Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-11-21
Written for the Spirit of the Age.
eHeaven is the Home of the Soul.

nneateS, truly worthy Ol our lmltaClOns we
derive benefit from the perusal of the litera- Is
ture Of the day, and from the contemplation u
of the many moral and religious institutions n
extant, which exert sucha salutary influence q
on society. This boundless garden of nature X
presents a harmonious assemblage of objects d
suited in their appearance and utility to our II
physical nature, while their organization Il
tends to erect the attention Of every discern .
ing intellect yet we find an immortal being .
within, which, endowed with more elevated 4
aspirations, finds even amid the most luxuri- l
ant scenes no congenial object to which they !
may cling; no place that can afford the en- !
tertainment that it desires none. Heaven
alone is the Home of the soul. Heaven
What delightful and inexpressible ideas are
associated with the holy word ! How beau
tiful the prospect that arises to the ravished
mind, when through the medium of faith 1t
views Mount Zion, the city of the great
King. There never fading flowers, nourished
by the refreshing dewsof a free grace, bloom
in spotless purity, and shed i~ncessantly
their holy fragrance withinits crystal portals.
Countless pearls, the invaluable purchase of
the vicarious sacrifice, deck profusely its
hallowed courts. Seraphim and Cherubim,
cnraptured with q Redeemer's bliss, bow
reverentially in His benign presence.
1t is an incomprehensible fact, that the
OtiLy mas CSIdDllSnGu al cbcEudl ICoA0OuSOJ
SO extensive that it can never be filed, SO sa-
cred that not one impure can enter 1T SO
valuable that it cost the last drop of blood
of His only Son, and has devised means by
which all, even the most humble, the most
~illiterate and the vilest, may become mt sub
jects to inhabit it. Were the strongest mind
augmented with the strength of all others, 1T
would then feel its powers sinkinto nonentlty
while contemplating such transcendent WIS
dom and goodness manifested towards unde-
serving creatures. For such tokens of divine
favor, our minds should glow necessarily
with the most sincere love, alteration and
gratitude.
If we take the human race in its collec-
tive capacity, we find that each individual,
from the ignorant heather to the most dis
tinguished sage from the most humble
peasant to the richest monarch, Is ever IN
the pursuit of some object from which he
hopes to derive pleasure. One, Tor instance,
thinks to obtain it from the full exercise Of
his ambitious propensities. Are such expec
! tations ever realized ? Was the ambitious
= Bonaparte happy when his sword waved II
I, triumph over q conquered foe? Did he ex
perience any true delight when he saw kings
= monarchs, princes and emperors kneellng a
: his sceptre? The genius sacrifices all othe
employments for intellectual pursuits. Th
COGeJOQS are aSSlUuOuS 10 dppTopIldtc I
:, themselves vast masses of worldly goods
but are they happy in the possession Of then
Admitting that it is right for us to endeavC
to procure earthly substance for worth
= purposes admitting that the literary cha
acter realizes some degree of enJoymel
while traversing the rough and obscure patti
= Of science admitting that there are NAL
!; commendaDle attainments possible, and tn
! We are under obligations to exert our fact
= ties to the utmoste extent, yet should these
% the predominant objects Of pursuit of
:. Immortal mind a mind $50 ~fearfully al
s. wonderfully made" that it must secure t
20 itself eternal happiness or misery, duri
- the short period OF life.
10, Combine the beauty Of all earthly oljec
- What is it when compared with the faintt
shadow of celestial comeliness Concentr'
all the lore of the past ages add to 1t
~ the learning oil. the present age, and til
augment this by all that will ever be p
ny sessed by each successive generation. 1t
n eclipsed by the most feeble ray Of div
wisdom. Heap together all earthly tire
~ ures. Their value is impercnptible WI
weighed in the balance with Heaven,
HE Home Of tie Sou{. Shall we, as intellect
and moral beings, spend our golden nome
in seeking the latter, while we make no
I" ertions to obtain the former? The voice
EGdoOu duLllOA ltulANClJ plOuOuuCOo cuSi
course of conduct absurd. Conscience te
had fes to the assertion IN numbering tones
= of Heaven is the sacred nucleus of all true
dom, happir ess and excellence. All, h
bit. ever degenerate they may be, are so con
the tuted that they cannot prevent admiring
feeling the importance of these exceller
,yer rs they glimmer over the Universe. He
over instead of yielding to the milder sensibili
that Of his nature, rushes madly on to sud
tho destruction, acts more rashly, yea til
the more absurdly, than be who has felt
welt still desires the kind sympathies of soci'
With but instead of participating in the JOY
cub others, shuts himself up in a monastery
|, his We are able to form some idea Of the
cations We are under to appreciate the m
over Afforded US 10 become helrs OF this hi
lance, when we consider its value and d
ton. Suppose there was but one dian
/ the and that this was placed on Alpine hei
efore and that it should be proclaimed that he
nora first reached the rare gem should be the
per ter of it? What a mighty rush there W
idol lie from all sides what laborious exc
hap until some one, like Hannibal of cid,
he in scaled the rugged brow and snatched fir,
whose the desired object. And after all, VIII:
It be- its true value? Less to an individual
! the barren land than the smallest grain of
deep less to O thirsty mortal in an arid d
than a single drop Oh water. 1t we are
ID ex- Gus to obtain such trivial objects, how
and more should we he to gain Mount z
rds oil summit, on which is o gem that emits
IN his which dissipates every sorrow, and sat
ore to every longing desire.
ew.- How delightful is the thought tha'
nds-t All-wise Deity has not only devised mea
earth which every one may become an inhal
wv in of the celestial courts, but has so arrs
.lized. the system of the Universe that in wa
in the path to true happiness. we natr
,rd.- draw others along with US. The ont
Of nlghted burmans owe much of their pI
thew enjoyment to the noble e~xertions Of a
ath.. son. The enlightened Chinese are sti
peating with JOY the name of a Shuck.
but the truly humble, sincere and col
ughty who have washed their garments i
i, tion, atoning blood, can gain access to the mar
lrninc of the blessed. And even these have
g once counter many difficulties and Athletic
But. Dlihcultles and Affections coequal will
on his and extensive as sin, often present them
burn on all sides in the most appalling for
warm But there Is an Omnipotent arm, comm
untain rate with ~infnitN, which is ever extcn,
r from meet every exigency, and to render
pths of needed aid. Protected by this impene
shield the most formidable obstacle an
most bitter affection avail nothing a
Scott US. These very occurrences which q
perish at first as evils, in the believer are con
IN the to the richest blessings. AS the d
5 head flower, bent lowest under the reekin
.istance of night, yields the sweetest perfume al