Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1839-06-20

l have met with no objections sufficiently [,
strong To shake my confidence in their truth |
and verify and though am fully aware that |
they are liable To difficulties and ohjection !
especially when compared with n few of The !
more modern theories, yet may not conf. |
IDENTIFY ask, what theory is free from all diff.
cni;ies aud objections? And when my lead
ing principle is kept in view--,hc divine !
consistency, justice and goodness, principle
over dear 10 every serious and enlightened
believer IN revelation, may not asl, wheth-
or the theory have advocated has not MS
much probability IN its favor as any other
theory can claim for itself.
know. sir, that orators and philosophers
treat nature after a different manner. ffII
were To describe il as an orator, 1 would
suppose IT a beautiful regular globe, aud not
only So, but that the whole universe was
made Tor its sake !, and that il was the dar-
ling and iayorite of heaven, that the sun
shined only to give it light, TO ripen its
fruits and 10 make fresh iis flowers; and
! that the great concave in the armament, and
all the stars III their several orbs were de.
signed only for spanglcd cabinet TO keep
this jewel in. This is the idea that would
give OF IL as an orator, hut a philosopher
that overheard me would think me in Jest,
or at least very injudicous.
Can we greatly err, sir, while we believe
and adopt as an axiom The sentiment that
the Almighty is consistent with himself i'm
all his works and ways, and that as he origi>
na!ly formed happy and innocent pair and
prepared for them ?aradisical accommoda.
tinns, he would no, do the same also for
their descendants whom he intended 10 be
equally innocent and happy, and people The
Whole world, so that no Inconvenience, no
labor, no anxiety, might annoy their ccm-
torts or devo!ions, or tempt them TO offend
their God. With but little care they might
select their food which The earth poured
spontaneously from her bosom at their feet.
Clothing, they would probably have needed
none for their protection !; shame, pride
fashion and distinction, would have been un-
known: commerce, property wealth & power
iy, would have been alike strangers to earth;
peace ,contentment & plenty would have per-
vaded the whole;every grove wouldhave been
a Paradise, every tree o tree of life, and
every shade temple for the worship OF the
| Lord.
But when man changed his conduct TO-
wards his Creator, when he apos,atized and
ruined his character, and despised aud insuI,
ted The goodness OF a Astounding Provi-
dence, and spent Il long life attended by the
most sigma! iavors OF heaven, in provok ing a
merciful God 10 anger and in pluckIng down
proportioned misery upon his own soul
was III q marvel That the Lord changed his
conduct towards him, and inierpused though
in mercy,a much as in wrath, and changing
and destroying the first constitution of our
globe which was precisely suited TO state
of pei feet holiness and innocency, he accom-
modated ii TO condition Of apostacy and
SIN Now the very mountains, and cliffs,
aud thorns, and 5riers, and burning heats,
and piercing frosts, and bowling storms,
and affections, and pains, and deaths, all are
so many monuments Of the divine disappro-
baton OF sin; all are appointed TO US as the
divine mentors crying Behold VIVA, an e.
! vii thing and bitter il is 10 sin against God
The earth, however rugged and barren as il
now is, has not been entirely stripped of all
its beauties and comforts, and il il possesses
no other cScellency, it still possesses this,
that il is well adapted to our present lot
Were il better, we would again be tempted
to presumption; were il worse, we would
be tempted 10 despair; but as il is, we have
presented 10 us motives 10 industry, econo-
my piety and virtue, and instead of MUIR
muring at our Toll and sweat OF The brow,
we have motives OF gratitude 10 God for
having proportional our labour to our
strength, and having made il our privilege
amidst the ills Of life TO acquaint ourselves
with him, and he at peace. Happy is that
man who draws the honey of salutsry in
struction from The bitter flowers which grow
on these low grounds, and who spends his
few days on earth with chief design of ac>
quirlng preparation for the enjoy ment Of
the felicity of the New Paradise above,
''Whrre each shall find in each CLOWN friend
| cd of ado