Year: 1861

MORNING MUSINGS,


ttwould seem as though there was enough
already written 10 make mon good and hap.
Ipy, if it would only be read and practccd
upon; yet such is the propensity for the
youth, and children Of larger growth" 10
look aud ask for something new, or rather
old Truth dressed in new words, that men
are encouraged every day to write and
| speak something to-day in different light
from what they did yesterday, yet meaning
! the same thing. The precious truths of the
gospel are from God himself, yet being pre-
scutcd by different mon and at different
times. they appear changeahlc, to those who
are govcrucd more 10y material interest than
religious truth. Men live more, from day
to day, to satisfy love of gain and sclf-n-
| tercst than from q love of God to become
cxpoucnts of his iumutahlc principles ON
earth, and to mankind. Very many will an
swer call or invitation TO attend a place
whore their animal passions could bc salts
fed, yet would shun point where u feast
of reason and flow of soul could bc enjoy
ed. Many persons bearing the forms and
countcnanccs of men, would sacrifice pure
principles to corrupt personal qualification,
40 strong is the natural dcpruvity of the
! human heart. The unconNcrtcd heart fears
to speak out plain upon principle of re-
form and purity, lest he may offend some
particular person or locality, in whose com
pany or upon which he may bc thrown. fear
ing it may not be acceptable to that person
or locality. Did the author of all good ask
Il sin-sick world whether he should send his
save it, before he sent him? Does the true
exponent of truth ask those to whom he of.
fcrs it whether it is acceptable or not before
he oilcrs2 Docs the honest tillcr of the soil
ask the ground he plows, plants and sows
whether it will receive it or not? Nay,
verify; he comes upon il wishing TO
raise II particular kind of grain, and from
the use and knowledge he has of immutable
principles, he consults the nature of the
soil he possesses, and from that applies the
means necessary to mstil the principles he
possesses. If light sandy soil, he applies
surface manure, to get a good crop of wheat;
if clay soil, he subsoils for the same; the
wheat he must have. So it is with God (ol
whom every true man is miniature expo.
ncnt) he requires every man to honor and
glorify him in immutable religious princi.
pies, and uses men for that purpose, and
"movcs in many mysterious ways" to ac.
complish his purpose. Men come upon tho
stage of action, act, speak, think and live
in some principle that they may leave Il
good account of what they possess and en-
joy, and if they fear to acknowledge the
true source of their privileges, which are
from God, through the teachings of Jesus
Christ they are dead while they pretend to
live What signifies wealth and earthly
riches if the posscssor cannot give clcal
account of what he possesses. What sig
nifcs the bread we eat if we cannot breathe
iicaton and circulation through our bodies
What satisfaction is there in learning if We
fail to apply it to a religious use in somC
way? When once the pure light of christi
anity breaks into the soul, all else seems
subscrvicnt to that one thing in this life,
efforts, viz: the diffusion of light, love ani
quiet happiness. 1t is cnly when in con
tact with evil that the true christian he
comes an offensive power, and to the ha,
aud not the good. Men who always live il
sin and unbelicfj are always ready to ,u1g,
others by their own standard of apprecia
ton, failing to see those good qualities il
which they might possess themselves i


they would only reach forth and grasp them
So fearful is the unbolievng heart tina
some of his earthly idols will be wrrmg from
him, that he almost hates the sight of on,
who would be very glad to Impart tn


bread of life, if the other would but receiv


only requires humble submission and Faitl
y believing, to mellow the heart for tru


life on earth, and bright home in heaven


Without faith, what is man? Thro' it mel
engage in the various occupations in life
aud diffuse generous principles to raise NJ
beings of truth and beauty to praise Hin


from whom all blessings flow, and it nigh
be Illustrated in as many different ways a


there are modes of doing the duties of life
,l or acting in the associations among our fe


low men. We believe what is told us cor
cernhlg the manners and customs of mel
and when good is the result we are read


to conform to them in u measure Hence
g; is encouragement for to live and act in lii'


that they may transmit TO others what it ha


pleased God to permit them to enjoy Man


will read in secret and through faith in wha
d they see with their physical eyes, will lear


to see beauties of q heavenly kind by tn


eye of their understanding; realizing til
W TRUTH that the a,c in which they suppl
s. their temporal wants, is but schoolmsste


to lead them up to Christ. O, that som
o that live in doubt, concerning the trutl


might believe and come 10 him that the
Y might lives L' f.
4 Otscgo, November, 1861,


: .-s-----------


g, LITTLE TuINGs.-Ten minutes taken froT
a five hours seems very, very small aifail


and yet for workman to pc behind to
r ,r minutes every fore and afternoon defraud


his amnIover ont of two hours week o