Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-05-03
Nero and Paul Contrasted.

Nero, outwardly, must have been regard
cd by the multitude as very happy man,
f,r 70 worldly eyes he had everything to
make him happy. But could there be
greater contrast in all that constituted true
happiness, than that presented in the in
ternal state of Nero and Paul? Taking on
ly this life into contemplation, and did not
the seraphic views of Paul, his heavenly
visions, his JOYS of heart, the peace that
flowed like the mighty sea in his soul, the
ont gushings of his benevolent nature for
all suffering, the ardent aspirations of bis
spirit for all purity, l0veliDess and moral
beauty the joy that ensued from his reso-
lutte resistance to all meanness, falsehood,
avarice and iniemperance-did not this inn
measurably surpass that Of Nero, even in
the climax of his highest pleasures? Could
we imagine more happy man than Paul,
when he looked back upon his christian
labors, and forward to the tr;umphs of the
Cross Of the Releemor, and those victories
OF grace that he was permitted to expert
ence in his labors for the conversion OF
Je W and Gentiles?
Nero. wal.owing in the mire of sensual
ism, driven in his spirit Ikea Fury, by the
gust of passion, infAmed tn madness by the
goadings of revengefuI and cruel dispo-
sition, knew nothing of that heaven Of joy
VII CHI Paul had in his heart.
What to Nero were angels liftingup over
his head crown that elittcred in the eye
Of faith, with uotre incomparably more
brilliant than all the jewels that sparkled
in his earthly diadem: Nero, here, was the
poor man bent down to the earth in the
vision Of Bunyan, raking for petty straws
and bubbles. How unlike to Paul As the
end of his life WAS different so also his en-
joyments Of the spiritual and unseen. Liv-
ing by faith, he saw that which filled him
with Joy no words could express, and felt
that which disarmed all the trials and dis
asters of earth Of their highest power to
hurt. As sel6shneSs assumed more con-
trolling influence with Nero, so the circle
contracted more and more of true happi-
ness, and left his poor soul shrivelei,
sightless, OdiOus object of thought; hateful
to himself, and hateful to others. Nogen-
tie zephyrs of the Heavenly Spirit famed
that parched up demonisc heart; no holy
impulses from the sun of righteousness
penetrated down into the regions Of his
spiritual nature, locked up in the chains Of
eternal frosts. The prey of unquiet emo
tons, the slave of ignoble passions, Nero
rushed from the rage of enemies incensed
by his cruelties, into the last fatal resort Of
Indebtedness suicide.
What contrast was Paul He drinks o.
the waters of eternal life, he feeds upon
mamma descending from the skies and thi'
will explain all the marvellous success Of
his preaching, and all the wonders of grace
in achieving. Paul was living illustra
ton that the greatest paradoxes are Otter
the greatest truths. As unknown, anC
yet well known; as dying, and behold W,
live as chastened, and not killed as sOr
rowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, ye
making many rich as having nothing, ant
yet possessing all things" Could Ner
have heard, or read these words, they woult
have sounded in his ears, and been seel
by his eyes, as utterly absurd and contra
dictory. His own experience would be a
foreign to this, as is the condition of cart
10 that of heaven. Here was an atmospher
of sensibility and joy, as remote from h
conception as the element of water is di;
tinct from that ofair. Here we see how flu
of internal resources OF happiness was tn
life of Paul How full of all emotions
JOY was that heart whose warm aspiration
of benevolcnce made him ever active in h
Masters cause. The bad life of Nero
millions of the human race cannot be est
mated. He enstamped, by his own col
duct, an impress Of vileness upon multi
tudes of men, women and chrildren, tn
no mortal man can conceive of. Not so
Paul. How brilliant appears this gre
star of grace in the worlds history! tt
astronomer tells us that light travels twel
millions of miles in minute, keeps ev
onward in its march through the trackle
distances of universal space. But mort
light, emanating from such a spiritual |
minary as Paul, passes more swiftly onwa
in its career of glory, diffusing all aroul
an influence for good, that shall never cea
while God reigns or eternity lasts ObSe,
er.