Northern Ohio journal. [volume] (Painesville, Ohio) 1872-1896, 1873-07-05
DESTINY AND CHARACTER.

There is no law in human affairs more
immutable and potent than that which
CO meets, by indissoluble bonds DESTINY
and CHARACTER. If we would know
what is to befall us, in the truest sense
of the phrase, we must correctly appre-
ciate our inmOst character. This gives
the key to all our future, and unlocks
secrets which no oracle can ever reveal.
1t is not merely the events and circum-
stances of our lives that are SO largely
controlled by our innlOst dispositions,
though this is true to an extent that we
rarely appreciate. What are the great
events that mark the life of the indul-
gent pleasure-seeker? Sickness, dis
ease and decay. OF the spendthrift?
poverty. Of the selfish and misarly?
desolation and loneliness. Of the faith
less and dishonest? the finger of scorn
and life Of disgrace. On the other
hand, integrity, economy and energy,
lead inevitably TO the most per .nanent
success; benevolence and goodwill
bring friends; temperance and good
habits are accompanied by health and
long life. Even the most external SUR
| roundings of life are thus more closely
| allied to character, and more dependent
| upon it, than we ever imagine. But
| life is not made up of events; man Is not
| s'the creature of circumstances, as is so
often asserted. The great results of life
flow from character, not from condition.
] Different characters bring out of the
same outward events totally opposite is
sues. The cheerful and the melancholy
man look upon the same scene in nature,
but how differently are they impressed !!
To the one all is beauty and delight, to
the other all Is gloom and sadness.
The world without reflects that which
| ic xyitI;n IN ;n social 1ifa x,,a raa,, .th hof
which we sow, and society is often
to us but reflection of our own nature.
The selfish or proud, or cold or jealous
dispositions suffer annoyance, disap-
pointment and pain from the very same
sources which bring love and joy to the
heart of the gentle and kind. Every
, characteristic has a magnetism by
which it draws its like to itself, unfold
ing from others that which is In sympa'
: thy with itself, and thus perpetuatins
, and recreating 1t. There are no bles'
sings which may not be changed Int
: evils, no trials or sufferings that may
not be transformed into blessings
. Temptation brings ruin to one. ant
; strength to another; not by its innate
power, but by simply evolving TIL
: character that is tried. Pleasure is
| poison to one, and healthful refresh
: ment to another. The same privileges
the same discipline will cause one t.
+ rise to heights of virtue. and another I
l sink into weakness and shame.
5 Our welfare and our woe d
: not arise chiefly from without but fror
s within. The world Is but the reflection
: of the soul. Life is the history, not q
g events, but OF mind, not of situation
It but of character. In this sense we ma
n look with confidence into the future, an
s predict with certainty what is i'm stol
o for us. The special and outward tria
l. or temptations, sorrows and pleasur
l. That await us we may not forsee, b,
IS their grand results upon our lives {,
n good on for evil, for blessing or for wo
S. for improvement or for degeneracy. v