Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1852-08-07
miscellaneous,
TRUSTING IN TILE DARK.

Not all men, or even all Christians,
know how TO treat the mysteries which
mark the works and attend the ways
of God. Sometimes the understand.
ing, overtaxing its own powers, seeks
their perfect solution, vainly attempt
ing to be as wise rs God himself
Sometimes tile hcartrebcls, and proud.
ly rejects as untrue what the intelli.
gence cannot lathom. Very often
the mind of man is restless and fever.
isl, disqnicted and uncomfortable, be-
cause pent up in the little circle of its
own knowledge. 1t is chafed by the
limitations of nature, and would, if it
could, lift the veil and make visible
the objects Of the unknown land
There is, moreover, a strong and pow
erful instinct af curiosity in our na-
ture, which in many minds is subject.
ed 10 a most intense stimulation by
the great scene of realities that lies
around us, and of which we ourselves
form a part.
Now, what shall the Christian do
with the ten thousand mysteries in ma
turc, in providence and Bible religion,
that decline to surrender their secrets
to the sevcrest exercise of thought 7
Explain them he cannot; and to cavil
with them, is neither consonant with
his feelings, nor useful 10 his intclli-
gence. His way is to refer them to
God, remembering that the ways and
works of being so vast. must of ne
cessity exceed the comprehension of
another so limited rs man. 1t will be
time to object to wla, God does, when
we perfectly understand it. Let it be
granted that VIC do not and cannot see
all the relations of any ,ru,h-that VIC
cannot follow up any line of thought
to its mostultimate limit; it does not,
therefore, follow that God is-at fault,
or that we have any just cause of
complaint. Mysteries to us are not
mysteries to him. He understands
his own kingdom in all its parts, each
eveht in all its relations and reasons,
though we may not. Why didhe make
world in which so much sin and suf:
fering should occur. himself forcsee.
ing the same? He knows; yet this
knowledge has been denied to man.
Any one can ask the question, though
mono but God can answer it. Hence
we are to leave every real mystery
with God-to.muke.i,ims
place." the place Of calm repose.-
This is true philosophy and true pie
ty. In Gods eye all is simple, all is
plain; and as it respects himself, all
is right. We may and should trust
his wisdom and goodness, where we
cannot trace them. We must do so,
or be forever beating amid the most
painful and distressing uncertainties.
Remember, moreover, that this
course, while necessary to our COM
fort, is but a Just and proper tribute
to the character of God. IF we real
ly believe that there is God, the au-
thor of nature, the sovereign of prov
idence, and the source of revelation,
and believe in the reality of his natu-
raj and moral pcriections-wliy shall
we not assume the excellence of His
administration, on tho credit Of lis au-
thorl Children in many things thus
treat their parents; and should not
the Christian have at least as much
confidence in the Almighty Be qui-
ct, Christian brother; fret not your
soul with complaining and doubling
moods. What is too high for you, not
being correspondent with the present
compass Of your capacities, have the
good sense to adjourn to another day.
What you cannot explain, leave un-
explained. Donot doabt the known,
on account of the unknown. Do not
question fact, because you cannot
penetrate its mode, or see all its con-
sequences. Be content to he man,
and let your Maker hc the God and
then you will be the Christian philo-
sopher in the highest and trucst sense.