The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1860-12-22

who deny altogether His cX lSicncc and WIN
! live III the world as If there were no God is
! comparatively small. No doubt of that. Yet.
on the o.hcr hand the number of those who
| practically recognize and net according ia
| his particular providence is small sadly
al rmnely Small.
! There is the m4n Of inhd>l tcntlrnrics. -,
the cold skcptic; he dispaccs the Deity
! Tom the active nnn"erm' mt Of the world and
dissolved the permanrnt relationship existing
/ between Him and the world. lie refuses to
believe tina, Gol has any concern frr the
world or the affairs OF mcn in it that lie has
devised any scheme for the henefac:lnn Of
n.n. OF that he eyrriS any sort Of providen-
! tinl government lie denies all those init
mate, comforting relations existing on the
part Of man To his Creator, such as subjects
tn a sovereign children to n father. servant :,
To master. friend 10 a brother. Such a man
renders himself totally disqualified to feel
| gratitude for a"y good thing he may possess
and enjoy. These observations apply equally
10 those on,lawrd. Acknowledging sinners
who. in their words and actions, have not
the fear "f God before their eyes, and no re-
sroct for HUI in their hearts. These men
fling aside lie laws Of G,d. Doubtless they
admit Him to be a providpntia rul,r that
lie is the gracious eovciror Of the universe /:
that His Bible is true: that christianity is n
reality III theory but they have no practical
| faith. They are in state of wlllfnl ard
obstinate rebellion against God. Openly
resisting His laws, the gratitude they pretend
to becomes nothing less than mockcry anil
base hypocrisu.
But We fear this practical denial of God S
providence is not confined to these classes. -
Strange End contradictory as it may seem,
are not evidences OF it found among those
who profess living and spiritual faith in
him. What sentiments than those of practi-
cal ah'l.m arc contained in those l,lanls
and reckless sayings against wind and wealth.
er. and adverse seasons, uttered all over the
land Or it such be not the sentiments, is
tins truth ever present with us in anything
Ike its glorious power. moulding and guild
ing onr lives, sustaining and nc:ving us fl
right action! Do We practically see Him
As lie appears in the words o! the text, and
at one day will he recognized on the
earth. ordering the ram and that in It's sea.
sen spreading the lands with their hnrvcsts
and d'essng the trees Of the fields with lruil {!
Yea, He appears as the universal donor
giving all that we possess. Everything comes
'rom Hun TO us = thu recipients Of HIS bounty.
ucily poor, we call nothing ,ur own Even
our very being is His g,f. and the number Of
days. and the hairs Of tie head are known to
linn. But notw outstanding the facts arc 50
CHAR and unc"ntiovei ahlr. 1t is mechanically
t" know there are many who practically put
G"d away f:um their thoughts, and as il
were take no account of Him in the Inventory
Of their blessings aud poss, >Sions. possess
'lci'cs says one. Riches made hv my own
hand and skill. am sha,p.nind,i and
Slfcwd. | have a tact fDr.bu>incSS, ! knew
where the god lay concealed, and dug cut
| the treasure. Says another. | have strength
| and activity OF bone and muscle. AIN master
OF a ilour,>hing business, have built houses
win my money. am respectable, and sur.
rounded with honc splendid and ample:
provided with an abundance of goods says
another. And these, if they do not d, clare
it. thank themselves for their possessions.
thus = sacrificing unto lh,ii net, aud burning
incense u"t" their drag" Practically, God
, finds no place IN the Infringement OF their
iIte'S affairs.
Now it is rlHin, that such persons ,lisqual-
| lily themselves for the performance Of such
duty as Is trtoic us to-day. Aud il they
yield To the custom at all. it is with low
sense OF It's piop'icty. and as low an spprccla-
ton of its Pleasures Our thank offering this
morning. will, in this regard. partake nuch
Of the spirit which we have cultivated during
the year past.
BIT we remark in The mart pLcc
That our recognition of Gods particular
providence must no, be limited to the ,hysi
cal, it must extend also to the moral and
spiritual "oi !d.--a providence that not only
regards the body Of tho man, but his soul and
al lis interests; yea, moreover providence
extending to his thoughts, dispositions, and
afec;ons.-a providence accomplishing all
those incidents which nskc uu Il mans NOR
al character through whole rt-,me-
Such u providence as includes a supernatural
and spiritual influence on the souls of men,
answering prayer, holding ,hem back from
wrong. and imrelling to good. as looks
with spiritual purity, and with disarrohation
on sin, as Will punish moral and spiritual
obl'qny here and hereafter, and reward
with favor She upright in heart.
Such know ledge If God is necessary n
| knowledge Of the living and true God. Yea.
oars must be the only living and true Gml,
the Cod Of til" hhr. = the God of heaven :;
tina; Gud whose governmental power is exert
cd throughout the entire physical system IN
Guiding as we'll the loahsome worm, as the
shining world the fight of the sparrow MS
that Of an Angela God whose care extends
likewise to the spiritual world controlling
as we'll the thoughts Of man. as the wind of
heaven. the shades Of temper as the color of
the landscape.
We pass now to the ihim particular under
this gcnual head, which is. That we obey
him. Tina, we walk in His statutes and
Keep His commandments to do them" Ifso :