Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1844-01-26

Is history OF successive changes and
changes usually violent, and attended
with much misery aud suffering. The
events ol the Past fit before us like the
scenes Of some bloody drama; every
page records an Empires fall, every
paragraph points to a dynasty ruined.
Fixed Fate, blind Chance and unchang
ing Destiny, have all been introduced d
10 account for the mutations OF the
worlds history, but from them all the
mind shruks back 10 terror, or regards
them as wholly unsatisfactory. The
pen Of Inspiration has recorded some Of
the most tremendous changes which the
world has ever witnessed, il also gives
US the true principle oI Interpretation.
God is recognised as The mora governor
Of the world, and dlsobedlence 10 law as
the sole ground OF suffering.
The same PRINCIPE, in lis application
both 10 nations and individuals, is every
where percepllbIe in the history Of eve
ry nation and the most awluj caIamities
that have ever happened may be cited
as illustrations oil this fixed law Of d..
vine government.
Take two instances from modern his
tory, men have not yet lost the memo
ry Of them, for they were terribIe-ths
death Of Charles lst oil England, and Of
Louis 10Th Of France. BY a part Of
mankind these unfortunate princes are
regarded as martyrs, sacrificed by the
bind fury oil savage mob; by others
they are looked upon as victims Justly
due 10 the genius of liberty. whose al
tars they had proianed, But whatever
may be the views of men respecting
the conduct and motives of those who
pursued Ihom 10 the scadoId, the con.
temPaive mind may see IN their
late a terrible INSTANCE Of retributiVe
justice.
Charles, perhaps the best Of the Stu
arts that ever sat upon the throne, was
nevertheless gully in his own person
OF uSurpaIIon, tyranny, trescheGy and
oppression. The most sacred rights he
IFampIed 10 the dust, his most solemn
oaths were lightly broken. He not on,
~ violated the rights of properly and
the personal liberty OF bis subjects, bot
hs sought TO bind The free thoughts Of
their minds, and TO force upon lhom q
creed and ritual which they a5horred.
de even prevented his victims from
seeking elsewhere The freedom which
they we're denied at home, and inter
copied them in their attempts 10 escape
to this land Of liberty, then as now, 1.-THE
Asylum OF The oppressed" Happy had
II been Tor him had this extreme act OF
arbitrary power not besn exerted! Two
men Of whom the world has since heard
something, belonging to the despised and
PersecuIed PurlIans, were already EN-.
barked on the Thames TO seek the set.
Element OF their brethren in New Eng
land: but before they set sail the order
OF the tyrant appeared forbiddIng their
departure. They returned; but not to
suffer calmly their dearest rights as
Christians and as men, 10 be torn from
them. They returned, to bring terror
and destruction 10 the tyrant and his
throne, The ono 10 oppose the ma ios-
~ OF law 10 the encroachments oil prero
gaIve, and TO give voice in Parliament
TO the long pent up wrongs Of his coUn
trymen: The other TO direct ths aveng-
inc army that hurled down the tyrants
throne. The names Of these men were
John Hampden and Oiiper CrOmpeH
Who sees not the finger Of God in ths2
Had this crowning act Of tyranny not
been exsrted, the whole course OF Brit
ish history would have been far differ.
ent. The order was Issued, and the
oppressor fell by the victims Of his oP
position; and the severity Of bis punish
mant was the effect of The smarlina
wounds which his own hand had in
! Aicted.
We cannot pass over this portion OF
History without gIsncing for q moment
at some other events connected with il
which find an appropriate place in this
discussion, Those oI you who read your
Bibles need not be told that it is Gods
usual method of working, TO overruIe
the designs and acts Of wicked men, and
10 make them subservent TO lhs accom-
plishment of his gracious purposes -
Joseph'S brethren, Phoraoh king Of Z
gypl, and the splteluI Jews of our Sd
viour's time, al! acted out the purposes
Of their own wicked, malicious hearts;
but tho success Of The designs which they
thought TO lrustrate were made to de =
pend on the very acts which they did 10
prevent them. Having learned The
principle from The Bible, We see innu-
merabIe examples OF it in protane his
tory; and what clearer proof could we
ask Of the truth that
"Thore'sa Divinity that shapes our ends
Rough hew them how we will"
Charles was not content with ruling