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

ary of the Most High.
In fine, contemplate the various facul
ties and powers of the mind Individually
or collectively. Observe their opera
tions either sing y or combined. And
especially consider how Mpe buoys it up
amid the trials and dlsappoiutmcnts of
the present, by the cheering and conso
latory promise of better things to come
While Ie0r, the apprehension of future
Ill, serves as salutary restraint upon
presentation. Those social affections too,
which so closel y unite tile hearts Of kim
dred spirits, ,and, indeed, link together the
whole extended circle of human rela-
tionship; though frequently wounded,
or even sundercd by the hand of opprcs-
sion, or Of death, how, nevertheless, do
they firmly cling to the comforting be-
lief Of continued existence in another
state, where all the evils and incquali-
lies of the present will be fully reclifcd
And shall these fears be ended? these
social 1DcctiouS etcrnally blasted by the
dissolution of the bodyl shall memory
then cease to instruct and please by re-
calling The paste or iU.usagiuatiom to en-
rapture by its ever varied, lanciful, and
glorious representions? Sound philoSo-
ply answers no. :sThe diversified and
wonderful endowments Of the mind, are,
of themselves, sufficient evidence Of its
immortality"
And such, be it observed, is the con.
cluson TO which, by somewhat similar
train of reasoning, most heathen philo-
sophers and moralists have arrived.
True, the notions which the wisest
heather sages have entertained respec-
ting the nature and duration of the soul
are confusedly mixed with fable and un-
certainty And some in ancient, as in
modern times, presumed TO deny the
doctrine Of its ammortality But the
simple fact that it was believed by some,
reasoned about by others, and more or
less engaged the attention of all, is suili-
cient proof Of the great importance ever
attached to the doctrine, and and also
illustrates and confirms the position, that
the soul naturally longs for Immortality.
Most deeply, however, was the truth of
the doctrine impressed on the minds of
the more intelligent and rejecting
heathen,* by the consideration Of
tic unequal distribution OF good and
evil in the present state of being.
They frequently beheld vice and tyra-
ny triumphant, and conscious innocence
and virtue suffering the severcst indigni-
ty and wrong. And they were led to
inquire, What reward has virtue, that,
for its attainment, the passions should
be subducd, the appetites curbcd, and
present qualification be forborne 2"
Were they told, }" Though there is no
future, yet you ought to live a virtuous
life, since v.ituous action so greatly con-
tributes to the happiness of individuals
and Of nations" Such a reply would
scarcely have proved satisfactory. For,
however true the admission that the per-
manency, nay. existence Of gool society
depends on the conduct of the ,good; it
might again, and with reason be asked
"Why seek to build up, or support soci-
ETY. at all Why impose restraints on
the natural freedom of man, if there be
no hereafter2 Why not suffer him, like
a splendid brute, as then he would be, to
seek to the full, the qualification of his
sensual and grovelling propensi.ies 2
"T'o cat and drink, since to morrow he
must die" and be no more?
Surely little enjoyment can result
| from course of vlrtuous discipline :;
from the enlargement Of feeling and de-
sire, from the greater cultivation of the
social affections, and improvement of the
moral and intellectual powers. consc-
quent on state of society, if man be
only thereby made capable of feeling
more deeply, more keenly the loss of life
the .total extinction of the enlighten-
ed SOUL" >
| Some higher motive to virtuous con.
duct was therefore seen to be needful
a motive operating alike upon the fears
and the hopss Of men. And such a mo-
tive could only be derived from a belief
in a future state Of being, where all
things will be weighed in the balance