Rensselaer Union, Volume 3, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 August 1871 — Will. [ARTICLE]

Will.

It has been said tout a man can do anything he resolves to do; this must, however, be taken wilh the limitation that he shall resolve to do only things that are possiblo. To resolve that he will climb to the moon, will certainly never take him to that interesting satellite; and to resolve that he will grow to be eleven feet high will not carry his scalp to that altitude above his stockings. Still, the saying i 3 a deserved tribute to the will, as a force; for will is a force, and a tremendous one, at that, sometimes. It can not be seen, heard, nor handled; it is invisible, intangible, aDd inaudible, but, yet it is a power, because it and accomplishes great things through them. There are two kinds of will power —the aggressive and the passive. The former generally takes the form of what we call enterprise; it attempts and achieves new things; it dares to invade Helds hitherto unexplored, or to essay ot>j< cts that appear impossible of execution, and show to the world how mue.h can be done with little means. This kind of will makesmen great; it is the chief element in the constitution of such persons as Napoleon, I’te-iar and Cromwell. But the passive will power is an article much more needed by the common run of men, in these days of imi tation, when every one tends to” follow the example of the mass and to do as oth< rs do, whether it be right or The aggressive will acts on others and subdu< s them to its authority ; the pas.-ive will acts on its owner and subduea him It is a power of resistance, and is of infinite value in keeping us anchored steadfast to principle, when we are in danger of being s *cpt away by the tide of temptations around us. We sea the full beauty and glory of a strong will when it is exerted to control self. Too often it is the main object of a powerful mind to govern others, to assert pre-eminence, to face opposition, and to shape destiny. But the grand sphere of the will is the government of our own passions, desires and emotions To control and direct these aright, needs all the moral energy and force that can be exerted. Power oyer self, to withstand temptation, to meet difficulty, to endure hardship, to make sacrifices—this alone cau give the miud a reSolute determination to duty, and can form the basis of a good and virtuous character, W<- are all, and at all tirties. yielding to something; we are ever giving up one thing to another, sub mitting either hyaomething iu o selves, or to outside influences But the difference between men is, th t some are weakly yielding up their better natures to what is low, sensual .and degrading, while others bow only to the highest, resolutely^keeping under a wise control Iheir appetites, desires and inclinations. He who possesses this attribute may be safe in tho midst of moral perils wherever he wills to be safe; he has only to will that he will not yield to temptation, and the victory is won. Those feeble will-less, persons, who wish to do right, but are constantly yi- lding to the temptation to do wrotag, are to be pitied; they are like chips in a stream, that halt and whirl round in the eddy of good resolution, for a time, to go on, and down with the stream at last. They are not very evil at heart; but they are weak—mere creatures of circumstances; having no will power of their own, to save them from the influ ences that push against them. Young peo pie are assailed by temptations at almost every- step they take, and they need a stern, resolute will to oppose them. Youth, joy, society, desire, beauty, all com bine to entice t hem out of the hard road of virtue, and uol ss they acquire the habit of resisting them, they are in danger ol being drawn irretrievably out of their bearings. Let no one imagine that he can not contract this habit; some have a gtrong will, from their birth, but others may cultivate it by careful practice, and, when once acquired, i'. will repay all it has cost. But a beginning must lie made in youth. Wrestle with small temptations, at first, and overcome them; the victory will inspire confidence, and each new triumph will strengthen the soul for mor tal wrestle with the greater dangers that all are called to meet sometime in life.— Exchange.