Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1843-06-01

William @. SWEET. t..
Ny subject now Is, TO show, that
what too MN of US call life, Is hardly
worthy oil the title, anl :auSeth US too
often to agree with the pampercd mon
orch,who>e heart hid sunk within aim,
because desire had failed, that il point
ed you to the liv, OF selfish, vicious,
and sinful men alone Your experience
has long since :old you, that The sensu>
aiIst, the mere pie Isure seeking the mo
ney raking, the disSolu,e, find, in this
lie, that possession is by no means
fair equivalent for the purchase; lex
them seek li'eonly here,a their thou
sand various routes wi tend DER thorns
TO regret, through pain 10 dlsappoint-
ment. Each day but adds TO the burden
OF yesterday, and we hope that the NOR
row may pluck frNm our hearts sor-
row, only to be disappointed ere its sun
goes down. Ii this world were all, and
many conduct as il were even so. youth
might well weep over withered hopes
and blIghtcd promise imam hood lie down
under the dark reality; and feeble, sin.
ful age, chide them both with TIC nbkng
tongue, 'waIt ill my length Of DAYS hath
come, with all their bitter experience,to
confirm the sad story Of vaniiics, and
end il in despair.' Not Of such am
speaking; let us hope these are excep.
Ilons-we will not rank them as class.
But let US lock for q moment upon
the occupations, pursuits, amusements,
and plans common TO mo ST; 10 men Of
business, TO men Of education, 10 men of
substance, sponsibilities influence and
duties lf we call them careless and
worldly, 1t seems that we shall not Of
fend against christian charity, that
Ihinketh no evil. Honest men, like
these, rise in the morning; have they
thanked their God who protected them
IN the dark hours, when their senses
were locked i'll slumber? They eat and
drink, and their families and friends are
sharing, in their abundance Of all that
Is good for mans sustenance, ana con.
Nenient for his using. Has one thought,
single secret aspiration, Il ,wn up 10
him, whose mindful love hath provided
all? Their children are now despatched
on their various paths 10 gain pleasure,
and duty-bul has one word Of Christ
conveyed 10 them cauti IN, shield or
gu1rd2 And now 10 their business
with prudence, foresight, Shrewdness,
skill and labor, they have laid their
plans for months and years 10 come -
Has one thought never stolen, for
moment, from all this, 10 something no
lIer and more enduring. And Night,
at length, has drawn around her cur.
tainS OF darkness-once again this fami
ly assemble in comfort, peace, prospect
ty-ahi will they separate without C
word Of gratitude to that kind Being,
who hath counted their steps, numbered
each individual hair, and shielded il
from harm? My friends, Task you are
there such2 But these are respectable
mcn. There are others who live for a.
musement, revelry. and mirth, a but
terhy life-and perhaps it were well for
such,could II all end in butterfly death.
Observation hath given US brief, but
harsh answer. And truth, that is no
hattelercr, tells us, one mans life IS his
honor, and he murdcrs his friend to
maintain II. Another mans life is his
gold, and ne starVes and defrauds. that
he may add 10 il. Ano her mans life
Is epicurean pleasures, and stolen exces-
-ses, and his aching limbs bear him tot
ierInS 10 his grave, 10 enjoy it. And
shall we leave our question answered
thus7 Is this the object, and are these
the pursuits, Of reasoning, living man?
''Where islhe generous deed. the great design
Ih lhose who study but TO dress and shine,
Sparkle in a moment, like sumo gilded nv,
Tribe away their being, and then diel
u. Is this life! Is lhIs thai sacreJ gih,
The soul TO virtue. nnd 10 Heaven 10 lin
Given in the circle Of this fleeing rime
TO SOW The seed Of a celestial cline;
10 cultivate those feelings, hopes aud deeds
To which eternal happiness succeedsi
And teach 10 blossom, midst the ihorns Of earth.
The flowers whose beauty Is of heavenly biuh1
What u this lIiel 10 every 10 az,
Yet neer TO the great Giyer liz the eye;
10 view his power in Natures wide expanse.
let ntveT raise up one adOring glancef
In the worlds mockeTies still TO play pau,
TIL pride and vanity corrupt the heart;
TIh the last scene Of latest life be trnd
And IL if past; life without Gud!"
Without a God! Such life were We.
riest death-and this my friends, is the
point to which we have endeavored to
bring you, by deductions Of reason and
logical conclusions.
Are there many houses in which there
is not one deadl And now again to the
question. what is life7 The world hath
not taught, and experience cannot teach
rus, II II be confined TO earth. What we
call life rs n preparatory state, bearing
tho same relation TO eternity that seed
fime bears to harvest All the satIsfac
Ition, all the advantage Of the husband.
lTnqn, "a committing his seed to earth, is