Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-01-08
The Soul.

The soul-what world of meaning in
that single word Whether we consider the
substance of which it is composed the ca
pacity with which it is endowed, or the i'm
mortality of its existence, we are equally
impressed. What a mystery it is, even to
its possessor, in its invisiblity, sudden alter
nation of feeling, and strange succession of
thought Now elate with hope, then de
pressed with fear; now joyous and jubilant
and anon sad and despondent this moment
thinking of self, or imaging the past, re-
calling forms and faces long since departed
and the next moment sweeping the cir
cumference of the earth, or soaring skyward,
measuring suns, and weighing the planets.
How strange how grand yes, grander
than any of its works. How true it is that,
while admiring an edifice, we often forget
the architect. This is eminently true in
reference to the soul The poem is read
with rapture, but the poets soul, parent of
flowing measure and sweetest sentiment, is
forgotten. We admire the forms of beauty
that appear upon the canvas, bui forget the
soul that gave them birth. The marble
shaped by the genius of the artist charms us
by its symmetry and expression, while the
soul that inspired it is entirely overlooked.
We are moved and melted by the tender
pathos of some simple melody, but forgetful
Of the saddened spirit, of whose inexpress-
ibe sorrow it is but the faintest echo. We
are awestruck as the ponderous engine
sweeps past us, wheeling its mighty burden
swfter than the wind but fail to remem-
Der the soul that invented it, and rendered
possible its prodigious power. But the soul
is grander than its creations. However pro-
found the works written, or beautiful the
pictures painted; however stately the struc-
ture erected, or life-like the statutes CHS
elled, the soul is grander than them all.
The soul of Dante or Shakespeare, or Mil
ton, was sublimer than their poems. The
soul of an Angelo was nobler than st.
Peters that of Mozart diviner than his
music. The soul of Newton was infinitely
superior to his wonderful discoveries-yea,
grander than the shining worlds which he
bound together with bands invisible. Yes,
the soul is superior to all the apparatus of
modern invention and discovery-to tele-
scopes and microscopes, steam engines and
electric telegraphs. For these are its crea-
tures-dumb, unconscious, perishabe mat
ter--while it is conscious, intelligent, i'm
mortal mind. How wonderful is this SOU,
with its vast capacities, hopes and fears,
joys and sorrows How in its aspirations it
overleaps the grave, and revels amid the
erandeurs of eternity Can its value be es-
timated In what balance can it be
weighed? ? For what can it be bought or
sold? Is there aught Oh earth, in sea or
sky, to be regarded as its equivalent
"What shall a man give in exchange for
his soul; or what shall it profit a man if he
gain the whole world and lose his own soul?"
When We see the Son Of God become incar-
nate, live among men, submit to weariness
and want, stand condemned as criminal,
smitten, spit upon, robed in mocking vest
ments, and crowned with thorns when we
see him bending beneath the cross, climb the
heights of Calvary, and there, outstretched
upon the accursed tree expire in btterest
agony, wondering, we exclaim, 90, why
this humiliation, grief and death of Gods
beloved one 2" Aud the darkened heavens,
and trembling earth and risen dead answer,
For the soul of man" Here at the cross
we learn the value of the immortal soul.
Reader, is it well with thy soul ?-Selected