Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1843-01-24
A short Pat mt Serm IN

A Short Pat mt sermon
By Do'c, Jr. IF The Sunday Mercury.
shall preach, by request upon this occasion,
from the following
What is Man,
My henrers--man may no, be the only think
ing animal on the face ofthe globe but he is I'm.
qncsonably the only one that prepares plans for
the future, without the aid of instinct and is ever
elated with hope, or troubled with care. He oc-
cupes position IN the scale Of being between the
ourang -ouang and the angels in heaven-being a
little lower than the latter and somewhat higher
han the former. Man is a mysterious anal ga
nation of mind and mattcr-a compound of purity
aud corruption--a machine that turns out some
good and much mischief hoibed in which is
sown the seeds of sin, vice, virtue, and morality
intellectually he is a god physically. he is a
beast Over all his mghiiness of mind, the ami
NAL propensities are predominant. In the wild,
uncultIvated 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 begin to bloom plants of piety spring
up and harvest for the heart is shortly gather
ed bu for all this, there are many toadsools to
be found in the pasture of mans bosom, and Der
ries that look pleasing on the outside, but full
of poison within. And yet man. inconsistent and
errng man. will persist in partaking of the bitter
fruits Of iniquty, when he knows that by so dong
he is sure to get the gripes and grums, and be
panied in body and troubled in soul Yes he
will fret the spirit for the sake Of the body, the
pleasures Of which are but momcn,ary at the lon
gest and, when they depart they leave the soul
as sick as n green sailor, and the stomach as sour
as the latter end of an old maids existence.
My friends what is MANI He is an nmaga-
nation of all that is good, just, noble, vile, mer
cenary and mean ridlc, and enigma, per
fec, paradox While he attempts to conquer temp
ta,ion, resist evil, and defy the devil, he gives way
to the most grovelIing desires; and the baser pas
sions ride rough shod over every exalted idea,
tender feeling, and magnaninimous resolution. In
all his actions he is moved by motire-and that
motive is concealed beneath the thick mantle OF
selfshness sThe greatest and the mighticst of men
have often had their minds turned into the narrow
channel of self and corrupted by the filth therein
contained For the love oflucre, they have gone
contrary to the commadns OF their own conscicn-
ces for the sake Of gaining honor. glory and re-
nown they have sacrificed case, comfort. and hap.
piness. and not unfrequenlv large parcels of pie
ty. Even myself am willing to acknowledge,
that while my spiritual balloon is inflated with the
gas of good and heavenly intent, am ohcntimes
: so strongly bound to earthly inducements by the
cord of anr.al propensity as to prevent my rising
into purer and more wholesome atmosphere. |
preach morality, not only for the good Of my fel.
low creatures, but also for my own benefit. ! ex,
hort all to actr Of benevolence in order that may
make sure Of my own bread and butter and who
wouldn't do it, had they the gift of CAB and home
made eloquence commensurate with mine ?
S My friends be careful and not provide too ex
= travagantly for the body While the flesh fat
a tens the spirit DECAYS II feasts for a short time
a. i. 4 l.. 1.
c and then grows stupid sickens. and gradually de
. clines The soul gets diseased from the filthy and
- corrupt habitaon in which it resides and it new
er can become convalescent till it journeys to tina
y congenial cline beyond the valley of death, where
p mlldness constantly prevails, and where there is
/ no change OF seasons from January to the De
s ceInber ofeterni,y. Man prides himself upon hi
reason, his intellect and his mental endowments
but what do these signify so long as the belly bear,
. sway over his brain7 A jackass that drags n dra,
n or bears a burthen is Of more use to communii,
n than one who cares for none but himself; or ht
!. who destroys both fody and soul by walowinl
! in the mire of gross indulgence II is said in th
n sacred scriptures that the spirit OF man goeth up
}, ward and, therefore all who make beasts o
q themselves had better, keep good look out les
. their immortal parts eventually take notion L
slide to the bottom OF that botromless pit, from
which there is no more rescue than there was 70
o Satan when he suddenly dropped from heaven III
v to the regions Of endless wo.
L Ny dear frends-let us consider what man !.
= 10 make the mos, Of him. He is but a novn
o. mass Of matter carnal locomotive, propelled b.
the steam Of life. guided and governed by the grea
III Engineer ofthe universe. He sets out with fol
speed upon the railway Of existence sometime
j. bursts his boiler he has attained bali his oun
'e ey, and at others brings slowly up at the deps
death where he blows of his spiritual vapor, an
r the OLD engine is laid up n the sepuchre for re
= pairs to be in readiness against the day Of resur
Z rec,ion Truly hath it been remarked, tina, ma
= is bot shadow, and life dream That shade,
~ is present only for day, as il were When tn
IN sun Of existence sets II mngles with the shade
r. oblivion and is obli,eraed from the earth forever
and as man approaches his long home, IN the sol
y tide Of age, be looks back upon his life benin
r. him as a mere dream, and hopes for somahin
D. like Joyous reality IN a world 70 come
,, Don't trouble yourselves, my hearers, as
y wha, your aTe--how you came here-or witt
% your sinaii0n shall BE- hereafter, for YOU ca
y know ior a certainty nothing about j, I'LL deai
a. solves the mystery, and your spirits are reurne
unto him who gave them but live righteousl,
D 70 good, and eschew evil and you have nolbn
y 70 fear So mote II be.