The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-12-19
Moral Readings.
wreck of the Atlantic.


'lnder the immediate control of an Almighty
Experimenting Providence.
All events in this world are produced BY
three cNuses--the operations of nature, The
actions of wicked men, and the actions Of
good men. Over all these God exercises
supreme control; and it il most agreeable 10
our ideas Of securing the highest human hap
piness that he should exercise such control.
lie has foreseen all things predicted all things
from Eternity, and is subject to no dlsnppolnt-
ment. lie wills that all men should he free
not that they should be wicked; yet he IL
scs the wicked actions ofmen in working out
The accomplishment Of his own purposes.
The unjust exercise of British power over the
feeble colonies of America; the invasion OF
india and ofunofiending China by the same
grasping sellishness, were all violations of
human rights; yet had worked ont the pur-
poses of God, in elevating the character and
increasing the happiness Humankind.
God is to be recognized also in the actions
ofgood men innsmuch rs the Bible teaches
MS 10 ask OF him grace TO perform good ac-
tiOns.
He is to be recognized too, in the effects
produced by inanmate and brute force. This
Is evident, inasmnch as they have no plan, Or
purpose to be accomplished. Thus every C.
vent comes tous heavenly voice, and con-
tains lesson of divine wisdom.
The awiuy solemn lesson contained in
the recent sad event, is not to be regarded as
'ofa discriminating character, having refer
cnce mainly to the Immediate sufferers. 1t
illustrates the terrible nature OF sin in gener-
al, and speaks in n voice Of solemn warning
to every nlan-to the whole nation.
The history ofthose on hoard that i'll tated
boat, from the time they left their last moor
ings, was filed with suffering which no hui
Eq2rn tongue could describe.
The terror ofeach individual, awfuTy aug
mented by the shreks of horror, the crash Of
tmbers, the bowling of angry waves, was i'll
conceivable.
S;oine live, he said, to tell us of Tint pain
fiji scene, and help It's to understand its hor-
rOrs.
The wave Of sorrow still sweeps over many
bleeding bosomS. But This is only one of the
many similar disasters which have recently
occurred. BY the late shipwrecks Of fishing
vessels lron Marbehead, - women in that
down IRE made widows, aud $50 children ia
dhorIess.
God desires to he recognized in these mel
anchoy disasters. lie says, "ls their evil in
the city, and the Lord hath not done it,"
And il becomes us TO inquire, what does he
mean ny so much suffering?
Yves hc not near s. able to save? Yes he
heard and saw all, but did not prevent ii! God
has sent many preachers, with soft voices
6ut they were not needed, and he next speaks
in the whirlwind and the tempest. The trun
pet of the Almighty has sounded in this prov
idence summonng part TO appear before
hinl-the rest TO bow before the cross of
Christ, and give their spared lives 10 Hin.
ifthey cried for mercy in that awful hour,
.aYhy not accept it now, when it is offered III
~nore favorable circumstances than amidst
l.. ,Aff hof inn
rroaninr boat! He has moro storms in his
storehollse Fire, hail and tempest all fulfil
his will Let us then humble ourselves before
HIM, and make orr peace with Him, so that
all things may work for our good
The composure of one man in that dread
fill scene attracted universal attention. 1t
was the lamented DR.. Armstrong. God built
n pulpit for him right by the gates OF DEATH
He preached there asa true soldier of the
Cross. He believed and so preached. What
an audiencc He prayed in faith, because he
lived by faith. But 1t may he said, what use
in praver,ifit is not heard? 1t was heard. He
PRAYED condi,ionally :"Father,if he possible,
let this cup piss from me-" There was val
lie in his faith, not only to himselfbut to 9TH
ers. And we know not what jewels he gath
cred from that boats company for lmmnnucFs
crown. God is teaching us, by this fearful
event, the importance to us all of prepara-
zion for death That was no time for such Il
work 1t teaches us, also, how indiscrinina-
ting is death. Many valuable lives persisted
there, and Providence is saying to us all, 'Be
we also ready~
MISSIONARY MEETING.
At the monthly meeting in Park stroet,on
Sabbath evening, after the usual devotional
exercises and singing, Rev. Mr. Adams read
a letter from Rev. Mr. Bridgman, of Canton,
giving an account ola most violent attack
made upon himselfand few other missiona-
riGs, as they were making II short tour in a
boat. The people were ignorant of their be-
ing missionaries, and attacked them, as they
said, because the foreign devils had killed
their friends, and they would he revenged.
They showered down stones into their boat
from bridge, one of which weighed S3 lbs.
Their escape from death was wonderful, yet
only one boatmaR sustained any considerable
injury.
He also read letter from Rev. Mr. Dwight,
. of Constantinople, describing tho death of
two members of the infant Protestant Church
both ofwhom testified their confidence in
, the Word food as tho only rule offaitlI, and
IN Jesus Christ as their only Mediator with
the Father and only hope of final acceptance.
One Of these was Mr. Oscar, father of Mr. Os-,
canian, we'll known and educated in this
country. Through the kindness of Mr. Car,
American Consul, in sending his canvass, or
police officer, together with three or four 9TH
-ers, perfect order was preserved among the
large crowd that followed the first protestant
funeral, as it pasaed in long and solemn pro-
-cession through the principal streets to the
place of interment.
In noticing the events ofthe past year, con-
nected with the Missions of the Board, Mr.
Adams said they had abundant occasion of
thanksgiving that Providence had, in a most
wonderful sanner, advanced the cause of
nftbn world