Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-03-11
Written for the Spirit of the Age.
THE TWO ES.

THE TWO PICTURES =
-oR,- le
THOUGHTS AT RANDOM. u
TCdncludcd from our last. t
Intercourse vita good society re6aes the r
taste; SO the study of good books and the t
performance of benevolent actious improve ]
the heart. There Is book extant which e
is repete With the exccllencies of style /
cnnrains the most sublime sentiments iu- /
culcates holy princp.es aad gives informa- :
sion on the most important subjects that
ever received the attention of tie human |
miad. This go,d Book which has every
recommendation as literary production
bears incontrove:tible evidence of its au- |
thenticity ard the good will of its Author
towards man,ls often rejected while the per-
nicious novel Is eagerly read This Book
inculcltes principles which will subdue the
most obdurate heart and render the most
savage disp isiti1n placid. We see along
the road which leads from Damascus to
Jerusalem man whose eye is stern with
revenge and whose countenance is flushed .
with anger, breathing curses against the
church Of Christ. Tomorrow, we see along
the same road man whose eye is as mild |
as the setting sun and whose countenance
is beaming with love; laboring arduously
to establish the cause which he, yesterday,
so violently opposed. This is Saul the per-
sccutor Of the Jews. What wrought this
great change? The same principles VIII ich
the Scriptures inculcate.
The saint and the sinner may be COM
pared to two husbandmen who invest their
whole estate on their farms Their crops
grow and flourish alike for little while,
but when the sinner attempts to harvest
his grain he finds it mixed with a noxious
weed which i4stills its poisonous juices
through every pore Of his system and de-
stroys his everlasting peace. The saint
gathers from his little seed which sheds
sweet fragrance along his pathway in the
winter of adversely, imparts healing balm
to his wounded and disconsolate heart in
afhiction and distress. This seed, trans
planted by Savior's hand beyond the
confines of the tomb, yields him fountain
of unalloyed joys which increase and bright
en- throughout an endless eternity. Again
the saint and the sinner stand on the contlnes
of the tomb. From this point the former
takes retrospect of his past life through
mirror which converts all the trials, per-
secutions and af1ictions which he has en-
dured into sources of holy delight, and
reveals just beyond the gloomy valley of
death, door through which his soul, at
teaded by convoy of exulting gels will
pass into the regions of endless day. The
latter sees through the same mirror all the
| fair flowers which he has nur,ured in for
| hidden soil transformed into venemous ser
! pents which bury their ulcerating fang:
/ deep in his own breast And he now be
| gins to shudder in view OF the agonizin;
grief of that black despair into which hi
| probationary state must soon terminate.
There is wisdom and love displayed il
the division of time, by which one seventh
of it is consecrated to the worship of tn
Great Am. How holy and serene TIL
hours OF this haliowed Jay, when spent IA
; its Author directs. Who has not observe,
the holy sanetity which pervades all natur
as tue Sabbath Sun arises from the eastern
horizon or, who has not been filed Will
reverential awe as the last lingering ray
of this sacred day bids the departing twi
light adieu? Alas that sinful beiugs S
often refuse the blessed rest which Is wise
ly offered them aud spend this holy day i
reyeiing, feasting ana manual toll Ther
is beauty in the solelnnity which psrvadt
the house of God where all meet aroun
9 one common mercy seat and learn 20 ador
!, the Savior's name Hero the Friend {
sinners reveals hitnself unusually lovely an
administers exceedingly precious blessing
to the truly penitent heart. Here the sol
dives,s itself of care and sorrow and ant
cipates tue bliss that remains for the fna
+ ly faithful. Who would exchange IL
n delight arising from enc moment thus spel
e for lifetime Of sensual enjoyment?
y '.Sweet the moments, rich with blessing
! While before the cross stand"
le Oh may each Sabbath's morning ST.
d 6nd me an humble suppliant before Il
il cross of Christ. May each Sabbath's d
II parting twilight bear testimony to the ey
IN blessed Jehovah that l have spent each
= its feeting moments in entire consecrati,
ID to his service. Oh may realize at Il
lie holy hour the sweet assurance that my hui
BILE name is enrolled among those who "
spend an eternal Sabbath in ascribing prai
and alteration to Him who sits on the snt
white throne. Oh may not aspire
be numbered among those who will fret
partake of the unmixed delight viii
flows in unremitting streams from E
sacred presence.
The most comprehensive mind may M.
itate for years on the divine attributes
. the Deity; yet it finds no limit to
power; no criterion to His wisdom;
end to His love. The soul may be enr
tured by the lofty conceptions arising fr
such meditations, yet it can find no ter
to express the sublime ideas with VIII
it is inspired. Who does not love to c
template the transparent diagram coDcea
just behind the mild folds Of christian
A picture so chaste, so pure, thatit wor
if exhibited in the proper light, enth
the affections of every heart and turn
course of every deceived mortal frsm
lin. broad road to destruction, to the mar
path that leads to joys on high. VIII