Weekly Trinity journal., 1867-09-14
WEEKLY TRINITY JOURNAL.
The Finger OF God.


Headley, remarking on the Bull Run defeat in
his " History OF the Rebellion says "To the
believer in an overruling Providence. there will
appear for this defeat tina, are not laid
down in military books" The man who sees
with an eye Of faith, has wider sweep for his
mental vision, and matter much greater 10 CON.
template, than is involved in any one circum
stance preceding, pending or since the war.
Eternity is Gods, and He works more slowly
ana win greater complications OF purpose thar
are apparent to man.
We base our argument on tie general aver
ment that wrong must right itself The proof
may not be furnished in the life of an individual
or of generation, but it is certain to occur dur
ing the history of nation. II will in fact
constitute that history, with moral to be imi-
tated, or M example TO be avoided. Ii any part
OF the flesh receives a splinter, which is matter
ioreign to its quality and design sore is the
consequence, which testers, and produces pain
that must be overcome, or the member of the
BODY which contains it will endanger, if it does
not actually destroy life.
This smile is used 10 illustrate the former
lstence OF slavery. 1t disease fastened
upon the Southern States to which they refu sed
to apply remedy, and the Providence of God,
by its deliberate workings, provided a cure tor 1t
in the end.
The wise founders of onr Constitution would
not allow the word slavery" to blot the pages
o! that instrument. This was the first lDdIca-
ton that it was considered wrong. Certain of
the States in which it was recognized took the
earliest possible measures to get rid of it. Ma
son and Dixons line was run, that the North
might have a boundary to which il could point,
beyond which the barbarous institution dare not
intrude itself. These measures were the work
of GOODNESS and dclibrration. Bur they
gaIdrd with jealousy by the gully and suspi-
cious Shareholders. When new Slutes were
made, they clamored for the extension OF the
evil. They succeeded in getting it into Missouri
and Texas. compromise followed. This was
an attempt to heal the wound with the splinter
In 1T. But it suppurated. The scab was torn
off by the Southerners them selves, by repeating
the statute which kept it from spreading. From
this period dated the doom of slavery. The
finger of God became visible in pointing to its
destruction
Following the Kansas difficulties, wns the up
raising of the Republican party which gained
possession of the Government. Its triumph pre-
cpitated the rebellion. The North was divided
in sentiment until after the repulse of Bull Run.
That defeat sent blush of shame abroad which
aroused the pride and heroism of the great mass
OF the people. 1t also taught them a lesson of
caution. They had been boastful of their
str myth, and too confident in their ability to
make short work Of a rebellion, the stupcndous
proportions of whnh they had not yet been able
so much as to conf lecture. AS the people became
more earnest, the Government began more to
show its power. The Emancipation Procama-
ton was published Victory after victory fol-
lowed, and triumph finally rested with the Fed
eral arms.
Here it might be said the vengeance of man
ended. Not SO the determination of God Mans
weapons had served scourge. 1t remained
with God 10 chasten. Famine followed defeat
in the South Floods such as the country had
never experienced before, swept the face of
the country, destroying levees, and destroying
entire plantations. Starvation ensued epdem-
les broke out and those who had been nso-
lent in the day of their wicked giorv
so far Inundated 10 be compelled to beg the
bread of those who had been their conquerers /!
The Union party need not fear of success. The
anger of God has not yet been turned aside
His purpose still remains to be accomplished
Reconstruction is papably of His plan. 1t is
only part and parcel of the human agency
which He has 50 conspcuously favored; and
those who set themselves against it will go down
rs the Sou'h went down. There is resisting
the DEGREES of Heaven Santa Cruz Times.