The weekly Panola star. [volume] (Panola, Miss.) 1857-1881, 1872-05-25

There IL nothing which 20 per.
verts the heart as intellectual pride.
The calamitics which have most
afflicted and debascd our race have
sprung from the abuse of the free
and gifted intellect. In the perver>
sity OF . corrupt will, and the ex.
cesses OF a presumptuous understand
ing, ma has frightfully abused the
powers entrusted to him Tor high
and holy purposes. Too often the
extent Of human knowledge ia the
measure OF huHan crime.
History, revelation and tradition
unite to teach h that this unchas-
tened will, aud the perverted genius,
seeking to snatch the forbidden fruit,
has been mails first, greatest unfor-
given sin. While other crimes seem
rather TO excite the pity than to
provoke the immediate wrath OF
Heaven, and, by degrading the soar>
ing spirit to the earth, serve to huns
bic Its pride, this appears 10 DO a
rebellion against Him, who Ii a zeal.
Gus God, and who will avenge his
cause. From the fall Of the son Of
the morning star, who, In the excess
OF a presumptuons understanding,
dared % wage wal against the
throne and monarchy Of God" down
thzpngh the deserted paths OF para
disc, to the terrible commissions of
the los: century, when an impiety,
second only to that Of the arcbangel
ruined, met with a punishment
scarcely less horrible, we sec every
where this ffightfnl lesson written
IN characters OF rnin.
Yet mind IL not like the %.scorporal
rind' With which 1t Is simmanaeled,p
subjected to age, and decay, and de-
creritude. Nor il II retiuent In its
essence, having a latent power with
IN, o. a controlling principle from
without, which rroclaims, thus far
sha1t thou 70, and no farther. II IN
immortal in its energies and aspir,
ings--evcr advancing and to advance
soaring higher and still higher
with nntiring wing, and gaining
new scope and vigor from every
flight towards Him from whom 1t
descended, aud with whose imageit
Is stamped. Limitless aud free, its
nature is progressive, its spring is
upward; no barrier to check its lofty
aspirations; no power to control ifs
daring flight; no obstacle to stay its
reslstlcss progress, but its own wild
and erring presumption, its own
Jury and impetuous promptings, Tia
own Inherent and rebellious pride.
As long as, with humble heart and
chastened will, 1t seeks the end Of
its being 10 the ocean Of truth, its :
stream Tar never flow backward. /,
Such is the law Of all intelligence. ,
"Ihe rapt seraph that adores and
burns the chief Of the hierarchy Of :
Heaven, the moment he deems him :
self sufficient for his own support. !.
by that one net Of impious self.
idolatry falls hcadlong from his high
estate. Such il the awful and salnta-
~ lesson which we CLEAN from that !
book, which contains all that il use. /.
full IN time and hopeful in the future. !
Az II to impress indelibly 1pon the
soul Of man the terrible ~conse-
qnenc es Of o presumptnous intellect. .
. jealous Deity has enforced the ,
with special revelations. Hell,
has not only bestowed upon us the
godlike capacity o. reason to collect
and compare the fruits Of experience ,
h The ages which have been gathered !
y he past, but he has suspended the |
nrti of thu cherubim, that va might ;
inter ~ forbidden paths Of paradise ]
y read beneath the tree Of knowledge !
price of dfsobddicnce. And liz
~ 1n6arrod To gates 1t Heaven
1sl1f tlnstl1e fan DC the angelica
A09l1s - uligAt trsmbls 1t the in. ]
sfsnt IN frrcnediable fnin Whioh \
pM11 tle 6tnSls sin il thonchs 1
E4lh ~ t~tlesefcfs know, tRat. /