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[For the Army and Navy Herald.]
■ Divine Providence, No. 2
( Continued .)
1. ITe propose in this paper to eonsider
God’s control of what are called accidental
causes. There are many opinions about this
view of the subject, but the best and most
learned divines agtee in saying there is no such
thing as accident, properly speaking; they
generally conclude with Mr. Sherlock, that it
is a concurrence of unexpected events, “as
when one man going through a field, by acci
dent loses a purse of gold, and another by as
great an accident finds it.’ And how muen of
the good and evil of life is brought about by
such unexpected events, every one knows, who
has made any observations of liis own and
■pther men’s fortunes. The wise man saw many
Centuries ago that the “race was not to the
swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor yet
riches to men of understanding, nor yet favor
lo men of skill.”—Eccl. ix: ii. “Some un
usual and casual events change the fortunes of
men, and disappoint the most proper and natu
ral means of success.” What is better calcu
lated to win a race than speed, or to gain a
battle than strength? and yet these often tail.
Time au<l chance, some favorable juncture or
unforeseen accident, is more powerful than all
human foresight and skill.
2. “Now what an ill state mankind were in,
did not a wise hand govern what wo call chance
or fortune." llow can God govern the world
or dispose of men's lives without governing
chance ? All unseen, unknown and surprising
events, which disappoint the counsels of the
wise, and in a moment unavoidably change the
whole scene of human aliairs, must be undei
his control, or he could not bring his designs
to pass. Upon what little things do the for
tunes of men, of families, and of whgle nations,
turn? And unless these little unexpected
things are governed by God, some of the great
est changes in the world are exempted from
his care and providence. This is reason enough
to believe, that if God governs the world, he gov
erns chance and fortune; aud that the most
, , , m our
unexpected events, howevm
,, „.,wh and provided tor by Him.
view.
cuch events are the most proper objects of his
care, as they are instruments of providence in
governing the world. Many times such great
things are done by them as to make the most
visible demonstrations of wisdom and goodness.
By these, God rules supremely, “frustrating
the tokens of liars, and making diviners mad ;
turning the wise men backward, and making
tlieir knowledge foolish.”—lsa.-xliv : 25. Did
Providence govern such matters, all things
would soon fall ini* the hands of the swift, the
cunning and the strong; and the churoli, the
poor, and other relieving agencies would soon
be banished from the land. The most power
ful sinners would gloat over this world with no
foreshadowings.of their future, and God’s gov
ernment would be forgotten for want of ex
amples of punishment, and of reward to the
g« <h.
S. That there are many casual events of the
greatest import happening to us all along life’s
pathway, we all know from experience; and
Lhat we cannot foresee and defend ourselves
from them, is equally clear. Now, if we are
left to such casual events, what can we predi
cate of any calculations, human or Divine ? If
God did not control such casual events, prophe
cy would be a failure, aud prayer unavailing.
The law of Moses declares the smiting a man
to be a crime worthy of death, yet, “it a man
lie not in wait, but God deliver him into his
hand, then will 1 appoint thee a place whither
he shall flee.”—Exod. xxi: 12, 13. Here
God is said to deliver the murderer, when
ho did the deed wilfully, into the hands
of the destroyer ; aud to permit him to flee to
a city of refuge when it was accidental, “ as
when an aXe slip from As helve and smite a
man that he die.” Here the most accidental
circumstance is called' God’s delivery of the
man into his hand. Nothing is more casual
than the lot, and yet Solomon says : “ The lot
is cast into the lap, but the whole disposing
thereof is of the Lord.”—Prov. xvi: 33. If
this bo so', there is nothing so casual, or fortui
tous as not to be under the control of the Loi<l.,
4. This whole principle is illustrated by the
lon«- chain of casual and accidental events in
the history of Joseph; from hi.s birth to his
elevation to the throne in Egypt. His father
loved him and treated him with many kind
xicsses—-this inflamed the envy of hi.s brethren—
he dreamed things that indicated his future su
periority over them, and this only aggravated
them the more, until they resolved upon his
death. His father sends hint to look after his
brethren, whose evil reports had reached his
ears; and under the irritation of this proceed
ing they seized the opportunity to slay him,
and would have done so, but one of the num
ber diverted their purpose, and.they then sold
him. Potiphar s wile offflrj'a seduction, which
is resisted—he is thrown into prison—there in
THE ARMY & NAVY. HERALD.
terprets dreams, which results in his elevation
to the throne. All along, the most natural and
casual events and causes are apparent, and yet
God so controlledHhe whole process as to bring
about the grandest result; and that, too, with
out overriding the agency of man in any per
ceptible instance. That God could have raised
him to the throne by other and a shorter pro
cess is not doubted; but this is but one in
stance of his complete control of man in his
wildest designs.
5. lYe are thus brought to the conclusion,
that in all that complex chain of events extend
ing through an hour, or an age ; through indi
vidual life. or all the ramifications of society,
there is a Divine hand maping. shaping, urging,
restraining, punishing and rewarding indi
viduals, families and nations, as the wise ends
of moral government require; and wo iaay
therefrom know whom to fear, trust and obey
at all .times. With an bumble reliance upon
God, a strict obedience t« his will, “all tilings
will work together for our good” “to them
that love God.” Invalid.
[To be Continued .]
In Memory of Hugh J. McNeilly.
Hugh J. McNeilly, son of James McNeilly,
of Dickson county, Tennessee, and a Sergeant
of Cos. “C,” 11th Tennessee Regiment of Vol
unteers, was mortally wounded by a minie ball
at the front of his company, iti the battle near
Atlanta, Ga., on the 22d day of July, 18GL
lie volunteered under Will Green as Captaia,
at the beginning of the war, and was mustered
into the service at Nashville, on the 14th day
of May, 1801. He made a good and faithful
soldier; through the campaign in East Tennes
see and at Cumberland Gup ever ready t» meet
the foe and uo liis duty. lie served unflinch
ingly through the campaign in Kentucky, when
so many of our best soldiers were falling by
the wayside, lie fought bravely through t.he
battles of Murfrecohero’, Chicamauga, Mis
sionary Ridge, and in the Georgia campaign
from Dalton to Atlanta. And in that darkest
hour of our «t.nW®> Wheu our suffering, bare
footed soldiers were at Dalton, when so many
were ready to give up the ship, lie was among
the foremost to re-eulist voluntarily |'or the
war. He was a noble, generous youth ; Jie was
universally beloved, aud is universally lamented
by his companions in arms.
Amid all the temptations of the camp, where
g« many promising youths are ruined, he was
never guilty of anything that, would give kis
pious parents pain. They must deeply deplore
the loss of such a* excellent s#u.
I assisted in bringing him off the battle-field,
and when he saw me, lie clasped me in his
arms, and said, “Captain, I am nearly gone ;
tell my people that 1 died a true soldier at my
post, and in a true and just cause, and that I
will meet my sweet mother in heaven.”
In a few hours, his spirit winged its flight to
eternal bliss, where peace and joy abidetli for
ever.
Thus, in the vernal glow of manhood, when
hope beams as warm and bright as the varied
colored rainbow,
lie went forth to fight for freedom,
With a patriot’s willing hand,
Went to drive the bold usurper
From his Southern land.
But the stealthy viper ,
Stung the red tide of his life,
And he fell a chosen victim,
But a hero iu the strife.
Still his memory lingers with us, ,
Linked to gallant deeds of fame,
And a cortjncl of laurels
Ever will surround his name.
May we all when life is ended
Meet, hint on the spirit shore,
And our hymns be sweetly blended
With our loved ones evermere.
W. 11. McC.,
Cos. “C,” 11th T’cun. Infaatry.
The Roman Sentinel. —When Pompeii was
destroyed, there were very many buried in the
rains of it wiio were afterward found iu very
different situations. There were some found
who were in the streets, as if they hal been
attempting to make their escape. There were
some found in deep vaults, as if they had gone
thither fur security. There were somu found
in lofty chambers : but where did they find the
Roman sentinel ? They found him standing at
the city gale, with his hand still grasping the
war weapon, where he hail been placed by his
captain ; and there, while the heavens threat
ened hint; there, while the earth shook beneath
him ; there, while the lava stream rolled, lie
had stood at his post; and there, after a thou
sand years had passed away, was lie found. So
let Christians learn to stand to their duty, wil
ling to stand to the post at which their Captain
lias placed them, and they will find tlieir duty
will support and sustain them.— Rev. S. Croley.
The Source of Danger.
[Extract from Dr. Minnegerode's Sermon.]
Our reverses f Great as they have been—and
no honest man would hide their extent—we
have hail reverses before, and God always has
blessed them to us, made them the source of
greater harmony among ourselves, roused to
new and greater exertions, and taught us to
bear them and repair them as men. What
makes the present crisis so painful aud so
perilous lies not in what the enemy has done
to us with his armies, but in what, our own cow
ard, faithless, selfish hearts may do. Tlic all
but general despondency, the lack of faith in
ourselves and in God’s assistance, the haste
with whieh, from want of faith, many would
rush to thia or to that expedient, though at the
sacrifice of all that.first armed us to the battle,
some perhaps at the sacrifice of honor and
truth ; the mutual recrimination which charges
our reverses here or there, and with unyielding
prejudice sows discord, when «ur very exist
ence is in danger; the hopelessness of many,
which is ready to give up and sink, into sullen
despair, and withholds the needful help at the
most critical time, and spreads the spirit of dis
satisfaction and despondency, and would not
shrink even from poisoning the minds of those
who are the great bulwark between ourselves
amt destruction; it is this, the fear that we may
not be true to ourselves, because we are falter
ing iu our faith in God, which presents tlie
dangerous aspect of our present crisis.
©hi if we could take with us the lesson of
our text; if we could stop every croaker and
nerve every patriot; if we could allay every
impatience and reuse all to bear what others
have borne before, and drive away tlieir un
manly fears by trust in God; by truly, prayer
fully committing themselves and the country
into Kis hands from whom alone cometh our
help, and urge them on, to do and beak, to
brave their dangers and endure thei", priva
tions, to be true men, and act as such ; the
threatening dangers in God's mercy may be
changed into blessings, and this year witness
the growth of our national strength and our
training for the final victory ! “lie that be
lieveth shall not make haste.” If this senti
ment was realized by all—rulers and people
alike—and followed up a God-fearing spirit,
submitting to His chastisements and learning
the lessons of adversity in patience, and calm,
courageous resolution, in mutual bearing and
forbearing, in that manliness which yields
where the good of the country requires it, and
subordinates self to the high and holy cause in
which we art; engaged, in that devotion which
consecrates all and sacrifices all to the will of
God and the common gpod—if our prayer could
Met this, there would be no cause left for
fear; but from our reverses we would rise in
new strength, arid—against whatever dangers
and by however slow degrees—entsr upon that
course which must bring victory and peace !
It. would give us that true courage which shines
most conspicuously when all looks threatening,
which becomes calm in danger and perseveres
to the last, faithful to principle ; which rests
jmpregnably upon the rock of faith, and there
finds strength to do all things and bear all
things in the discharge of duty.
“ He that believeth shall uot make haste.”
This does not exclude work ; it includes, it.
Haste is not opposed to proper speed, to the
conscientious and judicious use of the proper
means, nor to the faithful discharge es duty.
It, is true “ not hy might, nor by power, but by
my Spirit, saith the Lord;” but this excludes
only a reliance on man—a might and power of
tlieir own, which the faithless in their haste
substitute for that might and power of God’s
Spirit which shall accomplish His work in Ilis
own good time by the legitimate means of man's
activity, and faithful, persevering labor.
Living Past.
This phrase is applied frequently to certain
young men who are following a fashionable
course of life, attended with more or less dissi
pation and extravagance. But with great pro
priety this term may be applied to all those
who are hurrying through life—overworking
the brain and giving but little rest to their body
or minds. Carlyle very truly remarks • that
“ the race of life has become intense ; the run
ners are treading upon each other’s heels ; woe
be to him who stops to tie his shoestrings.”
What a fearful amount of “ wear aud tear” to
the nervous system is there in every department
of life ! What a continual strife is there in every
community for wealth—for distinction and
pleasure! How much disappointment and envy
may be found rankling in the breast of many
persons ! Dr. Arnold of Rugby, used to say
“it is not work that injures a man; it is.vexa
tion that docs it.” It is this “ fast, living” in
our country which produces so many of the ills
I that, flesh is heir to—it. undermines the coustitu
j t.ion—breaks down the nervous'system—produ
ces premature old age and shortens life.
[For the Army and Navy Herald.]
Saturday Evening.
The week lias closed, and now a silence reignS,
And casts o’er all her curtain of repose;
Quick, wakeful mem’ry starts, and looking back,
Asks for the moments which have flitted by ;
Where are the deeds which 1 this week have
done ?
Where are the moments which were'idly spent?
Both, both have gone with things bey end the
flood, *
And on the pages of eternity
Have left for me their image firm impressed.
Where are the words which oft the spirit stirr’d
And o’er the harp of life their echo flung?
Say; dees that harp now want a golden string
Which I have snapped, with angry words and
harsh ?
The words are gone too far to be recall’d;
But on the tablets of the liquid air
They stand impress’d; and there will overstay
’Till the Arehangel trump shall bid them ope*
And tell to mortal men their final doom.
Where are the days? It scarcely seems as if
’Twere yester morn when first the week began ;
They all are gone : —swift as the arrow flies
Toward its destined mark—so swift they go.
I hear a sound ! “tis but the Chick -o’-will,
Which, while the other birds have gone to rest,
l’ours forth.its music to the silent night.
I love thy song, sweet bird ! I love to hear
Those wildly lonesome notes which echo finds
In my own lonesome heart.
I've heard it said,
“ Tli at music’s wasted cm the mid: light air;”
But, oh ! ’tis sweet, at this lone hour to feel
That others, to*, their lonely vigils keep ;
That there are songsters, in the wild, wild wood
With midnight tones responsive to mine own:
I like lone bird to'hear thy plaintive strains
That slowly echo through tiie silent wood,
And bid the deathless soul for change prepare
F. C— .
Cotton Hill, Georgia.
♦This is a very modern theory, which has not found
many supporters, perhaps because so'new.
[From the Soldier’s Paper.]
TLe Time is Short,
BY M. F. C.
. ( Swiftly steal away the golden sands of time..
However dull and monotonous a. life may be,
yet, when the time is gone, and its moments
are clothed with the wrapping of the past, it
appears sh*rt ifldeed. Trouble and anxiety
may make time appear to drag lengthily ; but,
otherwise, when compared with the eternal
future, and considered in connection with the
preparations to be made for eternity, it glides
all too speedily away. Everything around us
warns us of the brevity of time. See with
.what speed the seasons whirl around. The
bright New Year is ushered in with joyous fes
tivities; ws gather round the social fireside,,
or brave the wintry storms awhile, and ilien
the bright sunshine of Spring comes to clothe
nature in loveliness. Ere iong the ripening
grain and fruit tell us it is midsummer, and
then soon come the dreamy autumn days, the
storing away of products, the chill winds—and
the year lies down to be trodden beneath the
heel ot its successor. Thus, year after year
rolls onward, and yet we heed not their rapid
flight. Friend alter friend drops into the tomb,
warning us that the time is short to prepare our
souls for that tribunal to which ice may be sum
moned next. In view of this, how diligent
should we be in its improvement, and in doing
good while its precious moments are given us;
for “the night, cometh in which no man can
work,” and no returning ray of morning ends
that deeply dark-night.
Yes, Christian, “the time is short!” Oh!
spend net, its golden hours in frivolty, for each
one bears a record to eternity which will ouo
day justify or condemn you. All around you is
work to be done—wbrk for your Master, and but
ashortspace between you and the grave in which
to accomplish it. If you are tried and troubled,
remember that it, cannot last long, but ail these
are “ but for a moment,” compared w/fli the
eternal glory hereafter. The wintry blasts of
this life will soon be over, and your Redeemer
will then summon you to enjoy the everlasting
sunshine above.
Sinner, “the time is short,” therefore hasten
to prepare tor eternity, ere with terror you
hear .the declaration that “time shall be no
more.” Flatter not yourself with the delusion,
“There’s time enough yet,,” for the present
only is yours, and there is little enough time
to do the work before you. Let not another
hour bear an accusation to lengthen the list re
corded against you upon Heaven’s register, but
accept now the reprieve which, through that
canceling blood, is so freely offered you.
Time past is gone, thou canst not, it recall;
Time present is, improve the portion small;
Time future is not, and may never be;
Time present is the only time for tliee.
