The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1872-08-07

| :euQeu Guo seven heavens, ana, re
ceived and repaid the salutations O
the patriarchs, the prophets and th,
angels in their respective mansions
Beyond the seventh Heaven Mahome
alone was permitted to proceed. HI
passed the veil of unity, approached
within two bow-shots of the throne
and felt cold chill that pierced hin
/ to the heart These accounts are al
very different from each other, ane
are extremely characteristic OF tht
people who were represented. If We
had time it would be interesting anc
instructive to compare these accounts
and note the striking differences ! and
especially to remark how essentially
different they are from "The Vision
of Dante, and the sublime description
Of Millions hell
Third. The teachings of the Bible
are not only in accord with what we
know of the constitution and course
Of nature, but it's morality is pure
beyond anything in the history of
mani The ethics Of no other religion
is comparable to it. Christianity, in
common with some other religions,
teaches the existence Of one great,
eternal, invisible God, who is to be
worsbipped in spirit and. in truth ;
bat it's Distinguishing characteristic
its grand central doctrine-is that
this life is mere probation for the
next-a preparation for the great
Judgment where rewards and punish
mcnts are to be distributed according
10 the deeds done in the body here
This is the great doctrine, and out of
it grows the most important conse-
quences. The general effect is to
dwarf all temporal affairs-to miti-
gate the intensity of worldly strug-
giles by showing how trivial they are,
comparatively-to' soften the Unequal
tiles of life with the belief that the
ordeal is short, and that there is to
be judgment, where the wrongs
which abound in the world will be
corrected by an infallible standard
and an upright Judgel The effect OF
this must be most salutary, leading
practically to repress sel6shness, and
to the great virtues of patience, hu.
fmility and justice. Where else can
We find such requirement as the
golden rule, "Do unto others as you
would they should do unto you ?"
This appreciation of the concerns
of life at their true value, leads neces.
sarily to the restraint of the passions
Man is so constituted that most Of the
ills of life arise out of the excessive
indulgence Of the passions, pride, am.
bition, hatred, revenge, envy, 30,
These passions are natural, but un.
doubtedly they were intended to be
restrained, for their unrestrained in.
diligence leads certainly to pain and
evil. More pleasure, in the long run,
is derived from the restraint than
from the indulgence of the passions.
The laws of the land require this re.
straint-the laws of society require
it, and it is indispensable to the Chris.
tian character. The lessons of the
Bible are restraining. They regulate
and repress, instead of giving loose
reign to the appetites, and in this they
differ ''toto celo" from those of all
other religions! Is it likely that such
doctrines would be propounded by an
impostor seeking only his own pleas
ure? A mere demagoguc in religion
as in politics is never satisfied with
posthumous fame, especially if il is to
be earned by self.denial and .mortil-
cation of tho flesh. No conscious
deceiver is willing to pay that price
for the mere pleasure of deceiving.
Having nothing abiding, he wants
present enjoyment and living glory.
That is his mission-his only motive
and if ho loses that, be is even in
his own eyes a failure! The obvious
course to success with him is to conform
to the prejudices and indulge the ap-
petites, instead Of preaching a crusade
against both.
Another popularity Of the doctrines
of the Bible is this: they go to the
fountain-head, and concern themselves
with tho very thoughts-ths sOiN-the
intentions, and undertake the hercu-
lean task of cleansing that unclean
cage, the heart of man. Goodness is
not made to depend upon outward
circumstances, on forms and ceremo-
MES, as prayers, ablutions, sacrifices
and genufections; but on the quiet,
silent processes of the heart. What
a magnificent doctrine Itsoems i'm
possible that it could come from one
who was himself an imposter. At
ono swoop it levels all the inequalities
of life-elevatcs and comforts the de-
spisod of earth as we'll as the greatest
faavoritos of fortune. 1t reaches the
humble cottage of the poor as we'll as
the palaces ofkings. Indeed, it seems
especially adapted to tho lowly and
humble. This vale Of tears is so full
of sorrow that the very thing needed
was comforter-a resource which,
under the most adverse circumstances,
could confer something beyond the
reach of the world-"a peace above
all earthly dignities, a still and quiet
conscience" 1t has been said that
Christ knew man better than Socrates.
"Ny son, keep thy heart with all dill.
gence, for out of it are the issues OF
life." There is no philosophy extant
equal to the sermon on the mount.
"Blesscd are the poor in spirit, for
theirs is the kingdom Of Heaven.
Blessed are they that mourn, for they
shall be comforted. Blessed are the
meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are the merciful. for they
shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the
r., &loX~ ,lon Gn1