Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1840-01-09
Mississippi, Dec. 10, 1899.
FOR THE SPECTATOR.


FOR THE SPECTATOR.
Another Sabbath has closed-all the du
ties OF the sanctuary are over, and the differ
ent family circles have formed around tho
cheerful fire. The hands of some omen the
book of God, and perform the last HOLY serv;.
ces OF the Sabbath, some critcise the sermons
to which they have listened, others.discourse
the ordinary topics of the day, and others a.
gain still worse employed than the latter
indulge mind which is ever active, and a
heart which knows no limit to its comnlain-
ings, inveigh against the dispensations of
the Creator, and daringly question that
wisdom, which they can neither fathom or
comprehend. Presumptuous being! You
nave tbs true, been greatly afflicted, you have
been visited where most you could feel, Won
have been made to know by sad experience
then you have learned that this is not the a.
blding place of man, that this is a world of
trouble and trial, that no earthly object can
satisfy an immortal mind, and that unsullied
bliss Is reserved for immortality. These
things we all know, but to see and realize
them properly, is wisdom. But WHY sbould
man complain! Even upon the supposition
that he has but little to cheer, enliuhten and
animate his path, when he knows these thinos
are but Tor season, and that his sslipht Attic
lions. on certain conditions, will work out for
him Tar more exceeding and eternal weiuht
Oh glory. But who can say he has NOTHING
10 oeautify and make smooth the rugged foot
steps of life }? However afflicted man ,n.,,
be, and however darkly and closely adversity
may seem to follow and surround him. vet
there are some bright spots in his TEMPORAL
career, and around these his fancy should de-
light to pencil; and here, he should dwell
and contemplate the goodness of his God in
granting even these, when in Justice no
might have been deprived of every th;n~
What is the worth Of human philosophy. IF
It Will not direct Its destroying shafts against
the evils of life, as the enemy of man. and
Will not rally around single comfort, as a
source of happiness And why nresent
the religion of the bible to him. if t will not
enable him to see in his slightest enjoyment
the goodness and mercy Of his Creator. and
In his every affiiction, the Christening hand of
a father! Human philosophy has no value.
IT 1t can render no aid to enjoyment. and 70.
ligion no excellence, unless it can administer
comfort In adversely, and excite gratitude and
praise in prosperity. Human philosophv has
It's advantages, the bible and its doctrines are
worth every thing. There is moral GRAN
deur and sublimity in contemplating the Shirt
OF God, as he eXerts his mighty influence o.
yer mlnd' in softening the feelings, subduino
the passions, encouraging the virtues. and ei7
evating the immortal intellect. above tho
fitting objects which surround it, to scenes
OF unchanglng and eternal bliss. And there
Is something, perhaps, still more astonishing.
wonderful and sublime In the contemnlat;o9
that God, by His same spirit, exerts his now,
erfor good, even over those who will not adj
NIT his influence. The philosopher in his
medltatlons, acknowledges no higher bower
than his own intellect; and as he strides a.
long through universal nature, culling flow
er here and bunting thorn there; iiobten-
enlng human woes, and heightening his en-
Joynents' valnly supposes it is all the result
OF his own intellect. Whatever NAV he
the means by which he acquired this en-
vlable state of mind, it will be readily ad.
mltted' to mitigate pain, increase enioy
ment and make the former, so far as can be
contribute to elevate the latter, which is the
perfection of reason. - VIC
Whatever may be the effect produced on
other minds by such reflections. on INV own
tits happy one. l am not free from nm.
murlng spirit, and when disposed to complain.
among other things, look around me. and
abroad at the multitude, who have far more
cause 70 murmur than myself; and ask who
MADE me 10 differ! While / am seated in a
comfortable room, with a cheerful fro o.
defend me from the ''eager and nippino,' bj,ets
OF the pittiless storm, with raiment ,nJ
food In abundance, many others are sbivor iru
over few embers, in some lone and cboor3
less hut, clad with nothing but raos to hreaa, |
the dread and gloomy winter. and nerhanS
not Knowing whence they are to rccfive tRo
next morsel Of bread. These personal ,I;c
ierences exist in the world, and whatever nav,
be either the immediate or remote c,mso S
we may Individually see in them much ~
excite our highest gratitude for what lee or
Joy, and to encourage our untiriuo norsovn-
ance in every thing that is laudabe.
And we, as people, although we have
right to complain of misrule, and have nor.
tect right to resist and put it down bv everv
iair and honorable means, yet we have too
much intelligence and strength to desmond
and we are too highly favored as Nation to
complain. No Country on earth, can boast
# the same amount of blessings that Voc on
oy. And although the practical operations
( orr Government have not been what ,yo
onld wish them, and although we have a.
long us some causes of trouble, vet our ci-
il and religious institutions have been for
ore than halfa century, a living monument
praise to free Governments. We are the
,ast Of Republics, the terror Of crowned
ends, and the admir- ration If tho ,,orIJ | !