Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-08-30
AUGUST 80.
g@irs' department.
Fon THE spInIr OF rae ACE.

At
BeUueuCuss DcIfI1g upon 1S D09Om tue nOpBS,
and fears, and destinies Of a world, it has still
marched onward without once being in any
wise retarded by the accumulation of the
burden II here. Day by day, week by week,
aud month by month, we are nearing the
grave, and it is well, indeed, sometimes to
pause in our rapid course and enquire how
Ear we are following out those christian prin-
ciplss which can alone solace and sustain the
fainting soul, as it approaches the shore Of
an unfathomed eternityP
At no former period of my life have these
reflections occupied so much Of my thoughts
rs during the past three months. l had
never before, to any very considerable extent,
watched by a sick bed, unless it was with a
MUD 50 pre-oecuPied by personal interest,"
SO hlled with individual anxiety as to unfit
Eae for q calm and philosophic reelection upon
the progress OF disease-and consequently,
the face Of all those deep moral lessons which
the slow coming on Of death is so calculated
to inspire, were lost sight of amid the utter
desolation and anguish which its contempla-
ton awoke. But during much Of that time
1 have sat calmly, by day and night, beside
n sick bed, with the consciousness deepening
each successive day that its occupant was
slowly but surely passing away to the spirit
world.
l have noted the gradual weakening of
Ife's chords-the relaxation upon its pleas
ures, its affections, its cares-I have seen
how, step by step, n mortal creature can APP
preach the graveyard then to witness the
last brief, yet terrible, conflict in which the
grim monster death came off victorious, was
in itself amply sufficient to impress upon my
mind oil those serious and solemn consider
atoms which should naturally follow as a
train in the wake Of such an event. But
when, as in this instance, the christians
hope and the christians faith were there,
even as q sustaining staff and continuing to
uphold, as one after another the r~eliances OF
this life weakened, and bent, and finally
broke beneath her pressure, until it alone
remained-is it any wonder that its contem-
plation aroused many an anxious enquiry as
to how such an event would find ME, when
selected rs a victim for its unerring shaft2
IL is amid such scenes that the worthless
ness Of the phantoms we so eagerly pursue
start up with renewed force, and we draw
back in distrpst and loathing from those
pleasures and frivolities which alone serve
to vile away a passing hour nor leaves one
rational improvement or beneficial reflection
behind. Fashion, and grandeur, and world
ly etiquette become shorn Of much of their
gloss and vitiated refinement, whilst the old
landmark of true, because well based and
properly regulated and heaven-directed, af-
lection CLEANS out afresh from the accumu-
lated moss and neglect of many years.
Love is indeed a beautiful, q divine senti-
ment, the wool and warp Of which is inter.
woven with death itself; bat not that glitter
ing in jewels end shining in its brightest ra
dance amid the music and revelry of tat
ball room. Not that which in dainty glove
aud gossamer robe, and glossy ringlett turns
away in gcorn from the tame and wearisomt
duties Of actual life-but that which in tn,
.L.1a1 .AsI1.n... - IL Ill ,O0.. &c xvoll n
in the placid and sentimental moonligh
hCur-in those oft recurring periods of wea
riness ana care, as we'll as in the season o
gay and lightsome merriment, forgets not t
-hpFTt69f "a tfS rAhsA fS witch vic Fl its 9RSHSst must a3s IS IS
held in subsection. 1t is perverted sensibilit
to turn away from the contemplation Of death
because il is calculated to sadden the ga,
and gladstone thrillings of the heart. Inevi
table as we know it to be, methinks wisdor
would sometimes teach us to examine it j
oil its revealed bearings, and by the torch {
. reasonable and experimental christianit
TO look down its deep, dark charnel-hous
and then away beyond to that life which RI
velation and our own convictions assure u
will spring up therefrom.
Perhaps but few in the buoyancy Of yout
and health, when friends greet them upo
every turn, and flowers of pleasure in ric
1Ab hAhAElh GNGII NGiu LLi6H bEGdl
can acknowledge q perfect willingness to e.
change all this for the coffin and shroud, tn
darkness and corruption of the grave an
yet at the same time may there not rest a
ever-abiding confidence within the soul, tbs
IT removed without even q note of warning
God would still forgive this natural clingin
to the beautiful world lie has made, and I'll
friends lie has so. constituted us to love, an
receive us to Himself. Experience and Of
servation only corroborates the Scripture
assurance, that a consistent christian fnC
strength for every emergency, ~sustainir
grace for every stormy day Of trial. / ca
never contemplate the lightning's glare an
the thunder's deafening crash, without
thrill o~fterror; even when the skies are BIZ
and bright and summers gentle air alone
on my brow but when the heavy waves
blackness heave up in dense terrific volum
and the storm king is at play with the zigz;
lightnings DER my head, and Heavens drei
artillery peals throughout q vaulted sky, n
sinking heart grows strong again, and almo
with e~xultant voice | can ex~claim-Play o
ye Gghtnings, and ye thunders madly rol
but God, even gRy good kind Father, hol
you in His hands and can turn you harmle
away from my head, lit so pleaseth Him.
And oh how often before the tread of d
skeleton death had ever resounded throut
my happy home, did the thought occur
me that could bear adversely, or misfortur
or sorrow under any form, provided n
hearts idols were left to me still. But
doomed TO see the roses of health wither a
fade away from a dear. ones face-the lust
go out from the kindly beaming eye, and i
depart from the bounding heart, how coulc
bow like u reed to the blast,and still exclai
in sincerity Notmy will, but thine o Go
be doneP was rebuked, most ftly rebukC
but even then the hand that uuenched
earthly light lit up a new and brighter b.
CON flame upon eternity's shore, which "
henceforth to stream in q long line of silye
light across the dark and oft.times troubI
sea Of life, enabling me TO steer my frail ba
with increased precision toward the fI
geal Of a blissEsl Immortality. Do not I
me then that the christians life is one of s,
ness and gloom alone. Do not tell me IL
impenetTable walls are raised against his
trance into the halls of pleasure. Do not I
me he is sacrificing happiness to a set
principles and feelings which may be |
fancies after all. Poor, deluded inmates {
We all, whom he would rot exchange plat
with for ten thousand times an increase
the misnamed pleasures ye seek, nor for
the blighted hopes and Cloyed a~spiratio
and disappointed anticipations which &
their reward.
And nhl where, when life becomes o par,
ed and burning waste, and flowers have fad