The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1840-04-18
Miscellaneous.
FOR THE JOURNAL.
THE SATURDAY EVENING LECTURE.
BY THE VILLAGE cURATE.

THE SATURDAY EVENING LECTURE.
BY THE VILLAGE cURATE.
SPRING.
"The flowers appear on the earth: the
time of the singing Of birds IS come, and
the voice of the turtle is heard in our
land."-Cant. 2. IL.
Instructive are the lessons Of nature
The rich variety of its productions opens
fruitful sources of contemplation. Every
thing around US, indeed, is, as subject of
thought, wonderful and mysterious. What
is it that we do know? How much Of true
wisdom can the human reason attain? A
simple proof is before US. Yon stately
oak, which waves its broad arms in the air,
and towers as giant, above the rest Of the
sons of the forest, how did it spring up from
the Insignificant acorn, into such grandeur
Of being' And so might we ask, who taught
the feathcred minstrel, whose hymns of
praise wake up the young morning, the
science of vernalmelody? What most won.
derful artist colored the petals Of thee arly
blossoms? In what workshop was the speck
of crystal which sparkles in the sunlight
polished! We must pause for replies
Our train Of Inquiries are useless. Nothing
absolute is known to US. The human
mind does not penetrate beneath the sur
face of nature. Thought itselfis mystic.
ry. And even the wing of the smallest IN.
sect may throw shadow which the pro-
foundest intellect could not penetrate. But
there is one view of creations work which
the mind can, and should take-and that's
in relation to human life. The law Of ma.
ture and providence are analogous; or, in
other words, the natural world is a repre-.
sentation of the divine moral system, which
governs the universe-the magnificent dio.
rama, so to speak, Of the neeting life time
of man. Who could desire better illustrs.
ton of this idea, than the changing sea-
sons! How constant and regular their mu.
tations! From the beginning of time there
has been no interruption of The revolving
series. One year is the presage Of anoth-
er. Dark winter came forth from his storm
bound icebergs of the North, and wrapped
the corpse of nature in a winding sheet
of snow. The world wept at the entomb-
mans heart was cold and desc.
late. But only for season.-At the ap-
pointed time, rosy spring unbars the gates
of light and life. A resurrection is com.
manded-'The flowers appear on the earth:
the time of the singing of birds is come:
and the voice Of the turtle is heard in our
land The spring is season of the year
aot more charming than important. Now
the prudent husbandman plants the seed
on which the fruits of harvest depend
Does not this usual duty speak to the ri.
sing generation of its mental and moral
culture? My young friends, life with you
is in its spring. Hopes the most fattering,
and anlicipations the most fragrant may
begin TO put forth their buds. The glad
heart may be filled with NATURES choice
gifts: and docs not dream Of change. But
will there be no change of your seasons
through life? Does the year consist only
of spring! And is there to be no summer,
no winter, no maturity nor decline of ex-
istence? We ask then, in the first place,
what provision have you made against the
coming change! Can fruit be gathered from
the tree which had no flowers! Does the
farmer reap where seed had never been
sown! what preparation then are you ma
king for the great purposes Of this life and