Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1817-11-06
From the Ftdtra, 2si4:Jic2n

From the FtdrrG 2e;%Jic2n.
III the conImotions that hare taken
place IN the world, We arc but too Il.
allie to believe that all these mighty
changes arc fHr the accomplishment
of human views, ard for human ~.
grandiscmcnt. Bonapartc, for in.
stance, " hen Europe was PROSTATE At
his feet, thought himsclf The founder
of a new dynasty. and all the ci,.-
sion of human blood occasioncd by
his elevation. he deemed Was poured
forth for his sole and exclusive bcnc.
fit. At such seasons HAN is prone %
forget that he is bat an humble agrnt
in the hand of the Almighty-that he
| is but accomplishing the purposes Of
God, and fulfilling the prophecies
contained in tue holy scriptures
Bat it is to lie remembered that every
individual of the human race, whether
civilized OF savage. whether learned
or unlearned, whether bond or free,
whether 'monarch or subject, whether
christian or inEdcl. is but an instru-
mcut in the hand of his CrcatOr-!lc IS
hut acting his part, and GnconsrioaG.
ly carrying on the purposes Of his ex-
| istcnce-Frce agency is as much an
instrument in The hand of the Del.
~, as Predestination. Nolta;re was
a free agent, and all his cxer,ioas
were directed to the eA'irpation of The
christian rcl;gidn- he left 10 means
unattcmpted-no experiment untried
TO effect what he deemed the purpose
Of his existence. Yet, this nan,
50 employed, cont ibutcd more to the
propagation of The Gospel truth, than
any other individual Of bis day. He
disseminated amongst the lover I'M
informed orders OF the people, little
tracts of infdeIity, by which the faith
Of thousands was shaken, and no
fondly believed that his object was
accomplished. But what was the re-
sui. of this ingenious article: Chris
tianiSy took alarm at these daring in
roads, and exercised tic same means
for the PRONUNCIATION Of gospel truths,
and the consequence has been, that
amongst nations who never before be-
held the light of the gospel--Nho sac
in the darkness OF idolatry-a s'o-
rioHs Illumination has been spread a.
broad. The Ethiopian and the Hut
tentot have both bowed their knees at
the foot OF our redccmer. II VoI,airo
could J. ,.Y arise from the dead, what
would he think at bcbolding the play
of tic formidable engine that be him
self had invcntcd-to behold his IA
vourite infdelity expiring under the
blow of weapons; what would he say
if he was told that he was himself
the unconscious Instrument 0fbriug-
ing about change 50 mighty? Yet
tliscXample, astonishing as il il, is on
" one amongst thousand where tho
hand of idence is distinctly seen,
in the government Of the Universe,
rcgu'a ting all the actions Of man. for
the accomplishment of his own prrpO-
scs. We arc in every sense of tao
word, but instruments in the hand
| OF God even when the infdel exuIts
! in the success of his projects for tho
abolition of Christianity, he is but
bringing about a different order Of
things; he is but adding bis seal To-
tic truth of divine prophecies. What
a proof of experimenting Provi-
dence does this fact present to the
view. IF we consult the pages Of his
tory, or if we cast orr eyes on the e.
vents of the present day-;if we look
to the right band or to the left, We
can but be convinced of the truth OF
these remarks.