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Cherokee Phoenix
and Indian Advocate
vol. 1, no. 52
March 11, 1829
p. 3
FOR THE CHEROKEE PHOENIX.
MR. EDITOR -- In the 29th number of the Phoenix, under the title, 'True
glory," I observed a relation of an interview that took place between Ignatius
and Havier. The argements urged by the former to induce the latter to
exert his powers in objects more rational and lasting, than the vain and empty
things of time, I conceive to be very strong. And the sequel of Havier's
history shews how fully he became convinced of the force and reality of the
subject.
And really, Mr. Editor, if we pay that attention to the subject, which
its merit demands, we shall irresistibly come to the same conclusion.
We are born to die. The christian religion is undeniable. If we
have no hope of a blessed immortaility, we ought not to postpone repentance:
if we have, it is the part of wisdom to devote the best and noblest powers of
our souls to the best of causes, the eternal well being of our fellow men.
Many of the youth of our country, like Havier, exhibit marks of strong judgement
and vigorous intellect. That it becomes them to aspire after the best
and the greatest ends, they will readily admit. That aside from the glory
of God and the duties we owe to Him, all else is vanity and vexation of spirit,
they cannot deny: nay, they are sensible of the instability of all human
affairs. "For the fashion of the world passeth away," and all its beauty
and splender leave but an aching void. "Verily every man living is altogether
vanity; for man walketh in a vain show." "He heapeth up riches and can
not tell who shall gather them." What will it avail to have governed provices
and nations to have commanded victorious armies, and to have rolled in all the
wealth, which the east and west can give, in the great day of final accounts?
Our actions, then, should have a wise reference to eternity. We
should fulfil the great end of our existence, by devoting ourselves, our talents
and our all, to God. This true and unfading glory. I have only to
add, that Havier did well; may the youth of our country "to and do likewise."
A CHEROKEE FARMER
Willistown, Feb. 23, 1829.