The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware advertiser., 1827-01-18
.TYzE MONITOR.
TIE WAYS OF PROVIDENCE.

The love of life is one of the most useful
and important priucinlcs of human nature;
and death, the necessary end OF all men, is
an event, mercifu!ly and in wisdom hid from
our eyes. Hoping that we may live till to-
morrow, we feel ourselves to day, to make
some provisions for it. Not knowing the
time of their death, men are engaged to.acts
as if they were immortal. And though no
wise man would "wish to live always" or
can deem it possible. yet the precise period
never comes, when we find ourselves SO en-
tirely unoccupied with temporal prospects
or pursuits, 30 totally mortified with the
world as to be disposed with cheerfulness to
leave it.-Hence the business OF the world
goes on, which would otherwise stand still;
and that God of whose years there can be
no end, is carving on designs of everlasting
moment. by frail and short lived instruments.
This man makes few feeble dying efforts,
and expires. Another comes after him,
takes UP the instrument which his fellow
had laid down, makes his stroke or TWO,
and exprca likewise; and yet by means OF
efforts so weak, so interrupted, and sell de-
stroyng, the purposes OF Heaven proceed,
the building Of God rises, every loss is IN
stantly repaired, every defect supplied, nc
chasn, in the chain of Providence is permit
ted to take place. Hence men are disnihed
with the title of fellow workers OF God, and
the perishing attempts OF Pcri'hng crea-
lures, are employed i'll maturing the plans ol
infinite wisdom, and arc honored by the &C
ceptance and appropriation OF linn whe
"worketh all things after the counsel OF his
own wilt" What a motive to diligence,
cxertion and perseverance
1t is said that we may safely leave rcli-
eion to itself; and that the work OF God, II
really his work, will be able to stand OF itself
and can require no human aid 1t would be
sufficient answer to this sophism, that II
would be conclusive against all efforts OF all
sects for the religious instruction and I'M
provcment of the human race, and would
reduce us all, as respects religion to crea-
lures of necessity, for why should there DC
any preacher to teach, if it is to be commu-
| nicated without teaching? But this is not
the principal either of reason or religion
| The manifest reason is, that God always
works by secondary causes, and requires the
best exercise of our rational powers; and oul
means of all kinds, both to receive religious
| instruction for ourselves, and 10 convey 1t &c
others; and that in proportion as NATIONS Of
| individuals possess these means, they are
answerablc to him for the due and right use
of them. There are therefore two main
reasons for religious instruction, the first oul
duty to ourselves, inasmuch as God requires
this duty of us an act of service and homage
to Him, and without any reference 70 tle
certainty of success, and secondly as duty
to our neighhors. We are bound to maks
the attempt however unpromisng as an ac
| of service, and of obedience to God, and we
are bound TO persevere in it, because the
slightest success is a good communicated tt
our neighbor, and reward insured to our
selves infinitely above all the possible cos'
of mere money and personal pains.