Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-11-17
ORIGINAL PAPERS.
For the Spirit of the Age.


God, in all his dealings with man, has
designed that His glory shouldbe advanced,
as well rs mans happiness and in order
to this, lie has endowed him with the no.
blest faculties Of mind. The great end of
mans existence is happiness happiness
for time and for eternity. With what care,
then, should he deyelope these faculties,
since so much depends upon a proper use
Of them BY proper course Of train
ing, man may exalt his mind so that he
shall indeed be but "a little lower than
the. angels" Take for illustration, a mind
whose powers have been employed in plans
and schemes to meliorate the condition of
the human family. See it as it expands
TO grasp in other plans more magnificent
than former ones At first it operated
only to relieve those Immediately around
its own home; then attending to the COM
mumty; then to surrounding communities,
and finally the whole world is scarcely
large enough for its operations. Such
minds grow larger, as it were, in thus ex-
ercising themselves; and they can enjoy
more good than those who will not get
out Of the home sphere and will have a
higher and holier sphere in the realms of
another and better state.
The Philanthropist, in his sacrificing la
bors, secs by faith happy homes, smiling
faces and cheering prospects and hears
glad greetings from laughing faces, that
rejoice to meet him or her. who aided faith
er or mother in times Of great distress, and
by that timely aid brought such gladness
to home and friends. Mr.. Editor, imag-
Inc such person sleeps sweeter, and he
breathes freer, than one who has failed to
do good when opportunity offered. Now,
aoho are those who do give this aiG and
comfort taat cause such gEadness to spring
up around homes once almost desolatc p
This question might be answered in vari-
Gus ways, but we will mention one or two
only. Every person who is arrayed against
the use Of alcoholic drinks as a beverage
is helping to do this blessed work; and il
this way we all can do much to gladden.
sorrowful hearts, cheer dropping spirits
dry orphans tears, bind up broken hearts
and instill new life and yigor. This ma,
be stepping stone for holier work. Hay
ing done this, we may work more directly
for the souls interests. Come reader, wha
are you doing TO make yourself name al
ter you shall have "gone the way of al
the earth Z" Are You striving to writ
your name by good deeds, or seeking t.
do 50 by heaping up to yourself gold, eS
tracted from the very souls of your fello,
beings by taking all manner Of adyantag
Of men, and especially by dealing out t
them liquid death, that breaks up the peac
Of families and browns souls in perdition
Which are you doing readerl Answer /
conscience and TO God, and if you hay
been engaged in running the peace of fan
lilies aud destroying souls, beseech you
so no longer, but hasten to undo the ba,
and do all manner of good possible. Yo
have influence, exert that influence for ii
glory of God and good Of man, that yo
may at last get to the state of ineffable
licity that awaits the sons and daughte
OF God through the Lord Jesus Christ.
AIR. Editor, my minds eye now turl
toward man who, maddened by drin
plunged his knife into the vitals of an age
innocent fellow-being and took his lifc
and for that crime now lies in Jail awai
ing the verdict Of jury of his fellow me
The murderer and the murdered both ha
families, who may, possibly, know Of Il
keen tooth Of tOaRt ere tits long; and
originating, doubtless, out Of the 6anefll L
of whiskey. Oh that the time had COZ
when man would glorify God by prop
use Of the faculties given to him by be
efcent Creator. Let the sounding Of t
age" be heard through all our land, l
I'll that blessed time shall come, wh
drunkenness shall be found no more in c
borders. Yea, speed its wings until one
the greatest curses to the race of mar
driven from our entire country.
WILLIAM
Warsaw, Ala.