The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1878-07-04
Our Young People
BY REV. R. H. RIVERS, D. D.
Human Destiny.
Continued from last Week

[Continued from last Week.
1t is true that you are not to an
ticipate in this life unmingled pleas
ure. l care not to penetrate the
future and foretell the sorrows
which are the lot of our common
humanity. The very SUSCEPTIBLE
ties which render us capable Of
happiness make US liable to misery.
A pure life meets with proper res
ignation and with holy hope the
necessary trials and sorrows of
earth, and looks forward to the
great beyond with the assurance
that Affections here shall end in
eternal fruitions hereafter. The
end of virtue is happiness, and the
reward of purity is supreme and in
effable bliss. While then it would
be both untrue and improper for
me to promise complete happiness
in this world, l can assure you that
a life of spotiess innocence, infexi-
BILE justice, unauthorized truth, &C
tive benevolence and sincere piety
has its reward even here. Pleas
ures spring along every pathway of
duty. They come as the natural
and assured heritage of right prin-
ciples. They cluster like beautiful
flowers and send forth their sweet
est fragrance in all the abodes of
virtue. They accompany the brave
soldier of the Cross on all the bat
tle-tields for the right. They come
like swift winged angels to minister
to the weary and worn in all their
conflicts, and to bless them with
patience and sustain them with res
ignation.
Happiness fills the heart of the
devoted daughter as she patiently
and deyotedly ministers to a sick
and suffering mother. 1t gives
beauty to her countenance and &C
tiyity to her steps. 1t follows the
footsteps of love and attends upon
every word of affection and every
look of tenderness. 1t is not
transient visitor to the bosom in
which purity has its abode, but is
the constant companion of truth
and virtue. The energy of lofty
principles, of purified affections and
of an exalted conscience is the
highest energy that man or woman
can exert. 1t allies humanity more
closely to God than all the other
energies combined. 1t is indeed
Godlike, and its results are forever
flowing back upon the soul in a tide
OF pure sparkling joy.
Extended observation and varied
experience have both taught me
that in no other way can a high
destiny be secured. Sloth brings
no happiness, inactivity gives no
rewards and confers no honors. An
active life is the only happy life.
The flowers of pleasure bloom only
in the pure sunshine unobscured by
the clouds of vice and folly. They
flourish and bear fruit alone In fields
cultivated by the hands of industry
You are my epistles written with
my own hand and wearing my own
seal. can trust my reputation,
my life, my character to you. Into
other hands l now commit you.
Into other and more stirring scenes
you will now be called. Into the
battle of life you now enter. shall
ever hope that you will meet the
storm, as does the beautiful bird of
paradise, with your face to the tenn
pest and confronting its violence.
Dare to be heroic. Never attempt
to flee from the commands of con
science. Yield never to the solicit
tations of ease and sloth. When
public opinion is right go with it,
but when wrong resist it with all
the power OF a sublime principle.
Meet scorn, contempG, and Death it
self sooner than commit a wrong or
shrink from duty. You must be
women, brave, saFnest women, ready
to do battle upon every tield and in
all circumstances. Love your Alma
Mater. Martin College looks to
ner ;5snehters more than to rich en-
dowment or to powerIGl friends
You are her jewels in the highest
sense of that word. If you do not
adorn her crown, let her then be |
crown less. If you do not speak |
her praises, then let Martin College |
die without a friend and without a |
mOurner.
Make your home happy. Throw
the radiance of love and peace in
every nook and corner of the old |
Love the Bible. 1t is
Gods book. Honor truth as it
shines out from its pages and speaks
in its precepts and its promises.
Love and obey its Great Author. !
Hold fast to our holy religion. |
Then when life's duties are dis
charged and its conflicts past, you
shall be gathered with the pure and
good TO enjoy an immortal destiny
whose fruition shall as far surpass
all present expectations as Heaven
shall excel the gilded toys CT earth.