Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1869-11-06
VISIONS.

Visions may be thought by many per-
Sons to belong to a past age. There is
a strong tendency at the present time to
ignore them, or at least to regard them
simply as vagsries of the imagination,
only worthy the attention Of the cred
ulous and superstitious. But = more
philosophie review of their nature and
effects will show that they have their
seat in the very deepest nature of man,
and that we can by 10 means afford to
spare from our composition the elements
from which they spring. In all ages the
inward voices Of the mind and heart are
continually making themselves heard.
internal feelings, emotions and inhu-
ences are ever at work with silent but
irresistible power. In ancient times,
when the philosophy of the mind was
an unknown study, these influences,
when very strongly experienced, were
usually attributed to outward causes.
Gradually, however, as the mind became
more thoroughly recognized and COM
pretended, the eye and the ear ceased
to be held responsible for the whole Of
our impressions, and the internal and
external senses were less often con-
founded. So visions have, by degrees,
sunk into some sort of %disrepute, and
though some ardent and susceptible ma.
lures still uphold their existence and
experience their effects, they are to q
great extent ignored and even con-
temusd. It is true that we may con-
found unressoning impulses with in.
spring emotions. They must be put to
the test Of reason and Of moral sense,
and be made to prove their character
by their fruits, but they may never DO
ignored. How often are we conscious
Of an inward fash Of light that makes
clear what has otherwise beon dark, and
brightens all our path, provided we fol-
low its guidance! 1t is when we are
most removed from the influence Of out
ward things that we have some of our
clearest visions. In our silent hours Of
retirement, when we subject our past
conduct to the ordeal Of examination
the inner voices Of the heart will often
speak louder, moro impressivsly and
more au;horitatively Than any sound
appealing to the bodily ear. Such
hours are needed to break up the routine
of life 8 cares aud labors, to relieve its
m~ouotony, to exalt its aims, to cheer its
depressions, and above all, to elevate
the internal above tho external, and to
show US higher objects Of attainment
than the mere material benefits for
which we strive. Visions have not
passed away. They are greater realities
to those who recognize them as spiritual
than to those who only read them as
messages to the eye or a Coming as
they do to all Of US, in the midst of joys
and sorrows, Of cares and s%trifes, they
should be hailed as purifiers Of life, and
esteemed as among the great privileges
Of humanity. AS when in cloudy
weather at sea the anxious mariner 10
on the alert to catch the few glimpses
of the heavenly bodies that are afforded
by the lifting of the clouds, and hastons
to take his observations before they are
again obscured, so in the voyage Of lite
we should hail with eagerness the Wis
ions that may be granted Of the Guiding
stars of truth and love, and hasten
to Gx their teachings so firmly in our
hearts that obseurius clouds may not
obli,erate our future pathway.