Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-03-18
49, s.
LAnIgS DgPARTMgNT
For the Spirit Of the Age.
SABBATH MUsINGS-No. IA.


Where, then, shall We find . grateful
oasis in this boundless desert Of pncertain-
ty? Where a pure, gushing Fountain,
from which the fainting soul eau quaff un-
Hunted draughts Of consolation9 Is there
no balm in Gilead-=no physician there, to
minister to the spirit worn out through the
fatigue and disappointment attending its
search? No sheltsring ark to afford a drm
foothold 10 the weary dove that can lind
no other2 No beacon light 10 shed its eff
fuigent ray far out upon the darksome
waste Of wasersa All we have travelled
far and roamed the wide world oyer-Ne
have fingered amid howery dell, and rode
out on the surging seas-we have climbed
the craggy mount and peered within the
dismal caTern-we have gazed upon hearts
aud marked their motives well, yet have
VIC found no foundation from which the
souls superstructure may rise, no fulcrum
where the lever Of faith may rest. Poor
and ~pitiless as when ouFsearch began, we
pause and cry for help.
LIES storms are beating 6ereely upon
our bare, defenceless heads where, o.!
where shall we find a retreat sufficient and
sure2 Wehaye dwelt upon the beautiful
fitness of our mother earth for ali the pur-
poses Of man, untilour very ideasof Heaven
have become enlarged. Still there are
spiritual ties she cannot riyet-there are
aims she cannot foster, and hopes she fails
to mature. We have sought their nutri-
ment, but oh how vainly, until the heart
has grown sad and the spirit weak but
not here-not here-and still not here, has
ever met u view, though beauty and
incompatible majesty we're blended Now
we pause aghast and the spirit strings tfil
a sadder strain
Oh we pant, we pant for the living stream
For the seraph's cong aud the fadeless beam
Which lights the city Of God: 2
We are tired and faint with our roaming
here, aEs
We have found no joys for the spirits cheer
Or bliss on this earthly sod,
We pine. We pine for the heavenly plains,
For her jeweled dome and gIittefing fanes
And q Sasionr's loving smile:
Give uB but q glsam Of that glorious day,
Which CLINT the semmSd crowns Of the seini
To tighten Us here the while.
Oh! speed US one link from that blissful lan
For nn'er can our own weak trembling han
Wind htets fraA bark 70 shore;
But the cable made fast to the throne ofGo
And renchingfar down 30 this sin struck SO
We seize i and stray no more.
"All hesh Is grass, . the goodtln'
thereof az the flower OF the field; the gr'
wlthsreth, the v fadeth /; but the VIC
Of 0od snsii stand forever. foreve
forever ~ All our travels we have fou
nothing like unto TINS Who can fath'
Us import wno can reallze tne ohss
~Ieaflainess which II eonveysF But y
were Of = dod snail stand forever
nest weary sIayel,e5i beneath TINS Ieire
ing emo1age anu ies ny aese, D1s
ana burning ron tns sellsoAe PhsIiu
across as.e eese1s o. uncetsaln.y, ,
eass. 1n1a - =.
$3.50 E1.snA6 Mos rpp.f 49,
must es.elouel ICY. IIP
e. sln-seA sO.u anu sas "a
aopes M lEn,s VII ~ $500; IN ne '
utousy i.e s
she hrnanens u nle anu gnu .s w1se
uahscenuahs iassl'. SPse1 ~ sals
alK wearieu uose, ano nno s"ees ~
after my oev,eus ni1.lngs. LOOK apo
tempess,.osse1 mariner, ana see 2 80
beacon ngns looming up IN SOLITARY g
denr AMID the Gaines. ripples OF sun
twilight, O equaiiy luminous Mhen
storm cloud levers ana sne terfine 9
on bathing elements ana dasn Of Iul
waves threaten oSefWnelming aessfuc'
NAN, win nis glorious enooWmen
lntehect, possessing power 70 enlist
highest earth-born emotions ct love, .
ration or gratitude, Is Changing as
ever changeful moon which each nigh
fies.s Mature hlngs from Der stately
robe afterTobc with eoqaettish indifer'
every hope, in its snbjeetion to time
price, mayb be warped or broken; each 9
~ stat may bend and break beneath
pressure, shut the word of our God
s1ano lerevsr. 49, promise IKE
enAISslng rom sucn : source, compel
sartbi, aovsrs ~ nsvsr fsd;nr 6"ss
sveyIastinc hills 81 rorg.ons cIond dra,
thatwere never mssssJin loom r
far better than bnmsn ;~psslIsct that
could ws.a-tbsr ros- ;nfsnc- ,vh;cb
- cb.rve - $3.50 lose H.
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