Holly Springs gazette., 1845-07-19
HIINAN PERFECTION

Consists in divesting The soul of a grovellin ?
selfishness- As we cast off consIde ratioDso o /
self, so do we approach TO divine excellence
OF all the selfish qualifications that degrade
our nature, that of In:emPeraGce Is most
loaihsome-lhe most revolting--the mos,
inexcusable. II is sel6shness in q mann
motn form; one that demands the sacrifice
of III The Beneficial selfish passion OF 0, hers,
In ofder TO pamper baBetta selRshness IN
ourselves. liz the benefcent arrangements
Of nature, many of our selfish proi'ensilies.
when not INDUCED 10 excess, condace 10
the perfection of our rature, and promote
instead of impairing, the happiness of
others. Blu. the passion fsF dEink, is one
so EXCLUSIVELY selfish, that it even invades
The happiness of society. as well as destroy
the happiness of the voiary himself In
proper sense. therefore. II is not 50 meTito
rious as selfish graliheation. which al,
ways implies some benefit or pleasure tothe
subject. But the passian for drink, oaly
produces pain-disease--w --want-poverty-
misery-blooJshed and suicide Ii is
the selfshness of the savage, which exuhs
in a momentary flush of excitement pro
duced by the destruction Of all around him.
Moth ng is so hard to pain as the selfish
mon clemens Of selfish qualification are
wanting 10 it-as il reflects pleasure-and
vet, it requires the sacrifice of all the feel
ings of beneficial selfishness in o.hers.-
Inioxication preys on every thing around
US, without producing one solitary pleasure
to its votary. ltpreys on society. 1t tpreys
on the heart ofthe wife, aud the husband,
1t preys on the peace and honor Of fathers
and mothers l. preys on the fame and
repuatian of families. Ii pTeys on IND duS
Try talent, wealth, profit, and estate. II
preys on the conscience, on heallh-on
comfort--on all things And what does il
give in return? Nothing Of good Every
thing of evil. -
The minds Of all men are created with
suscep,ibihtes of high improvement. To
cultivate the soul is one of the first laws.
and standsout as the mostimf erative duty OF
our being. As SslfShneSS is the most de
s,ructive passion of our Naiure--to re-
strain il becomes our highest duty. Anarice
as the undue selfishness of gain, leads TO
murder, and allrevoiting crimes. But ag-
toricdtion is the pound selfshness OF all
the selfish passions- and impe!s Us to all the
crimes that appal men. and startle nature
herselfby The frightui tercciiy OF :he deeds
that track its path of desolation.
There is no perfection in the human
character, wherever the selfish soar IN the
ascenddncv oveI benevolent feelings. What
is am biion but the eIcess OF a good selfish
principle, running to pernlclous per7er-
sion2 Exorhitance in any passion, IS the
deformity of the human character. Gold
power. tIme. autho Ei'y--aEe bat idols OF
inordinate seifShness; and in superiority to
the blind and reeling voiaries ofthe god OF
wine. or the god OF lum All selilshness
carried to excess. destroys the reason
The inebfiate is. the most degraded. because
he wallows in common with the brute Ill the
slye OF insensibility.
Beautiful. indeed, are the charms OF Tenn
perance! BY its pure rays, man baholds
himself reflected in the mirror Of per-
faction-where every duty stands revealed
ia distinct br'l!iancy-where. every pleasure
stands defined in innocent enjoyment-
where every perfection shines in attractive
spiendor.