The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1877-08-04
ASETICISM.

The discourse delivered at the last meet
ing of the g Young Peoples Association"
by the Rev. Mr.. Rdgway, on "The Pleas
ures of Life and the Christians Relation
Thereto, has suggested the following Ie-
marks on aSceticiSm:
The true pleasures OF life consist in a
constant and faithful practice of virtue.
Though person possess health, fortune.
stands high in the estimation of his fellow
creatures as one having unusual talent, is
leader of men--in fact, has all the gifts the
world can bestow-far will he be from hap
piness, unless he possess also the virtues
which arc requisite to Il fulfillment of the
obligations that his station places him
under. The transitory things of the world
cannot give to us that happiness Shat
peace without which our lives will be only
SO many failures. With us they are hasten
ing on to eternity. At it's portals they
cease TO be, while We but begin Tie most
pleasant, or most unpleasant, part of our
existence. Really, then, We can expect
pleasure only from the practice of virtue.
lhls question, therefore, is suggcsteG:
= IS lie not the happiest who is lncun bertd
by the least of worldly cares fhIessinys Won
NAV call them if Won will md ,hsn6ons
himself wholly TO the nractice of y;rtua %,
The monk. for instance. is he not hammer
clad in his homely costume, laboring night
and day in prayer, fasting, and manual
labor, than the banker, with his millions of
gold, his innumerable bonds and stocks:
cmployed contiuuallv-.. from carly NOR,
j
depth of silent nioht--worryirp fratt;nr
his nervous system comnIeteiv eycited Win
fear. lest Inv some nnwisa moy.mont III.
shin of fortune is syamnsd >
1t will he Objected bnwcver that th.
comparison is not a GOOD one. that tle
millionaire who worshins D;ves instead nr
Jehovah. is not n true TYNE nf tho ,,o,Illy
Christian who enioys the nleosnras Of
life We GRANT the reasonabIanass of tbe
objection. Tho contrast ;S orIv dr,v, 70
show the more clearly how ntterIv in,nos
sible il is for earthly traasures to n;v. ,aooo
to man. and how mucb more ban5,iar i the
simple recluse, who knows not what if is to
be the honored owner Of GREAT possessions
on earth but who is LAYING M treasures in
heaven. where the spoiler's hand can have
no force.
1t will not be Objected however If :,
comparison is made between the truly do,
yout recluse and the trulv devont Christian
whose vocation has placed him amid thn
hurlv. hurlv of worldiv life In this o.,sa
too, the life of the ascetic is the grandest
No matter how GREAT NAV he fl. Jnrotion
of the worldly Christian If cannot raach
the poipt to which oscaticism can laad ,I,o.a
who nr,ctira if whila bic or bor ohI;r,t;o,'o
are far greater than that of tLa ascet;n
Take the father of a family az an axamnle
Are not tbe dnties imnncad MAN H. -
varv great in,nnrt,nnap IL I,p 80, 80 ~ ~
man tIa ono n,pSt naodf,,1 nf - ~ al
vet his tima must ha div;iloa hotnao,, c.
and self and family Ia hos nnt ~ IooI,
alone to the care Of his own So,l b,t b ,o ~
resnonsible tn a cartain extap, rnr tho s,,;,;t
nal condition of those rnder him Ha nav
be fuIly eanable of contrnlling his own tnrn
per but The disposition of this mr. tha,
child he fails to understand or rovorn and
it. is TO him q subiect of constant eorro,,
And so he spends his life, He passes awav
RELYING upon the mercy and ooodness Of
ENJOYING dnrin@ his liza tha rIaar in.
Given to the ascetic, Thrown nnorn a,nonn
men he has nor bean ahIn to davots !, ;s 80
exclusively to nravar ord othor sri,;.,,aI
works. which nlace man in 90 d;ract CON,
mnnion with God and enable him 70 tast.,
III "i.oii WIN Hoo anu ehaoie MN 10 taste
SO ol1en OF the sweetness OF divine things, |
ana "hlch are enjoyed by the ascetlc.
NeVetthe!esS, the world Is not hiied with
truly ue'one CHRISTIANS Ihey are pre-
cious lie" VINO follow the rules of their
callihg, winnie many are they who may be
termed easy gong Christians. And
chese are the klnd who lind SO much time
~. lne Piactice Vi prayer, MEDITATION, NOR
nleasnre fSo-c,llaaN which ono 10, On
n, rth hayond th,t ,.L;,b o.;.,,. 60