The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1860-08-03
TAKE CARE OF YOUR THOUGHTS.

TAKE CARE OF YOUR THOUGHTS.
Sin begins in the heart. If you keep
your thoughts pure your life will be bless.
edness. The indulgence Of sinful thoughts
and desires produces sinful actions. When
lust hath conceived it bringcth forth SIM
The pleasurable thought Of sinful deed is
usually followed by its commission. Never
allow yourself to pause and consider the
pleasures or profit you might derive from
this or that sin. Close your mind against
the suggestion at once, as you would lock
and bolt your doors against robber. II
Eve had not stood parlcying with the devil
and admiring the beautiful fruit, the earth
might yet have been paradise. No one
becomes thief, a fornicator, or murderer
at once. The mind must be Corrupted
The wicked suggestion must be indulged
and revolved in the thoughts, until it loses
its hideous delormity, and the anticipated
gain or pleasure comes to outwcight the
evil transgression.
Your imagination is apt to paint forbid.
den pleasure in gay and dazzling colors.-
1t is the scrpcnts charm. Gaze not upon
the picture. Suffer not the intruder TO get
Judgement. Meet the enemy at the
Threshold and drive it from your heart
AS rule, the more familiar you become
with sin, the less hateful it appears; so tha,
the more completely you preserve your
mind from unholy thoughts the better
Avoid the society where obscepi,y or bias
phemy is heard: Cultivate the society O
the virtuous. Read nothing that is un
chaste or immoral. Make covenant will
your eyes. Familiarise not your mind will
the loathsome details Of crime. Never har
Dor malicious or cnvious thoughts. Direc
your thoughts towards pure and holy sub
jects. Contemplate the character Of th,
spotless and perfect son of God. Keel
your spirit untainted and your thoughts
uncon.aminated, so shall your life be virtu
Gus. AS man thipketb so is he..s TAX,
care of the thoughts, and sthe actions vii
take care Of themselves.
A TOUCHING SroRY.-The Hon. A. II
Stephens, of Georgia, in an address at .
meeting in Alexandria, for the benefit o
the Orphan Asylum and Free School O
that city, related he following anecdote:
A little boy inea colds might, with nc
home or roof to shelter lis head, no pater
nal or maternal guardian or guide to pro
tector directAim on his way, reached a
nighhtfall tho house of a rich planter, VIII,
took him in, fed lodged, and sent him OF
his way; with his Blessings.
These kind attentions cheered his hear
and inspired him with fresh courage to bat
tie !with4he obstacles of life. Years rolled
aroundsRfovidence led him on, and hi
reachedaBole profession his hostgbae
died; the cormorants that prey on the sub
stance Of man had formed conspiracy tt
get from the widow her estates. She sen
for the nearest cosHsel to commit he
cause to him, and that counsel proved {,
be the orphan boy years before stwelcomee
and entertained by her deceased husband
The stimulus of q warm and tenacious graf
ltude was now added to the ordinary mo
tive connected with the profession. He I'm
dertook big cause with a will not easily t,
be. .resists he gained it: the widow's,cs
tates wefe Secured to 'sher in peraeiuay
and Mr., Stephens added, with an empbasi
of emotion that sent an e,Fetric thri
throughout the House, "tbat boy stands be
fore you