Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1859-05-14

and did we possess even modicum of the
faith in God that we ought to possess, we
should feel certain there would be such
basis, though we might fail to 6ndit. The
instructive, persistent search of the soul is
for happiness We seek for Office, or place
or wealth we pine over the fact that our
mental endowmenis and acquisitions are
comparatively Indifferent or positively mean;
and why? Because, while we lie dreaming
upon onr pillow of stone, the places and po-
stions Of life shape themselves into lad
der on which angels ascend aud descend,
the last round leaning on heavenly land
ing because that which is above us, in al
lotment, gift and acquisition, forms so many
steps of the gradatory that leads from the
cells where we do penance to the temple
where we expect peace and heavenly com
munon. In other words, we are discon
tented because we believe there is more
happiness on the upper steps of society than
on ours and here is where the great mis-
take is made.
If there be anything which human his
tory teaches more thoroughly than any 9TH
err thing-if there be any fact revealed to
OUSbINdllOE llOlC ClEdllJ Iuuu uuJ OJutI
fact-it is, that happiness does not depend
upon condition and positlon-that it has
its birth in possessions and relations super
ior, and in most respects unaffected by,
those facts of individual social life which
divide men into classes. Here is where the
Good Father equalizes human lot. High
positions, considered by itself, is not posi-.
tive goods not, in and of itself, a source
of happiness to the souls planted upon it.
There is no good reason to be found in the
whole universe of God why the coachman
should not be as happy as the dainty la
dies whom he serves. There is no reason
why the hod-carrier may not be as happy
as the bricklayer, aud the brcklayer as
happy as the architect. Wants keep pace
with wealth. always. Responsibility walks
hand in hand with capacity and power
OF him to whom is much given much will
he required. Posts of honor are eyermore
posts of danger and of care Each Office
of society has its burden, proportioned to
it's Importance; so that men shall find no
apology for murmnring at the better lot Of
their neighbors while all are made depen-
dent for happiness upon common sources
open alike to him who wears iinelinen &
fares sumptuously every day, and the beggar
who waits at his gate.
am inclined TO think that if our minds
were capable of apprehending the essential
facts of the life we live, we should be con
vinced that happiness is one of the most
evenly distributed of all human possessions.
The laborer loves his wife and children as
well as the lord and takes iato his soul all
the tender aud precious influences that flow
to him through their love as well as he
Food tastes as sweetly to the pleughman
as the placeman. If the latter have the
daiutier dish, the former has the keener APP
petite. Into all ears the brook pours the
same stream of music, and the birds never
vary their programme with reference to
their audiences. The spring scatters violets
broadcast and grass grows by the roadside
as well as in the park. The breeze that
tosses the curls Of your little ones aud mine
is not softer in its careeses of those who
bound over velvet to greet it. The sun
shines, the rains fall, the trees dress them
selves in green, the thunder rolls and the
stars fash for all alike. Health knows
nothing of human distinctions, aud ahideS
with hm who treats it best. Sleep. the
gentle angel, does not come at the call Of
power, aud never prOffers its ministry for
gold. The senses take no brihes of luxury
but deal as honestly aud generously by the
poor AS by the rich; and ,he pres dent of
the United States whistles himself bind be-
fore he couln call our dog from u.s. Z, 81
1t we examine this matter critically, we
shall fnd that the sweetest satiSfactions
I that come to rs are those which spring
| from sources common to the race. If you
and are worthy men, that which is most
precious to US, as the material of our daily
happiness is precisely that which is not de-
pendent upon the positions we respectively
occupy in the world. Now, if we look a.
bove this range of common Providence in
to that realm of fact in which abdes our
common relationship to common Father,
the distinctions of society and the variety
and contrariety of human lot fade away and
become contemptible If God smile on me
and fill my heart with peace; if He forgive
my sin, and give me promise and assurance
of higher life beyond the grave; if He
call me His child aud draw out from my
cold and selfish heart a filial love for Him;
if He inspire me with brotherly charity
that embraces in its arms all who bear hi,
image; If He give me a hope more precious
to me than gold, and transform the narrow
path in which l walk into the vestibule oI
Heaven, it will very naturally be aamatteI
of Indifference to me whether l paint, OF
grind the colors-whether carry dirt, OI
offieiate as the vicar of Bowden. If VIC
were all made in His image if we are
all held amenabe to the same law, if We
all have offer of the same salvation; il W.
are all to be judged according to onr deeds
if we have the promise Of the same HEAVIER
on The same terms, it shows, at least, what
God thinks of human distinctions. 10
The ministry of nature, and love, anC
sympathy are common to all men,. On the
broad platform of morals, the king stands
uncovered by the side of the peasant, ant
wealth and place Aaunt no titles aud CLAIM
no privileges. In religion, all men knee
-and worship a common Lord. Men ar,
placed in different positions in this YorlG
simply because there is great variety o
work to do, and no one man. can, do al
kinds. If you and have found our place