Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1868-08-14


tions by those keen infections of re
morse, which form tho penalties of its
violated law. Tho idea of supcrin-
tendency and supremacy is a necessa,
ry constituent in our apprehension of
this faculty, and belongs to it from
tho worry economy and constitution OF
our nature. "Had it strength as it
has right" says Bishop Butler, chad
it power as it has manifest authority
it would absolutely govern the
world" An internal monitor and
over present judge, it suggests neces-
sarily the conviction Of tho existence
of Supreme Judge and sovereign
ruler who placed it in tho human
breast, rs the representative Of his au
thority, and tho wtnoss of his will
and character. TO borrow the Ian
guage of Chalmers, "There is dopth
OF mystery in everything connected
with the existence or the origin of
evil in creation, yet oven in the fer.
cost uproar of our stormy passions,
conscience, though in her softcst
whispers, gives to the supremacy of
roctitudo, the voico of an undying
testimony, and her light still shining
in dark place, her uaqucllcd accents
still hoard, in the loudest outcry of
naturo's rebclIious appetitos, forms
the strongest argument within roach
of the human faculties, that in spite OF
of partial or temporary arrangements,
Supreme Power and Supreme Cool.
ness arc at ono"
Such are some of the proofs which
Natural Theology furnishes of the be-.
ing and attributes of God. They cs.
tab!ish tho existence of Divine Rul-
err seated upon the throne OF the uni
verso, and demonstrate the perfect
ions Of his character. This order
and harmony of nature, these mani.
told adjustments, and adaptations to
mans physical, intellectual, and moral
constitution, this sustaining powor
aud providenLial care, these prompt
ings of the moral law within, nll pro.
claim tho Wise Creator, the Bcnc 6ccnt
Parent, the Moral Governor and the
Righteous Judge. They constrain US
to say,
A. Il
Are but theivarieI God: the rolling yeur
Is full of thee"
Whilst such arc the proof. which
Natural Theology furnishes of the be
ing and attributes of God, it can fur
'nish very littIo light upon tho etatc
and destiny of man. Here it but
proposes problems which it cannot
solve, discloses mysteries which it
cannot f;,thon, and conducts to
labyrinths of difficulty where it can
furnish no guiding clue. But even
here it has q high function to dis
charge. The hopes which it inspires
and the fears which it awalens, fur
nish the motives which prompt
the search and point tho way to that
purer and better light which is reflect.
ed from Gods eternal word. 1t re-
quired no voice from tho Almighty to
teach US that our nature is in ruins.
The world without and the world with
in alike proclaim it. War, and pesti.
lence and famine, disease and sick,
ness and death, all show how the
course and constitution of nature has
been disordered, and its beauty and
harmony disarranged. The prompt.
ings of each individual consciousness
tells us how much our nature has lost
its original brightness, and its divine
impress, how the natural gradation oi
it's faculties has boon inverted, the su.
premacy Of conscience been lost, and
our whole nature estranged from the
love and alteration which is due to
the creator. Nature discloses our
lost and ruined condition, but it fur
nishes no means of. deliverance-no
city Of refuge from the hand. of the
avenger-no Jacobs ladder reaching
TO the skies-no ark of safety from
tho'stormy pillows of the -deluge: 1t
prompts the enquiry, but it can furnish
no satisfactory response to the ques
tion allow shall fallen man be just
with God" 1t holds up before him
an angry judge and violated law, but
provides no sin-atoning sacrifice. L
discloses a moral Governor of tn.
universe, rewarding virtue and punish
ing vice, and providing future state
where the manifold inequalities ant
Irregularities of this present life o
probation, and discipline shall be fin,
ally and eternaliy adjusted. But how
What mercy can Natural Theolog,
offer to repentant rebels who bav,
braved the justice Of God and don,
despite to the authority Of bis law
Can contritiop make amends 70
transgression The only solution i