Lexington union. (Lexington, Miss.) 1838-18??, 1842-11-26
SHORT PATENT SERMON.
BY DOW, JR,

| B1 DOWJ JK,
l shall preach, by request, upon this
occasion from the following:
What IS man?
NV hearers --man NAV not be the ONLY
thinking animal on the face OF the globe
but he is unquestionably the only one that
prepares plans for the future, without aid
of instinct. and ia ever elated with hope,or
troubled with care. He occupies posi-.
lion in The scale OF being between the O.
rang .outang and the angels of heaven
being little lower than the latter and
somewhat higher than the former. Man
IS MYSTERIOUS amalgamaiion Of mind and
matter--a compound of purity and corrup.
tion-a machine that turns out some good
and much mischief, aLhobed, in which is
sown the seeds OF sin, vice, virtue and mo-.
raIIiy. Intellectually, he is a god; ply
s'cally, he is beast. Over all his nigh.
llness o! mind, The ANNA propensiries ev.
er predominant. In the wild, uncuItured
region of the soul we find but few ideal
flowers; and they are overshadowed by
The underbrush Of sensual indulgence, in
gloomy forest of ignorance; but when the
genial sun of education Is admitted TO
warm The soil, blossoms of purity soon be.
gin to bloom-planls Of piety spring up;
and harvest for the heart is soon gather.
ed; but for all this, there are many toad
stools 10 be found 10 the pasture OF mans
bosom, and berries that look pleasing out
eide, but are full Of poison within. And
yet man, inconsistent and erring man, will
persist 10 partaking OF the bitter fruits OF
Inlqulty, when he knows that by so doirg
he IS sure to get the gripes and grums, and
he panied in body and troubled in souI!-
Yes, he will fret the spirit for The sake of
the body, the pleasures of which are but
momentary at The longest; and, when they
depart, they leave the soul as sick as a
green sailor, and stomach as sour as the
latter eud Of an old maids existence.
My friends-wha, is man? lie is an
amalgama'ion of all that is good, just no
bic, vile, mercenary and mean; riddle an
enigma, a perfect paradox. While he
attempts to conquer temptation, resist evil
and defy the devil, he gives way 10 the
most grovellng desires; and the baser pas.
slons ride rough shod over every elated
idea, tender feeling, and magnanimous re.
solution. In all his actions he is moved
by motire; and that motive is concealed
beneath the thick mantle of seIfshness.
The greatest and the mightest of men
have often had iheH minds turned into The
morrow channel of self, and corrupted by
the NTH therein contained. For the love
o' Iucre, they have gone contrary to the
commands OF their own consclences-for
Inc sake Of gaining honor glory and re-
nown, they have sacrificed ease. comlor,
n0d happiness, and, not unfrequently. large
parcels Of pie'y. Even ], myself, an wi.
ing to acknowledge, that while nv suiri,.
nal balloon is inflated with the gas Of good
and heavenly intent, | am oflentimes 30
strongly bound 10 earthly inducements nv
me cord OF animal propensity az 10 pre.
vent my rising into purer and more
wholesome atmosphere. preach moral
'y,not only for the good Of my fellow cre,.
iures, but also for my own benefit. lev.
1ori all to acts Of benevolence. m ordr,
nat may make sure of nv own brea