Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1841-06-01
RELIGIOUS MI>CELLANY.
NO 6.
THE SECOND COMMANDMENT.

lhou shalt not make unto thee any grduen image,
any likeness Of any thing that hedren ADORE, or
that IS N The earth beneath, or that The odfcrS
a under The earth thou shalt not boe dorn hyseJ 10
4 them, nor serre them"
The first commandment, formerly illustrated
poets the object of Worship forbiddng US to sub
au,e any other being in the Of God, to offer
II that homage which is due to the eternal Jehovah
his second commandment respects the manner in
Pinch he is 10 be worshipped. And in regard to the
banner in which the Divine Being is to be contem-
Plated and adored, it is expressly declared, that
image nor representation OF this incomprehensble Be-
49, u.s. at any iime or on any account to be formed
his command, like the former, nigh, first appear TO
p unnecessary, if the almost universal practice of
ansind had not taught U.S. that there disposition
hIch the human mind is more apt to indulge, than to
fodeavor 10 bring the invisible Divinity within the
ange OF our senses, and 10 contemplate him such
ae as ourselves The necessity OF this injunction,
aeasonableness, and the folly and absurdity of the
acuce against which it is directed, will appear from
re following considerations.
The Divine Being fills the immensely Of space with
r. presence, and 10 his essence can no bounds
Pie Inhabited eternity, before the earth the heavens
s'e brough, into existence, rejoicing in the coniem
Patton Of his excellencies and in the future eff
seIs OF bis power and beneyoence. lie is a spiritual
4uhccmpounded substance, and consequently invisible
mortal eyes, and mpapabe 10 every other organ of
zsensa'ion. His Omnpoieuce neither man nor angel
Il 4n sean, nor can they explore the depths OF his Wis
Com and intelligence. When universal silence and
4 soliude reigned throughout the Infinite void-when
not sound was heard nor an object within the
4'nmeasurable OF boundIess space-at his com
nand worlds, numerous the sand, started into be
Nag Thousands Of suns difIused their splendors hro
RI lf pf AT
isnois were launched into existence, and impelled in
iaeif rapid courses through the sky, their surfaces
~ee adorned With respondent beauties and replenlsh
e With mynaSs Of delighted inhabitants. The sera-
n fa'm aud ie ohcTubim began TO chant their hymns Of
ffa'se' aud shouted for JOY when they beheld new
So'ids emerging from the so,ds Of space. Life, mo-
u'n, activity, beauty, grandeur, splendid illumination
tnl injurious JOY, among unnumbered inielligences
'nn upon the view, where lijile before nothing ap
t>aiet bot one immense, dark, and oheeress void
Nod ever since duration began be measured 10y h'
'e'oluIons OF celestial oTbs the same omnipoeni en-
n sfgy has been necessarily eIefted 10 directing III
81 Movements OF all worlds, and IN UNFOLDING them II
"a u<af vast OF Being, invested with attribute
~ slorious and incompreheEsble, with power 50 as
oaishing In its effects with goodness boundiess
nj with wisdom 50 uasearohablo, what image rep
~Neu,aion can possibly be formed, which Will nl
raa 10 contract our conceptions, and to debase h
e1sfaciet Of the infinite ana eternal Mind TO who's
~ ye Ikea me, shall bc equal salih the ioL
osr
Wheh person 81 dign,,y and Of respec,abiliiS
eAiAcier as csrcaiured and associated with object
sad circumstances that mean, ucicuons, and ga
'esgoe, has tendency degrade has character al
" 'sssea our seReTsu0n. For, The fesPeci We cule
ulh ior am .ndiyiausl, founded lhe Ia
O ham "a ali te aspects IN which he may be eonlsn
fs'ee. F0g similar Eessoa, every aitcalP 70 sePf'