Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1817-01-23
Reflections upon the WORKS Of 6os, a
Displayed in Nature.
BLESSINGS GRANTED Us II
WINTER,

6LESSINu6 VIZ
WINTER,
C Tn, more we search into the works
| Af nature during this season OF the yea,
|! III. greater cause shall We have to admire
1.-The wisdom Of their Create and to re.
Iio;ce in his goodness. During the bud.
Fling sprin. the ripenins summer, . the
lIuxuriaut autumn, when nature, fr"m the
most simple, assumes her saye,t y mo:
IsrI.ndid robes. hardened and es'ieus IN
seed must be that heart which does not
| n tb With pleasure and beat With gati-
| tude, Tor such choice gilt, But when
The nerth wind blows. when q biting iro''
lsnffens The face Of the earth, when the
Fields, stripped Of 'heir fruits, and divesr.
ed Of. all their charms. present one wild
desc atins view. then it is that men Of the
greatest ssnsiAility will some times forge,
to be grateful. Bur is il true that the
earth At this seassn is so utterly destitute
OF the blessing. Of hear en-. that It posses
ses nethinx that can excite the emotions
of gratitude and # piety in the heart OF
man : investigate with more attention tae
work. " nature, and you will never lind
occasion T. arraign the wisdom OF -ind.
Consider. how miserable yoa would be,
lif during this extreme cold, y"u had nei,
Their 6rs. bed. nor clothing to keep YOU
warm See with what goodness the Lord
has forcseen your wa1ts. aud furnished
YOU even in this season the most destitute
Vt resources, with the neeessaries and
comforts Of lie perhaps. at this moment.
YEA feel tho sweet influence OF the hre |;
will YOU not magnify the Lord Who has
provided fuel IN ,uch abundance that c,
ven the most INDECENT can procure what
i, nec.aaryi you can lie down in a con-.
forrsble bed . blessing which ever,
evening ought 10 excite your .r,titad' to
God especially ifrnu consider Tat there
may be many. ho.hroush sxtreu.e want
are not supplied With nueh q safeguard
from the cnld. You have c'o:hi"g 10
.ueh ahunda ,ce. a. enables you to brave
The tiscrs OF wiuter il ven do not con-
slider this blessing, thi:.k on the state Of
maav Of your lelisw creatures, whose
chilled in,bs are but half covered with
raS. Htbey had but the half 81 your
euthing. how Happy would they etes"'
K will yos not acknowledge
sur happy lot will you refuse t. ren.
der homage to your benr6cent Greater:
hut hi, is not all. Though you Cannon
I've ;etrate through the veil which over.
shadows the creation, and though tie
great fi'.t'cau.e Of all thing be hidden
from your view. rest as.ured that nothing
Is created in vain. and that the Divine 60.
cernment is Infinitely wise and bench.
cent. Winter belong. Z. tie plan which
re has laid, if this season did not exist.
spring and summer wouIh not have so
many charms, the fertility Of ou' land
would be greatly diminished, commerce
would fail in many provinces. and q part
Of the woods and forests would have been
created to no purpose. Considered in this
point Of view, winter is without doubt
very useful and supposins that these
blessings were not 80 evident II "our
BE- sufficient to consider that winter Is
tie work Of the Creator Is veil as sPringl
and autumn and tina, whatever proceeds
from him must be good.
Supreme feiBg. powerful and bene.
6cent Creator, pardon Ne, IL through ig.
nerance we have found fau!t wi,hthe plan
which thy wisdom has formed. pardon
he ingratituIe OF which We have So Of.
ten been guilty during this season! yes,
even in winter thnu grantest US more
blessing than wcdeserve. aud more than
we can express. II to tina present time.
we have siewed them with an iudiifs. L.
en-, eye. five understand their worth 3
gran; that we may for at least for the
time to come, be more attentive to. and
more sensible Of them henceforward ds.
ring ibis cold season, when We feel the
sweet iaaneuce OF tn. fire, when cover.
cd With warm garments or when we goI
TO our couch to seek the refreshment Of
Of warm,hani repose thou shalt receive
our thankssivinss, o thou Prsserver of
ou' lie for the blessings which thy ibe.
ralhand dispensss to US during the cours
Of THIS season.