Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1849-05-11
Brief Srrmnn.


The Wisdom Of God employs a rarietv ef
meuus 10 render the canh fruitful Atope t;wo
the opening clouds shower dow n tle raip. ,sbiel,
s0llens and nourshes the enr,h; "A o,bpy. .,is,es.
when deprived Of the benefit. Of rain. psu,le
de" Feireshes us surface and aniuates the feeble
plants, Ianguishingl0r want Of moisture. Racb
season has is peculiar means Of leriilizing tho
eaiih' be snow which, during the winter, COW.
cred our fields and our meadows. not only nre.
served them lrom the effects uf the cold. bnt
tended 10 their subsequent fertility. The fre-
queni lemPesls N the spring preserYo the puri.
~ ol the AR, dry The earth aud dsperse lhe rain
more generally over ilssurlace; wilheach aurm
OF wind aud Of rain the Creator sealters his
blessings upon the earth.
/ Ncmay safely affirm that there Is no cbapea
~ The air Or upon the eauh which docs not. ii.
recIly Or indirectly, Contribute to lis feriliiy.-
Every season brings successon Of phenomena
peculiar 10 IL, each Of which produces in nature
effects, the beneficial influence Of which is more
or less visible. Even those plaques which des.
oinle certain countries are 0aIy partial evils. con-
ducing to tu!di The great designs Of Providence.
aRd from which advantages result to the world
al large. Everywhere, aud al All time, we havo
cause 10 be thankful to our Creator for his tcn.
der care aud palornal socilude.
20 Lord, God OF times and Of scasons Inv
praises reach from the centre OF this globe 10 tbe
heaven Of heavens! Our sphere rolls through
the starry eXpanse; now blooming with flowers.
and now wrapped in SNOW; here Jashing with
vine, there covered with thorns. Yetnstil Gel
ebraIes Thy glory, and un,es It's music 10 the
harmony OF The spheres. When the sRow and
the ice convert our meadows iato desert places:
when The hurricane gathers in lhe air, The thun.
der peals, aud the lightning causes tie hearts OF
fnen 10 remb!ei ~ hen rivers, bursting their banks
with. one vast swell, inundale country. and all
the elements seem to combine and prepare for
The final destruction Of the world-i is then
thou arr providing lorhe inhabitants Of The earth
lie, fertility and abundance"
Here We may properly consider the means
which God uses to leriilize the moral world.-
To lead men 10 knowledge or his viii concern.
ing Ihem-to inspire them With an aversion of
sn and love for virtue and the practice of good
he sometimes speaks the language Of ge1ile-
ness aud persuasion in their hears, al others in
a louder and more terrible tone. Sometimes he
appals the guilty by the seryerity of his Judo.
ments, and awakcns the Indifferent from lheir
slumbers by the force Of their sghenugs. He
declares himself to be hardened and unreen,-
ing, as he formerly appeared TO the lsraees
upon Mount Sinai, clothed in lightning and spea.
king in thunder; but the softer hear he gently
leads from vice with tenderness and mild perspa.
sion. am living witness OF his divine bepif.
cence, and ! acknowledge, with praises and
thanksgiving, that he has exercised all these
means to draw me nearer to his presence
Sometimes II has pleased him to c0nfound nv
pride by chasliscments, and to awaken me TO n
sense of my duty by various Affections and tyi.
ais, which, whilst they soliened my heart. tend.
ed TO wean my affections from the elhinc, of his
world. At other lines he has visited me with
his blessings, and his favors have desceadedn,.
on me more abundant than the vernal showers.
But what return have made for these bepefis1
Have / brought forth fruit, which GOOD soil
never refuses when cultivated! Alasl nv beart
rather resembles q rock, which the thunder con-
not shake, nor the rain penetrate; vet hone. O
God! the time will arrive when shall become
more submissive 10 thy will and more DISPOSED
10 obey thy commands. The longer / put off
the hour of repentance the more nv sins mpl.
upIy, and the more difficult find il TO purify nv
heart: and pray to the Almighty God thai He
VIII not leave me prey TO my own evil dispo-
sllon, but that he will graciousIy condescend vct
10 bear with my weakness. and enable me IN
draw nearer TO him; whether il will be my LOT TO
experience hardshPs and misfortunes, or 10 pass
along the vale of years in peace and tranquility.
will bless the God of my salvation, and pray
not that may pass my days in incidence and
vanity, but that may be productive of good
works.