Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1859-03-02
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Ihere are QlSpenSatlOnS that we cannot un-
derstand, explain, or justify. Their design is
shrouded in thick darkness, and the soul quak-
ing with dread, must either refer them to the
Divine Wisdom, or break forth into rebellion.
They appeal exclusively to faith. We must be-
questioning submission produced by the convic-
ton that It, is right, because God has done it.
only can save US from doubts, blasphemy and
despair. But all the evils we are called to en-
dure do not seem to be at war with the priuci-
pies fjustice. We often realise that the rod is
in the hand of love, and while suffering from
the strokes, we praise and adore. Reason, en-
lightcned and sanctifed, perccives clearly the
justness, the propricty, the necessity of the
affliction. The object aimed at is.of such high
Importance, that to attain it We regard no duty
impracticabie, no difficulty insurmountable, no
pain too severe.
There are other occurrences not embraced in
either of these classes, that have been egregi-
ouSly misinterpreted. They have been made to
give forth false utterances BY an unconscious
act of mental ventriloquism, we have thrown
into them the voice of our own thoughtless Won
der; We have listened to the deluSive answers,
and failing to recognize it we have fancied that
God had spoken. Events of this description are
very numerous, and as the effects, they are
often so closely and obviously connected with
their causes, that we are surprised at the COM
plete separation that is effected between them.
And yet we delight to contemplate them alone,
though when thus isolated they are harsh and
inexplicable. We seem to take an unnatural
pleasure in creating doubts when all is as clear
as the noon-day. We make the event strange
and terrible, by shrouding it in the cloud of
mystery-and we are content to have the pro-
bem we have forced it to propose unsolved, if
We are only allowed the luxury of trembling.
Soles of incredible thinness admit the damp
ness on which the maiden, fresh from the heated
room, is treading. Her teeth chatter so that
she can hardly articulate, and the frosty air
finds easy access through the pores and into the
lungs. 1t is her last walk beneath the stars
Everybody is overwhelmed at the mysterious.
ness of this providence. We all exclaim-how
sad that one so young, beautiful and lovely
should be taken away 1t is sad, but it is not
strange. The ground claimed her that night !;
she dared it in those paper-soes. Death was
in that icy wind that shook her delicate frame.
And yet who connects the shoes and the low
necked dress, and, the insufficient drapery and
the uncovered head, with the sickness 0f which
she died2
A man deliberately sets to work to and digs
his grave with his knife and fork, After many
years Of uncomfortable labor, it is Completed.
Hc gorges himself with one more supper, goes
tv bed, tosses a.d SHORES through few hours
of heavy slumber, then rolls toaming at the
tHouth into the waiting tomb. We hear the
walls and sobs of the bereavcd, and we cry out in
our sympathy, "wlat q mysterious dispensa-
tionm 10 draw the mind from the contempla-
tion of the melancholy event, ministers expa-
tate eloquently on the divine mercy, as though
the grief we are forced to witness might cause
Us to call this attribute in question. VSocieties
parade their stereotyped g inscrutable;" and
piety Looks to the rcvealmcnts of the great day
when the ways of the Most High shall all Lc
vindicated.
All this is most absurdly irrelevant. These
words are singuarly out of place; these reilcc-
tions are not suggested by the event. Common
sense sees no cloud hanging over this sudden
and violent exit into the silent land. 1t has no
ear for the lofty strain about the dark designs
Of Providence. 1t sees no reason iii waiting for
an explanation of the visitation, but says out
right and bluntly, that the man died Of gluttony.
Having tramped on Natures laws, she arose in
her might and punished the transgressor. 1t is
painful to behold the tears of the mourners, but
does the grief constitute the bereavement mys-
terious dispensation Let Us be careful, lest in
our pity for the sorrow, We do not impugn the
eternal wisdom and goodness, for there is very
often sin in that ill-used word, Mystery. Those
suppers, not Providence, caused the death. The