The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1843-06-06
Moral and Religious.
DIVINE CUBAN E.


the 7sd Psalm, he lus his troubled spirit into tran
guilty by the hope, Thou wilt guide me by thy
counsel, and afterwards receive TO glory There
is something very in that place where he recalls
his shepherd days and compares the Lord to the shep-
herd, and himsefto the feeble, dependant lamb,going
just where he is led, and always finding pasture
The Lord is my shepherd, shall not want;
In pastures of tender heritage he maketh me to rest;
Along The gently flowing waters he leadeth me.
MY life he restoreth, lwhen dropping in the heath
He leadeth me in the right paths,
For the glory Of his name.
Moreover though I walk through the valley Of the
death shade,
will not fear evil, for thou art with me;
Thy crook and thy staff, they comfort me-
Who, that has seen the humble, depending look
ofthe lamb led by the shepherd, does not feel the
comparisonl And who, in such world as this, does
not need the constant guidance of the OmniPotent
Shepherd?
Such directions need on account Of the difficult
ties that beset our path. Life is not all day of
sunshine, nor broad and visible track, from which
we cannot stray. The pleasant things that charm us
for awhile soon lose their freshness, and we find
dark cloud prospects. We feel indeed like
the poor sheep represented in the psalm. The gloom
of the death shade hovers around If it is with
holden, we shall fall in the mire, shall be bewld-
cred in the darkness s. shall be torn by the horns
and thstles.
We need guidance because of our ignorance. We
nre created that we may glorry God and enjoy him
for ever To glorfy God This is the work set be-
fore u.s. This is the prime object for which we were
sent into the world We to consult for the inter-
est and the honor of God. But where shall be-
gin, and how shall we proceed five follow
own reason, we may perhaps do that which would in
fallbly thwar our purposes. If God sets us in tho
way, we may be confused with the by paths turning
off in every direction, and soon lose it. How often
are we thrown into circumstances, in which we must
act in some way If we do right, incaleulable good
will result ifwrong, lasting wound will be inflicted
on our Masters But such is the nature Of our
condition on earth that cannot in any case, hope
for certainty. Though the clouds may hang darkly
over us, & we may trembe either to go backward or
forward vet no mysterious voice will be heard from
heaven. No strange star will rise to guide feet,
so that we cannot possibly mistake. From all the light
we have, we elicit only the probable course we
should pursue. Our lives short, and the de-
veopements attained by our intelecs inefficient,
that we are unable, in cases, judge from
perience, analogy,or reason. But when we consider,
that Notwithstanding ignorance, engaged
in laboring for God, may well cry-'lead me in a
plain path
We need divine guidance because of our helpless
ness. This is partly the result Of our snfulness;
have so long wandered that need the Spirit Of God
to incline us walk in the right way. 1t is partly the
result of our situation creatures Of day-who live
and breathe only while God fit. But we are
sufficiently acquainted with ourselves to know that
haln in tn
from injury, or keeping in the path Of rectiude,
clarifying God, our Redeemer. Like the poor lamb,
then, who danger coming which he cannot ward
off, or is huryng down aprecipice with velocity
which he cannot check, we have need to look up
to our great Shepherd, and to cry-hold thou up,
md shall be safe.'
But the true Christian seeks for divine guidance,
because he loves to be led by his Father in heaven
And though he that he could proceed very
WELL trusting to himself, yet he would choose to ask
God to lead him. 1t is precious privilege 10 feel
that fulfilling will, but the will of
God; that do not trace our own pathway; Ybut he
traces it, and then guides into it. 1t delightful
to feel the entire dependence ofhe little child, trust
ing that all will be right, because his Father does it.
and that he will always be led because his father
leads him. 1t is blessing, which the humble heart
Graves, worth than all things else to be able
to kneel before God, under all conceivable crcum-
stances, Jesus did in Gethsemane, and to say
'Father,not my will, but thine be DONE 1t sweet
to enjoy the tranquility Of deep, pervading, holy trust
in the Redeemer
Sweet on his faithfulness to rest
Whose love never end:
Sweet on the covenant Of his grace,
For all things to depend.
Sweet, in the confidence Of faith,
To trust his firm DEGREES;
Sweet to lie passive in his hands,
And know no will but his. ...t i..t
Oh! let us only get that spirit and we shall be hap
py. Then the suferngs Of this present time will not
be worthy to be named in comparison with the glory
that shall be revealed We shall enjay the peace oil
the Holy Ghost. The calmness of heaven will come
into nur sonla. We shall do RIGHT hecause Cod will