American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-09-06
ADDRESS
Delivered Before the Sabbath
School Convention!
BY Il. c. POSTELL!

Since the hour in which Adam
fell, without moments cessation,
a fierce contest has been raging in
the mOiai and religious departments
of human life, the contcnding forces
being marShalcd under the respect
i've enSigns of truth and error. The
correctness Of this declaration will
be accredited by all who are familiar
or even partially cOnversant, with
the history of man; for to be entire
~ familiar with this rebelliouS crea-
ture. in the secret operations of his
mind, as well as in his public walk,
the nnwrItten portions of his life,
known only to conscience, of which,
now and then, some indiStinct ema-
nations are evolved by the opera
lions Of agencies produced from ;.f-
finity existing between the Creator
and humanity, which portions of
his life, perhaps, are by far the
more Important say, to become
acquainted with all these. is one of
the impossibilitieS which learned
men meet with in their attempts to
enlighten the world by the aid of all
the data concerning him, drawn
from books and tradition. Enough,
however, is known OF the best part
of the human race which has pre-
ceded us, together with that intima,
cy of men of our own day, to mark
ont for ourselves, and especially for
the rising generation, important and
instructive lessons relative to all
actions which it may be called upon
to perform, in all the departments
of human life, whether at home or
abroad, in the cabinet or the field,
i'm the commercial walks, or in the
arena grand, whose subdivisions in
vite members of the learned pro
fesSions, in the mechanic arts, or,
last but not least, amid the quiet
but noble duties of agriculture,
which, when directed by the en-
lightenment of christianity, consti-
tutes the motive power which pro
pels the machinery OF common
wealthS in their progressive strides,
keeping all the channels Of industry
alive with eager aspirants after
wealth, honor, distinction and hap
pinesS.
In the enunciation of the PROPOSE
ton contained in the opening sent
ence of my address, you perceive a
very wide field is presented to the
conremplative mind, which affords
a world of fact, big with suggestive
thought. challenging its appropria-
ton for ou entertainment and in
s.ruction. Often in our lives our
fixed attention has been invited
to the consideration of the subject
which now claims hearing. 1t is,
no new theme, but it is
capable of being presented in as
many cOlOrs, SO to speak, as we find
variety i'm form and complexion ex-
listing among men.
The operations of truth and error
are visible in their effects upon the
political departments of human life,
and the results produced by The an
tagonism in the premises-for these
agencies are in constant opposition
are apparent; or, at least, the
signs are left almost everywhere on
earth, after ages have passed away,
and these specified powers made TO
stand, one successful, the other de
feated. Are the passions of gener
atoms buried to rise no more Not |
so. but to remain unfelt until a new
field is occupied and peopled by
subjects whose wants and inclina
tons, energy and courage, or virtue
demand a revival of the sentiment |
which characterized the lives of the |
men who lived before them; hence,
in this life-cOnfict, the temporal !
veal or woe of irrcligIous and I'M
moral men is involved, as much as
the material instincts OF persons /
whose lives are well ordered by the
teachings of Scripture.
The thoughtful student OF history
is deeply interested in pursuing the |
progress of the children of Israel |
from the kingdom of Egypt to the
land of Promise. In every instance.
wherein they suffered, either from
thirst or hunger, it was the effect of
the operation of error upon their |
lives. And when they were pro
tected, as it were, by the ''shadow
of the wings" of the Almighty, this
was the result of obedience to the
direction of their great leader,
" hose whole mind was under the
ali-absorbing influence of truth,
which was reflected in the acts of
the people. Error, on the one hand,
led Pharaoh to temporal deStruc-
tion-truth, on the other hand, con
Quoted Moses to the top of Pisgah.
Does not the simple rehearsal of
thesa facts suggest to us the great
Importance of striving to impress
the youthful mind with the ncsessi-
y of suhjccting their lives to the
direction of trnth, wheree'er she
whatever difficulties
she would beckon her followers?
For she not only accompanies Der
subjects. but being blessed with
lbiquitv, she has placed III advance,
in every valley, and
IN every hilltop along the journey
If lite, and every needed blessing
rely and fully bestowed. This
presupposeS work, certain!,, and
here is no excellence in this life
Without work-harI work.
In the general and particular his
orv of the Jews, we are furnished
vii Ii repeated instances OF good aud
vii, as results necessarily conse-
man. ,,.,op thp acts of that uppplp