The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1838-01-17

US, cannot but ech" and prolong the an-
gels anthem, glory to God in the high
est-and, on earth, peace good will toward
men,"
1t is upon these words, and the Thoughts
which they inspire, that the occasion invites,
nay importunes us to dwell. And il would
seem like resisting the Spirit Of God no, to
make these words the subject and the guide
Of our present meditation. From generation
to generation they have been sounding on in
the world to-day, they are chan,ed by
thousands Of thankful hearts: but, amidst
the unnumbered multitudes who repeat
them, may it not be presumed there
are many, very many who entertain but
a dim and imperfect conception of all
the great and glorious truth to which
their lips give utterance 1t was no un-
meaning rhapsody, that song of the an
gels; and. happy for us, if, while its melody
touches and charms our ears, our souls
drink of the fulness of its spirit, and the
eyes Of our minds be opened to perceive
the deep truth which lies wrapped up with.
in it.
In order that we may help ourselves to
realize the meaning of the language used
by :he angels, let us, in the first place, en-
deavor to go back, in imagination, TO the
time and scene in which it was first utter
ed.
1t was night amid the mountains. There
they stood, the everlasting hills in peace
ful majesty; at their foot the focks, EN-
blems oftranquiI innocence, peacefully re-
posed. All nature below slept, while, above,
the multitude Of the hosts Of Heaven walked
IN silent beauty through fields of blue, un-
spotted save perchance by light feecy
clouds, which floating in the moon-Iit sky,
might have seemed to the eye of fancy cc-
les.iai. lambs roaming the boundless pas
lures of the upper world. We may well
believe that the Heavens
"Were calm and bright,
No dimness rested on the glitIering light
That sparkled from that wilderness of worlds ON
high:
Those distant suns burned on with quiet ray,
The placid planets held their modest way,
And silence reigned profound oer earth and sea
and sky"
How perfectly in harmony such a scene
With the genius Of the Religion which was
soon to be ushered into the world! Whs,
MORE appropriate season for the announ ce-
ment of the Prince of Pence; him whose
doctrine was intended to breathe into the
hearts Of men peace and harmony such
ms regncd in that hour ofsolemn loveliness
through outward Nature1 1t was fitting
that as mt creations dawn the morning star.
sang together for joy,-the hosts Of mid.
night, profound and peaceful midnight
should herald the coming Of Him who's.
spirit was to infuse into the moral universe
an order, tranquility and harmony such a.
pervades by moonlight the mighty Hea
vens. Hitherto, not only darkness and
gross darkness, but disorder and discord hst
prevailed in the moral world. Since the
day when fraternal blood first polluted thu
earth, not only had man been ever at wa
with his neighbor, but he had been at wal
with himself. The soul was not ut peac,
with itself, because il was not at peace will
! its God. All the various Religions Of th'
world abored under the delusive idea tha
God was a jealous, a vindictive God, wh'
needed to be reconciled to offending man
and the trembling soul strove in agony Il
oppease or avert his anger by sacrifices
atonement. Meanwhile considering tn
Deity altogether such an one as themselves
men drew from the example Of tEeir God
a sanction for the widest cxcesses Of un
bridled passion. The same thirst for glor
which they imputed to the God whom the
ignoran,ly worshipped, they also fancie
, they might lawfully cherish in their ow
: souls, and crafty, though at the expense
: the blood of thousands of fellow being
1 There was an utter war between moralIt
and religion. Conscience instead Of bein
? the governing principle Of daily intercour'
. between man and man, had come to be d.
5 graded to mere dread Of divine vengeance
: Duty to man and duty to God were imae
|, ined to be wholly different things. The fe
: who, by calm contemplation Of thcmsel''
. had risen to some wiser and wortbier view
e of God and man, were yet troubled vii
E doubts and fears-snd they had no contr
over the mind Of the mass. Thus, Will
3 the Heavens we're still declaring the glory
: God. the soul of man, his higher workman
ship, created in his image, seemed to
n - - - A a