Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1856-01-18
q he Gbronicle.
ORIGINAL ES IS \ y S .
Man a Self.SurViVOr.

OF heather philosopher. What SUBJECT Q
study can be more interesting and profta
bic, than that of man, considered botl
morally and intellectually? How bound
less this field of inquiry! A lifetime o
investigation and thought would not b
sufficient to reveal all that can be known
of him. Conjectures are numberless; ye
doubt has not given place to absolute Ger
tainty. The subject is surrounded by
impenetrable mists, into which the mos
gifted and learned have cndeavored to pust
their inquiries-in vain. All have been
obliged to confess, that human knowledge
has its imperfections and necessary limits
These questions, What am |? what is life
is the soul immortal ? have perplexed even
the greatest philosopher. Every principle
in natural religion has been canvassed, and
reason has exerted her utmost tn find the
solution of these difficult problems; but the
result has been unsatisfactory. From
Revelation alone, We learn that man is
immortal. How thrilling the fact.
Leaving this general view, we purpose
to treat our subject in more limited and
restricted aspect. In the history of every
one, there are times when the great ques-
tion naturally occurs to the mind, Shall |
survive my death? will the living who
may kindly visit my grave hear angel vol
ces saying, She is not here ? and as they
point to the place where the broken caskct
lies, will they also point to the skies where
the fair jewel still reflects upon earth the
lu..re and glory of moral results. The
fact vet remains, confirmed by the testim-
ouy of past ages, that man will survive his
death. "Abel being dead yet speaketh.
What constitutes man self-survivor !
Wealth often gives its posses'or place In
the annals Of fame, or purchases right to
an epitaph or a monumental urn. CrGsus
obtained page in history and line on
the cold marble. What else was there in
his life calculated to perpetuate his name!
Had not great wealth been his, he would
long since have been forgotten.
Ambition without just aims may give
lasting eclat to an Alexander or Napole-
on aud ye. how little in their history
deserves the applause, and how much the
exeerations of man. Avarice has immor
tslized in sacred writ, Nabal, and Gehazi,
the servant of Elisha Cruelty has rend-
cred infamous and given an enduring name
" Nero, C.ligula, and Robespierre.
Iufdclity perpetuates Julian the apost-
ate, and boasts Of Hume, Gibbon and Vol
eaire, while Thomas Paine, the profigate
and drunkard, receives, from hundreds of
admirers, yearly ovations. These live. They
can not die.
Founders of false and perverted systems
of religion, are also self-survivors. Maho-
med, the prophet Of fire and sword, lives
in the memory of the millions who daily
shout, "Thsrc is but one God, and Maho-
med is bis prophet" Joseph Smith, the
founder Of Mormonism, may resolutely
contest with the false prophet his claim
to perpetual life.
Circumstances (for man is but their crea-
ture) often confer An unenyiable and last
ing nOtoriety. Indeed, nothing more may
be necessary than few strands of hemp,
Earl Dudley of British history, and the
gifted but erring Prof Webster Of our own
country, are fit illustrations.
If the wealthy CrGsus, the ambitious
Alexander, the ayaricious Nabal, the cruel
Nero, still survive, yet it does not destroy
the integrity of that inspired declaration,
"The memory of the wicked shall rot"
Equally true is it that " the name of the
righteous shall be had in everlasting
remembrance"
The good also survive. The prophets,
the apostles, and the martyrs in the cause
of truth, though centuries have elapsed
since they lived, yet they come down to US
still breathing holy influences upon pol
luted earth. Their impress is upon all the
good. They live again in each of the num-
berless lives inspired by their deeds and
animated by their spirit. Nor can they
ever die, for truth and holy principles are
eternal.
COufucius, who seems to have approached
50 near to the purity and simplicity Of
Christian truth, in his precepts and max
inns, still lives embalmed in the memory
Of q mighty nation. But though he lives,
his life is not destined to be universal, like
the prophets and apostles, for principles
and ma1ims mingled with error can never
supplant the pure and the holy. Only
truth can have unlimited life, for it alone
suits all the beings God has created. The
intrepid Luther, and the gentle Melanc-
thon; the learned Calvin, and the crafty
Erasmus; the Bohemian Reformer, John
Huss, and Jerome Of Prague, each pos