Southern reveille. (Port Gibson, Miss.) 1851-185?, 1852-04-28

do, will Be held in deserved contempt. But
even If an upright course should not result IN
securing the esteem Of men. you will yet have
that approval which j. above all human favor
the testimony Of good coDcience, and the
smiles Of Heaven.
TO act cOnscientiously, you will have q
resist many solicitations Of friends and COM
panions. Show them that you have the cour-
age to say "No "a courage often create
than that which takes men 10 the duel ground
n they would eniice you % The gaming table,
70 the intoxicating bowl. or 10 break the Sab
bath and forsakc che house Of God. have the
manlness to say No." and maintain your
ground despite Of their jeers and their taunts,
and even they will respect you. You. may set
il down as an axiom IN morals, that no man
Is truly courageous who il not a conscientious
man. Knayes are always towards, the world
over.
Study tle Scriptures. The Bible i the
Book Of books. What would Be The state Of
The world without ia? Whether for is histori-
cal annals, its literary beauties, It's remarkable
knowledge Of human nature, its sublime &C.
scriptions Of Gods character, works, and
providence, its conducivencss to our individu-
Al. social, and public welfare, or, greatest Of
all, the revelation Of grace. and faith and the
hopes inspired for another world il i desery-
ing the highest attention Of every young man.
Nor Is this the testimony Of an interested ad-
vocate alone. The greatest men ~ All depart
ments Of learning and science have commen-
ded Il for these characteristics--statcsmen, ju-
rists, orators, philosophers, poets, scholars.
They have been students Of the Bible. Ihey
have bowed 70 its precepts, adored is God, en-
braced its Saviour and leh on record their
testimony 70 its unrivalled worth Among
hosts Of others, notice the following: says
Lord Bacon" There never was found, in
any aqe Of The world, either philosopher, or
sect, or law, or discipline, which did 90 highly
exalt the public good, as the christian faith.
Saws Sir Matthew Hale-"There is no book
like The Bible, for excellent wisdom, learning,
and U.s." Says that distinguished oriental
traveller and scholar, Sir William Jones, found
written with bis own hand in his Bible
have carefully and regularly perused these
Holy Scriptures. and am Of opinion, that the
volume, Independently Of is divine origin.
contains more sublimity, purer morality more
important history, and finer strains Of elo.
quence, than can be collected from all other
books, in whatever language they may have
been written" eff have any claims q clo-
quence," says Charles james Fox, " i i be-
cause have faithfully studied the book Of
job" Says the great poet Milton" There
are no songs comparable 70 the songsof Zion;
no orations equal 70 those Of the Rrophetsi
and no politics like those which the Scriptures
teach" That profound thinker, John Locke.
q one who inquired about the best method %
obtain knowledge Of true religion, replied
Study the Holy Scriptures, especially the
New Testament; therein arc contained the
words Of eternal life. The Bible bath God
for its author, Salvation for its end, and truth,
without any mixture Of error, for its matter.
Il Is all pure all sincere, nothing too much'
nothing wanting" Says Bayle,-"h is .
matchless volume. Il is impossible We can
study it too much, or esteem il TOO highly"
Says the learned Selden-" There i no book
upon which we can rest in dying moment
but the Bible" As a final testimony, take
the following. which i the closing paragraph
of the last will and testament Of that unriyal-
led orator. Patrick Henry have now dis
posed Of all my property 70 my family.
There i one thing more I wish could give
them, and that i the Christian Religion. II
they had this, and had not given them one
shilling they would be rich and il they had
not that, and / had given them all tho world.
they would be poor"
Young gentlemen, You need never be
ashamed Of your Bible, while you are found
il such company as this--amoug tho philoso-
piers, poets, orators scholars, and statesmen,
than whom none are more renowned. But
there Is one who is greater than them all, who
+" spako as never man spake," and who says
-" Search the Scriptures; for in them ye
think ye have eternal life and they are they
which testify Of me-"
Finally.-make personal religion the
crocning business, as IL Is tlc great end,
~ hfe. No matter what may be your native
powers, or how great your attainments you
have acquired comparatively little that Ia g.
sontial 70 guide you through the sirifes and
Of this life with peace and safety.
and you have attained absolutely nothing
which can sOlaco a dying bed, and light up
with hope tho gloom Of the grave. until you
have, BY the grace Of God, put on the breast
plate Of righteousness. taken the shield Of
faith. and the helmet Of Salvation" Accept,
AZ -. ~ a