The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-10-30

LOVE TO THE CREATOR.-This feeling, which
lies at the foundation of all religion, may exist in
two FORMS as a sentiment and as principle.
When any impulse arises in the mind, the will
mjEt take action upon it; If 1t approves, and re-
solves to encourage it, and act according to its
promptings, it then becomes principle. But If
The impulse be sighted, or INDUCED as a mere
feeling, and not suffered to work itself out into
act1n, then it dies out, or exists only as vague
and dreamy sentiment. Thus we often ind per-
sohs who intellectually appear TO possess this
sentiment Of love to the Creator. without its ex-
bib4ing any active power; and there are those
Who can speak touching and sublime expressions
on she subject, while INDUCING In the most un-
worthy conduct. Just as in nature, though no
rose could blossom without the vital energy that
only the Author Of Creation can impart. yet no
garden can thoroughly please the eye, without the
care of man to dress and to keep it; so the feel.
ing of love to God implanted 10 the hearts must
be Sourished, If its influence is to be maintained.
Inc feeling of love within rs Is only available
when used by our own free choice and will and
determined energy of action. Socrates asked sn
atbestic friend if he had not observed that man 10
never 50 well disposed to serve the Deity as in
that part of life when reason bears the greatest
sway and the judgment is In its full strength and
majority, and that those kingdoms and common
wsslths most renowned for their wisdom and an
tiQuity are those whose pety and devotion have
been the most observable. Every man must have
some ruling principle; every character some rul-
ing force. Goodness can never be negative, or
simply innocent. II must be positive and earnest.
We love innocence in child, but strong, active,
log virtue Is necessary to goodness in q man,
ard this can only be obtained by the careful cul-
tvaion of the principle of love to the Creator. Ii
is this vital force that gives courage, wisdom aud
strength; that lightens the most wearisome duties
and soothes the saddest sorrows.
There are people rigid in battling against
heresy, and denouncing opinions different from
their own. who are yet utterly lacking in the
deep foundation principle from which all such
opinions ought to spring. The honorable lawyer
ever keeps In view the fundamental principles of
legal morality in all his arguments and practice,
while the mere pettifogger will bubble about
petty technicalities, mistaking them for the
essence of the law. Many persons mistake the
i9ve Of sect for the love of God. But far above
oil sects and all parties is the love of truth to
To cultivate most successfully this principle, we
n,ust cease to cherish whatever Is inconsistent
with II. II ia a law Of our physical nature that
the vital force, directed by one function, 10 by 30
mich absorbed from the others. The supreme
love of business or pleasure, or honor, will
be sufficient of itself to stife and eradicate
this principle, which If cherished and trained, will
rise above all other affections, and develop the
entire character. The careful regulation of the
body, the training of the mind, and the discipline
OF, the moral faculties, all conduce to this end.
The power Of habit cannot be overrated. and reli-
bgicus habits are, like the pressure OF the atmos-
pEete, silent and uniform, but sli-pervading. This
love Of the Creator, cherished and cultivated as
the supreme and ruling principle Of life, Is the
secret Of all true happiness. he who possesses
IL need not fear calamities or reverses, for they
VII come to him as the wise dspensation OF
kind and loving Father WHO cannot err and oil
hiy joys will be enhanced by the filal gratitude
thst viii pervade his breast.-(Ph Phil. Ledger.