Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-10-31
FOR THE SPIRIT OF THE AGE.
Truth.
exertions.
BY KANDERER.

I
In the PEASANTS home, as in the house Of
royalty, truth is ever the same modest, IN
pretending, yet justly conspicuous flower,
whose brilliancy is the least of its merits,
and but a necessary concamitant of a gen so
pure.
In the morning twilight Of creation, when
the infant man Adam, with his sole compan-
ion, Eve, ranged happily the garden of God,
then came the Tempter, and with him the
long train of evils which have defaced the
earth, and darkened the fair escutcheon of
man. At his coming, man fell, and the
counter PRINCIPLES of truth and error then
clash. - for the FIRST time. Truth, wearing
thesignet OF 6odS4 Dproval, and shielded by
hS power, appearedAan the arena with a lofty
bearing, as if conscious of her might and
when the dire conflict of right with wrong
began, she entered inttA pit with that spirit Of
~earnestness which never fails of victory. Nor
has she ever, at any me, proven recreant to
her high and holy tn t, or lost a 1.-THE of her
former lustre, but, Lii our purer metals, has
grewn the brighte f0f the using. Aad what
has she done?p Planted her fair standard
upon the lofty battlements of Gibraltar,
pushed her mighty conquests to the reno
test quarters of the globe, established this
proud American Republic, imbued our peo-
pie with a keen sense of individual and na-
tienal honor, proclaimed the downfall OF. all
human dynasties, and now, like John che
Baptist, her ancient ambassador and defend
er, is still more widely than ever preparing
the way for a clearer conception ofthe stately
steppings'' of Deity. She is a veteran war
rior, but loves peace, and is fresh as the dow,
and beautiful as Heaven.
The lone Star of Bethlehem arose, eighteeu
centuries ago, the only perfect embodiment
of truth and beauty the world has ever seen,
and flashed along the concave of mans dark
ened sky with the ten-fold splendor of anne
teor. Man saw, and worshipped; for the "a
diant visitant-radiant with the light of i'm
mortal m~orning-was of heavenly origin, ant
had shone there from all eternity, the unfail
ing well-spring Of u1begotten hopes, broad
ening, as the cycles fed, into the fnall
needed and now open and flowing Fountain Q
life eternal. That Star no longer direct
the steps of those humble shepherds, watch
!. ing nightly on the plains of Judea, but, hav
ing early accomplished its mission here, an
|, weaIied of heshly letters and of human hat
: returned in triumph and with gathered glor
: to the spirits ovation on. High, leaving man
ascend to God by the ladder of faith, who's
3 every round is a round of truth. "Truth,
: says the philosopher, sis beauty, and IL
!, seeking of this gem is happiness" This a
! knowledged, and what better friend has ma
: than truth? 1t leads its willing discip
' along by the sombre mountains of error, al
: through its dark wales, and at the denoueme
. of his pilgrimage here, rewards him with
. home in the City paved with gold and ligf
: ed by the Father of lights; it stands out
y holder relief than the Cyclopean Towers, al
. throws its graceful arch of protection oy
= his head as the bow of promise spans t
= sky it IS the foundation as well as adorni
y cap-stone Of man most worthy and enduri
achievements; it elipses error with its b
= liancy, and over-awes the mighty with
:, threatened %terrors, thus equally and at
i0 same time furnishing us with a true light
direct and the promise of a "sure final
i, fence" to encourage us in a word, truth
Z the stay of the honest soul-for God is trl
~ and being in every way attractive, fashi
~ it like unto its own Incompatible self, dr.
~, ing it the while into an ultimate and last
-, reunion with the SOURCE of all good.
-. "Truth, crushed to earth, shall rise. again
is The eternal years of God are hers;
But Error, wounded, writhesin pain,
no And dies amid its worshippers.s
he RALEIGH, Oct. %, 1860.