The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1884-07-05
[Brookhaven Leader.l


in action how like an angel! in
apprehension how like God p
For what is this knowledge of
evil but the results of the uncon-
trolled passions, appetites and i'm
pulses, and what the knowledge of
good thus obtained save the bless
ings of self controls 7 Self.govern-
ment lies at the beginning of sue
cess, aud until man learns to gov
ern self, there will still be the SEN
tinel pacing the streets of our cit
les atthe hour of midnight; there
will still be the thousands of ruin
ed souls; there will still be a world
struggling to free itself from the
web Of sin woven by the followers
of Satan. Were self-government
the main object Of life, our nation
al governments would not be so
moth eaten and ready to fall at the
slightest attack. The individual
who governs himself best will
make the most rapid progress.
The energies of the soul press it
into activity. Activity is its first
law, and when these energies are
controlled, they rush onward like
a calm, mighty river, filling entire
ly the channel in which they are
destined to move. "No counter
currents of passions or storms OF
impulse can change their COURSE"
and "the eternal columns which
on earth they rear, end in the star.
~ vault and prop the spheres.
Is it possible for us TO imagine any
being moro supremely happy than
he is who has subdued the pas
sions and impulsesi Like so
many well trained servants, they
come and 60 at his slightest bid
ding. What a beautiful creation
of the Imagination is this man
whose statue we are carving in
the stndio within. How delicately
do we trace each line lest we mar
this immortal work! God pre-
pares the canvass and man paints
the picture-wbat solemn thoughts!
There is Joy in the life Of such a
man and upon this work does God
pronounce his choicest benedic-
ton. The earth would be turned
into q place of torment if self gov
ernment were entirely ignored.
Those places which we hold most
sacred would be desecrated; no
evening prayer would ascend from
the many of earth's thankful
hearts in acknowledgement of
Gods goodness, the blessings
showered upon us: and with hum
BILE petition for his protection dur
ing the night, and guidance
through the coming day. There
is no conquest which ensures such
perfect peace and happiness. The
pillows Of misfortune rush upon
us, yet are they repelled with equal
force. The most prominent mis-
sion of this age seems to be to de-
velop the individual man. In past
ages he was lost in the mass, now
he is being recognized. Man in
himself is a miniature world and
Just as important in the eye OF
God as a race. Before the nation
can be developed the individual
must be developed. Man is con-
tinually beset by temptations OF
every kind. aud to escape unblem-
ished he must set a vigilant watch
about the door of his soul, lest the
Evil One gain supremacy and ban
ish from its kingdom the good
spirit which reigns within the
hearts of all virtuous men. There
are ways by which we may avoid
many of the temptations, one OF
which | will mention-Study.
There is no employment which
Yields more abundant harvests,
more real pleasure than hard
study. Not simply the study OF
text books, but all nature herself.
Yeu cannot look around you but
you sec broad fields of study open
| ing in every direction. Look at
| the heavens decked with gems OF
| the most brilliant, whose humber
/ il numberless and extent infinlfy i;
nov decend to earth and remem-
ber that <.within tiny dew drop
there slulnbers the latent power
Of ! lhunderboli, = and you viii not
be 81 loss for aamtblns 70 stl'a1.
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