Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1849-04-20


without reaching maturity, or perfection in thii
life; that here itapPears to be but in The morn
ing Of its existence; and. that as il increases il
knowledge, iIs powers Of expansion, and its ca
pacilies for enjoyment are still enarging anC
Expanding may be considered as evidence Iha
there is future State, for which this is but pre-
ParaIory. il is not probable that the infinitely
wise and good Being, who created man with
such powers of mind, and capacities for enjoy.
ment, and spread out before him such an ilimi-
table field for their employment 10 the conlem.
Plaiion Of the immensity Of the universe, and
the boundless views which that universe unfold,
should deprive him Of existence before his pow.
ers are developed.
The divine perfections beam forth in his
works Of creation; and the beauty symmetry
and grandeur with which unnumbered worlds
and systems revolve in their appropriate spheres
and orbits. And is il possible that the human
soul, endowed by the same Almighty hand with
powers aud capacities adequate TO comprehend
his works, and admire and adore before him,
and 10 share in his beni6cence, should be per.
milted bui glimpse of his glory, and then end
his bengl 1t canaot be. Such is not the d.
vine economy in all his olher works. The de.
sire of The human soul will not, ednGa consist
tenlly be disappointed in this particular.
But man is formed for action, as we'll as con-
temptation. He is endowed with certain moral
powers which strongly indicate his immortality.
There are, interviewer in his constitution, pow
ers, principles, instincts, feelings and affections
which have reference to his improvement in
vrue; and which excite him to promote the hap.
pness of others. The noblcst examples of exa.
ted virtue are met with in all ages of the world.
Men, who from u principle Of benevolence
devote greater part of their lives TO active be.
nifcencc, and in alleviating human wrelched-
ness. II cannot be that such active powers as
these, which qualify their posseSsors for dffus-
ing happiness TO an indefinite degree among sur.
rounding inteiligences will be foreverexIinguish.
ed by the stroke Of death. And, that after a
few feeble efforts during the present transitory
scene, they will never again exert their ener.
gies, through all eternity.
Throughout the universe we perceive traces
Of universal benevolonce. This is distinctly
Perceplible in relation to or own globe; in the
revolutions Of day and night in the constitution
of the atmosphere; in the agencies Of light and
heat; in the spIendorS of the sun and the gores
of the midnight sky; in the organization of the
body Of man, and the senses with which he is
endowed, and in the abundant supply Of food
and drink which is annually dislribuledfo eve-
ry rank Of animated existence. And in other
systems, in the distant regions Of space, we per-
ceive that it is one great end Of the Creator TO
difiuse lighl and sPendOr throughout all the pro-
vinces of his immense empire, in order to un-
veil his glorious works TO The eyes of unnum.
bered inelligences.
If wisdom, benevolence and rectitude form
essential paris Of the character Of God, il is rea-
sonable to suppose that those virIuous and ben
evolenl characters which have appeared in our
world, have been only in The act of training for
short period, preparatory - their being trans
planted TO Il robler scene Of action. We have
every reason 10 conclude that moral action ex-
tends over the whole empire Of God. That be.
nevolence exerts It's nobIest energies amongs,
the inhabitants of distant worlds; and tGat il is
chiefly through the medium of reciprocal kind
ness and affection that ecstatic joy pervades the
minds of celestial inteIIigences. Since, there
fore, it appears that the universe is resplendent
with innumcrable systems, and is vast and I'M.
limited in its extent; since God has endued the
mind of man with powers capable of receiving
an increase Of knowledge; since all the knowI-
edge he can acquire in the present state respect
ing the operations and government Of God is as
nothing, when compared with the prospects
which eternity may unfold: since the universe
and its material gIorieS are chiefly intended for
the qualification of inie Hgent minds-and since
man is possessed Of desire which cannot be lul.
ly grati6ed and of moral and intellectual pow
ers which cannot be fully exercised in the pres
ent world, we have The most abundant reason to
conclude, that he is destined 10 higher scene
Of exisence-that man is immortal. And that
during the progress of that future existence. his
faculties will arrive at their full expansion; and
that there will be ample scope for exercise on
myriads Of objects and events which are now
veiled in darkness and mystery. He will ac
acquire more minute and comprehensive views
Of all the attributes of the Deity, and of the
connections, relations and dependencies Of that
vast physical aud moro' system over which the
government Of God extends.
The dlscordant state ofthe moral world, when