Newspaper Page Text
8,1849.]
Religious.
[From the Monthly Miscellany .]
THE DOCTRINE OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE VIEW.)
ED IN CONNECTION WITH THE DUTY OF
RESIGNATION.
No temper of mind serves more to distinguish or to adorn 1
the Christian character than resignation to the will of God.
It is love to God, and confidence in his wisdom and goodness,:
exercised amidst trials and afflictions. Love and confidence
may dwell in hearts that have never experienced sorrow;!
but they do not constitute resignation. Afflictions give to
these graces a brilliance and perfection which they do not
otherwise attain. They purify our faith, as the lurnace puri
fies gold; and they prepare us for a higher degree of glory.
Even the Captain of our salvation was made perfect through
suffering.
Heaven furnishes examples of doing the will of God; but
of suffering his will, the only examples for our imitation arel
furnished by the present world. In this short life, our pa
tience must have its perfect work. The earth is the theatrej
which God has chosen for the display of his glory, by means’
of the cross of Christ; and it is the place where he polishes
those jewels that he will gather in the great day, and fix in J
his court above to shine through eternal ages. On earth, for;
the joy that was set before him, Christ endured the cross;
and on earth the disciples of Christ must suffer all those af
flictions which are to work for them a far more exceeding
and eternal weight of glory. The present life is the seed
time, in which they arc to sow in tears, for the glorious har
vest that they are to reap hereafter.
A belief in the doctrine of Divine Providence is necessary
to the exercise of resignation. It is impossible to be resigned
to the will of God, unless we believe that the events to which
we are resigned have happened according to his will. If the
God in whose existence we believe, and to’ whom we as
cribe the attributes of wisdom and goodness, is conceived by
us to dwell afaroffin his own glory and bliss, amrto have noj!
concern in the affairs of mortals; we may admire iiis gran!
deur, and may even love and adore: but we are nevertheless
living without God in the world. Far otherwise is it with
him who believes that all events are under the immediate :
direction of the God whom he worships and loves. He .sees i
God in every thing. It is God who brings forth the sun from
the eastern sky, to give him the light of the morning. The j
comforts and blessings of the day all come to him from the |
hand of God. God gives him food, clothing, health, friends,
home, and every thing that his heart liolds dear. At every
turning point through all the business of the day, he meets
with God. When the shades of evening surround him, and
he retires from the bustle of life, he is still with God. And j
when he closes eyes in sleep, he lays his head on the
“Bosom cf Divine providence, and feels that the angel of God
keeps watch around his bed. This man walks with God :
and however he may be employed, and with what agents so
ever he may transact his business, he ever feels that it is
God with whom he has to do. Accustomed thus to recognize;
the hand of God in every thing; when affliction conies, he,
with happy confidence, resigns himself to it, as the appoint
ment of his heavenly Father, too wise to be mistaken, and too
good to be unkind.
The Lord does according to his pleasure, in the aimicsof
heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth. If the re
volt of this world from its allegiance to him had excluded it
from his Providence, there would be no place in the universe’
for resignation. Heaven has not the suffering, and hell has
not the love, which are necessary to its exercise; and, in
the case supposed, this world would not have the Providence
to which resignation bows. Hut Providence has not aban
doned the world which grace has chosen for its most illus
trious display. The armies of heaven wait to receive the,
commands of their King, and with prompt and unvarying
obedience, execute his will. On earth notwithstanding the
opposition of men and devils, he executes his will with equal
precision and certainty, and none can stay his hand, iiis
counsel stands and lie docs all his pleasure. When Satan,
opposes, he says, thus far shaltthou come and no further.—
When wicked men rage, he causes the wrath of man to
praise him, and the remainder of the wrath he restrains. —
Amidst the commotions of the world, the tumult of nations,!
and tiie machinations of iiis enemies, he carries on his un
disturbed affairs, and conducts all his plans to a successful)
issue. In scenes which fill men’s hearts with terror, the!
humble believer can look with calmness and confidence to ,
him that sits upon the throne and guides the affairs of the 1
universe ; and iiis heart knows no fear. In such scenes he
can sing, God is our refuge and strength, a very present
help in trcui.de ; therefore, will not we fear, though the earth]
be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the]
midst of the sea.*
Resignation requires a belief in Particular Providence.
To excite gratitude, a belict in General Providence may be
sufficient. Throughout nature, wherever we turn our eyes,
we beheld proofs of beneficial contrivance. The parts of the
human body are so contrived, as to be subservient to life and its
enjoyments. The revolution of the seasons brings seed-time
and harvest, and the blessings which follow in their train.
In human society, it is so ordered, that industry, prudence,
and virtue are rewarded with plenty, peace, and prosperity.
These are some ot the general plans of Providence, which
sufficient to awaken our gratitude. But these general
plans appear sometimes to cross each other, and to fail of ac
complishing the good which they were designed to produce.
The eye which was formed for vision, becomes diseased, and
turns away with pain from beholding the light. The teeth
which were formed to masticate our food, give us so much
torture, that life becomes a burden. Harvest time arrives,
and the waving grain invites the reaper’s sickle j but a hur-
ricane passes over, and desolates the field. Untoward events
rob industry of its reward, overwhelm the prudent in calam
ity, and bring hatred and persecution on the virtuous. It is
in these cases, that resignation comes to our relief, leaning on
Particular Providence. While the sparrow world build their
nests, feed their young, and chirp their cheerful notes from
bough to bough ; the eye of gratitude beholds the scene with
‘delight, and sees the hand of General Providence open and:
supplying the wants of every living thing. But it is the casej
of’ the falling sparrow, that resignation contemplates ; and
when a feeble nestling drops to the ground, and perishes, she
recognizes in the mishap, the hand of particular Providence,
measuring out afflictions to sparrows, and also to men, who
are of more value than many sparrows. Is there some ma
lignant demon who frustrates the plans of the benevolent
points the Author of good i Ifit wereso, we might be thank
ful for the good which we receive; but our resignation, in
stead of being directed with humble piety to God, would
have this hated and dreaded demon for its object. Revela
tion teaches that prosperity and adversity come alike from
jGod; that he manages equally the exception and the rule, 1
the particular event and the general plan ; that lie perfectly!
controls all the agencies throughout his universal dominion,]
and works all tilings according to the counsel of his will.—
The voice of Christian resignation, in harmony with the,
voice of inspiration, inquires; Shall we receive good at the!
hand of God, and shall we not also receive evil ? Though
hosts of ills may threaten, no dart can strike without our
Heavenly Father’s permission, for he numbers and guards
even tlie hairs of our head.
“Ye winds of night, your force combine;
Without liis high behest,
Ye cannot, in the mountain pine,
Disturb the sparrow’s nest.”
How to control moral agents, without destroying or im- i
I pairing their moral freedom and accountability, is a problem
| which it requires the highest w/sdoin to solve. Earthly
governors fail of success in this matter ; but the governor
(of the universe does liis pleasure among the inhabitants of:
the earth, and the moral agents he employs act as freely,!
and in as perfect accordance with their moral nature, as if
.lie had neither purpose nor plan to accomplish, by their
(means. How this is done, it is not needful for us to know.
)If God designed to make us the governors of the universe,
j and were training us to occupy his throne at some time
iwlien he should vacate it, lie would doubtless initiate us into
‘the secrets of iiis administration. But lie does not design to
| burden us with suclt responsibility, and therefore has given
us no account of this matter. Such knowledge is too high
jfor us ; we cannot attain to it. Gould we possess it, it would
jdo us injury. To unfold to our view the glorious plans of in
finite wisdom, would dazzle and blind us. Moreover, to
j walk by sight and not by faith, is altogether unsuitable to
the relations which wc sustain, and the duties which we are
!required to perform. Had Abraham, when ascending the
I, mountain on which his son was to be sacrificed, understood j
iiis own prediction, that God would provide a lamb for a’
burnt offering; had he forseen the interposition of the angel
jat the critical moment, and the ram caught in the thicket by
jthe horns: there would have been an end to the trial of his
faith. Tiie illustrious example of liis obedience would have
been lost to future ages, and tiie plan of divine wisdom would
have been frustrated. It is the glory of God to conceal a
thing; and it is in mercy to us, tliat he withholds from us
( knowledge which it is better that we should not possess.—’
.Christian resignation implies an acquiescence in the wisdom
of divine Providence. Though his way be in tiie sea, and
.iiis paths in the great waters; it requires that we trust him.
where we cannot truce him. The mode of his government
we cannot understand. We know that he works all things
.iaccording to the counsel of his will; because he has told]
us so. We know also that we are moral beings, accountable:
to him for our conduct; free agents, to whom pruisc and
blame may be justly attributed. Tiie consciousness which
lie has implanted within us testifies this; and tiie whole ten-]
jor of revelation confirms its testimony. Let us believe thesej
truths; and, if we are unable to demonstrate their consis
tency with each other, let us leave God to be iiis own inter
preter. The whole difficulty arises f'romour not undemand
ing liis mode of conducting the affairs of his Providence :|
and if, because we cannot explain tiie harmony of these truths
we deny either of them, whether in word or in deed, wc are
guilty before God.
j An impressive lesson on the doctrine of Providence, and,
the duty of resignation, was taught in an early age of the
1 world, by the afflictions of the patriarch Job. This lesson!
was recorded by tiie pen of inspiration, and transmitted to the:
i generations following, that men might consider the patience
of Job, and the end of the Lord, that is, the issue to which
i 1 lie conducted the trial of his servant. The agents in the tri
bal were Sutan, the wind and lightning, the Chaldeans and:
I'Sabeans: yet the pious patriarch ascribed liis lossess and]
sufferings to God, when bowing beneath the heavy stroke hel
’ exclaimed, the Lord gave and the Lord hachtaken awuy; bJes -;
jied be the name of the Lord. We learn from this example,!
{that the Lord acts not only by tiie elements of’ nature, as;
’ when he makes the winds his messengers, and lightnings’
| his ministers; but also by moral and accountable agents, j
even wicked men and devils. These last act according to]
jjtheir pleasure, and the guilt of their conduct is in no sense
‘chargeable on God : fir it is expressly said that in all this
Job did not charge God foolishly.
Another instructive lesson on Divine Providence, is given
in the history of Jacob’s sons. The brethren ot Joseph medi
tated his death, but God divided their counsels, and so con
trolled the event, that he was carried down into Egypt, and
raised to the second place of power in that ancient kingdom.’
They were verily guilty in this thing, and were afterwards
{made to feel the remorse which follows guilty deeds : but Jo
seph, as an interpreter of Divine Providence, pointed to the
overruling hand of God which had bronght him into Egypt,
With a wise and gracious design. ’Twas not you, but God
j which broght me hither, to preserve life.
P'or a perfect exampleof resignation to the divine will, we
must look to the garden of Gethsemane. It was the hour
when the power of darkness prevailed, and the soul of the
immaculate Jesus was sorrowful even unto death. Prostrate
on the ground, in intense agony, he thrice prayed to his
Father, If it be possible let this cup pass from me: never
theless, not my will, but thine be done. Satan and Judas,
priests and scribes, Ilerod and Pilate, Jew and Gentile sin
ners, were agents in mixing his cup of suffering ; but he
received it as from liis Father. liis resigned spirit saw the
will of his Father as fully manifested in the event, as ifagents
had been employed on whom no guilt could be charged. —
On nnothcr occasion ne said, the son of man goetli as it is
{written of him, but wo to that man by whom he is betrayed.
In this declaration, wc arc taught tiie criminality of Judas,
{which was not in tiie least degree mitigated by tiie glorious
result that God, educing good out of evil, brought forth from
iiis treachery. On the other hand, if we would imitate the
{sublime and perfect example of resignation which Gethsem
ane exhibits, we must believe that events which are brought
about, under Divine Providence, by the most criminal agents,
are no less the fulfillment of God’s will, than if they proceed
ed immediately from his hand.
MECHANICAL WORSHIP.
Anew invention, it is said, has been patented in England
for making mathematical computations by machinery. It
is said to produce unerring results, and to be extremely use
ful totlioso who make long and elaborate calculations.
! Without the precision of a formal announcement, and with
out, indeed, any positive date ns to the discovery, there has
long been among Christians, a similar convenient apparatus
—useful to those who have to make “elaborate calculations.”
| The problems most usually offered for solution in religion,
by mcchnnicl calculation, are such as the following: i o de-
Itermine how far a form of godliness may bo made to answer
for the spirit thereof; To reconcile the service of God and
Mammon, which in religion is as hopeless, and yet as earn
estly sought for as the squaring of the circle in science; To
love, or seem to love, the house where prayer is offered, while
envy and strife still remain in the heart; and, To make the
routine of Sunday duties serve for all the rest of the week,
as a clock is wound up one day in seven, and the care of it
forgotten all the rest of the time. Such are some of the pro
blems, which many people fancy they have determind by
casuistical machinery, though there are many others which
are submitted to the same ingenious process.
Unfortunately for the mathematical contrivance, it does
not always answer ; and still more unfortunately for tiie re
ligious machinery, it never does. Those therefore, who do
not find in the offices of religion, and in the duties of prayer,
the stay and solace which is promised in the service of liea
en, will do well to examine themselves, and see if they have
[not been deluded into the employment of machinery, where
heart and head should be enlisted. Let them see, though
!they read a daily Scripture portion, if that reading is not
‘merely mechanical task-work, the performance of a task, in
stead of the pursuit of a holy delight. Let them weigh their
prayers and confessions, and discover ii they have not been
drawing nigh to God with their lips, while their hearts are
far from him. Lot them canvass the motives which lead
them to thepublic services, whether they be led to church
by the love of God and of his house, or whether it is to pre
serve the appearance of decency before men, and to be seen
of others.
The Father seoketh sucli to worship him ns worship in
spirit and in truth ; and of such only will he he found.—
Those, therefore, who, to their pain, discover that their devo
tions arc faint and spiritless; that the temptations of tho
world are too powerful for their good resolutions, and that
they have lost the comfort they once enjoyed in spiritual
things, must examine and sec if they Imve not been endea
voring to reconcile someone or more of the impossibilities,
‘to which we have alluded, by a mechanichl calculation.—
I They must ask their own hearts, if they are not striving rnth
]cr to discover what duties they can safely neglect —how
treacherous a search ! —rather than laboring to love the Lord
with all their heart, with all their soul, and with all their mind.
In such a zealous service alone can that pence be found
J which the world cannot give ; Thus may temptation bo avoid
jed or disarmed, and thus without “calculation,” but with
sure confidence shall the end bo reached which is promised
to the faithful. — Efts. llec.
j Little Graves. —Sacred places for pure thoughts and holy
meditations are the little graves in the churchyard. They
are the depositories of the mother’s sweetest joys—half un
folded buds of inuocensc, humanity nipt by the first frost of
time, ere yet a single cankerworm of pollution had nestled
among its embryo petals. Calous, indeed, must be tho
heart of him who can stand by a little grave-side and not
have the holiest emotions of his soul awakened to the thoughts
i of that purity and joy which belong alone to God and Heaven;
far the mute preacher at his feet tells him of life begun and
ii life ended, without a stain; and surely if this be vouchsafed
to mortality; how much purer and holier must be tho
j spiritual land, enlightened by the sun of Infinite Goodness,
whence emanated the soul of tiiat brief young sojourner
amongst us! How swells the heart of the parent, with
!mournful joy, while standing upon the cold earth bed of lost
.little ones ! Mournful, because a sweet treasure is taken
‘away—joyful, because that precious jewel glitters in the
diadem of the Redeemer.
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