Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1866-10-09
INuNllnuhltAIttI
Divine Providence. Second Article of s.

IL my uFSI dItlCio IcliiTh ca
that did not seek controversy /
therefore did not attempt reply to
the arguments OF Cd" but stated
some things IN which We appeared
to agree and then made brief state
mcnt of the Christian Doctrine OF
Divine Providence. 1t is one thing
to state our views, and quite differ
ent thing to argue against the views
Of another person.
Men Of candor always mean to
g bow to the majesty of truth /
presume there are bigots in all the
sects. But it is my belief that there
are good and candid persons in the
different denominations. All the
members Of the different churches
here, would probably differ more or
less from me, and that in points,
which both they and | should con
slider important. Instead of think
ing that these differences prove us to
be bigots, it seems to me that it may
all be explained. by y consideration
Of the differences Of our mental po-
sition. Our organization, our early
training, onr business in life, our
various opportunities, have much to
do iii fixing our montal position.
! am not partial to controversy, for
| have not seen good come of it.
1t is often found, that men do not
understand each other. Notice one
point in ads" second article to IL
lustrate this statement. | stated,
If by ''directed," is meant. that the
God we worship has not given up The
| government to wicked men or blind
chance we don't object to the term.
ID in referring to that says, 1" S
speaks of blind chance in contra,
distinction to- the operation Of Di~
vine Providence with i'll concealed
displeasure at the possibility Of
thought, that chance enters at all in
the affairs Of the Universe" Now
| can assure . Ii " that had no idea
Of displeasuro at 5 Gu thought.
Ii he understood my views in full,
he would not have misunderstood
nae here. | make this statement
now, merely to show one of the
little difficulties attending controver-
sy. Bat further ! could have used
almost every word that d" has
concerning chance" without the
least mistrust that. it was initiating
against the doctrine Of Divine Prov
idence. Perhaps it will be asked,
how can that be? | answer Just as
as | might speak Of thousand
things according to the appearance.
But true science teaches rs that the
apPdfeGt, is IN the real. The appa-
rent is near us. The real is a larger
circle, rs we progress in knowledge,
we learn to look through the appa-
rent to the real. SO all the operas
tions of chance, all the prudence of
man, all the laws of nature are
things near Us. Outside Of all these
things is the great circle of Divine
Pro evidence. | say, outside; but it
is still to be kept in mind, that the
Divine fills all space without space,
and all time without time. SO it is
only in accommodation TO natural
thought that we use such 4 figure.
Let me state further, that the doc
trine OF Divine Providence, is too
near my heart, for me to feel like de-
batting it. | learn it from that Holy
volume, which my puritanic father
loved, and honored. | learned il in
my childhood. But Rerason bap-
tised me when an adult" | seem to
hear voice from that Divine Word,
saying 1T your communication be,
yea, yea, nay, nay" teaching me to
state my belief, to tell what | believe,
or do not believe, and let it rest
/ there.
In reference to the request of " D
for me to give my views at length
i the doctrine OF Individual volition
and responsibility, and the doctrine
of an over-ruling Providence it
would give me much pleasure to do
so. But it would not be practical
bic in the columns Of news paper
unless in q series of articles, and at
the present time, | have to work too
too hard with too feeble health to do
justice to the subject A few re-
marks at this time must suffice. If
the term controlling which d ;"
uses, is meant in the sense Of orer,
po1perjag, We object to it; for it
would be taking away mans voIition
and responsibility. The Divine
Providence governs man not by ia
king away his freedom, but by pre-
serving it as freedom IS an essen
tial condition of mans being or cx-
istcncc as man. But it is possible
that /" = " understands even the term
orer,rRle, in a sense different from
me. Ny view in short is this. Evil
Is permitted, because freedom is es-
sentiaI to man. The abuse of free
dom produces evil. Is is evil itself.
Providence ovesrules the evil OF
wicked men. Providence controls,
in the sense Of restraining, accor-
ding to that comprehensive text in
the Psalms, when teaches, that the
wrath Of man shall praise. God, and
the remainder Of wrath He will re-
strain. In the slave holders rebel
lion for the establishment Of gov
ernment to perpotuate slavery, it il
ovcr-rulcd for the overthrow Of sla
livery. No more evil is permitted
than can be over-rulcd tor the great
est good in the aggregate.
History illustrates this especially
|