Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1850-04-08
COMMUNICATIONS.
For THE INDICATOR
THE DISSERTATIONS OF HEAVEN, DEM
OCRATIC OR EQUAL,
by A. A. Sewers.


THIS impartiality will be still more manifest,
if we reflect in the third place, that far the
greatest and most numerous OF the Divine ia
yours are granted to all, without discrimination.
Look, in the first place, at the natural gifts OF
Providence-the beauty of the earth, the glories
of the sky the vision Of the sun and the stars,
the beneiicent laws of universal being, the frame
of society and government protecting justice
and Almighty Providence-Whose are these
What power Of appropriation can say OF any
one OF these: "1his is mine and not aaother's q
And what one Of these would You part with for
the wealth of California, Or all the splendors of
rank or Office? Again, your eyesisht-that re-
gal glance that commands in one act the all
spread and all-surrounding beauty Of the fair u
nivorse-would you exchange it Tor Il sceptre or
a crown? And the ear that gathers unto its
hidden chambers all music and gladness-
would you give it for kingdom? And that
wonderful sift, speech, that brelthes its mystic
rious accents into the soul Of Thy triend-that
sends forth its viewless messages through the
still air and imprints them at once upon the cars
of thousands-would you barter that gift for the
renown of Plato or Milton
No, there are unappropriated blessings
blessings which none can appropriate every
clement of nature, i'll every region OF existence,
in every inspiration Of life, which are infinitely
better than all that can be boarded in treasure
or borne OH the breath Of fame. All, Of which
every human being can say, Kit is mine" is q
toy, a trile; compared with what God has pro-
viied for the great family OF his children Is
he poor TO whom the great store-house of nature
is opened, or does he think himself poor because
it is God who has made him rich? Does he
complain that he cannot have magnificent pal
ace to dwell in, who dwells in this splendid
theatre of the universe 2--that he cannot behold
swelling don1es and painted walls, who beholds
"the dread maeniGcence Of heaven" and the
pictured earth and sky :! Do you regret the
want of attendants, OF a train OF servants to an
fcipate every wish and bring every comfort at
your bidding? Yet how small thing it is to
be waited on. compared with the privilege Of
being yourself active--compared with the vigor
of health and the free use of your limbs and
senses Is il hardship that Your table does
not groan with Injuries! but how much better
than all luxury is simple appetite
The very circumstances which gain for the
distinctions OF life such an undue and delusive
estimate are such as ought to make us cautious
about the estimate we put On them. They are
distinctions and therefore likely to be overrated;
but is that good and sound reason why we
should afiix to them an undue importance. Are
the palaces Of kings to be regarded, with more
interest than the humble roofs that shelter mill
ions of human beings? What more is the mar
riaec OF queen, to the individual mind, though
surrounded with the splendor and state OF Il king
dom; though accompanied with shining troops
and announced with rearing cannon; what more
IS 1t than that marriage OF heafl5 that IS every
''ay consamn1ated beneath 2 thousand loWly
roofs 4he distinctions OF me- 'oo are moslly
iactilous, the WofE OF art and mans DEVICE.
t3ley are mars @iiis1 rather Iian God gifts,
ara tor that reason would esteem them less.
hey are fiaetGatlne, also, and therefore attract
aailce, bui en- that account are less valuable.
iney are palpaple 10 the senses; attended with
33tgG and SH0tH GllG therefore IkGiT 10 be over