The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1871-07-26
FoR rHE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
SOUL CULTURE.

You who are so earnestly bent on physi-
cal culture, frequenting the gymnasium and
dancing hall, and using every appliance of
science and art to improve your bodies in
strength, grace and beauty, remember how
short is the tern Of physical life, how brief
the hour of beauty In few years, at
best, the noblest form must be bowed, the
stOutest arm palsied, the fairest face faded
with age, and then dissolve into shapeless,
senseless dust. But within these pampered
and carefully nurtured bodies, there is a
priceless, undying soul, running to waste,
distorted and marred by selGshness, vanity,
friyolty, envy and all unrighteousness--a
soul destined to endless misery or eternal
bliss, according to its culture on earth.
You who with higher ambition seek for
mental expansion and elevation, who cultivate
the intellect by years of study and reading
and travel, remember how limited and un-
satisfactory is human knowledge-hOw many
mysteries there are in nature which finite
minds cannot solve, and how the whole ten
deney of knowledge is to show us how little
We know. Give not your time and your life
to that pursuit alone. Remember that the
structure and composition of this world, the
language, the literature and history of its
inhabitants can possess no interest for you
when you have left it forever, when the world
itself shall have passed away. And remem-
Der the immortal soul animating your whole
being, its noble capacities, its eternal des
tiny, and the sublime possibilities which lie
before it. Neglect not its culture.
And you whom poverty condemns to wear
ing toll, and stern pri7ations which deform
and wear out the body, marring its beauty
and wasting its strength-yOu to whom the
gates Of knowledge are shut, aud who must
grope through the world in ignorance of all
but what meets the eye and ear in your mar
row life, remember that while the body is
dwindling and perjshing in your hard lot,
and the mind lies dormant and uncultured,
that to the nOblest part of your being, cul-
ture, the highest aud fullest culture, is pos
sible. Gods word is within your reach; His
ears are open to you; His spirit breathes
upon your heart During every weary hour
of your earthly life this noble work may be
going on. Evil thoughts and uuholy feel
ings smotbered in their very inception; pure
thoughts aud kind aud holy feelings cher
ished till they 6nd expression in your every
word and action; love to God eyiuced in
your holy living aud in love to your fellow
men which will prompt to the giving even o.
cap Of cold water; faith in God which vii
enable you to bear your ills oheerfully, snC
to look hopefully forward to a future life o
eternal bliss-all these will gradually mould
your nature into the highest form of human
existence "strong in the grace which is IL
Christ Jesus, and lovely with the matchles'
beauty Of holiness This soulculture anC
noble development viii be a source of com
fort and Improvement to all with whom yo'
meet, and will shed halo along the who'll
course of your pilgrimage; for "The patti
of the Just is as a shining'hght, shining more
and more unto the perfect day" And ther
when your earthly life is ended, and yOr
stand before the throne of God in judgment
YOU will find no need of earthly beauty AM
worldly knowledge You will not have t
answer for deformity or ignorance but 70
the deeds done in the body, whether the.
he oood or epI" NJ. J. H.