Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-03-25
Our Social Uirflr,

written for the Green Mountain Freeman,
There is Divinity that Shapes our Ends.
Poorly indeed can frail man guide his bark
upon the surface of the rough sea of life.-
How often does sad disappointment meet him
everywhere. But he ought not to murmur
at his disap pointments, for they often prove a
blessing, and save US from calamity and ruin.
To-day the bright sun of prosperity extends
her beaming rays over all his designs praise,
glory, and Worldwide name are within his
grasp, crown Of honor presses his noble
and manly brow, and he stands, as it were,
upon the topmost round of the ladder of
fame. But alas one breath of misfortune,
and he Is PROSTATE; noble and ambitious as
he may have been, all his hopes now seem to
be lost; his star of glory, which shone so
brightly few days ago, has departed, and
LOW darkness and eternal gloom will forever
shade him.
But is there not divinity that shapes our
ends :?
Go, if you please, and examine the history
Of the world. Here and there, during all
ages and periods, we shall find that empires
and Kingdoms have fourished while they have
been guided by some unseen hand. Thew
have accumulated wealth and power, but
boasting of their achievements, though cor
rupted by their gains, they now lie PROSTATE
in the dust, for an example to some succeed
ing nation.
In the earliest periods of existence might
have been seen great nation, directing all
her power and skill to build great city and
lofty tower whose height would reach, yea
pierce yon azure vault. With what zeal and
diligence did they day by day pursue their
labors, until an unseen hand arrested them in
their course. These people were frustrated
in their schemes, and that unseen divinity
proceeds with them to the accomplishment Of
his higher and more noble desi gns. Why
they should be thus interrupted in theil
course was, no doubt, great mystery tc
them; but it has proved to be great incen
tive to the whole human race, for as we nov
see the fruits Of tn ir labors, do we not per
ceive that by it mankind were scattered owe
anew and uncultvated world, which was de
signed for their improvement and enjoyment
A divinity also guides the rise and progress
OF nations, and watches over them as the
increase in strength and power. 1t is thi,
also which guides their ends. When he ha
overthrown one he has suffered others to bull
on their ruins.
The magnificent city of Babylon arose i
'splendor and pomp, and we see her becomin
one OF the most powerful cities of the earth
but scarcely had she reached the zenith c
her glory when she was conquered by Cyru.
who founded the Persian Empire, which wa
erected among the newborn nations of III
earth, only in its turn to be brought unde
subsection by Alexander, and upon its ruiz
was reared the powerful Empire of Greece.
Rome, the once proud mistress of til
world, whose streets have flowed with I'll
blood of her own citizens had her powt
wrenched from her hand but finally it r,
suited in world under her own subiectio
forgetting that a Divinity guides the affai
of nations, and being ignorant that her en-
was so near.
Thus nations have arisen, and now ext
only by depending on same unseen hand.-
Perceive how its influence ever has been SCI
guiding every nation from its first existen
to the present time.
Again, divinity has other ends to gui
than those of nations. Man in all his Ii
is guided by it: some strive for honor al
renowll, others for quiet and peaceful Iii
All alike must meet the storms Of life, wa