Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1868-12-01

our Father and our Friend. We see
him constantly unfolding his glorious
designs. He measures the waters In
the hollow OF his hand, metes out the
heavens with span, comprehends the
dust of the earth in a measure, weighs
the mountains in scales and the hills in
a balance. He sits upon thecircle of
the earth, and the inhabitants thereof
are as gfasshoppers. He brings prime
es to nothing, and makes the judges of
the earth vanity. Can such charac-
ter enter the human mind, can the
least glimpse or shadow of it be per-
ceived, and not make an impression
on the heart? Can there be any sys-
TEN of truth so adapted to fill and sat
isfy the soul? But further, God is dis
closed to US in a light Just adapted to
oar aOeak UsSion. Just such being
as man is, guilty, and filled with that
natural distrust and fear which guilt
engenders, is taught to look up to
the infinite and holy God, to have
confidence IN him, and to say My Faith
er. We have "God manifest in the
flesh" Here the affections cease their
restless vibrations. and are fixed for
ever, like the needle toward the pole.
The rush and change of little things
below no more disturb them. They
have fonnd an object satisfying be-
cause perfect and Interchangeable. and
there is provision both for perfect
happiness and for its perpetuity and
augmentation forever. There is some
thing here strangely in contrast to the
false, and cold, and stoical systems of
the world
And the Bible thus by presenting
God in appropriate view to man as
the object Of his love proves further
its adaptation to the heart by giving
all needed sympathy and support IN tri-
al, and encouraging hope BY its repre-.
sentations Of the future. Grief is not a
Weak akneSS, nor are we trained TO in.
sensibility under sorrow. The Bible
is iDdulgent to our frailty, and fur.
niSheS a balm to heal. Sorrows come
not by blind fate, but by the providence
OF kind parent, whose gentle di5ci
pline and chastening hand is laid up
on those he loves. There is sympa
thy even when we suffer. For ''like
as a father pitieth his children so the
Lord pitieth them that fear him, anC
our great High Priest is touched
with the feeling OF our infrmities. =
How much of consolation and comfort
is contained in that shortest verse of
Bible, "JesuS wept = And those in
visible scenes of the future world, The
heaven of the Bible, towards whicf
we are encouraged TO look, is no Mo
hammedan sensualism, nor Il panthe
i8tlc absorption into Deity, but an ac
tuai social state Of perfect union anC
pure affection. There are no scenes
when tend so TO enraptnre The soul
none so desirable and sufficient a,
those connected with the revelation of
the New Jerusalem, the a5Odes ant
empi0yments of those who shall y,
sons and heirs OF God, and to whom
the whole creation shall be given. 81
J far as it may subserve their enjoy
t ment. What elements or representa-
tions can be found better adapted t,
a being with a heart; to a sinful be
ing whose heart needs purifying. Th
, whole strength of affection is eliciteC
} and the strongest affections rise an,
= expand iii unimpeded vigor. Tina
heart which remains unmoved mus
, indeed be harder than the nethe
mill stone. And this leads US to an
other thought, viz:
lN. The power of the word of Go,
, is manifested IN its adaptation to nor
s the soiU, The will is the personal
executive and voluntary force of ou
being, and is inseperably connecte,
t with the reason, the conscience, ant
/ the heart. 1t is the fountain of all ac
ton, and hence of character. And
goes forth in action only as draw
forth, or impeiied by motive. An,
the power of the Bible is seen in it
, adaptation, through the highest chan
nels, to apply this moving force. |
: leads to the highest range of menta
activity, it quickens the conscience
and awakens the affections, and thrc
) these, as a result it moves the individ
) ual will. just in proportion as an
: system takes. hold of the mind, an,
/ conscience, and heart, it is adapted t.
: move the will.
We must perceive the truth, an,
5 know our duty, and love them bott
! before we receive the one, or do th
other. The Bible, therefore, as adaE
ted to act upon the former, tends t,
, concentrate its power upon the latter
This is its design. 1t was not give
, for the former objects merely in them
selves, but for the latter. 1t deal
) with men in just this sphere. Its all
l is to influence human violation. ]
| therefore takes men as they are. |
, eXalts the value of the individual soul
| 1t sets the individual man to search
/ ing after God. 1t stimulates the sens
of individual responsibility, evoke
: the consciousness of individual sin
} and invites to the embrace of mere,
and of love. 1t sets forth the conse
, quences of human conduct; opens th,
, pit of woe, and unveils the glories OF
heaven.
The views both of duty and of tru
interest it sets before the man, ant
! these combine to furnish motives OF