The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1855-11-16
5ahbatb KfaailIyl,
"3 aUiil Retire from Business an5
Prepare for Ancfher Wofia"


Who is there that hath not heard some.
honest, pains ;akinginan utterinc some suclr
saying as tliis when oldsage is coming one
1es well meant rs this may be, aud plat,sf
ble as it sotindeth 10 the m,tliiuking.
know no greater, though alach 30 nIofe eorlii
mon error Than this notion, that the common
engagements of this world are airindrssncp.
to our preparation for the next, fos L do
surely believe, and think haze tho warrant
ofscripture aud reason therefor, that we wets
sentinto this probationary state to the end thac
our souls might learn experience among aie
diverse circumstances of active life, so ms 10
know good from evil, and never to hazard the
falling from glory when once attained, bHanv
such mistake as was committed by those
spirits that kept not their first estate. But
five retire from temptation, we deny our
selves the schooling which God appointed
for our better teaching and so far from avoid
ing the temptation of evil We increase il tor
fold. For there is no such good friend to
virtue as that useful WEAKNESS which, ieaye,h
no time for selfish cogitation over tho
means of gratifying the animal nature :; Yea,
he who, in his daily charge, bc it what IL
may, hath taken no undue advantage, nor
oppressed any, if rich who hath served
truy, and in no way defTauded his employ-
ers, eithers 10y negligence or dishonesty is
poor and who hath lived in Christian love
snd alnity with his fellowmen, whether con-
nocted with him by blood or Otherwise
hath prepared well for another world, albeit
his prayers may have been short, and his
time most actively employed, even in his dy-
ing day.
1t is not for our @much speaking" that we
shall be heard; and the brief but feryent as
piration of the heart toward God, which a
wise and good man doth use to sanctify the
business of the day withal, while pufsuing
the ayocations Of this world, hath in il more
than the vitality of religion, than the david
ling ineditatons of one who nsskeilr PRAYER
the object of his life, rather than the means
Of leading that life Alright. We pray for aid
to perform our duties; but to use many pray
er, and perform few duties, is but mockery
and a folly; for man thus disguiseth to lis own
conscience his cowardicc and Incidence, and
fancieth he is pious and virtuous, while in
truth he is only idle and useless. Doubtless
there is n time when Increasing ilssir,nitv.
may make man shrink from the fatigue of
business which affordeth no respite from toll:
but then this greater quietudc is but needs
of the body, and is not all to he considered
as the means of improving tho health of tho
soul on the contrary, we have all seen, and
know, that it must be strong and well dis
eiplined mind which can resist the natural
propension toward the vices which arise out
Of this state of inaction; such as peevishness.
sellishness, and consequent carelessness of
the comfort and happiness of others.
Instead, therefore, Of seeking discharge
from all duty, as the means ofimprovipg the
soul, whose true life is the ful6lnient Of du,y.
we should endeavor rather, rs age ap.
proaches, TO cut out for ourselves occupa.
ton sufficient for the diminished power of
the body, such as shall give room for the
exercise of that concern for Others and care
lessness Of SELF which form the best grace of
youth, and which may still hover, like
bright halo, round the head of age, making
grey hairs lovely, and giving earnest even,
in this life, of what will be the society of
lust men made perfect" in the next.--.1a
Exposition of Vakgar Errors.