Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-10-15
49,: s.
LADIES' DEPARTMENT..
=
For the Spirif ofthe Age.
To the Social Circle.
sABBATH MUSINGs.-NO. {

To the Social Circle.
SABBATH MUSINGS.-EO. 5.
"God created man in his W image"
II is this fact which invests the destiny of
the most degraded object, still bearing up
on his brow Heavens signet of immortali-
Nv, with q high aud holy interest. How
ever mean, however Insignificant, however
~unsightly. we mast still regard every IA
tiona creature as an atom launched upon
the boundless sea of an existence which
che mightiest monarch of earth may fail
ever more to cousign TO oblivion. Within
the breast Of the frailest infant lies a jewel
which, under polishing fingers, must grow
krightcr and brighter until translated into
the Eternal city Of light, where its lowell
Ness will glisten still more transcendantly
beautiful. Or through continued neglect
its lustre may become dim aud furnished,
until no after care may rend away the FL
thy coat and purify its corroded face fit
fr admittance there. The pitiable beggar,
who extends a rseagre hand for charitys
lift, may look forward to the reward of a
holy life, With as much security as the dia-
tanned potentate frow the magniGccnee
WUlEu GNGay WhCAC Oil
cannot wholly elface the remembrance of
the intended likeness Of mans moral nature
10 his God, nor any depth Of deprayity alb
solve his feiow-man from seeking aud sa-
wing the lost.
But we turn from these to look upon
man in the higher relations Of life; where
mind leaves It's ineffaceable impress upon
other minds; where the magic flash of ge-
Mus awakes its kindred tonein other hearts.
And we must acknowledge in the contem-
plation Of mental power, a pronencss to for
yet that his probation is likewise attended
by weaknesses which serve as clogs upon
his spirit-wing, to keep down his %loftiest
aspirations. Newton, from the fall of an
apple, wrought out s%tupendous philosophic
truths. Luther, from his confinement in
the Wartburg, sent fort pages which kept
Europe CONFUSED. The lightnings of
Heaven yielded to the experiments of
franklin. The treasures of the new world
could not seducc the patriotism of Wash
inrton. AS the product of his dream-like
r~everies, Fulton launched the steam-driven
ship upon the briny deep. Morse flung
of his silent thoughts and electrified the
WOIlu WIFI q EAEhhbiN AhFChblOu, WHICH
looked like the invocation and application
of magic. The poet ehaunts his charmed
lay to listening ears, until the soul imbibe.
the euphony of his own spirit, and he bear
us aloft upon fancy's airy pinions to new
and brighter worlds, rendering us forgetfu
in the dreamy atmosphere with which b
surrounds us Of the sterner realities of eve
ny day life. Onward and still onward W
soar, and in fitting amid the bowers c
beauty he has created, glowing in the 90
den sunlight of his own fervid imagination
revcling with purer than earthly spirits
then higher and still higher, in It's %noisele,
fight, until enjoyment becomes merge
into wonder how we are to leave tho.
ideal regions Of light and descend withol
spiritual pain. Or yet, the tones of
v9ice goes up from amid the Lnn.,ss19Pd
&EipE6y, thsF ciple itself, Of e
around him. With a masters hand
boldly sweeps chord after chord of huma
feeling or passion-lingering here unit
the heart is enervatcl by the portraitu
of scenes or emotions which each though
belonged to itself alone and then upwal
and onward, until, unstricken by the glar
we can drink in a partial realization Of Il
glories contained within the golden CAT
of Jehovah's kingdom. And as we ga.
upon the lordly brow Illuminated b. tho
which write themselves upon memory
tablet forever-the flashing eye-the 81
envy arm-the graceful form-enthusiast
admiration finds full vent in the recollectioI
that GOOD created man it his own image.
All if we could keep this fact ever
view When the surges of passion hca,
up high and dark, and injuries real or il
aginary burn into the brain, turning s
the blood into a fiery aud perplcxing fsott
If we could but return to this our commC
relationship to God and each other, wou
not the music flow Of JOY aud peace swe
through the stormy regions of the soul, /
solving all its disordered elements back
serenity and love. And oh, when %sectari;
zeal for our Fathers cause leads us into I'll
paths OF degrading vituperation and Loaf
some abuse that others adopt not each N
nor popularity Of our own creed, shou
not this recollection Of his far reaching W
dom aud love be the "Peace be still'
the enraged whirlpool, preparing it for t
consistent flow of that fOrbearance and 10
lie has 50 constantly e%njoined upon the 7
ges of His Holy word ? Physically a
mentally, each rational creature is in hi
self a grand harmonious whole. The big
of his spiritual growth is sin-the mild
of christian unity is bigotry-the faill
Of social enjoyment distrust. God is in
wise responsible, for " He created man
his own image" LORA.
Gro BE CoNTINUED.)