The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-11-03
rHE AGENCY OF GOD IN OUR WAR

THE AGENCY OF GOD IN OUR WAR.
The ways Of God are inscrutable and past
finding out. They are very different from our
ways. "Man proposes, but God disposesr
There can be no doubt but that there Is a
Divine Providence in much that men and
nations plan and 10. When we think we
are scheming and acting of our own indcpenl-
ent will, we are but blind or unconscious
Instruments for the carrying out ofsomc great,
and wise, and beneacent design OF the
Almighty.
MThe Saviour Of the world tells u.s. in one Of
HIS marvellous teachings, that the hairs of our
head sre numbered, and that a sparrow doe
not fall to the ground without the consent 90.
tbe Father God works, too, for the cxccu
ton of His purposes in this world, not only
through human agency, but oftentimes in
manner that seems to our narrow comprehen-
zion inconsistent with The bcnevolence OF His
nature.
The progress Of the human race in civiliza-
ton since the tunes Of which we have any
authentic history, has been effected through
means, agencies, and methods which may
have appeared offensive to the Divine good
mesa and benignty. Social discords, pcrsecu-
tons, and wars have been powerfully and
principally operative in promoting the moral
and political Improvement Of the world; and
thus, through what had the semblancc Of
unmtigated evil and wickednoss, the best pos
sible issues Tor the felicity and elevation of
society have been accomplished
Without going into an elaborate illustration
OF the truth of the foregoing remark by cita-
tions from the annals of all Christondom, let
US make present practical application Of the
principle by reference 70 events that are
now passing under our own personal obser-
Vaton.
That the Institution Of slavery is opposed to
the religion which Jesus Christ came into the
world to establish, no sane man can doubt.
The cornerstone of that religion, a. the
Author Of il preached it in Judea and el5e-
where, was the golden precept, "LOve thy
neighbor as thyselG" and " Do unto others as
you would have them do unto you." These
Two proverbs strike at the very root OF all in
ustice and oppression, aud of course utter n
solemn and direct protest against that greatest
Of all iniquities which dooms n whole race to
bondage.
The lrst settlers of this North American
continent fed here from tyranny and oppres-
sion. They sought on these shores a refuge
from persecution. They were denied liberty
Of conscience in the Old World; AMI rather
than submit to the wrong, they resolved to
establish In a new and then unsettled and I'M
civilized hemisphere social and political
system which should secure TO all men civil
and religious freedom. During the formative
stage Of that virgin commonwealth which our
"Pngrim Fathers" contemplated in emlgrating
to the savage wilds of Massachusetts, and Vir-
ginia, slavery was unhappily introduced
through the selfish policy Of tho imperial Gov
ernment which then exercised controlling
sway over the social and political conditions
Of the British Colonies in America. 4.
But the introduction here Of slavery at that
early period, under circumstances which the
colOnists could not then resist, did not ncces
sarily make it a permanent institution OF tue
land; and 1t is an honorable fact in ou
national history, that soon after the province
declared and won their Independence OF Eng
land the process of emancipation began, an
went on in peace until the odious institutio
was formally and legally abolished in a Lajorlt
OF OQc OrIel0hl lnINecu lbtlSo vi bhN Chivi'
And now the work OF final and complci
extinction of slavery il proceeding rapidly
cOnsummation. But how? Not so muc
with the consent and by the direct agency
the holders of slaves, as by the Providence
God, working through the blindness and fol
of the shareholders themselves. The Nation
Government, acting under the sanction
military necessity, did much towards sctth
free the bondmen and bondwomcn Of d
South.
But God was not satisfied with that sc
means OF efecting emancipation. He seen
TO have designed that the very advocates
slavery should abolish slavery. He seems
have 10 arranged things that those who p'
sonauy and directly hold the slave shall
compelled, by necessity, 10 unloose his bon
and set him free. Nay, more. God has 50 d
posed affairs, that the slayc-ownar shall Il
only manumit his slaves, but accord to hin
social and political recognition, and end'
him with an estate in land sufficient to iusu
his subsistence and independence by The Y
tue ofhis own free labor.
Thus bag this civil war, over which we
ienorantly and weakly lameutiug, been
Divine means for the wording cut Of gr,
delivera nee of he nation from what was
once national sin and a national incon'
nience and drawback. II hos literally for"
the people and authorities Of the slave Stat
to offer freedom TO their slaves, on conditi
of their military service in support OF
Rebellion; and whatever may be the con
quence OF that offer to the future peace a
unity of this nation, one thing is certain, tl
the odium of slavery will. in any event,
forever erased from the escutcheOn Of t
American people.
STRONG, BUT TBUE.-A distinguished OF
TOR ,,aoanfl,, rarnarIrpd % that we had relg