The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-07-19

iy." Here we mus, part with you;" said ihe
angels, 1--WE cannot live in that land, for it is
much more glorious, and more holy than ours.
In our own land we are happy, and our cup
even runnelh over with blessings, but our spi-
rits are no, f, to breathe that purer air; and so
for the present we must bid you adieu!" Au.
cune was surprised at this, but said nothing, for
she was anxious to get to the Fountain. The
angels then gave her an afectionate kiss, and
tu, ned away; while Aucune boldly ran up the
steps and knocked loudly at the gate. Almost
Instantly it was opened by glorious being in
shining white; and Aucune en.ered. She told
her erland, and The angel said, "you shall pro-
ceed Immediately" And in little lime a
company of heavenly beings came 10 her, and
signlfed that they were ready; Aucune soon
accompanied them, hut they had not proceeded
far, before she felt similar oppression upon
her head, TO that she felt when she was obliged
to return before. She knew its meaning, and
bursting into tears, said. "Am not pure enough
ye, 10 20 the Immortal Fonntain?" 1--WE would
gladly take you, dear sister," said an angel,
"bu, it would destroy you if we did. until you
can breathe with pleasure, the air of our hea.
ven." "What must now dot" asked Aucune,
almost with despair. "You must again change
your motives ;" said the angels. "hitherto you
have done good and avoided evil, no, from
sense that it is duty you owe TO God, and to
your fellow mor,als, hut that you might acquire
some selfish good. At first you wished 10 he
beautiful, that yon might deprive Chacune of
her neighbor's love and praise. and then you
wished to he beautiful, that you might share
them with her. Now cannot you see, that in
both these motives, there is something very self
i.h, particularly in the first You must, there.
fnre, return 10 yonr world and do no evil, not
simply because il has been commanded, nor yet
to avoid any misery or punishment; for the one
Is but blind obedience. and the other selfish fear;
but you must cease to do evil, because it is sin
against God and an injury to yoI,r brethren.-
You will thus gradually lose sight of sefin yonr
inward motives, and do good because it is of
God, and for your nrighbors' benefit" They
then bid her he of good cheer. and trust in the
Lord, and all The difficulties of the task would,
in time. he overcome. Return to the world
for twelve months, and a, the end of that time,
you shall come to us again." said they, and part
ed with the usual kiss.
At first Aurnne felt great difficulty in Danish.
ing all idea of reward from her mind. But, in
time, by constant attention to her motives, she
found it was possible to "do good hoping for
nothing again. She ceased to make any more
bargains with God, by saying, that, il he would
make her beautiful hy permitting her TO balhr
in the Immortal Fountain, she would be- kind
to Chncune and gond to all. She was gradu-
ally led TO see that it was right, duty we
owe 10 each other. to do M evil either in Thought.
affection or deed; and thus that we are placed
in this world I" learn in contribute our mite 10
the treasury of human usefulness and human
good. so that we may all have a common right
to human happiness.
Afpr repeated trials. The good Providence of
God oace again opened her spiritual sight. and
she was conduried through the Gate of Obrdi.
ence, to 'he Gate Of Duty; and on this occasion
its grandeur and magui6cence had hecomr
heightened TO wnnderf, degree. 1t shone
as ften thousands ray of the MONDAY sun had
conce ntrated themselves, and were consolidated
into the f"rm of a gate, Aucune knocked. and
al the solicitation Of the angel in shining white,
entered and as she Looked around and bcheld
the astonishing grandeur of the place. she irem.
blpd, lest ANYTHING shond be injured by con.
taci with her. She WAS first struck with the
mighty intensity Of the light: for it seemed To
her, as if she was placed in the lnirls, of dia-
nond, OIL which all the glitlering rays ola thou.
sand suns were shining. And, strange as it
may seem, il was not painful, bat wonderfully
exhlarating and delightful! And the heat rha,
was with il elevated and sanclified her whole
soul for it was spiritual heat, that could warm
the heart, and kindle up the hest affections, and
produce a reverence and veneralion for every.
thing around. The angels robed her in pure
shining white garments, and set out upon their
journey.
Aucune had noticed strange pecnliary in
the circumstance ofthe persons of the angels,
and the scenery Of heaven becoming more
beautiful and interesting at each succeeding visit.
On a little reflection, however, she perceived
that the change was in herself for in that spir.
it.world all things have an immediate cores.
pondence with its inhabitants. Every though,
and affection Of angels takes up an external oh.
jeciive form and thus all that is seen in heav
en-, is the ouhirth and reflex Of angelic minds
Each angel, therefore. sees himself portrayed
upon all that surrounds him. Every beas, and
every bird, yea every object that is behed, is
thus made mirror to reflect the inward souls of
the an1els uDon their nrfarnol soosoe en- ,b,,