The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1875-04-30
Miscellaneous.
For THE COLUMBIAN
KNOW THiSELF.


The workings Of the human mind have,
from the earliest agcs, been one of the deep
est mysteries of creation. No man can tell
for an instant, the thought of another man
mind. The learned Of all ages have made
the mental powers subject Of profound
study and research, yet are baflled at every
turn by some new revelation of the workings
of human intellect and the eccentrcities OF
human talent
The most reliable and accurate conclu-
sion to be reached, regarding mental power
is a rigid and frequent self-examination
weighing our motives for action, our powers
OF mental endurance, our control over con.
conscience, and our capacity to choose good
and resist evil.
1t has been we'll said that "The proper
study of mankind is man. and in no way
can we 81 justly judge of other men, as in
studying well our own hearts and minds
Power may be obtained by a knowledge
of the human mind, not to be obtained by
any study Of written language.
TO bring sorrow home to our own heart:
is to realize its effects upon others. We
cannot sympathize with, or comfort those
who are in distress, unless we conceive our.
selves to be in the position of the sufferer
We may obtain power to impart cheerful
ness by understanding the workings of the
human nina.
Great and good men of all ages have Civ
en- much time to self-cxamination, and we
have Divine authority for such habits The
Psalmist says: II will commune with my
own heart.
a habit of rigid self-examination, made
conscicntiouSly and prayerfully, must tend
to elevate the heart and mind. The com.
parison of our own lives with those of good
vrtuous men, awakcns within Us the desire
| to emulate their virtues.
The habit of truly, unhinchingly examin
ing the heart is not easily acquired 1t is
not easy to take the outward act that the
| world applauds, into the secret chamber O
our own hearts, and lay bare the selfish oil
| worldly motives that prompt it.
1t is not easy to tear the mantle from the
life Of outward morality, and probe the hid
den sin that the world suspects not.
He who finds delightin true selt-eyamina
| tiOn, who courts the voice OF conscience
| who brings to bear upon every action of hi
life the hours Of solemn prayerful though
preceding it, is good man. lie may err il
Judgment; he may make grave errors il
worldly wisdom; he may never attain grea
honor OF great power; he may die poor, OBJ
scure and unknown; but when he comes be
fore the Great Tribunal that awaits u, all
where moise, not action, is judged, he vii
meet his reward.
1t would be well for the young if the,
could acquire n constant habit of selt-exami
nation, if they gave one hour every mornin.
to the task before entering upon the dali.
| duties of life, or spent one hour at nigh
in reviewing the events of the day, and rig
idly scanning the motive of every action
| kneeing, at the close of such scruti
ny, to ask pardon for what is wrong, hell
and support in what is right, and the hu
mility of a Chstian to continue in the self
appointed task. No one can aid in the duty
no parent or guardian can enforce it, To IL
second hand may man come in the revela
tions Of his own heart, his powers of sell
examination. &c. Y.