The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1857-01-29

iu ISHoShHS sHowefS upon tue eaTIn !! In
what secret chambers were the lurid light.
nings concealed, ere they burst to view and
whose arm hurls tho terrific thunder bolt ?
Who spans the heavens with the beautiful
rainbow, and yet permits it to display its
coiors only in presence of gloomy storm.
clouds, like the bright glimmerings of hope
radiating through the thick gathering clouds
Of despair Who decked those prismatic
sisters with stitch gorgeous robesl and wla.
cord of affection ever so closely binds them 7
Who spread above us the broad canopy of
heaven, and pinned it there with those in
Vulnerable gems Of lightl These, and a
thousand other questions, arise in the inouir-
ing mind, and as their causes are from :ime
to time unfolded, the soul is thrilled with
deep and unutterable emotions.
Every day leaves its impression, every
event transriring around US, is indelblv en-.
craven on Memory's register. That divine
principle which entered upon life so feeble
is rapidly increasing in power and gathering
strength at every step of its progress. 1t
presents us the most worthy and astonish
ing example of industry. Now fairly start
ed on its course, its labors are incessant.
Not a moments repose is sought. but on,
forever on, the mind is pressing, gathering
from every side, and treasuring up in the
store'house of Memory. Nothing escapes
it-nothing there deposited can ever be
erased. Each and every thought that has
ever crossed the mind, every idea there re
corded, must he presented, and every event
OF life recalled, when the soul, freed from
this mortal encumhrance, shall burst forth
into the freedom Of Immortality.
Each fainter trace that memory holds,
So darkly, of departed years
In one broad glance the soul beholds.
And all that was at once appears"
1T every act and thought Of life is one
dav to be recalled, as undoubtedly they will,
how vastly important that we mould our
ideas in the image of purity and beauty.
that when the " countless chambers of the
brain " are thrown open to the gaze of the
universe, we, amid the innumerable host of
actions there recorded, may find but little to
mar the beauty Of tue soul, but much to
adorn it, and fit it for the home of the /" pure
in heart"
Another principle deeply implanted in the
mind, is the desire for an immortal exist.
ence. 1t is not my intention to enter upon
an elaborate argument in proof of the i'm
mortality of the soul /; and, reasoning from
the light of Nature alone, the problem is
exceedingly difficult to demonstrate beyond
all possibility of doubt. But when to the
light Of Nature we add the proofs drawn
from Revelation, every doubt vanishes, and
We are blest with the happy assurance that
this " longing of the soul after Immortality -
will be satisfied, and that we shall live again.
What that state of existence will be, or how
the mind will be occupied, can be known
only by conjecture. Reasoning, however,
from analogy, we may rest assured that a
constant development Of its powers will there
go on, and that the mind will continually
become more deeply versed in the mysteries
of Divine intelligence.
But time adnonisheS me to bring my sub
ject to close, though have hardly entered
upon it. Such are some Of the attributes
Of the mind which an Omnipotcnt Power
has kindly bestowed upon man. 1t is for
us to implant in it those principles which
will conduce to our present and etcrna! hap,
piness. But if we neglect its proper Guilt,
vation, fearful will be our responsibility
Let us ever bear in mind, then, that what.
ever seeds are thus implanted will live and
grow forever, and see that they are such as
shall yield the fruits Of perfect happiness
when we come forth to bloom forever in the
Paradise Of God. JEAN.
Greenville, Jan. "a, 1851.