The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-04-12
THE WAYS OF PROVIDENCE.

We must be allowed to usurp or aid the Offices
of the Christian Pulpit little in such time as
this. In the midst of the deep and general grief
that surrounds us, we know it will not be I'M
grateful.
We have been forcibly struck with the resem-
blance between Moses, as the Captain of Israel,
and our lamented Harrison, as the deliverer of
the American people, more especially in the
correspondence Of the two great facts, that as
Moses was only necessary to conduct the hosts
Of Israel through the wilderness, to IT, borders
of Canaan, was permitted only to see the promi-
sed land, and then taken from earth to heaven,
SO has it been with our Captain. And the chill
dren Of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of
Moab thirty days" The people Of this country
have decreed mourning for General Harrison,
some thirty, some sixty, and some ninety days
In the reflections of every religious man, the
resembances in the history Of Moses to that of
General Harrison, will be found mpressively re-
markable from beginning to end, and scarcely
less SO the history of the one people as compared
with that of the other. II is unnecessary to par
tcularse them, as they are open to the thoughts
Of all. Behold the scene, and admire the ways
of that Providence which rules over the nations
of the earth Till now, we had thought General
Harrison necessary for the future. So might it
have been supposed that Moses was, when the
people arrived at the borders Of Canaan. Not
so the thoughts of God.
Joshua, he shall go before thee. = And
Moses called unto Joshua, and said unto him, in
,rht r. Dc ,,I 80 ooJ
courage" The people of this country are al
ready acquainted with the dying charge of Gen.
Harrison TO bis successor. "And Joshua, the
son of Nun, was full of the spirit of wisdom.
For Moses had laid his hands upon him.
No man, standing in the unexpected position
of President Tyler, could fail to have some deep
sense of the solemnity and responsibility of his
charge. II has been imposed by the hand of an
affective and awful Providence, and he ascends
to his high place in the midst of nation in tears.
How strongly will these scenes bind the people
to him, il he respects their feelings, and what
blessings may yet grow out of the union of all
hearts under such painful event!
Since writing the above, the Proclamation of
the President, in another column, for day of
Fasting and Prayer throughout the land, has
been handed to us for publication, and it affords
us heartfelt satisfaction, that our present Chief
Magistrate so highly and justly appreciates the
religious sentiments of the American people, as
to have done this thing Of himself, so exactly in
accordance with what we believe to be the pros
trate feelings of this whole nation.
God has stricken us with sudden and terri
BILE blow, and it becomes us to be humbled under
the stroke As a nation, we have celebrated
the funeral obsequies of great and beloved
Chief and decreed a mourning of many days II
is most suitable, that we come not out of this
scene, without falling PROSTATE as nation be-
fore the throne of Heaven, and saying with one
voice, Thy hand is righteous, o Lord God, and
grievously hast thou afflicted us, implorng his
pardon of ''our grievous and manifold Offences"
and beseeching him to annoint ourpresent Lead
er with wisdom and JUNCTION from on high, and
to inspire people and rulers with the fear Of HIM
self and the love of all virtue.