Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1856-09-24
FORGIVE QUICKLY.

"Mauy a true heart, that would have
come back like dove to the ark, after its
first transgresson, has been frightened be.
yond recall by the angry look and menace
the tauut, the savage charity OF an untor-
giving spirit"
These are strong words, and many reader
may think they do not touch him or her, as
one has ever erred in refusing 10 forgive
peni,ent sinner. Perhaps not: and then
again perhaps you have.
Are you parent! Your child has broken
your commandment, incurred displeasure,
and has been living for some hours under
your frown. Have you hailed the first signs
of sorrow, encouraged him to come back
and confess his fault while your own tears
fell fast on his head, those silent witnesses
of your grief and willingness 10 forgive! Or
have you kept his rising sobs of coutrition,
that he might be altogether broken down,
before he comes penitent at your feet!
Are you friende And when one whom
YOU have loved and trusted has grieved and
wounded you, do you surround yourself with
u coat of mail, and even harden your heart
against him, lest you should discover to him
the weakness OF being anxious to. forgive
and forget. Oh, it is like man to sin, to
forgive is divine"
Read that story of the prodgal son that
wondrous epitome Of the gospel; that in.
spired drama in which the sinner and the
Savior are seen aud all the ways of mercy
toward the erring and the lost are painted
as on canvass TO the Iite.-While he was
great way of, the fsthe" saw him, and had
compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and
kissed him. The father did not wait till his
son was at his feet, in the dust, before him.
Eut while he was yet in the far distance, he
saw him. So Gcd the Saviour saw the re-
turning sinner; the first emotion Of strug-
Cling sorrow, he not only saw, but he plant
ed there And with what Joy he hastes to
welcome prodigal sinners not the righteous,
but sinners he can call and save.
Let US be in haste to forgive. Along the
path even of our enemy, let the sweet wa
tiers of our kindness flow; he will stoop 10
drink, and it will do him good as medicine.
1t is Godlike to overcome evil with good
to prefer forgiveness before there are signs
of repentance, that the offer may stir the
soul OF the erring, aud show him that the
way of return is open, and the joy of unin.
terrupted love.
Such spirit would shed 4 balm on the
household where discord often reigns. Par
en.s and children, husbands and wives, broth.
ers and sisters, neighbors, friends, Christians,
the whole family OF man, would be happier
and better for remembering that he vino is
swift to forgive is more like the Saviour than
he who never gives up.
A HAPPY HoME.-We fear there are but
few happy homes in this world. We DO
know, that, if any connection be formed on
anv other basis than that of Christianity
there can be no permanent enjoyment. A
happy home! How much is embraced in
that sentence! how glorious and instructive! !!
Alas, how rarely do we find one We enter
family.circles daily where there seem to be
mutual love and happiness. How little Of
it is real! 1t has been said that there is
skeleton in every house. How easy it is 10
destroy the peace and unanimiy of home!
One unquiet spirit may transform the calm
est circle into place of torment. fami-
ly.CiTCle TeSeiuuleS du eieCliiCdi OHS "ule
all are similar in disposition, and governed
by the same motives Of mutual love, the cur
rent of love will flow free and undisturbed.
Let there be introduced one foreign nature,
and the circle is broken and, where all was
harmony before, there is now chaos and con-
fusion.-[Prisoner's Friend.
DEcE1r.-Persons who practice deceit aud
artifce always deceive themselves more than
they deceive others. They may feel great
compacency in view Of the success of their
doings, but they are in reality casting mist
before their own eyes. Such persons not
only make false estimate of their own
character, but they estimate falsely the opin-
ions and conduct of others. No person is
obliged to tell all he thinks, but both duty
and self.interest forbid him to make false
pretences.
GROWING OLD-We are growing old
and losing the fresher charms Of youth.
What is most to be deplored is the loss Of
youthful feelings; the crushing Of high asp-
ratious-the lowering of the aims of life,
and the devotion of its best energies to de-
basing cares. If the heart be kept young.