The Brookhaven leader., 1884-06-26

1884, ana PuDnShed at the SOl1c-
itatlon of Many Persons who
Heard 1t.
Life is a conflict from the cradle
to the grave. Every one is therefore
soldier and must conquer or be
conquered Recognizing this fact,
and the dangers to which We are eX-
posed, the preCepts and eXhorta-
tions of the Holy Scriptures are de
signed to equip us thoroughly for
the fight. We are to work out noble
destnies! Is not man more exalted
than if be had retained his pristine
purity? Heaven was the reward Of
our first parents if they ate not OF
the fruit; it is ours if we subdue
self, calm the troubled passions, 81
lence the appetitcs, enthrone the
moral man, and bring the animal
into subJection. Now we are pre-
pared TO exclaitn with the poet:
What a piece of work is man! How
noble in reason! How infinite in
faculties. in form and moving, how
express and admirable. in action
how like an angel! in apprehension
how like God!' For what is this
knowledgcd of evil but the results
of the uncontrolled passions, appe-
tites and impulses, and what the
knowledge of good thus obtained
10 Il f,f nflt ~ pDis
Selfgovernment lies at the begin
ming of success, and until man
learns to govern self, there will still
he the sentinel pacing the streets of
our cities at the hour of midnight;
there will still be the thousands OF
ruined souls; there will still be a
world struggling to free itself from
the web of sin woven by the follow
ers of Satan. Were selfgoVerment
the main object Of life, our national
governments would not he so moth
eaten and ready to fall AZ the slight
est 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 & calm, mighty
river, filling entirely the channel in
which they are destined to move.
No counter currents Of passions or
storms Of impulse can change their
course" and 1.-THE eternal columns
which on earth they rear, end in the
starry vault and prop the spheres. "
Is it possible for us to imagine any
being more suprcmely happy than
he is who has subdued the passions
ana impulses: Like so many well
trained servants, they come and 90 at
his slightest bidding What a beau
tiful creation of the imagination is
this man whose statue We are cary
ing in the studio within. How del
icately do we trace each line lest we
should mar this immortal work.
God prepares the canvass and man
paints the picture-what solemn
thoughts! There is JOY in the life
of such man and upon this work
does God pronounce his choicest
benediction. The earth would be
turned into a place of torment if self
government 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 good
ness, the blessings showered upon
us, and with humble petition for his
protection during the night, and
guidance through the coming day.
There is no conquest which ensures
such perfect peace and happiness.
The billows of misfortune rush upon
US, yet are they repelled with equal
force. The most prominent mission
of this age seems to be to develop
the individual man. In past ages
he was lost in the mass; now he is
being recognized. Man in himself
is miniature world and just as i'm
portant in the eye of God as a race.
Before the nation can be developed
the individual must be developed.
Man is continually beset by tempta
tions of every kind, and to escape
unblemished he must set a vigilant
watch about the door of his soul,
lest the Evil One gain supremacy
and Danish from his 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 l will mention-Study. There
is no employment which yields
more abundant harvests, more real
pleasure than hard study. Not sim
ply the study of text books, but all
nature herself. You cannot look
around you but you see broad fields
of study opening in every direction.
Look at the heavens decked with
gems the most brilliant whose mum
Der Is nnmberless and extent inf
nifty; now descend to earth and
remember that within a tiny dew
drop thste sluin bers the latent pow
er of thuhderbolt,' and you viii
not be at a loss for something 10
study. Lord Broughm says; 'Sskdy
then that you may possess Sithit
yourselves sources of rational and