Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-12-24
49,: 8.
LADIES DEPARTMENT..
For the Spirit Of the Age.
TO THE SOCIAL CIRCLE.
NJ NTn n

and death OF Cur DIVINE LOfu ana oaVlout {
Jesus Christ, can alone effect this transition
from the darkuess Of the grave to the
brightness Of e'ernity's dawn, which has
been eagerly but yainly sought for else
where. They tell US with much show OF
sincerity, that death consists not entirely
in the mortal pangs which separate soul and
holy that the grave contains no estima-
bic portion Of humanity, but is in reality,
10 a christian, only the entrance into a full
Ter, frecr, far more glorious lie. Trium-
phantly in life, when the pulse beats high
and tue heart throbs i~oyfuliy but far more
t~riumphantly when their sands run low and
times waves have noar closed Ger, do they
exvlaim-
''D5,tlis huta path that must be trol,
III man would ever pass to God"
THIS religion must appear as nothing but
n vain and idle tale that is told or it must
and viii he recognised as the supreme OBJ
ject Of existence, to which all secular con-
Germs are TO be made subscryient. To deny
Us reality, is to attack Gods agency in ere
alton RS we'll as redemption, and to sweep
His blessed word, by one dire stroke, from
the D,yiuo pedestal upon which it rests
1t is to resolve ut once the order of the ma
teTiai universe iu'o chaotic supposition, and
so launch the soul upon q fearful sea, with
cut RI ider, or compass, or Chart. 1t Is
to stima.iza an innumerablc multitude of
tho best and purcst men ,hat ever lived,
a. arch and deeciying impostors. IL is TO
style them hypocritcs 10 a life richly pro-
ductiyc Of ~virtuous fruit hypocrites in
their interest for the improved happiness
Of tho degraded outcast ard unlalttring
hypocritcs when the glazing eye i~nstanta-
neously brightcrs-tho failing heart strings
give a stronger thri!l-and the stitching
tongue relaxcs a bricf moment to proclaim
the g%lories that are already opening to their
cLrUpturcd view.
Ca. there are sights in the christians
dying room-a music in his triumphant
fareGoll to earth-a grandeur in his un-
4auatcd front when thus stepping from the
storm-beatcn shore Of time to that of a vast
eternity, which makes it a soul inspiring
dclusion 10 the last worth chcrishing and
earnestly striving for. Earth, with its
trgm,itory joys and a~llureaeats, can never
]cntir,Iy satisfy the spirit, because they are
of the earth, earthly, and must perish with
their using; or in their most durable cs-
tste, can wreathe but "a dropping g%arlani
about the grave. Hence the very %necessi.
ia for something to mate with its ethefia
nature, Is sufficient to drive Que to thl
Book Of Books, aud the experience Of those
10 whom the path it teaches is a perpetual
and a blessed reality.
There is no exemption from sin and il
l,uv rotth,r,o - ,,-r,ro rrIt,h o1,eo urI
in death aud knowing this, were it nU
S,sc-were it not cXpcdient, even in
werllly scuss, to seek the only antedot
ggailst these united horrors which tn
yoiso Of Revelation has declared, aud th
tongue alike Gf the sage aud the n%nleurnc,
have proclaimed TO DO sufficient? Wer
it not prudent to leave the pursuit Of Gil
tCriag oaIblcs, or fame's eyancscent laurels
- those who viii pursue no other aim:
aud tUrn to that refuge sure, both By pror
Use aud adoption, which none of them Ca
supply Gold is insufficient to heal ii
bruised spirit or rcnovate the shattered If
cords Of the physical system, Applau.
cannot relumc the heart darkcGed and dc
,oLted by the Indifference Of those to who
IL most deeply c'ung. Intellect affords b
decide consolation Tor the cold hook, frcezil
tone, o cruel word,, with which man,
his prcsumptuous madness, often loves
c,ush back the, tendrils that v%oluutari
relaxed all other hold to Irvine moro
surely aud lovingly about one. All b
the glad tidinss of our Gospel cons)lati
il UP all these gloomy spaces. Faitl
cable stronger grows, anl tue anchor Iio
settles down more securely beside the
splcndcNt throne OF the living God.
care ard anxiety torture the breast?
y5nl the bright curtain which shuts in
S]p,culor OF the new Jcru>alcm they ne
come. Does pain fasten the poor we
frame in it, iron grasp? Soon, soon 81
it release it's holt, and the freed spirit f.
its prison house shall mount 80 realms
bliss untold aud utterly unfathomsble.
Even here where the earth clogs Get
the flight Of the soul, how insignificant
periods of darkness and distress, If WI
tut get a glimpse Of q Fathers smil
fsye beyond. "lhc very hairs Of your b
i've all numbered" Shall doubt that
opders wisely and lovingly the minu.
event Of my daily life? "Not D spar
falls to the ground without his notice.
Shall | murmur il the radiant light Of
sumetimcs grow Gim-if the bud Of cart
hopes be destined to withcr ere they exp
into flower? 'Tho lilies of the field
not, neither do they spin" Shall | i!
lily fret and pine over the pertainment
NY life, or fear that he win forget q S
cheney for tomorrow !? All! of a tr
''atl things work together for good
them that love the appearing Of our Lo
Now We zee but diluly; then shall
after link Of His intent be unwonnd,
swo can divine clearly why the dark.
cyoats OF this life we're suffered to b
our path. Then may the ~strengthe
powers of the soul learn how by aflict
and disappJintments it has drawn ne
and stilt nearer to His bleeding side. G
dispensation Of light or darkness, as
aow tenn it, win all be light, glorious
diaul, Illuminating light there. Not a
al the hc1lt, when bound by the fette
mortality, Tut will then bear an atter
revelation off4r-seeing good, either to ct
70 ourselves, or was ncedtul in the d
Opneut OF Ills trlnseendant and ct
glory. Myst'ry shall breathe her last
ut the golden portals Of bliss. Igno
and doubt shall be forever entombe
the frail dupe upoG which it practis,
And as each unfolding link turns up /
and srlisterinO M loaf actor leaf GRO,