The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1858-12-09

have been experienced, will be, in various
ways, an advantage, materially, to our
country, in the end. True, we have
suffered the inconveniences of these re-
verses. We still experience Il IA. But
there is reason to believe that the return
ing prosperity of our country will rest
upon surer and more permanent basis.
This will certainly be so, unless the les
sons of the past are forgotten.
If the teachings of Providence in these
visitations are improved, they will also
be an advantage to us spiritually. A
number of years of almost uninterrupted
prosperity had been made the occasion of
fostering spirit of absorbing worldli
ness, and, in many instances, of reckless
speculation. Material interests seemed
to engross the whole attention of men.
A tide Of worldliness, sweeping over the
country, threatened to engulf everything
else in its vortex. There seemed to be
almost moral necessity for the occur
renee Of something to call away the at
tention Of men from this absorbing pur-
suit Of material interests, to the consider
alton of those interests which are spirit
ual and eternal. Now, the reyerses
which have overtaken us are eminently
adapted to this purpose. God, in his
providence, has been teaching us in les
sons that ought to be understood and re-
garded, that material interests are not all
important-that the things of time are
perishable-that we need portion which
this world does not, and cannot, afford,
to satisfy the wants Of the deathless spir-
it. These lessons ought to be SO learned
as to lead us to the unfailing source of all
true happiness. And if such be their
result, it will not have been in vain that
God has sent these yisitations of his prov
idence. Instead of murmuring. We shall
regard them as part of the discipline
which we ourselves had rendered neces-
sary. And in yonder world we shall
bless Him for the means by which We
have been brought into, or kept in, the
pathway to Immortality.
These reverses are not, then, unmiti-
gated calamities. Even in a material
p0iSt, 3 s sia~ si,' 'hera are many alleviating
"a aCuinziances attending them. NffS.s.!s NfsS ~.
regarded in their spiritual bearings, they
are but " blessings in Disguise" We
see the sun of righteousness breaking
forth from behind the cloud of ofadversity,
and the rainbow of promise being paint
ed upon the bosom Of that cloud. But
even if they were unmitigated calamities,
the blessings which God has Withdrawn
from us are not tithe of those which he
has left us. They are not tithe of the
bounties of His providence and grace,
which, unworthy as We are, we are still
permitted to enjoy.
Nothing to be thankful for 90 In
deed !? Why, my friend, have you
thought Of life, and of Him who has
conferred it upon you and sustains it in
existence ? Have you thought of the
health that has prevailed in our commu-
nifty, while the pestilence, like the angel
of death, has been lowering over some
parts of our country, blig ghting with its
witEering breath the tondest hopes of
many heart? Have you thought of
your intellectual faculties, and of the OBJ
jects, numerous and diversified, that tend
to unfold these faculties. and open to you
sources Of elevated enjoyment Have
you thought of the peace and security
that surround us, whilst vast portions of
our globe have been involved in all the
horrors of war Have you thought of
your social enjoyments--of the endear-
ing relations of parent and child-hus-
band and wife-brother and sister
friend and friend-and Of all the gen
tie charities OF life :" Have you thought
of your civil privileges, such as are pos
sesscd by no other people ON the face of
the globe ? Have you thought of your
country, its history, its present position
among the nations of the earth. its future
prospects /? Have you thought of our
own highly favored land of the west
unsurpassed in salubrity of climate and
fertility of soil-with its beautiful streams
and magnificent prairies ready to pour
forth into the lap Of industry its pro-
ducts in rich exuberance ? And finally
mot to continue the enumeration--haye
YOU thought Of your religious advanta-
ges, of the redemption provided by the
great Impanuel, Of the precious gift Of
the Spirit, of the Day of Grace. of the
means and appliances of the Gospel. Of
all the blessings which Christianity strews