Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1856-12-02

the midst of the surgiDg oceau--or in the boiling
oauldron The ore was 10 fusion; the mass Wss in
the slenhic--the process may have been neon.
plete, but mary choice pieces of pure gold came
ous~-perhsps none however without some psrti-
ees of dus. and baser metal still sdhering In
such connection, systems and schemes, ortho-
doxy and heterodoxy, extraVsgsnt sbsurdites and
bold innovations, truth and error, alternately 81.
pear and disappear, are hailed, spplauded and ez-
ploded, or lost 70 sight. Ia such condition the
whole of truth cannot be supposed to lie idle
ct the bottom of the well within the enclosures
which are guarded by q few denominstionsl lead
ers; nor. Whatever they msy think, is there much
cause to fear that all Of wisdem will die with them;
nor all of order be banished from the world, un.
leas they teach and rule; nor all of virtue take its
farewell, unless they prescribe its etiquette nor
all true religion return to heaven unless lhsy hang
the chains OF their opinions and ordinances and
decrees upon it. 5000
There is much of The wisdom of this world
passed off boldly and accepted greedily, as though
1t had descended from abovs.
And there is use in it, though it be but mo-
mentsry and work out, and because it does work
out, result at cross purposes with the aims and
hopes of its advocates and teachers. There have
been times and seasons and uses for all the exer
tons of intellect and all the affections of the heart
and all physical and moral energies which have
ever been exhibited and exhausted the times,
the causes and the necessities of the future will
develop them as may seem good unto him who
doeth all things according to tie counsel of his
own will. A palace of ice may be a notable and
magnificent sight at ST. Petersburg, according to
the frigid notions of the Russians; cathedral of
relics and deposit of bones may Win the reverence
of Romanists, and Juggernaut the idolsters of
India; but neither would be permitted long to
stand or attract admirers in these United States
We have often built Of wood, hay, stubble," bat
the winds and the fire have destroyed and will de-
stroy ell that is worthless and nsubstsntial; and
such will the process be until something better
and enduring shall bring up this people to the in.
tel igence of TRUTH the obedience of tsith and the
| devotion of love and the love of devotion.
It is not true thst Ignorance is the mother OF
devotion" it may be OF superstition and of idos-
| try. Pure devotion and true wisdom are twin
| sisters and are both heaven-born, and they are
most efficient and useful with an energetic people
and they seize the energies OF our race to accom-.
| plish the reformation and redemption of oui
world.
| What would wisdom and truth have to do il
this world, if there were not ignorance and errol
| to combat? Where were the triumphs of grace
| if there were no sinners? Is that q strange ex
| preston of gratitude, thank God that ye were
the servants of sin 2'-and yet it is true, though
| it be but part of the truth, and but an item II
in the causes of thsnktuluess. Let truth be FREE
and untrsmmeed, and in every conflict with the
| powers of darkness it never fails Of victory
There were some essential truths in regard t
| which Mr.. Crsighead was ever steadfsst, somt
| principles upon which he remained fixed, some
| rights he never would surrender. He loved th'
| word of God; be loved to preach that word; b,
loved the Church of Christ; he loved the peopE
of his charge and their improvement; he loved th'
freedom of his country, the cause Of educstion-
He associated all these as objects of interest ant
prayer, and regarded them as essential guarantee
of the wellbeing of society.
(To BE ooETINUED)