Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-07-26


THEY SHALL OBTAIN MERCY
We cannot LOOK Une0ncernedly on the
lives Of others for their faults and fol-
lies are not unimportGnt to Us, but often
affect our destiny, when We least in
agine 50, and shape our fortunes, and are
always a part of our moral discipline
War and blOOdshed at distance, and
frauds that do not Immediately
affect our Pecunisry interests, yet
touch US in our feelings and
concern cur moral welfare. The
public eye may look uncOncerDedIy on
the miserable victim Of vice, or OF
wrongs and errors in the social system
but he is but one symptom OF q disease
with which that public Is affected, and
Of which, perhaps, the State will after
time die. The shattered wreck of man
may move the multitude to laughter or
to scorn; for when did multitude ever
reflect, more than the tumultuous waves
Of ocean do?
But to one who has heard and duly
heeds the lessons OF wisdom, this wreck
is an erring fellow-beiBg, q desoiste, for
lorn, fOrssken soul; and mis- thoughts,
EMBEDDING the poor wretch, will be far
deeper than those Of indifference, ridi-
cUle or contempt. All human offences,
the whole system Of dishonesty, evasion,
circumventing, forbidden indulgencean
intriguing ambition, in which human
souls are wrangling and struggling with
each other, will be looked upon by q
thoughtful man, not merely as a scene
OF mean tolls and strifes, but as the con-
fijct OF immortal souls, for ends vast and
momentOus as their own being. lisa
Fad and unworthy strife, and may well
he viewed with indignation or contempt;
but these feelings must melt into pity.
For the stakes for which these gamesters
play, sre not those which they imagine.
not those which are in sight. This man
plays fOT petty Office, and gains it; but
the resl stake he wins is sycophancy, I'M
charitsbleness, SANDER and deceit. Tsat
man plays for a poor victory over
worthless rival: be gains it; but the
real stake was his own soul, which he
ventured on the dice, aud lost.
The power Of gentleness is too little
seen in the world the subduing ipfiu-
euces Of pity, the might OF love, the con-
troll Of mildness over passion, the COM
manding majesty Of that perfect char
acter which mingies grave displeasure
with grief and pity for the offender. |
There is too little Of it in married life ;
and many 3 wife loses all, n0twithstand- |
ing her true love, by unfortunate vio- /
lences Of temper. There is combatitive-
Dess in human nature, as 10 the animal /
nature. Regrets for a fault or repent /
ancs for unkindness, vanish under re-
prosehes unwiseIy reiterated and even /
children are 50 raised to wilfulness and /
and feel as If ttey were the
party injured.
1t is not wise 70 treat those who 20
sstray, with bitterness; how much
soever that may crafty our seIf-right-
eousness. Sure, we are not to treat grave
offences with good-natured easiness. nor
with worldly indifference, nor with a
philOsophio GOODNESS, nor with q Iaxjtv
Of conscience that accounts everything
well, which is not branded by public
opinion. But the human heart will not
willingly bow to what is infirm and
wrong In human nature. If il yields 10
Us, it must yield to what is divine in Us.
The wiekedness Of our neighbor cannot
submit TO our wiekedness. Our faults
are not the instruments that are TO ar
rest his faults; and therefore impatient {
and denOuncing preachers,
and hssty reprovers, and angry parents,
md harsh, censoriOus relatives, and i'll
passionate wives, always fail,
n their several departments, TO reclaim
he erring.