangeable. We'll, then, may the Chris.
tian look forw d with complacency to the
hour Of death and, with Joy unspeakable,
% the see le, which await him in state of
unceasin-, undated. unalterable felicity,
, and perfect holiness before the throne Of
God and the Lamb.-N. II. Observer.