The Columbian fountain., 1846-04-02
THE YOUNG MANS WAY
10 INTELLIGENCE, RESPECTABILITY, HO-
NOR AND USEFULNESS.

ilei IN the essential doctrines Of religion, is
indispensable to the well being of society,
as well as the happiness and temporal pros
perlty of individuals. All human expert
ence declares this truth, and the providence
OF God fully confirms the declaration. Eve
ry nation has had its religion, both doctri-
nal and practical, and in proportion to it's
purity has been the morality and happiness
OF the people. Says popular historian,
"Man has been termed religious being,
because in every age and among all people,
we discover a reverence and awe of the
divine Being, an homage paid to Him, and
an open profession ofentire dependence up
on Him, in all their undertakings and ne
cessites-in all their adversites and dan
gers. Incapable themselves, to penetrate
futurity, and to ascertain events in their
own favor, we find them intent on consult
ing the divinity, by oracles and other me-
thods OF like nature, and to merit His
protection by prayers, vows, and oferngs''
The country in which we live, is called
Christian country, not because, all the
inhabitants are Christians to God
they were-but because all our laws and
institutions are based upon Christianity.
Can that man, therefore, have good repu-
tation among his fellows, who pays no re-
gard to that, on which SO much reliance
has been, and is still placed. None but
atheists can esteem him who INDUCES no
reverence for the word Of God, who has
none of his fear before his eyes. He who
chooses course of irreligion, and prefers
skeptcsm to reverentfaith in the holy Scrip
lures, generally, if not always, chooses ear
ly infamy, if not an early grave. Refer
ence could be easily had to numerous facts
in proof of this, bat forbear to adduce
them. "a word to the wise" is said to be
sufficient ''I'he prudent man foreseeth the
evil and hideth HIMSELF" while the foolish
pass on and are punished.
Infdelity and disbelief are no recommen-
dation to any man. But it is especially dis
gustlng, when it appears IN the young.
Whenever it is seen in such, there is al
ways connected with it bold face, disre-
spect for superiors in age and requirements,
and contempt for scuh-usages, as general
society deems important and sacred. How
unlovely do such things make young man
appear. What bad passport to the esteem
and good will of those who are capable of
doing him more good than all others.
Nor does religion debar from enjoyment.
None are SO happy and contented as the
truly good. Storms may beat without, but
ca contented mind is a continual feast"
Conscious guilt, and peace, are incompati
BILE. They cannot exist together, being op
posites; two antagonist ingredients in chem
istry thrown together, efervesce until one
overcomcs the other. Conscience, Gods
deputy in the human bosom, must be sub
dued before the guilty man can have inward
calmness. But the devoted and pious,
walking with nature and with God, verify
| feel
"The day gldes sweetly DER their heads
| Made up OF innocence and love-"
This is not fancy but fact, not fable, but
reality, The whole community will sus-
tain me in asserting that nothing throws
such a charm around the young, as early
piety. 1t gives polish to the loftiest intel
lect, lustre to natural beauty, and is a ne
cessary finish to the best education. 1t must
therefore be an important ingredient in re-
putation not to be neglected with impunity.
Enerqy and decision, is also essential to
desirable character. Weakness of purpose
and constant vacllation is always attended
with non-success and followed by con-
tempt This may be, to certain extent,
natural and constitutional with some, but
in most cases, is doubtless the result of ha-
bit | need not tell you that the man of no
decision of character whose business and
purposes for life, like the tickle winds are
ever changing ever succeeds.
Observation has long since taught you this
The student who enters upon one branch
of science, or course Of study, and ere he is
half through abandons it for another, to
which his changing fancy may lead, never
exces in any. He who starts in business
and because he meets with a few difficulties
lays it aside, removes his residence and
commences another, seldom makes for
tune. Life is too short to admit Of our
learning everything, desirable to know, or
pursuing every business promising a re-
ward to industry Every man must there
fore select his course, fix his object, and
then pursue the path leading to it, with un-
! deviating frmness and undying industry
There are temptations enough in every
pursuit to lead an unstable mind, from its
legitimate course 1t is so in the pursuit
/, Al, aauo, oc h,,p,naoe n,l