The banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1844-1847, 1846-05-20

eristing apart fous tie holly would seem
to result from tile constant carnations
which the latter is known to undergo,
without any perceptlble or corrcspon-
dent change in the former. That we
arc the same sentient, thinking beings
now, we ever have been, or, that the
mind, through all the gradalions of life,
from childhood to old age, remains un-
changed, save by gradual expansion
and improvement of its powers, is a self
evident proposition. With respect to the
body, however, the case is otherwise.
Between the years Of infancy and matu.
rity, 1t is subject, both in texture and
lineamcnt to striking variations. The
question then arises, IN achat naamacr? !?
or by schat process is this change cflec-
tcd2 Is it by gradual accrc,ions to the
original mass, without loss. or substilu-
ton2 or, by some secret, yet certain pro-
cess of rcne,oai and decay! The latter
is the view which the deductions Of sci
cnce would lead us to adopt; since
from these it appears that the human
body changes: impcrceptibly, indeed,
yc, entirely with the increase of years,
SC that no identical part of the inGintine
or youthful frame, can with certainty be
said to exist in the corporeal structure OF
maturcr years. A fact which, by the
way, is well fitted to remind US that ",n
the midst Of life we are in DEATH"
But amid these constant variations in
tAe corporeai system, the mind expert
enccs no change: except, as before re-
marked, in the gradual development
and maturity of its faculties. 1t follows
therefore, that the mind is, in its nature
or essence, essentially different from the
material structure with which 1t is, in
some mysterious manner united. And
if different, and, as we have seen, not
perceptible to the external senses, then
it must be ammaterioi, and if imn,otyriai.
there is the strongest probability that it
is capable Of ofsuroiUing and existing apart
from physical organi7atio~. For if the
mind be not so intimately connected
with the body as to be affected by its
partial change, is it not reasonable to be-
licve it will not be affected by its final
dissolution2 g In truth, the body and its
senses, appear to be nothing more than
the instruments which the mind employs
for the acquisition Of knowledge, which,
when SO acquired, it feeds upon without
the instrumcntality of these external Or
gans. AS C. g. in the case of reasoning
and reflection where the mind acts en-
tirely separate from the powers Of per-
ception."*
Hence arises we'll grounded pre-
sumption, that when the body shall be
dissolved, the mind, or immaterial prin-
ciple, will live on without interruption,
and in progressively enlarging sphere
OF activity and enjoyment.
Furthermore, it is very generally con-
ccded that the mind is seldom or never
inactive. And when, through weari-
ness, the body sinks to rcpose, how often
does the mind, or immaterial pyincaple,
steal forth from its little prison-house Of
mortality, seemingly conscious of its pre-
sent confinement. and anxious to antici-
pate its future unbounded freedom2
And, again, when the body, enfeebled
and wasted by disease, is just on the
eve of dissolution, how frequently does
it happen that the mind evinces an un-
common degree of vigor and clcorncss
in the exercise Of its powers? Sufficient
this, it would seem, in connexion with
the foregoing, to render it in the highest
degree probable that the mind will sur
vive the decay and dissolution of the
body. And if it survive it at all, the
presunaptirc evidence is strong in favor of
its ammoatality. For, to this end, let us
briefly consider the eadoacmenss Of the
mind.
How deep, tender, and abiding its af:
fections How ardent and unbounded
its desires? How wonderful and diver.
sified in operation all its powers!
BY memory, for instance, it calls up to
present thought objects which lie hid in
the far distant past. BY imagination
it visits, with inconceivable celebrity, all
places, in all time. The earth which
| we inha bit is but the noint from which