Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-12-07
Divine Providence.
NO. 9.

NO. 3.
In n former article we alluded to the
practical bearings of the great truth of
Gods providence in our world, and the im
portance of correct views of the same and
we also glanced at the general tactof prov
idence, as shown by the bible, and corrob
Grated by human experience, and the WISH
Bile harmonies Of the world around u.s.
But now the question comes in more def
mite form: What is Digine Providence in
its clear, fuH truthful idea? What is ex-
actly that truth which we should appre-
bend and realize as our comfort and guide
There is, we believe, definite truth here
which should be made to stand out in bold
relief against the confusion and false con-
ceptions of the great mass Of minds. And
the question becomes the more important
on account of that bewilderment and rad-
cal error into which men everywhere
plunge themselves. We must keep close
to Revelation and faith, or we inevitably
90 astray.
Divine providence on earth has been
well defined as, "G0d in action, in all the
polcers Of His nature, and the full spleador
of HIS moral excellence, as a0eH as Of His
personal kindness, among men and for Them"
The Shorter Catechism has this language:
"Gods 1corts Of precedence are His most no.
IL, Dise and poCerW preserving and gorer-
ming all His creatures, and aHtleir actions"
Here are two distinct misrepresentation
and government or control. Preservation
is equivalent to continued creation. The
same power originally put forth is exerted
at every moment, and everything is so up
held by the Divine hand that should that
support be withdrawn no created thing
could continue to exist for a single mo-
ment. And this work of preservation not
only continues created things in being, but
continues them in possession of their ap-
propriate qualities and attributes, and in
subsection to the laws which were origin
ally given them. Material things are pre-
served with all the properties, and subject
to all the conditions and laws of matter
and mind is preserved with all the condi-
tons, laws and properties Of mind.
But this is not all. If we stop here we
have only blank and cherries Deism. 1t
is not enough that God has created the
worlds of matter and Of mind that he has
given to each its peculiar properties, mo-
tions, and laws; and that in the full pos
session of these he holds each in existence
in short, that the great machine, like a
piece of human mechanism, is once in OPP
Grafton and will now run on of itself. This
is very inadequate view. There is need
ofthe constant present power Of the Great
Architect to supply the requisite momen-
tum, and to guide the wheels. Therefore
to complete our view, and set ourselves up
on the right foundation, we must include
the idea of government, or control. This
implies the absolute disposal of all things
and the government of free and responsible
beings. We are not now concerned with
the harmony of human freedom and Di'
vine control. This is one Of those great
mysteries the part Of which only is reveal
ed, and which never troubles the real hum
BILE believer of Gods word. 1t is enough
for US that while man is free, and respon
sible for all his acts God is yet the Su
preme disposer of all events. "He work
eth all things according to the counsel o
His own will" All the changes taking
place in the universe from the highest t
the lowest, from the greatest to the least
in the worlds Of matter and of mind, ar
the results in some way Of his CONTROL
They are all to be included in his work o
providence. He has created free and re
sponsible agents-He upholds them, ant
administers government over them, not in
deed by laws Of physical force, but by mo
tives and sanctions consistent with thei
moral being. He governs moral beings a
moral beings, and not as irresponsible ma
chimes.
And all this work, the administration
and direction of forces in both the materia
and the moral world, must be embraced il
our complete idea of that term providence
1t is all Gods work-under the direction
Of his infinite wisdom and goodness, an
executed by his power. 1t is not all in
deed executed in the same manner. Thes
are distinct departments of the work. T
dispose of material substances is one thing
to govern mind is another; and to contrC
large class of events through the instru
mentality of created mind is quite another
Yet all these, in one way or another, ar
alike subject to Divine control
Thus we arrive at the first essential elC
ment in our analysis of the providence {
God. 1t is both universal and particular
1t extends to all created beings and thing
throughout the universe. He rolls tn
worlds in their orbits, directs the manifol
operations of nature, and controls tn
countless myriads of immortal minds wit
which the universe is filled. He also cor
descends to particularize things, and eve
the minutest things. Nothing is small {
of little consequence to him. Atoms ca
no more move themselves independent (
God than worlds can. The greatest result
may lie enwrapped in the smallest seed
Things may seem little to us which in the
connections are Of the greatest importanc
The little spark may kindle the powd,
train and cause an explosion or a confi
grafton which shall be the ruin of multi
tudes. A floating atom or a flying inse
may bear on its seemingly little bosom IL
fate of monarch or the destiny of an en-
pire. A fitful thought, or emotion, or
sire--a seemingly casual word or act, m;
turn the mighty hidden wheels of the cha
acter Of millions. A disposition nurture
in the mind of a boy on the island of Co
sica may, yes, SHALL, wrap all Europe
the flames of war for twenty years. b
Gods character is perfect His plan
perfect, fixed and immutable as his vel
being. He is a rock, and on this rock
universe is built. Once bring in this tho
and rest upon it in the assurance of
tai faith, and we may contemplate the vi
ible changes and fluctuations around L
and the whirl of the ten thousand appa
emily fortuitous events daily arising, wit
out dismay. There is nothing like chan
in the whole system. All obey an inAe
ible law-reyolve around a common ce
tire, and that centre the hand of Jehova
whose unseen influence produces eve
tremulous motion throughout the comp
Gated mechanism of creation. ''The lot
cast into the lap, but the 10hole DISPOSE