The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1859-12-08

he made US spiritual beings thatwe might
love, adore and enjoy him. He made all
things beautiful to reflect his glory and
to raise orr thoughts above that which
is base and sinful. How masy things
there are in this world which speak OF
God, had we the ear to listen to the stili
small voice. Ills wisdom, bis power, his
goodness and beuevolence are plainly ini-
pressed upon'ail his works. The Bible
tells US about him, but his works show
him to US Hence the advantage of study
ing the works of nature. II tends to as
sociate. nstural objects vita his dirise at
tributes. When We would cherish the mem
ory of departed friend we hang up he7
picture, or some present sssFo~ed By her,
that this keepsake-nRy esnrinsa4sa retnsne
Us of her And weud,r yoa my friends,
learn to love aud to praise the Aa4heF OF
your being, and have h5m eonsie aa4ly in
your thoughts? Then le.srw te essosiats
his attributes with his works With the
christian philosopher, this is q Aasser OF
daily study and discipline. In she Geaf
of the tree with its nice arrangement e4
veins, tissues, air-cells and stomata, ithro'
which it breathes the vital air, he sees
the wisdom and the skill of the Creator.
The crystal dug out of the earth. with an
giles nathematically perfect, more perfect
than AIRY R,strument or art or man could
Ill sssa them,;. the frost work on the win
dow pane, and the crystalline soow fake,
all illustrate the. skill and perfection OF
His workmanship. In the eommotion of
the elements, ~ the thunder and in tile
storm, he witnesses grander aud sub
lime exhibition of the majesty, the great
uess and the power of the Almighty,
which makes hhn trcmble before Him.
To the christian philosopher Nature, rude
and untouched by human piide and ava
rice, possesses beauty and charms which
no human prO3sctisns oan' equal. To him
the landscape is beautiful, cheering, ex-
hilerating the Slountainr awe. inspiring
whose lofty summit sends up mute praise
to him who laid its foundations; the for
ests are vocal with spirit voices in whis-
pered tones, chanting sylvan lays 20 their
Maker. The summer cloud, huge, mas
sive, informal, like mountain piled on
mountain, towering one above another IN
inimitable grandeur, fills his soal vish
emotions which find expression In praise
and alteration of him whose glory aud ef-
fulgence it faintly portrays. Aud IN the
gorgeous sunset with its expsnse of yel-
low stripes, crimson patches, shapless mas
ses with spangled edse and turrets tip
ped with gold, ha fsncies he can see a
faint outline "ot she holy city, new Jeru-
salem coming down from God out Of
heaven, prepared as bride adorned for
her husband" Such :hosghss as these,
which he is enabled to obtain from yiew-
ing natures works, tends to humble his
pride, and to make him look with con-
tempt upon the ranities and follies, and
sinful pursuits of sensual beings. They
fill his soul, at times with emotions OF
thanksgiving, praise aud worship, which
no tongue or language is adequate to ex-
press They lead him to think more of
himself as an intellectual aud spiritual
being, destined to an immortal being. -
"God has made everything beautiful in
his time" But the beauty he has ex-
hibited to US in this world is not to be
compared with that which aaorns the
mansions he hath prepared for his sauct-
flied ones. Let us then cultivate our
tastes for the beautiful, the pure, the no.
bic and the good in this world, that We
may possess the necessary qualifications
to eAsble us to appreciate, and to enjoy
the richness and spIendor of the glory,
and the greatness and profundity of the
love which surround and dwell in his
sanctuary above.