Hillsdale Whig standard. (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1846-1851, 1851-03-18

God in History.

Tx philosophy Of history consists in ira
cling events TO their causes, and IN discover
ing the laws by which they are produced
and il reaches its perfection when the devel
opment of these laws becomes comprehen
siye and complete. The laws of productive
industry and trade, Of wise and profitable
government, and of benificent social insti
tutions. form a grand problem of historica
investigation. Finally. these laws become
so general as to identity themselves with the
great principles Of morality, and assume !
universal and even an authoritative chatac-
ter.
But. however enlarged these views may be-
come, they must yet be defective In the tru-
est elements of wisdom, the historian who
profoundly studies the past, may tell whence
things arise, but he needs another text boob
TO teach him whittier they tend. He may
learn how the history of the world came tU
be what il is, bat no study Of the events
/ themselves can teach him ,0hy. This must
be the work of higher aud finer philo,Vphy
--of one which admits nobler clemens INTO
its calculations, and carries its ressonings in-
TO the immortal future. As the former styles
of history involved. one the observing, and
the other the reflective faculties, this, Of
which we pow speak, involves the religious
elements Of ouI nature.
/ II is only true soul that can read the
meaning and design of human bstory--a
( soul invigorated by a living faith in God, and
IN The word of God: elevated by a conial
and constant recognition Of Gods almighty
providence over the world. When thus
viewed, all history possesses significance
which no other view OF life can impart.--
Each great event of the ages past had its de-
sign, and accomplished its end. We look
back TO the remotest antiquity, we behold
the familiar and grand movements of the
world taking place in evident preparation for
the coming Of Christ, and the introduction
Of his spiritual and universal faith; and ever
since, the same high purpose oi Gods ON
niscicot aud holy mind has been accomplish
iug and disclosing itself in the march OF llu-
man events.
That human history advances in subservi
ency 10 such design, il can hardly be nee
eesary for us 10 prove. No mird Which ac-
cepts the atonement as the eliminating point
and the system Of redemption as the grand
end ot the worlds history, can doubt that
for such purpose God controls from his
high throne the destines of nations; and that
empires rise and fall. and dynasties flourish
aud decay, for its accomplishment. And yet
this high idea of history is but imperfectly
recognized, even among those who would
feel the most confidence and the deepest in
terest in its truth. The common idea OF his
tory is very crude and vague, and fails 10 gain
any worthy view OF God in the progress of
socisiy. Ii seems often to be imagined that
y in
Tar as they are not Christian, are merely so
many Isolated systems OF vITUI s~iokod
ness, serving no useful purpose whatever
The appearance upon The stage Of a new
race. or new nation. is regarded as but the
precursor Of new idolatry; the elevation of
fresh dynasty is but the rise Of another
prosecutor Of righteousness. In the whole
series of historical events, there IS often none
but the most imperfect recognition Of any
relation to the divine counsels. But, in real
iiy, human history is far otherwise than this.
IL is the development of Gods grand plan;
and 1t is fraught in every part Of II with re-
suits of the highest Significance aud moment.
He who called into existence each race aud
nation of mankind, has ever been evolving
out of the chaos Of their confused and un
happy relations, some sesults Of morcy and
wisdom. Where nothing else was practical
bic, He has made one form Of error contest
the ground with another-one race Of wick
ed men, with their false institutions, hold a
grosser system and more savage people 10
check. A barbarian horde comes thunder
ing down upon a civilization which has be-
come enervated and corrupt, To absorb and
ameliorate ii. One civilization rises after
another TO develop some new element indls-
pensable TO the worlds welfare, and adding
the precious product Of its labors to the gen.
eral stock, il sinks aud dies: and another
race takes up the grand movement, and car
res II forward to yet more finished state.
The several generations Of men resemble |
IN this aspect the coral insects Of the cas-
tern seas; each one is building below the |
surface Of the water part of vast struc-
iure, they know not what or why. AT length |
the structure rises TO the level OF the waves. |
aud stands a mighty barrier to their fury, 10 |
become in due time a home for nobler races,
and a theatre which displays all that The earth /
can OF the glory Of Heaven. But, after all,
IL is 10 no wisdom Of the humble architects
OF the work that the result is owing; and il
is no design Of theirs that the completed re-
suit embodies and illustrates. Their work
was all doue in darkness and biudness-done
only from low aud animal impulses; and yet
when il is done, we see that no zoophte Of
all the countless ,hrong did his dOrkling and
selfish work 10 vain. And thus, through ages
of darkness and from impulses Of selfish aud
personal regard, and for no ends which have
any relation to duty or TO wisdom, human
history advances, till al length it shall emerge
into the sunshine Of heaven, show the be-
nevoleDt and mighty control Of God over
each state OF its progress, and illustrate the
Infinite wisdom TO which it owes its exis-
tence.- Independent.
MURDER IN BUFFALo.--Ou Thursday
night last a murder was committed in this