Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1861-04-12

ehoulu po III lHe minu ololOu uP III ihiah-
cy, childhood, and youth, by means of
parents, teachers, and preachers, good af-
fections, as we'll as holy truths from the
Holy Book, the Lord can by means of
these lift the striving soul out of the
darkness of natural life, into the light of
spiritual perception. With this state is
given foretaste of future blessedness, in
the temporary fruition of which all earthly
delights sink into meanness. Only for a
time does this state abide. 1t is like
temple made suddenly visible in the air,
yet having no foundation to rest upon,
whose ravishing beauty forever after
dwells in the imagination, and dims by
contrast even the grandest works of men.
But" l continued. ''this beatifc Wis
ion-this foretaste of celestial blessedness
is not given to mock the soul, born with
infinite longings after the good and the
true, and with almost infinite capabilities,
but as lure There is temple to be
builded, gorgeous and beautiful but the
foundations must be laid, stone upon
stone with labor and care First is given
the fair ideal, as it is given to the archi-
tect who is to construct some grand earth
ly temple 1t is seen only as in vision !;
then becomes. fixed in the idea; and af-
terwards is wrought out and built into an
abiding structure, 1t is to incite us to
the work of laying in patience, self-denial
and good deeds among our fellow-men, the
foundations of temple into which He
may enter and dwell, that God gives to
u.s. in this first state of separation between
things that are of heaven and the world,
glimpses of celestial beauty.
"The regeneration of a human soul,
fallen into the low depths Of sclfshness,
, is no light task. 1t cannot be accom-
: plished in day, nor in an hour. 1t is
, the achievement of years. Weak, human
hands, must do the work-though not un-
| assisted. If divine aid were not given,
the case would be hopeless. But this
t help comes only in the degree that effort
can be inspired in man. He must work
5 as of himself, yet with the consciousness
that power to act is from God Is it not
plain, that in the beginning of the effort
D to resist and overcome the natural inclin-
e ations, which are all selfish, he would
. soon grow weary? That after struggle
o and conquest on the first field of battle,
s the exhausted spirit would shrink from a
: renewal of strife? And now it is, that
+ we see the operation of that divine love,
t which consents to the inhiction of pain in
order to save the object of its love. There
must be another, another, and another
battle; and the weary soldier must be
e pricked to the contest.
"And thus it will be through the whole
of this spiritual battle, prolonged fol
c years. God loves his children too we'll tc
spare the chastening of natural life, when.
ever it is needed, in order that true spir.
y itual life may be born. But after every
: battle there is given season of rest and
peace; after the pains Of birth, delicious
tranquility, and joy for offspring-and
: these so far above natural rest and joy
that no degree of comparison exists be
tween them.
Q "And this is why the best of people
!, have often the most painful discipline t.
endure; such discipline as would destroy
;, those in whom is no spiritual strength
as baser metals are consumed in the fire
by which gold is made pure"
/ had grown unusually earnest in thi
l. effort to demonstrate the propositions a
20 which my friend had seemed tv demur.
n "You may be right" was answered.
4 'no doubt are right; but you do no
!, make the way to heaven attractive"
l. "But heaven is attractive; and there
Of only one way to get there; as there i
s. only one way for the distant mariner t
Is reach his home that lies far across til
N stormy ocean,"
a Through toll and suffering?"
ly Through denial of selfish and world
c. ly affections; and just in the degree tina
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