Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1861-07-25
AMERICAN HISTORY.


! present national glory. They delight in
recalling the acts Of their fathers, the vic
tories gained by their heroic men halo
Of light encircles the most ordinary Incl
dents, and the symbols transmitted seem
sacred as if sent from God. The inspired
writers act upon this universal disposition
OF mankind, and repeatedly recount the
historical events of the nation, differing
chiefly, however, from other historians, as
they make God everything and man no
thing. The great men of Israel are the
men little in their own sight, but strong in
faith. Moses only .Johlo,rS the cloud and
pillar of fire. Joshua is strong only as he
lays hold Of the strength of God. The
glory Of the nation is not in men, but in
the fact that Jehovah Is their covenant
Goi. Hence, there is in their sacred
records no gloriication Of han: there are
no epic or dramatic poems History and
poetry both call upon him that glorieth to
glory in the Lord. But God is in all his
tory, and it j, the part OF the Christian to
search for the signs Of his power and pro-
yidcnce and may we not hope the day is
approaching when historians shall recog-
nize the agency Of the Kin Of king, III
the movements they record: w!.n they
shall feel that a great part. Of their work
j. to di~coy T., and bring before the eye
ever abe evidences oi "a contf Jlliug. inyl>i-
bic Power: Ia tacl. hi-tary is never
seen in it, grandeur separated from the
purpose OF God a. revealed in h.- word
il Is heaviug. restless sea without bound.
without design. sometimes comparatively
calm. and sometimes -wepE with storms.
but finally wc;.s i>ome 10 tlbe eye, and Civ
ing 10 instruction to the d cart
Itrequiras no very clo-f observation to
discern in our own matt bn+! history the
special providence Of God and. therefore
no very strong faith 10 a hticipate spe-
cial and glorious destiny, llnless We madly
renounce the guidance Of Him who has
thus far led us on our way. A. Chris
tians. it becomes u- 10 ask Why has this
vast continent. stored with riches ot every
kind. and mines OF gold q hd silver, Tlth
fuel for decades OF centuries, bless with
- .-4.I and cliEaate alEapted 10 every variety
of production and to all races Cf Tne fan1l-
, IL OF man. hidden away ftom the civilized
world until about the ii me Of the great
, Reformation Why d b q pe.tiIencc
sweep a large proportion Of the savage
: tribes from this Western wilderness. be
: fore the coming OF the white men: Why
were the Puritan~ driven TO Holland be-
fore emigrating to this continent. if not 10
gain another element OF power in the idea
Of the schoolhou,e and universal educa-
7 ton Why were the cmigrants cast here
: and there in regions widely separated,
often against their will. if not for the.for-
5 nation of distinct States Why was the
English nation permitted to become the
single ruling power over all the thirteen
colonies. if it were not that all might COM
bine against the single oppressor, and
thus all be united in a common bond =
And with all this man had nothing TO do,
nor could the wisest statesman have COM
pretended the divine purposes. This ma
ton was formed by God,and much As we
admire the wisdom OF our fathers. with
r all respect to be said. their wisdom lay in
, following the leadings Of Him who walk
ed before them and whose footsteps the
dimmest eve can see. The vast proper
ton of the founders of this nation were
Gods own people. Tkey came bringing
his word with them. They built every
: where houses for his worship E; nor his
there been step taken in our natlona!
progress. without prayer from the thou
sands OF his children
] II we pass on to the Revolution, the
signs of Divine interference are 80 re-
markable. that even infdelity has conteS-
| sed a higher Power than man. \ vol
; ume might he written upon this subject
but out of the multitude OF evidences OF
! Gods pro5identiaI care Of IL, let Us take
one. the appearance Of George Washing
y ton. and no other man. a. the guide OF
> the Revolution. lie was not the man rt
should have chosen his qualities were
v not-ehining he was not man after the
E, American heart he aroused no wild en-
; thusiasm and foreigners 10 this day
speak Of Washington as possessing kind
, of neqaftrq character, and ask-'N hat
. great thing did he do T We answer, dc
y was man sent of God, and he accom-
u plished the most magnificent work OF
Il these cent? thries. He possessed the very
qualities and they were high and noble,)
| needed for his peculiar work, but not
e those which would have been dangerous
;. and the exhibition of which would have
o stirred the passions Of the multitude, anC
J have led to a despotism he was calm
cautious, firm, patient, patriotic, and hi
character becomes more attractive a
+ time passes away.
5 But let us come down to our owl
5 times Many have complained that on
e Government had not accumulated larg
d er army and navy; but who does noS nov
II see that this would but have increased
r the power of the enemy that it is by
+ kind Providence We are called upon t
I create q navy cor<. rather 1'H 5eGor