The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1852-07-03
MORAL g. RELIGIOUS.
Use OF LIFE.

rSEO LIFE.
II Is truth. and one of the highest lmpor-
tancc, that this world is to he orr dwelling
place hnt for brief period a period OF lntl-
ni,clv small moment, in comparison with an
eternity of being. And it is also truth,
that the things of this world, in comparison
with those Of heaven. are gross and worth
less But this class of truths has been sadly
rorvrrtcd. even hv those who have protested
most flIv to acknowledge them. We have
been taught to look upon the world and the
Goods and delights it seemed to offer us. as
something not only unworthy OF our regard. :
lut which II was an act of unfaithfmlness to
christian duty to cniov. We have been IN
struc.cd to believe that the pleasures which
II afforded were hut 50 many al!uremcnts to
tcmntation. and that our only path of duty
and safety Law in an entire abstinence from
them.
Now il Is true that christian life must he
a lite of Self-lrnial; hut it is against evils
within ourselves. rather than those without
that We are to combat The evils which we
are to fear and >hun. in regard to the pleas
urcs and eniovmcnts Of the world. consist
not in their use. (tor they have their proper
and legitimate usc.) nor even always and al
torethcr in their abuse but in the indulgence
cf that state of mind or affection for them.
which leads us to regard them as our chief
coo}S. onr highest rratifcation and to seek
the kingdom of heaven, only for the cause
that these also may be herewith added to us
"A state in which we call them. and wish to
make them. our own, instead Of acknowledge
iny them As goods lent us hv the Lord, only
to he cmp loyel in his service.
Another abuse of these principles is the
indul renee Of unlawful lon@inG> to arrive at
the end Of our earthly journey, that we may
a. spccdiv as possible escape the evils of the
present litr and come into possession Of the
expected rewards Of the future one. While
we think meanly of the world in which we
are. and as mcanlv Of the duties which we
are called to perform in it, we must needs
look forward to the hour of our deliverancc
from it as joyful release if so be we mag
inc ourselves prepared safely to pass the or
deal of our final Judgment.
But we think thus. only because we have
not learned to realize the inscparable conncc
ton in which this world and the things of it
really stand to the eternal world. and the c.
1uallv close connection which thence exists
between onr present life and the life to come.
We have not seen that every step Of our
Journey here. was, or mi ht be made. a step
towards eternal happincss-not merely in
sense of its approximation in point of time,
but in the deeper sense Of its being a means
towards its attainment When. therefore, we
bcoin to bemoan the scryitudc in which we
seem to he held in this world, and to cast
longing chances towards purer and happier
state of existence. we forget or fail to acknowl
cdre the truth. that no change of situation
not even a change of worllS-coud make us
happy. so long as we carried within ourselves
the causes of misery and discomfort. We are
like fretful children, 50 eager to enjoy the
TOYS their fathers are prepar ing for them.that
they are ready to snatch them from their
hands half made. and thus lose both the pres
cnt and the future pleasure.
Our present life we should remember, is a
life of sorrow. pain. and apparent servitu'le,
only because we are naturally unfit to en- iov,
and incapable of receiving that which would
make us truly free and happy. But in tbs
future life, our happiness will depend still
more upon our inward state than it does here
because the things about us will there he on
" the images and efligics of our eterna
state. How vain, then. the longing wish 70
heaven. before our preparation for it is accom-
plishcd: and how surely does this vain long
inr attest the truth that our wills are not ~
so asSimilatcd to the will of our Father i
hcavcn,so submissive to his providence. who
is ALWAYS seeking to lead us to heaven. as t
be capable of entering into that state Of tru
rest, which consists in forever more an
moro fully doinu his will