The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1875-06-29

many such go down TO people the dark re.
gions of despair, and who can say that
their souls will not be required at our
hands
Then again, our love of dress and dis.
play leads us so TO appear at the house Of
God, as oftentimes 10 deny the poorer
class this blessed privilege for, say they,
1--WE cannot dress as well as others, and
there is no notice taken Of u.s." Who
wonders, in view Of these things, that the
sin of pride has been denounced, as an
abomination in the sight of God, one upon
which lie cannot look with any degree Of
appreciation ?
But shall this state Of things remain as
it is ? Shall the poor and destitute,
through our influence, be longer kept
away from the sanctuary Of the Most
High and at last come up as witnesses
against us at the judgment of the great
day, because we have preferred to spend
the wealth which was given us TO relieve
them, superhuously upon our own bodies ?
How gladly would many who now remain
at home on the Sabbath, or seek amuse-
meut elsewhere, attend upon the means of
worship, were the members of the church,
the prolessed followers oil our great Pat
tern OF all excellence, more plainly dress.
ed, thus enabling those whose wealth is
limited to feel that their presence there is
Of much more Importance than the garb
they wear.
Why do you pause, kind reader
Plain talk, do you say? Is it not true,
nevertheless Well would it be for us,
were we oltener to face the truth, bring.
ing it home to our hearts as our necessi.
ties require, and then hold communion
with us, when the scenes Of earth in which
we are now so interested, will have palsed
away forever, and the good opinion Of
those whom we now so much desire, will
have no bearng-by the way of increas-
lug our appiness-upon the scenes which
will then surround us. Could we now re.
aize how changed will then become our
feeling with regard to earthly things,
surely We could not give so much o { our
precious time and thought US is now Civ
en-, TO the decorating OF these poor decay
ing bodies in the glittering pomp and show
Of this world.
Come, then, let us haste away to the
fountain Of all truth, drink deep and in.
spring drsughts from its crystal depths,
that our eyes may be opened to behold
the beauties and excellencies Of the Pat.
tern given to be our only chart and guide
while here below, not only as basis
upon which to establish the principles Of
the inner life, thereby enabling us to ar
rive at higher standard of human ex-
celence than can possibly be attained in
any other way-but also in the putting
on Of the outward adorning, that it may
correspond to the meek and quiet spirit,
which ever reigned triumphant in the
heart of Him whose life was given to be
our pattern and our guide. Who would
not willingly resign these few feeting,
earth h-born pleasures, to finally be per.
mitted to breathe the purer atmosphere of
heaven, and participate in the joys that
await the finally faithful at Gods right
hand, where there are pleasures forever
more?
Come while the morning Of thy life is glowing,
Ere the dim ph antoms thou art chasing die.
Ere the gay spell, which earth is round thee
throwing,
Fade like the crimson of sunset sky;
Life hath but shadows, save promise given,
Which will light our life with fadcless ray
Come-touch the spectre--win hope in heaven,
Come-turn thy spirit from the world away.
Middlebury, Vt. J. N. II.