Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1869-07-02
A Short Sermon.

Vanity OF vanities, saith the preacher; all Is
vanity
Vanity is said to be an initiation of the
mind arising from the idea of being
thought highly of by others, and il
shows itself by its eagerness to catch
the notice of others. 1t differs from
self.concelt in the fact that self conceit-
ed person knows it all himself, and never
waits to learn by experience or observa-
ton. He knows, at moments notice.
what others might want a life time TO
acquire. An egotistical man admires
himself, and is. generally, the hero of his
own battles, an he often loves himself
to that degree that be can talk Of nobody
else, unless by way of comparison. But
this may not be vanity, since there may
be merit in both the self conceited and
egotistical. Vanity implies a sort of
emptiness or initiation of mind upon very
slight grounds, and yet it seems to be
sensitive and is capable of being CALLED
or wounded. But vanity is not variety,
for variety is usually continued novelty
or an intermixture or succession of differ
ent things, not necessarily, but generally,
interesting. In most cases whore there
is variety, there will, also, be more or
less diversity. Different kinds of bust
ness give both variety AMI diversity, and
different places do the same. and, finally,
earth itself yields variety without end.
Again, vanity is not pride, though
some kinds of pride may be vain; such,
for instance. ms an inordinate self esteem,
or an unreasonable conceit of ones own
superiority. which sometimes displays
itself in lofty airs, cold distance, blank
reserve and often in contempt of his
peers. 1t is said that those who walk
in such pride "God is able to abase."--
Of such pride it has also been said that
it 'dines Oh vanity and sups on con-
tempt" There is, however, a kind of
pride which is the reverse of all this, and,
consequently, is Lot vain. There is, or
should be. at least, in every person, a
just and proper sense of his own worth,
and just adherence of what is beneath
or unworthy of himself. There should
be, in every man and woman, noble
self esteem and lofty elevation of char
acter, which would make us scorn to do
an act unworthy of ourselves. The
person who feels no just pride in the good
things he has done in the past, or may
do in the present, will fail to achieve
anything in the future worthy to be re-
membered, or initiated.
Then. too, there is the military pride,
the pride Of place and power and last,
though not least, the christians pride
Though strangely different, each is said
10 be just-each is said to be commend
able, and one, at least, desirable. Yet
all are desirable; but quite too often it is
a base and unholy desire. Military pride
is vain, the honors of state are vain and
the christians pride is often vain. But
all who wear the outward mantle Of
christians, are not true christians. The
pride of such is vanity; but the pride
of the true christian is just and holy.
In the common acceptation of the
term, the vain person is one who has q
secret feeling of pleasure at being praised
for excellence, whether be possesses the
same or not, while pride denotes a sort
of inflated spirit which is careless Of, or
Indifferent. to either praise or contempt.
On the whole, however, we are inclined
to think that
''The world is all heeting show for mans illusion
and that the second preacher hath it
about right when he says that "pride
hath no glass to show itself but pride"
and, further. that "vanity is the food Of
fools" AM.