Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-02-10
Gluitt Yittratnrt.
For the Spirit of the Age.
On the Goodness Of God.

As we gain more knowledge Of the diff
fcrent beings and things which God has
made, we will gain also more and more
proofs Of his existence and Of his amazing
power, wisdom and goodness. We should
let it sink deep into our souls and form a
part Of our daily thoughts and feelings
how much kindness God has shownus, and
is still showing us how many sources of
comfort and Of enjoyment he gives us how
he loves 70 see US be good and do good,
that we may 90, after death, to be with him
for ever, in that bright and beautiful heaven
where all is bliss and all is love. We should
remember too, with the Hveliest feelings of
thankfulness, that God has given us anoth-
er and a brighter light to guide us in the
way to heaven, than that which shines up
on MS from the works of his hands; from
the beings and the things he has made
From these we may learn his amazing
power and goodness, but we cannot learn
from them a great deal that is very impor-
tant for us to know, about God and our
souls, and whittier We viii 90, and what we
will be or do after death.
God has been very kind in giving MS an
other and a brighter light to guide lis into
the knowledge Of these important things
he has given as the Bible-this holy Book
which good men wrote just as God directed
them to write. 1t tells us all that is neces-
sary for us to know with regard to God and
our souls, and our existence after DEATH
The more we study it the wiser we will
grow. The more we love and obey it, the
better and the happier We will be. In the
Bible we read Of Jesus Christ, the Son Of
God, and the only Sayiourof sinners. We
could learn nothing Of this Saviour merely
from the things which God has made
These show us indeed the power, wisdom
and goodness Of God, but not his great love
for MS in giving his well beloved Son to die
for sinners such as we are. BY studying
ever so much the wonderful works of God
in the natural world around us, we could
never find out how our sins are to be
forgiven or whether they could be for
given at all. How thankful then we should
be 10 God for giving us the Bible-and
while we form the habit Of admiring and
loving God, and rs We notice the workman
ship Of his hands in the beings and things
which he has made, we will also form the
habit Of daily going to our Bible, that we
may learn more and more Of Jesus Christ,
and Of the way Of salvation through him
for unless We feel the need of looking to
Christ and of trusting in him as our only
Saviour from the awful punishment which
our sins deserve, all the knowledge that we
may gain Of the works Of nature, and all
the admiration that we may feel of the
power, and wisdom, and goodness of God
in those works, they will be of no use in
preparing us for heaven.
We may sec in these how great and
good a being God is; bnt his power and
goodness will have to be shown in Danish
ing us forever from his presence, if we do
-n9LeSEna4ahip~ih hearts, alt Co,
Iel!llg on TINS Saviour alone for acceptance
with Tod. What a solemn thought. that
we may live in this beautiful world which
God has made, and see in It and in tbe
body which he has given us, so MANY proof.
oithe existence of his wisdom, ofhis power
AMI goodness, and yet fail of having him
Tor our eternal friend. We should prav
and hope with the blessing of God. and the
influences of the holy spirit, thatthey would
leadus to higher views ofhis character. and
to accept the rich offers of his mercy
through Christ. We should 90 to this Sa-
yiour MS sinners with p~enitence, humility
and faith, trust in him with all orr heart
beseech God, for his sake, to give rs the
holy spirit at all times to do his will that
we may henceforth be true disciples of
Christ, loving and obeying the truths which
he has given US in the Bible, imitating'his
example and devoting ourselfto his service.
Then a new beauty and glory would be
shed over all the works of nature which
surround us, and while we admire them as
the workmanship of God, they will lead US
TO look up tohim not only as the great
creator OF all things, but as the God and
ia~tnerofou Lord Jesus Christ, and through
nm the source of all our blessings in this
life and Of endless happiness beyond the
grave. Kinston Leno;r 20 N n