Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1851-10-07

~ ~ Akss~ss ~ v $1,000
Il was universal lleli cf aiasspg tl.e a,srici
Persians, that cscyy sn~a hoiae MSS assGn
ded, during lie. hi oae u .iore Il tle iisll.sB
isauts 81 the sldFit wosisl and tasas the at'
tendent angel III ugcft as ise term implirs
was selected from those aho lad been t,scii
most intimate liichls white liang. Ncr !:
this faith confirmed 10 the l'elsian nation
From the creation Of the world 10 tue pres
ent time, those who have recognized INNER
+ tally as truth have believed Ersnlg III tliC
ministration Of guardian angels. And the
idea is one supported b. true philosophy,
sound reason aud divine revelation. his
theory so beautiful to the enlightened under
standing, 50 oonsoliag to the afflicted aad the
truth Of which having been attested BY upi-
vcrsal beliof, in ages past, has been absolute.
lly demonstrated. even to our external senses,
4 IN the present. It isno longer matter Of
I faith--it is knowledge; rot to allhut to very
many IN the most refined circles Of society.
1t is beautiful truth, and worthy Of tie
highest intellect faith at once cloraiing
and purifying. Who would not be restrain
cd from sin, under such a heliefg Who
would not pause before committing disrc-
putable act, if fully convinced Of the fact that
+ tho spirit ofsome dearly loved earthly friend
still walked lovingly BY bis sidel Would
the inceudiary apply tile matchat midnight,
in the presence Of an angel witncssg | can
conceive of no stronger restraint to vice mo
greater incentive 70 virtue thin would be
produced by fullbclief III the truth 3f the an
gel ministry Its a universal law Immature,
for the higher to s,perin.end the lower: aud
it is on this principle that the spirits Of our
departed friends. having entered a higher
sphere Of existence, are prepared and qualiIi-
ed to watch over their friends on earth. We
have all been looking for heaven. and tile
reason why We have not sooner found it is
because We have looked for il too far oil
We are Just beginning to understand the
import Of these words. "Ihc'kingdom Of heav-
en- is within you' We may become hard
cncd and scared BY the cares Of life. aud our
spiritual perceptions may become eloudcd by
SIN, there arc times when the dear memories
Of other, ana perhaps better days, come
thronging back, displaeing, BY their gentle
infneuce all thoughts Of evil and then it is
that We feel unnistakeahla evidence cf the
presence Of our soul companions. The u
lest criminal was once an inoifcnsivc clild,
and he, at times, may feel something Of this
holy i.lnenee IN the language Of Whittier:
INot wholly can the heart uniearn
Thclesson offs better hours,
Noryct has time dall footsteps worn
Toco,nmom dust tina. path OF flowers
There is no soul on earth so low as not to
contain the germ Of angel purity. Tie cir
cumstances and Influences which surround il
may be unfayorable To its development. bnt
this furnishes no proof Of iss absence. II.
ninst sometime and somewhere, according 70
the eternal pgsFasc II lin who I.aac il,
grow into beauty and perfection. True our
brother has sinnea But God only knows how
strong he was tempted, or how often he re
sisted before be fell. True Christian charity
should embrace the world and the Christians
hope should I'LL mankind Behold that pale
and carewcrn mother. Her son has sinned
and fallen. But has she forsaken him? Mo-
Disreearding the sneers Of the crowd, she
follows him to the court ROOM sits BY his
side while the judge pronounces bis doom
follows him TO the prison walks By bis side
to the gall VS., and when the last sad act in
the drama is cnded-when the form she pres
scd TO her bosom in childhood lies cold and
lifeless before her, she kuecls upon lis grave.
and prays that she may her child again in
heaven And this is only the manifestation
of human love.
Shall the Infinite Father Of all do less than
that poor finite mother? Let US then con-
tinue to hope, in tender affection, for all our
Fatbcrs's family. And let US remember,
amid all the discouragements and Affections
Of life that we are not alone. Though every
earthly friend has departed, and every earth
" hope has persisted, still remember that you
are not alone. Morning. noon, and night, the
spirits Of the loved in heaven shall hover
round you, and at death receive and well
come you to the souls eternal home Gil
bert.