The Van Buren press., 1859-08-03
Eorfhe Eaa Ruren Press.
Nature-Man---Angels.


of wonderment permcating the last bound OF
conscious being. Who, not totally lost to
himself and others, can survey the stupen-
dous amplitude of Heavens workmanship
and not feel emotions struggle in the bosom
as incomprehensible as immensity. We
find ourselves upon theater where the
grand and the vast are forever present to
awe and charm, where sublimi:ies lie scat
tered in unlessening exubetance for the
improvement of mind and heart. The plan
ct we inhabit, with its elaborate architec-
lecture and surprising mechanism throws
lofty thoughts, in clustering magnificence.
upon the brain. We everywhere meet with
the mighty, the massive and the beautiful,
interviewer in almost endless interlacement.
Objects of interest and attraction crowd the
vision in boundless succession. The noun
tain mods in shadowy grandeur-the painted
landscape breathes-the ocean, like huge
serpent, holds the ponderous earth in its
watery folds and the limpid stream meanders
in splendent semi-coils over the verdurous
plain Turning the eye upward, we are
greeted with the unpillared arch of night,
the blue sheet of infnitude, embossed with
the golden alphabet of the Eternal A
pompous cortegc of restless orbs float, like
diamond isles, through sea of azure; for
ever raining wisdom in beams of light, up
on an erring world. All is charm and en-
chantment The scene bows us into rever-
ence, defeats the grasp of thought, and
publishes the power of an almighty mind
But, turning suddenly from all else, we
look at man. How strange his formation
and unaccountable his capacities. He is
medley of unresembGng natures-a won
drous microcosm-an epitome Of being
He combines in himself mind and matter
is mortal and immortal-sinks beneath
deaths palsying stroke, and yet smiles in
the voracious tomb. We may attempt to
plumber him of the riches of his being
may foully grapple with the cordage of his
heart, but we are warning with indestructa-
bility. We can not drag from his diadem
the priceless jewel of Immortality. The
dimless ray of spirit still shines in its can
delabrum, fed and famed by the sourceless
fountain of all. Who can limit the empire
of mind or hem in dignifed immortal man
when he puts in action his mighty powers.
He enwraps creation, gathers the past in
one hand, and with the other rakes up gems
from the bed of eternity. AS much, how
ever, as We may be disposed to culogize
man, it is proper to say that he is not the
tallest specimen of God S crative might.
He is the second link in the descending
scale of being, occupying kind of inter
mediary position between nothing and the
Deity.
Angels are the first born of God AL
mighty sons. They stand upon the apex
of creations pyramid In reference to these
lofty natures there has been unlimited curl
osity and research. In our inquiries we
should bend towards them with humility,
and tread lightly the pathway that conducts
us to a contemplation of their astonishing
abilities. That all tribes have believed in
the existence of unearthly beings above the
upreachings of mortal sympathy, and bless
ed with transcendent endowments, is the
journalized testimony of the polyglot
earth. Casting far from us groundless ideal
ism as well as the vagaries of Neurological
dreams, let us gaze into the mirror of Reve-
lation and catch the reflected likeness ofthese
intelligences of urcompounded spirituality.
We know not when they began to live :;
we cannot lift the sombrous veil of past
eternity, and see them blushing into life,
and glory beneath Gods warming smile.
We know, however, that when the universe
Graded into being and walked the first note
from the mighty harp of sounding ages,
they kindled into rapture at the vision, and
threw their shouts in thunderous strength
upon the billowy bosom of space. With
what nobility of nature and command of
position do they rise before us. We feel
how unavailing every effort to portray their
excellence must prove. We cannot gather
material from ocean, earth or air to symbo-
lie their ambrosial charms. Earth fairest
Aebe, with sylph-like form, stainless eyes,
and olive cheek, is elbowed into the shade.
They are hued by the dyes of heaven, bap-
sa.sa BY beA4;ss- -aui~srins ~hean,s and. inn
mantled in robes more gorgeous than the
vermillioned skirts of feecy cloud that
fringe the eye-lids Of waking morn. Their
movements do not come within the range
OF earthly dynamics. Their motion is the
Hight Of thought-the speed of electricity.
They tread with ease the airy fields of ether
no less in the center than along the far-off
side-paths of Jehovah limitless domain.
They oversee the multifold concerns of all
the worlds, and catch the hum of their dis
tant population. They are immaterial es-
sences-cannot suffer damage. They could
harmlessly pillow their heads upon the thun-
derbolt-dip their pinions in the storm and