Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1843-08-09
RefOrm..the path TO Vfrtu
and a chez rfal Old Age. a
From Graham's Lectures on Human Life.
vol. l, PAGE AIS.


the body than Of the soul that it causes
them to feel security in life and conse-
quenllY TO neglect their religious Interests
But these objections are wholly founded in
error. We have seen, that such are the Fix
ed constitutional relations between The ami
NAL and moral nature Of man, and such are
the fixed constitutional relations between man
and his Creator and his fellow creatures, that
the true principles of health and longevity,
and the true principles of virtue and religion
are inseperable. An individual, by cor
rect physical regimen, may maintain very
good bodily health and reach an advanced
period ofli(e without any true pIety and with
very little moral virtue $50 also an individ-
ual, by embracing correct moral and reig-
ious principles, and culliva.ing correct moral
virtue and piety, without proper regard to
physical regimen: but in the former case
the individual will come short of that perfect
bodily health and eEJoyment and Of that full
duration of life-and in the latter case the
individual will come short Of that elevated
degree of virtue and piety and happiness,
which full conformity to the laws Of his
whole nature would certainly secure TO him.
Therefore, if without any special regard 10
health and longevity, my only desire weie
to promote the highest and most perfect de-
gree of virtue and piety 10 mankind, | would
leach precisely the same principles that !
now do. The consideration of the uncertain
ty Of life, may al irst serve to awaken our
inquiries concerning our nature, our condi-
lion, our destiny and our responsibilities,
and thus, 10 some extent be the means of
our becoming virtuous and pious. But the
fear of death is not in itself, favorable TO
health or long life ;-neither is the dread Of
death nor the fear of punishment in itself
virtue nor piety. The fear Of hell is not the
love of heaven ;-nor is the fear of SATAN, the
love Of God. II is only when we cherish
and practise virtue because we love virtue,
and love God because be is intrinsically
lovely, that our virtue and piety are accept
able TO God, felicitous TO ourselves, and most
beneficial TO our fellow creatures :-and all
the doctrines which teach are adapted TO
lead men 10 receive and obey the truth in the
| love OF ito be virtuous for virtues sake,
to dwell in God because he is Love and
thus at the same tine and by the same prin-
ciples secure bodily health, long life, elevat,
ed virtue and true and exalted goodness
| slf ye know these things, happy are ye if ye
do lhenl.n ga. ..-...>.:. ...... r.. r
Butmany say,-i! is not desirable 10 liv,
to be so old and decrepit and full of infirmi
i ties AID ailments. Who, they demand
| would wish 10 ouliive their usefulness an.
! enjoy ito lean in trembling feeblenes
upon The staff, Ito sink into the helplessnes
, ofsecond childhood, ito have the senses on
after another blotted out, and all the facul
ties of soul and body gradually decay till W
become melancholy spectacle of huma
frailness and imbecili,y,-a burden to oul
q selves and all around us,-our dearest chilt
# rem wishing US in heaven 2-This is indeet
e condition not 10 be desired nor is it th
e necessary condition of old age. They wh
q make sensual enjoyment the chief end {
: their existence, and live in the continual v
! olation of the laws Of their nature, must
necessity, either perish untlmely by violer
: disease, or sink into that melancholy an
q shocking decay which is SO common to Of
0 age. But that old age 10 which would lea
e mankind is the rich and mellow autumn
a our earthly existence,-that period of OF
q lives in which the cares and conflicts of Ii
) world are left behind, when all the passion
), are brough. into sutjeclion 10 holy spirit
when the mind is ripe in wisdom, and ii
: moral character has reached its full, terre
trial maturity Of virtue.
We have become so accustomed TO sc
i" the sprign!liness and viyacity Of childhoC
,, subside into the grave sobriety Of mature az
e even before the period Of youth has passe
J. by, and the yigor and activity Of merida
Is life wilher into decrepitude and dotage Ion
!. before a hundred years are numbered, th;
i we have learned 10 think such things mu.
j be, and TO contemplate old age only as ID
joyless period OF feebleness, infrmity an
exhausted powers and resources.-But th
: such things are the necessary consequences
u Of certain habits and circumstances of lif
'e in the present state of the human conslit,
g ton, they are neither necessary nor natur'
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