The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-04-16
n Sermon.
Rectituds of the Divine Administration.
A DISCOURSE
sUGG GEsTFD BY THE DEATH OF JOHN C. CALHOUN.

"A Dl lS 20 u Ii Il,
SUGGESTED BY THE DEATH OF JOHN C. CALHOUN.
Delire' ed in the Methodist Church Of Columbia,
South Carolina on Sunday, April 7, 1850.
BY THE REV. wHITEFooRD SMITH, D.. D.
"Sha not the Judge of ali the earth do right!"
GENESIS XVIII. 25.
The interrogation of the text my Christian bre-
thren, implies two great truths. The first, that
there is a God, whose experimenting providence
is over all his works. The second, that it is i'm
possible for Him to do wrong Nor let it be sup
posed that these are abstract truths, which have
no application to the practical affairs Of daily life
for in the perpetual vicissitude of human fortune,
in the innumerable trials and Affections incident to
mortal life, what support can be found for the heirs
of sorrow like that which is furnished by the con-
sideration that just and gracious God presdes
over the universe, directing and controlling all its
events for purposes Of infinite wisdom and good
ness! And, especially, when the dispensatons of
His providence are inscrutable and mysterious !;
when all the powers of reason are inadequate to
comprehend his designs; what other refuge is
there for the mind and heart, but an humble and
faithful reliance on the essential attributes ofGod!
| Thus, when the cities of the plain were doomed
TO destruction, and it pleased the Almighty to re-
veal to his servant Abraham their approaching
overthrow, and when the patriarch became the
ntercessor, and would plead their cause, the
strong argument with which he emboldened him.
self before his Maker, was the language of the
text "Shall not the Judge ofall the earth do right!
And when the Judgment was executed, and Abra-
| ham looked, sand 10! the smoke of the country
went up as the smoke of a furnace" though he
might mourn over their ruin, yet, doubtless, his
heart was sustained by its faith in the rectitude of
the Divine Administration. So, too, when the IT,
dngs of disaster upon disaster came to Job, until
the intelligence of his Affections seemed too much
| for nature to sustain, "he fell down upon the
ground and worshipped," saying, "Naked came
out ofmy mothers womb, and naked shall return
thither; the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken
away; blessed be the name of the Lord"
| How much more accordant with the dignity Of
man and the teachings of pure philosophy, is
such submission to the behests of Heaven, than
the frantic rawlings of an Atheist who would fain
DENY the existence ofthe hand beneath whose blow
he falls!
In the history ofnations, as well as in the expe-
rieEce of individuals, there are constantly occur
ring occasions for the exercise Of these sautary re-
fections. For national calamites as we'll as for
private griefs, there is the same Heavenly solace
"the Lord hath prepared his throne in the Hea-
vens, and his kingdom ruleth over ALL"
You will readily perceive the appropriateness
Of these thoughts to our present circumstances.
But the last Sabbath, the pleasant chime of the
church-going bells was suddenly changed into the
| slow aud solemn toll-the death-knel of the de-
parted. With electric rapidity were the tidings
| spread, that one Of the most lustrous Of our
countrys Senators was numbered with the dead.
That he who, but few days before, with the pro-
mise ofreturning strength, had lifted up his voice
in the Capitol in defence of the dearest interests OF
his State, was now no more. The loss OF this dis
| tinguishcd Statesman is recognised as national
aflction. His name had long been inscribed upon
his country's brightest page, enrolled among her
honored SONS. But to the State which gave him
birth, and to which he ever acknowledged his first
allegiance due, his loss is no ordinary bereave-
ment. When a good and virtuous man dies,
| whose generous acts have endeared him to the
community in which he lived, friends and neigh
bors gather around his bier, and many tear OF
sympathy is shed. But there is deeper sorrow
felt by those who knew him as husband, father,
brother. Theirs is grief which strangers cannot
| know; and the habtaton which his presence in
vested with JOY is filled with "mournIng and Ia
mentaton and VICE." Such is the afflction OF
South Carolina at the death of the late Hon. JOHN
C.. CALHOUN.
Your attention might be occupied with the reci-
tai of his illustrious acts-with history Of his
high career. The virtues which adorned his char
acter; the profound philosophy which displayed
itself in all he said the utter iorgettulness Of sell
! in his devotion to the interests Of his State and
country might well form the theme of long dis
course. But these appropriately belong to ano1h-
er occasion. They will be written upon the pages
of history-they will be engraven upon the hearts
of posterty.
You will allow me to turn your attention now
TO those sacred lessons which most beht the day,
and which this nournful event is well calculated
to impress on every breast.
Ifthc first lesson we should learn from this at
fiction be drawn directly from the text, it will te
an acknowledgment oflhe justice ofGod, and sub
mission to his will. Revealed religion affords The
only rational view ofthe divine nature. While il
proclaims the supremacy Of God, it exhibits all his
attributes in perfect harmony. His benevolence
is not lost amid the splendors Of his aulick reign
nor his justice forgotten in the exercise OF az! inf
mite compassion His eternal wisdom directs hi
almighty power; and though "his Judgments ar,
unscarcha ne, and his ways past finding out" the,
are still consistent with his essential goodness
Though "clouds and darkness are round abou
him, vet righteousness and judgment are the habi
ta,ion of lis throne" Unfortunately for us, it i
but too characteristic of our fallen nature to mur
muir at the dispenssrons ola all-wise Providence
: because we Cannot comprehend It's purposes an,
fooshly TO Judge the acts of Heaven rather thai
piousy to submit to its will. We forget that ou
r frailty should teach us our dependence, ard tina
our ignorance should prompt us TO faith Whe
the dearest hopes we have cherished are blighte
in an hour and the props upon which we hay
l.