Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1841-06-01


respect What possible similiudo can there be be-
tween that mighty Being, who, by his word lighted
up The sun, and ditiused ton thousands Of such i'm
mense luminares through the regions OF creation, |
whose hand Yields the planets and rolls them through
the tracts of immensly-bctween HIN, who rneteth
oui The heavens with span and holds tho ocean in
The hollow OF his hand and the most resplenden i'm
age that was formed by human hands Even |
the sun himself with all his immensely Of spendor al
though our minds were expanded to comprehend his |
vast magnifcence, would form but a poor and pful
image OF Him. whose breath has kndled ten thousand
times ten thousand suns. How much less a block
OF marble, or stupid OK adumbrae the gloIles of the
King eternal, immortal, and invisible Ii WILL doubt
less rebound the eternal disgrace the human char
acler, IN every region OF the universe where is known
that ever such an impous attempt was made by the in
habitanis of world to compare the glory Of the
incorruptbe God to image made like to corrupble
man Wherever such attempts have been made, there
we behold human nature in its lowest state of debase
ment; the intellectual faculties darkened, bewildered
and degraded the moral powers perverted and deprav-
led; grovelllng affections predominang the die
a'es OF reason, and daboica passions raging without
control. Hence too, the debasing tendency OF all
those attempts which have been made to introduce into
the Christian church pictures and images 10 represent
the invisible things of God, and the sulerings of the
Redeemer For, wherever such practices prevail the
grossest conceptions OF the Divine Being and of the
solemn realities of religion.
But the principal reason why any representation of
IGod is expressly forbidden in this commandment, is,
mat whenever such practice commences, ii nall;by
ends In adorng the image ITSELF instead of the object
was intended to represent. Or in other words, the
breach OF this commandment necessarily and uniform
ly leads TO breach of the first Notwithstanding the
shock which the human mind appears to have received
Inv thn fall
of mankind shoull have been debased and brutalz-
ed as, in the first instance, TO mistake crocodile,
the stump of tree, however beautifully carved for the
Creator OF heaven and EARTH Such objects appear
have been first used symbols representations Of
the Deity, in order TO assist the mind in forming
ception of his invisible attributes But as they had
direct tendency debasc the mind and obscure the
glory of the Divinity in process of time they began to
be regarded by the ignorant multitude the very gods
themselves which they at first intended to repre-
sent; and that tribute of alteration paid TO the
symbol ITSELF which originally intended be Civ
TO the invisible God, through this sensible medium.
And when we contemplate kings and princes, poets
and philosophers, heroes and sages, young and
virgins, old men and Children, whole provinces,
tons, and continents prosirating themselves before
the shrine of such despicabe idols and the idea of the
true God almost banshed from the old world, have
reason to feel ashamed that belong to race OF in
II
{ rational and moral powers.
: The only natural image representation of God
o which is set before for contemplation is the
= bOundless universe whchhis hands have formed and
his moral image is displayed in the laws which he has
published, in the movements of his providence and IN
# the face of Jesus Christ his Son. who the image OF
the invisible God, and the brightness Of his glory
o All these exhibitions of the Divine Majesty,
e commanded TO study and contemplate; and is es-
senally requisite, in order TO our acquiring correct
l. aud comprehensive views of the object of adora
e tion, that no one of these displays of the Divinity
should be overlooked thrown into the shade. There
are some Christians who imagine they may acquire a
competent knowledge OF the character OF God, atho
). they should never spend single moment in contem
plating his periectons displayed in his visible works
In regard SUCH hesitate affirm, that they
TO certain extent, dolaers, and remain wilfu idola
ii tiers, coniented with the most inadequate and grove
e ling conceptions of the Deity, long they refuse &c
IF contemplate with intelligence, the operations of hi.
Ell hands If a mans ideas never extend beyond the
;. bounds Of his visible horizon beyond the limits q
ID the country which he resides, and #, at the same
N time he has overlooked the striking displays o
ie Divine wisdom and goodness within these bounds-h
A. conceptions of the Divine Being himself, will nearly
correspond with the conceptions he forms Of his works
O. his views be even confined within the limits OF th
ie globe on which he dwels his conceptions Of God vii
in still be gTOyellng, distorted, ana Imperfect Aho
ns therefore, the idea which such individual forms
h. himself of Tod may be Inferior to that which is due
A. one Of the higher orders Of created niegcnces An
Of il So he has only image OF creature m his mind
" instead OF comprehensive conception Of the Grea
o. Creator We have too much reason 10 believe tina
n there are multtudes 10 the religious world, who pas
s. for enlightened Christians. whose ideas OF the Suprem
D. Ruler Of the universe do not Tse beyond Tie ooncep
lions we ought form Of the powers and capacities
he Gabriel the archauge or ofhe highest order Of III
n seIaphinl.
he We can never oApeci from the very nature OF thing
10 &c able TO explore the depths Of Jehoyahs essence
les 10 comprehend the whole range Of bis domnions an
e1yefnmsut Bot large portion OF hs operations le
S. open 10 ouf Inspection and II "a from an enlsAiene
p contemplation OF what presented - our '.s" "A Ia
lo visible universe hat we 70 form our conceptions
he the grandeur Of lie Eternal Mnd. For u may be a.
On matted as au axiom both ia natural ad revealed iaeo
"a ogy tha, our conceptions ~ od cA early coTey0n
lr,ih me conceptions aSgurs ~ ma nature ana 81
Of fef Of his 0peralisar l. iae uuEcire around Vs.
rrrrege an IMAGE OF hs lnlly, 30 Tar a. lae af