Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1825-05-24

tanned no evidence Of their dereliction
from thakpath OF pleasant and reasona-
be duty which the finger of the Almigh-
ty has delineated. Alas the hrst Of oui
race fell from his high esiate--and
whelmed his whole poslerity in run. 1t
is not, that we are punished Tor his trans
erosion; the innoceD for The guilty. !,
is that, his nature became corrupt, and
his children mheri, his corrupt nature
and II Is because We universally repeat
the dsobedience, and become, in our
own persons obnoxious TO the same tire
mendous penalty. This is a truth which
the daily experience OF men declares.
Il any one look back upon his life
let him scrulinlze his actions, and their
motives; lie, him impartially examine
The secret recesses of his heart; and
compare the result with that transcript
Of the Divine will which is given in the
Bible. VIA, is the conclusion Is he
not convinced That the word of God has
given ataiihful-though trie .fui---pic,
ture OF human deprayity! And can he
find in all the learning Of ancient and mo-
dern days, page--or sentence, indie.
pendent of the sacred volume, which
pour,rays in such true colors The state
oil his heart and tenor Of his life; or so
nationally accounts for his departure
from reclitude Not one. And shall not
that Book be widely spread which shews
such evidence OF having emanated from
he Fountain of Truth?
But the Bible leaves US not in this
awful state OF hopeless misery |, is not
only declaration of the Divine will, a
faithful narrative OF mans djsobedence,
and revelation ofthe righteous indig
nation Of God" against The disobedent
/ is a message of Grace--an offer OF
surprising deliverance 10 guilty, con-
demned, CENTRALIZED man.
Go TO the wise men OF the earth--bid
them trim their midnight lamps--search
the volumes OF philosophic learning
extr their utmost ngenuiy---and stretch
every power OF their boosted reason.
Can they discover mode by which a
guilty rebel may obtain The favor Of a
hoiy "a just God? Can they point the
means OF restoring fallen and depraved
nature to its pristine purify? Can they
shew the way in, which a corrupt hearl
may be puriled--vicious affections re
clailned and properly directed ?-Oh
no.--They may peer through the won.
| ders of creation--observe the harmony
OF the spheres examine The properties
j oiVereiablo and animal llfe--and explain
with incest precision the laws OF matter
hey may even scan The human nibd-
trace Il through its devious wanderings.
and by the ald--ihe uDacknow ledgee
aid oil revelalion--ascertsin, in many in.
stances, The hidden motives OF human
action. But their wisest lessons, their
prooundest specnlations, leave poor,
sinful, and bewildered man without q
ray, TO guide him into safety. Away
then with the spiendid philosophy OF a
scep'lca world, that, like a costly dia-
mond TO the furnishing pilgrim Of the de-
sert, daz2les with ito brilliancy--and
leaves him to perish for want.
But here, in this blessed volume, is
unIoded the knowledge of things far
above the powers Of unaIded reason.
Here lie aud immortality are brought to
light. Here the poor, trembling sinner
IS Told Of pardon; the wandering outcasl
oil acceptance In the Bible is revealed
way IN which God can be just, and ye,
Justify the sinner in his belief and accep-
lance of The gracious terms
What a subject for contemplation !.
Point me 10 a book in all the world,
though the aggregated wisdom of sages
and academies may shine Oh its pages,
which affords so noble--so intensely in
,erestng, theme FOR the employment
u our rational powers.-The mind
| he heart OF men is laid open: its inmost
/ worklngs--lhe springs OF action-,he
very source of all the strtes and conflicts
Of men and na,ions-exposed to view.
Here, too, are deinealcd the grand cha
ractcristcs of the Mos, High. While
the learning and wisdom OF the ancient
philosophers were insufficient to detect
the errors OF their superstition, although
50 gross as 10 appear monsroUs and alb
surd TO US. we find in the Bible, the at.
tributes Of Jehovah, marked by his own
hand and shining in all The ineHable glo
ry of infinite Wisdom, Power, Holiness,
Truth, Justice, and Mercy!
Mercy-delig htful thought 1t raises
man from he depth oil despair to the su-