Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-09-12


went II" as he did. after he had built
splendid church and said his prayers.
and given a great frolic to nil Israel.
Tho next thing was something else. Evil
IDENTIFY. Malcolm had been reading about
him when he tried poor Macduff with
the account of what he was not; Of
| his own 'voluptuousness" and "stauncii-
less avarice." Rightly or wrongly,
Solomon, with the largest possible en-
dowments OF heart and mini and bodJ.
| and limitless gifts Of wealth and kncwl-
edge set himself to enjoy, to The full
est extent all that man could enjoy
on earth, after his idea; and he sue
ceeded. pronounced TIE whole business
| fraud, and was gathered 10 bis
fathers, like any other piece OF mar
taIty; his people regretting that the
govt, the serpigo. and rheum had tndi
ed him no sooner; and notifying his
hopeful son that he would have to do
| differently or get out OF the way.
To every being who gets towards mans
estate, the same question arises-How
il he to make the most of what he is
and has? And before ne fairly begins
to study the question, If he ever does
so, his appetites and passions wake up
and hurry him to their qualification. lie
IS full OF toys and idle, corrupting &C.
cupations He Is an inebriate, a big
eater, a sensualist, a devotee TO selfish
ambition or avarice, or Is an insane
fanatic; or desperately and madly
dashes into the whirl and torrent that
bewilders, blinds, and destroys; or is
lightly and idly blown or led hither and
thither by every light wind of pleasure
or every enticement and lust; purpose
less, meaningless. thoughtless; in faint
colors or weak tones, Illustrating
and telling the old tale Of the world
ling: All in vanity and vexation of spirit.
Men can't help being men, and, there
fore, accountable. The maddest and
most senseless rabble Is made up Of
men. They are not turtles or cattle.
They are divine or deyllish. They are
immortal men. In the home whatever
1t be, for a season, they are dignified or
tenderly cared for as babes, sons, bro
Tiers, fathers; as infants cherished. as
brothers TO be loved, as fathers to be
revered. And yet, how out OF har-
mony, with all natures musical out
givngs, do the discordant and deplora-
BILE notes of their tragic histories, so
largely rum How rudely are the de-
signs and indications OF the great De-
signer dishonored and obliterated! What
strange qualifications are sought! What
strange pleasures are indulgedl What
lorgngS allowed, and what idle sense
less occupations exercised Wherever
Nature has made familiar duties plea
SAINT, pleasure is greedily snatched, and
duty. and manhood's interest, and
TT Iii 81 -
the masses. no design beyond mere plea
sure is considered. Appetites designed to
make us vigorous and bright and con-
tributors TO general good are fed and
stuffed for weakness, dulness, and
sloth. Passions given us to animate and
furnish us for the highest and most
honorable offices. and the largest en-
joyment OF mans endowments and Ma
lures bounties and beauties and glories
debase, degrade, and dishonor US and
enslaye us to lowness. And aspirations,
meant TO raise US TO communion ard
fellowship with the highest beings
about the throne of God find their
satisfaction in the vain and idle effort
to make ourselves great and set us up as
gods. Heart. soul, mind, and body We per-
vert, inappropriate, abuse, poison, and
corrupt every thought. desire. impulse.
iioAiitNt, 1dNAitSS isthh' oiAN hSAO VI WI
being; till there is no health in us. The
vine made with its tendrils TO climb
heavenward, Frustrated on tho earth,
clings only TO what comes out OF it.
feeds OF dust. and bears the grapes OF
Sodom, the vintage Of Gomorrah. This
IS having n good time; this is taking
things as they are; this Is realism. Can
feeding, drinking. grabbing, smoking,
chewing, sleeping, gambling. fighting,
and all low lusts-the lust OF the flesh.
the lust of the eyes. and the pride of
iife-make mp the business Of such a
creation as man?
Sure He that made us with such large
discourse,
Looking before and after, gave US not
That capability and godlike reason,
That we should be beasts merely!