Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1866-05-11
God in Nature.


and goodness are manifested. We
here leave the mechanics of nature and
come to speak of facts with which we
are more familiar. Let US mark the
utility of air, water, and fire. These
are the elements which preserve our
lives, minister to our comfort, and pro-
duce the great changes constantly 60
ing on in the physical world.
The air supplies the lungs, supports
fire, conveys sounds, reflects light, diff
fuses smells, gives rain, watts ships,
and bears up birds. Water, besides
maintaining itsown inhabitants, is the
nourisher ofplants, and through them,
of animals; is the basis Of their juices
and fluids; dilutes their food, quenches
their thirst, and floats their burdens
Fire dissolves, warns and enlightens,
anu IS the great promoter of animal
and vegetable life. And does not the
air invest the earth for a specific pur-
pose? There would seem to be no
reason why air should exist except to
act its part in the economy of Nature.
And how great its utility. Without
air, no light could be reflected, no
water evaporated, no animal or vegc-
table life sustained.
And the water soaks the earth, runs
down our hillsides, fills the air with
vapor, and the ocean with its own un-
wasting element. And what is water :?
1t is not wine, nor oil, nor acid. If it
was either, the fish in the sea would
all die; plants would wither, and ami
mails perish. "No water, no vege-
tables; no vegetables, no animals; no
animals no men," And how wonder
ful the property in both air and water
to purify themselves. Without this
power, gained by agitation, TIL G y
would soon become destructive pois
ons. There is no waste, but constant
motion, and this activity rides these
elements of their impurities.
Look at the navigating nature ot
water. To-day it is foaming and boil
/ ing in the ocean; tomorrow it /,
seen floating in the atmosphere in thC
form Of clouds, protecting US from the
scorching rays of the sun, or rehectins
its gorgeous colorS at dawn and Sc
of day. Soon it is waited to the dis
tant hillside to feed the failing spring
it hangs over the meadows to wateI
the parched grass: it trickles d0wI
the cragged rocks, forms the rill, til,
rivulet. the river, and now begins IT
long journey back to the ocean, bu
only to return ere long on its mission
of mercy to the destitute and needy
That same ''cup of water which once
qnenched the thirst of Moses in tn
wilderness after having been diStille'
from the clouds ten thousand times i
its endless round of circulation, ma
now stand upon our own table to mini;
ter to our comfort and sustain ou
life
And fire does far more for us tha
we are aware. 1t boilS liquids, melt
metals, tempers the atmosphere, an
, subserves, in many ways, TO our n
ccssities, convenience and happines
And observe here its relation to I'll
, other elements. Were it not for I'll
, presence of heat, all fluids would b
come solid. The ocean itself wouI
I be q quarry of perpetual ice and III
versal nature become stiff and dear
Water could not perform its Office {
! the earth without air, nor exist ;
water, without fire. Hence, these cl
ments are not only adapted to Il
n purposes of organized life, but su
7 tain an inseparable relation and
,. mutual adaptation to each other.
And light furnishes a climax to I'll
grand display of wisdom and desi9
! We will not undertake to explain VIII
- light is, but who can fail to acllnov
% edge its utility in the wonderful econ
a my of nature? How necessary, he
N abundant and how admirably adapt
7 to its various uses.
NJ And we may here notice two spec
\ arrangements in nature which indlca
"a special design:
:, /. The refraction of light caus
m by the atmosphere. This gives US Q
i. twilight, morning and evening,-tl
= bcnefcient arrangement which caus
- - us of his return to dispel the shade
- of night and light up the day. lftht
~ was no twilight, we should be insta
:; :, lv ushcd into utter darkness to liz
in the morning.
2. Heat expands and cold contraC
This is the law, and if there was
re exception in the case of water,
81 wells and rivers and ponds and lal
i'll. would become mass OF solid
at which would never become liquid
ur But to save US from such consequent
ps an exception to this law has b.
ry made. Cold expands when water
mt comes ice which makes it lighter ii
to water. and causes it to swim upon
do surface and thus protects the sire
ad, or lake from freezing. Otherwise
in would sink to the bottom as fast
.hy ice is formed, until the whole '
bc congealed as before intimated. Ii
es, wonderful are the works of our Cl
of tor, as here manifested, and yet, til
Of is no end to the examples OF Wise
and skill and design, in this univt
II of ours. Let us worship and ado
ere - ------ -
A dog of the female persua
us which had large q interesting fan
vot was seen trying to poke a piece
re. Grape through the handle of the
of sausage shop in western
1t is singular to notice the wondt
instinct of some dumb animals.
lins ---.--
do One day, at farm house, wag
ora an old pObbler try to cat the str